Doing work for Friends and/or Acquaintances ???

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threephase

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I know this is purely subjective and no answer is right/wrong, but I'm just curious how much you reduce your labor rates for friends? acquaintances?

I'm interested to hear your experiences.......
 
I try not to do it. I kind of stand on the same stance when selling something like an old car. Family/friends and sales don't mix. Same goes doing electrical IMHO.
 
I have the same policy as Marc. I've done free work for immediate family members (mom and sister), and some friends. Only friends who deserve it get the discount, and I can count them on one hand. They have all done major favors for me in the past (including hooking me up with good referral work), and they don't demand the discount. I merely inform them that their money is no good with me. Most often, I capitulate and let them take me and my girlfriend out for a nice dinner. Everybody wins.

They still have to pay for the materials, and I pull proper permits and get my work inspected.
 
Good idea to tell your friends that you collect garbage for a living - it reduces the pleading for work that you'll end up getting jipped on.

If you want to stay friends - sub it out...
 
No standard answer. I've done work for free for at least 6 friends. Material and labor. They have all reciprocated, or spotted me first, or else I'm close enough where I don't care.

About 13 years ago I wired 2 new houses for free. One for friend who is a mason, another a pumber. I figured that when and if I built a house, they'd help me. About a year later they did. If I did not end up building too, it would have been OK, I felt close enough to them that if I never ended up building, I'd have still been glad to do it. I have a few other similar situations. I did do these jobs after hours (even though I owned my company) as I felt I couldn't afford to take away my everyday revenue.

Anytime I think someone's looking for a deal - they aren't getting it. Either I'm full price or too busy.

I do have some in-betweens where if I know someone well who needs something and can wait, then I might do it for a bit less than my going rate.
 
I am in the middle of ending a long time friendship , I wired a buddys first home for nothing , I did electrical work at his other homes for nothing, he's succeeded into turning a one man mower operation into a nice lanscaping co . employs illeagls as help and makes a mint - after my divorce I was in danger of losing my home and asked for his help- well he kept calling and offering actually - and was to be paid back at time of sale and would go on market in two months from date - his offer- 95% interest
I don't need friends whom try and take advantage when someone is down

for a long time now free work only if your on my A list everyone else - i'm busy and can recommend
 
Shockedby277v said:
I try not to do it. I kind of stand on the same stance when selling something like an old car. Family/friends and sales don't mix. Same goes doing electrical IMHO.
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Same here.

I have given vehicles to friends but will not sell to them.
 
I try to avoid it like the plauge. I tell people I am not that kind of electrician I am a specialist that knows little about house work. Then I recommend one of the residential contractors I know, that does quality work. I used this same excuse when I did residential service.
 
I don't have any "friends" and I avoid family as much as possible. I like it that way. If I charge anything they will find something to complain about, if I work for free they can't complain as much.

Trading work with other trades is even worse, it always seems to be like comparing apples & oranges. I prefer to trade at retail value and know the prices up front. I'm in the middle of a trade right now with a GC who now owes me over $50k and I can't get him to show me his accounting of how much he has done for me on the other side of the leger (he just says we are "close"). It has wrecked our relationship and I have no legal recourse because there is no written contract, and in this liberal state it is not legal to even shoot the guy. Go figure.
 
From the past!

From the past!

celtic said:
If they offer to help, the standard price gets doubled :D
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I remember seeing the signs in repair shops years ago!

Labor -- $8.00

You Watch -- $12.00

You Help -- $16.00

Last time I let a friends son-in-law help I had a 240v direct short "potential " across a single pole light switch.

Happy New Year, I'm taking the rest of the year off!!
 
I bartered with a carpenter friend and did my end complete.. The shed he was supposed to help me build remains in my yard half finished..
 
As a very young lad, I was instructed by my mother that I should never ask/expect someone to perform a favor for me that involved that persons means of making money. You pay a doctor for doctor work, a plumber for plumbing work, etc.etc.
 
hardworkingstiff said:
As a very young lad, I was instructed by my mother that I should never ask/expect someone to perform a favor for me that involved that persons means of making money. You pay a doctor for doctor work, a plumber for plumbing work, etc.etc.
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Great advice!

Okay, I need to ask my plumber for a physical, and my doctor to snake my toilet.

No sweat. :grin:
 
Tori said:
I am in the middle of ending a long time friendship , I wired a buddys first home for nothing , I did electrical work at his other homes for nothing, he's succeeded into turning a one man mower operation into a nice lanscaping co . employs illeagls as help and makes a mint - after my divorce I was in danger of losing my home and asked for his help- well he kept calling and offering actually - and was to be paid back at time of sale and would go on market in two months from date - his offer- 95% interest
I don't need friends whom try and take advantage when someone is down

for a long time now free work only if your on my A list everyone else - i'm busy and can recommend
Click to expand...

I also lost a long term friend last year over work I had done at his house. It's really sad that people don't, or wont, recognize how much you put yourself out for them and try to press their advantage.

I think I'm done with any free work thats more involved than hanging a fan for a buddy, any major work, they can pay a contractor and deal with it.
 
I tell my friends and family I will do jobs for them based on a ratio of "effort to income". The harder I have to work, the more it costs. Also I tell them since its for family or friend, I need 1/2 of the estimated money upfront then 1/2 of the money when I'm half done and 1/2 at the end of the job.....
I still end up with lump of coal in my stocking.
 
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