Maintenance & Repair EstimatesThis Is A Summary Page The following list of time estimates has been compiled from various maintenance and remodeling sources. Use it as a guide, but remember, it is based on experienced tradesman, not a minimum-wage handymen doing the particular job for the first time. The times are what might be expected to actually do the repair itself, assuming that the tradesman, all parts & materials, and all tools required for the job are ion-site. For many of the tasks, there is a range of time because either (1) the job depends upon size and complexity (e.g., painting depends upon the size of the room and how many windows, fixtures ,etc. must be worked around) and/or (2) there are sometimes complications that can arise while doing the work (e.g., the time to replace a shower valve insert can vary significantly depending upon the difficulty of removing the old part). The time to thoroughly clean a unit can vary dramatically, depending on the condition in which it was left by the vacating tenant as well as how detailed a cleaning is desired.
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Also take into account that time will be required for travel to and from the job-site, for purchasing parts and materials, and to take care of administrative details. For example, although it may require only 30 minutes to replace a water heater thermostat, the serviceman may also spend 30 minutes commuting, 15 minutes determining the problem, 30 minutes getting the part if the model is not one he carries in his truck. Sometimes significant time is required just to troubleshoot the problem even though a 99-cent part and 10 minutes of time are needed to fix the problem. Sometimes the time required to purchase parts and materials is significantly greater than the time required to do the repair itself. For example, locating a proper replacement part (e.g., fan motor or shower valve insert) can be very time consuming, particularly for older properties. For painting, you must also allow time for cleanup. If you want detailed accounting and billing, plan to pay for that too. When you ask a handyman for an estimate, use these times plus estimates of additional time and a reasonable hourly rate to determine if the bid is fair. Keep in mind that using the same person to do multiple tasks at the same time usually results in significant savings compared to having the same tasks done separately because less commuting time and fewer shopping trips are required. Finally, remember that an experienced expert at $45 per hour may actually be cheaper than a handyman who has little or no experience with the specific problem at $15 per hour.
Use this list of time estimates to begin a list that you develop for yourself, consisting of the types of repairs you most commonly need to hire help for. The above topics are discussed in much more depth |
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