Doing work for Friends and/or Acquaintances ???

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I have been burned for $2000 helping a "friend". The slug bought a dump of a house hoping to resell and make some cash "flipping it" he got stuck with it and decided to burn me to make up for some of the losses. The thing that kills me is, I gave him a such a deal it is embarrassing. Never again. This guy has his own business and grosses around 15 K a month, not exactly starving. Last hand shake deal ever. Last time I do work for friends (other than immediate deserving family) everyone else can hire a contractor or go pound salt. :mad
 
vango said:
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.....
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Does that work? I'll use it for regular customers!
 
problemsolver600 said:
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!!
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Heard of quite a few ways to charge for work, but that takes the cake! I love it!:D
 
two years ago i rewired my wifes friend's house for some crappy wedding food (although a great veiw of NYC) and boy i gave them lots of extras. I really felt like i was giving a young coulple some help, untill later on when i saw his boat,waverunner, Ford f150, two big flatsceens . and more. i kinda felt stupid. so no more "discounts unless they really help me out somehow.
 
Remember, "friends" will be the first one to drag you into court if something goes wrong. It is better to keep the job professional and charge the going rate unless the friend is close enough that you would do the work at no charge. Even then there should be a written contract so that each side knows what to expect from the other.
 
Friends are the ones that are the absolute hardest to get paid from. I have much better luck collecting from a total stranger. What a sad commentary.
 
m73214 said:
Friends are the ones that are the absolute hardest to get paid from. I have much better luck collecting from a total stranger. What a sad commentary.
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I've only had trouble getting paid once, and it was my friend's sister. I wound up suing her to get what was owed to me.
 
I got a phone call from one of my best friends, known him since kindergarden. He started out the conversation with "I will pay you for coming over". He had dim lights through the entire house. I drove over and pulled the panel apart and only had 25v or so per phase. I went outside and checked the line voltage and had the same. I told him it was the power company he needed to call, he just said thanks I will catch you later. I guess he felt that if I didnt need to do the fixing I didnt need to get paid. My friendship with him is more important than any service fee and I would have said no to any money, but its the point of the offer. He told me a month later he wanted some outside receps installed for christmas lighting, I said "sorry, I only do work for people who pay me for it". He didnt see the humor in it but I got a good laugh anyway! I still have not done the work for him, he is just to cheap/"dense" but a great friend.

Then theres the other buddy who needed new breakers installed in his house, I went over, did the work, on the way out he grabs me and writes me a check when I was not going to charge him a thing, he said that if I ever expected to do any work in his house that I would need to charge him full rate or I would not get the work! A true friend for sure, best man at my wedding.
 
vango said:
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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Ummmm.... Thats 150%... Got any sisters?
 
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