Rates for family members

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Rewire

Rewire

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Location
Lake of the Ozarks
sameguy said:
So long as no permits/ inspection ...Hehe
Mom/Dad free
Brother/sister pay for parts/ help or food/beer
Other reltiv. pay w/discount
friends pay (if helping pay more).
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It must just be a generation thing but my 96 year old granny wouldn't think of not paying me something ,usually five dollars. Of course granny lived through some hard times were five dollars was a weeks pay.I always will remember how she would open that little change purse and pull out that folded five dollar bill and insist that I take it.
 
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satcom

Senior Member
Rewire said:
It must just be a generation thing but my 96 year old granny wouldn't think of not paying me something ,usually five dollars. Of course granny lived through some hard times were five dollars was a weeks pay.I always will remember how she would open that little change purse and pull out that folded five dollar bill and insist that I take it.
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Some family are close and help each other in every situation, they all work together, and than there are the family where they will expect everything, and never return the favor, so it depends on your family situation, same with friends, most people have very few close friends, but plenty of casual friends, again you have to look at each situation.
 
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IrishRugger

Senior Member
My own parents and mother-in law and father in law absolutely do for free although they would insist on paying. It has been my experience that brother & sister-inlaws up front insist that they get a discount. They even want to remind me of their discount periodically through out the project and or even while I am working on their project.

Just last week I did some real small stuff for my brother in law and his wife she kept on telling me through out the day how my brother in law told her how the quoted price for the little project was so expensive. Now I did quote them prices for different things to be done in their house you can see them on my previous post " Flat Rate Pricing". I did give them a break from what I normally charge but they would never recognize or appreciate it.

I sent them a bill on friday for the work I have done so far. Haven't gotten a check yet.

Regular customers are vastly different from relatives. Dealing with relatives are best suited for people who don't have any!
 
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satcom

Senior Member
"I can?t help but yearn for that era when earning an honest living with your hands was celebrated, and there was more than enough work available. Entering a trade was a viable alternative to a college education and often led to a more prosperous livelihood."

John Ratzenbeger

As long as I can remember the grads always made 3 to 4 time the money plus better benifits, in a lifetime, and thy did not have to work crazy hours to do it, the trades can make a decent just make it week to week living, but nothing will replace a good education, of a grad in a chosen field, whatever it may be.
 
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mkgrady

Senior Member
Location
Massachusetts
When I worked for someone else I never charged friends or relatives except for materials. And I never did side jobs. Working 40 plus hours per week was enough. Once I started my own business I charge everybody except parents and I do the work during normal business hours. I feel if you do a job for a friend on a weekend it doesn't seem like it is business, and therefore it doesn't seem like I should charge a normal business price.
 
Split Bolt

Split Bolt

Senior Member
Location
Northern Virginia
I do charge my parents, but only because they live a couple of hours away and, if I'm there working, I'm not making any money anywhere else! I give them a discount though! A good friend of mine, who is an HVAC contractor, once told me: "I have two rates, full price or free!":grin:
 
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