Anyone ever do any warranty or punch list work for builders as fill in work? I’m wondering if most that do keep the same hourly rate, or lessen it. If any of you have, has the experience been good or bad? Have they payed fast or slow?
Thanks, Mike
Replies
Mike-
You'll probably find that the builders aren't willing to pay you what you can make working directly for homeowners- they can hire a punchout guy for $8-12/hour in most parts of the country, so even with benefits, taxes, etc., the guy only costs them $12-18/hour.
The obvious advantage to them of hiring you is that they only have to pay for your actual time, which might not be enough to justify hiring a full-time guy on staff. If you're charging at $35/hour and working for them 20 hours/week, it makes more sense for them to just hire someone. Then again, if you're only charging them $35/hour, you're probably only making $12/hour in reality, so you'd be better off working for them anyway ;).
Bob
Not to mention, they'll want you to be licensed and insured (liability and worker's comp. - even if no employees, they'll want a "certificate purposes only" policy), and they'll plug you into their 90-day billng cycle once you submit your billing, except when they conveniently "lose" your paperwork, then they'll cheefully tell you to resubmit you bill, and they'll catch you on the next (90 day) billing cycle.
A few years back I did it while easing back into life after a broken neck. I was working in the Metro DC area and only doing punch lists on very high end houses. I was paid weekly for the invoice submited on Monday for the work done the week before. I had one time when the check was late and I didn't work until they got it up to date. In 2002 the hourly rate was $60/hr.
I've done punch list work as a favor to a developer/builder trying to close on houses, in my mind, the ability to "finish" carpenty, electrical, HVAC and plumbing requires alot of skills (and tools)and saves the builder the task of trying to get a slew of subs back and so I charged a little more than usual. I had no trouble getting paid.