Projects For Your Home

[WEDWDW]

Whenever you have a project done for your Home,besides providing water,do you buy the workers Lunch each day,the last day or no days?

How much do you tip each worker at the end of the project?

 

[akl432]

Whenever you have a project done for your Home,besides providing water,do you buy the workers Lunch each day,the last day or no days?

How much do you tip each worker at the end of the project?

No...my view is that if I can get up early and pack my lunch every morning before work (or I have to spend money buying it), why would it be any different for them?

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

In Ireland, making tea or boiling the kettle for them and offering biscuits is the normal for tradespeople who are doing work in your home.

 

[_19disnA]

Never tip them since they are paid by their company to perform whatever work is being done. I doubt they expect to get tipped and sometimes for larger projects, there will be some people here the entire time while others just bring supplies or do misc work. Would you tip everyone the same amount? Will provide water/ice. Never provided them lunch since everyone has different diets and many workers leave to go to some nearby fast food place when it is time for lunch (particularly if the job will take more than 1 day).

I agree as mentioned above, if they doing a multi-day job, then it seems like their responsibility to bring food/snacks or sometimes I have seen where one of the workers will go to a nearby place to pickup food for everyone else. Some choose to work through lunch so they can finish early if the job takes less than a day.

I mostly stay out their way doing something elsewhere in the house and let them know to ask if they have any questions.

 

[Meriweather]

Water is offered, usually turned down as they bring their own.
No lunch.....sometimes if the project is taking a long time, some easy to eat and handle snacks, if I have them in the house.
No tips....

 

[disneychrista]

I have never provided anything to professional tradesman.

 

[unrequited23]

We'll always offer coffee and/or water. If it's a cooler time during the year we offer to let workers use our microwave to heat up their lunches. If it's an intensely hot time of the year, we might offer popsicles/Italian ice at the end of the day.

 

[mjkacmom]

I did have a cleaning crew come in to do a one time deep cleaning, tipped them (they worked for a company). I’ve never tipped workers at my home. Paying a friend to rebuild our porch, we bring him some cold beers at the end of the day. The guys usually have coolers. I’ve had crews for weeks at a time, I just pretend I’m not here.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Just had my small roof and gutters/downspouts done in one day last month.

I put out a cooler with ice packs and a 12 pack of bottled water and slices of fresh watermelon in ziploc bags (enough for everyone to have 2-3 pieces). I also let the roof crew know they could use my bathroom - just knock. It was all gone by noon when they finished (the day was HOT and they worked 6am-12pm), and the roof looks wonderful.

Afternoon gutter and downspout crew (here from 1pm-2:30pm) each got a bottle of water and a bag of m&ms (they had brought a kid, since it was a short job, so I figured the kid would rather have candy...and I was right). Same news on the bathroom. They also did an amazing job.

I did not tip money - they didn't even really stay to be tipped. They just cleaned up and waved themselves out.

I was very happy with the work and company. I don't think anyone expected or planned to be tipped, but they were very thankful for water, a snack, and allowed bathroom use.

 

[mjkacmom]

I would never NOT let someone use my bathroom, that seems inhumane.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I would never NOT let someone use my bathroom, that seems inhumane.

You'd be amazed how many people don't, so workers don't ask. For my bathroom contract a few years ago, it was a contract stipulation b/c my townhome HOA would not allow a Port-O-Pot (and I'm like, why would someone ever want a port-o-pot on their lawn, and I got an earful about how that's what many homeowners want, thus why it's in the contract, and to allow them to use your bathroom is a contract change - yes, we made that change).

Since this was one day, the contract wasn't as detailed as my bathroom one, so there was no stipulation either way.

So, my policy is to always greet the contract team when they arrive (b/c they don't normally knock for outdoor work - they just start) and tell them what I have for them and where the bathroom is, so they don't have to worry about it - it's like the contract - set all parties' expectations, so everyone is happy.

 

[bluezy]

I always provide water/drinks and access to a bathroom. Fortunately, we have a bathroom right inside the back door so it's very convenient for contractors to use if they choose to. Some use it, some seem to prefer to walk behind our shed or into the woods behind our house. I've offered snacks and lunch in the past but every contractor has always declined as they had their own food/drinks. Many of them have been very local and just go home for lunch. Tipping depends on what's being done. We don't typically tip contractors we hire to do work at the house because we usually hire someone who is an independent contractor so we're assuming he's charging us an amount that is covering all of his costs and includes plenty of profit. If we have something delivered -- like mulch or stone -- we'll tip the driver/delivery person(s) because they don't own the company and are probably not paid all that well. The only time we've "tipped' a contractor was when we had an addition put on the house and the contractor we hired went way above and beyond what we contracted him for and still only charged what the original agreement was.

 

[tvguy]

I would never NOT let someone use my bathroom, that seems inhumane.

When we remodeled our house.....including two of the three bathrooms, the contractor normally put a port a potty on site. We did not want one, and he was surprised that we preferred to have the trades people use the bathroom that was not being remodeled.
My wife did bake cookies a couple of times over the 4 months for the workers.
Tipping to me is for minimum wage service workers, not tradespeople making $50+ an hour.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Whenever you have a project done for your Home,besides providing water,do you buy the workers Lunch each day,the last day or no days?

How much do you tip each worker at the end of the project?

The times we've had work done, they always took a lunch break, as in they went away somewhere and then came back.

In Ireland, making tea or boiling the kettle for them and offering biscuits is the normal for tradespeople who are doing work in your home.

Pretty much how we've done it - although it was an offer of water or a soda, and a snack of some sort. Most of the time, they didn't take us up on it, but some did. And some only took the drink.

 

[AgentMama]

We don't tip for home improvement work. We'll offer water and use of our bathrooms, but otherwise nothing extra.

 

[PollyannaMom]

The last time we had major work done was roofing and solar installation many years ago, and I don't remember what we did - probably at least offered water.

I've asked the lawn guys before, too, and they've always said they have their own in the truck. But we've used the same small company for a long time, so I hope they feel comfortable asking if they ever do need something.

Minor handyman stuff is done by a good friend of DH's (who also watches our pets when we're away) so he knows to come in anytime he needs anything, and I offer lunch if I'm making my own.

Our appliance repair guy is the business owner, so he's not tipped...but is offered coffee. Furniture delivery people are tipped, and it's fine by me if anyone working here uses the bathroom.

 

[Travel60]

I'm a baker and have a collection of cookie cutters (cheap but useful gift to ask kids for birthday/Christmas when they were young). I have "tool" cookie cutters - Hammer, screwdriver, pliers. If workers are here a few days (remodel, etc.) I will make tool cookies and leave out a tin for them. Also usually lemonade or iced tea.

When we built a seasonal home in the mountains we had the same crew for many months. I didn't have a kitchen while under construction but threw a party for tradesmen and their spouses when house was finally finished.

 

[LuvOrlando]

When we had our roof done after Hurricane Sandy I noticed the workers looked tired and were probably pickups and underpaid so I made them a giant tray of Baked Ziti and left out a big container of cold waters with ice. If my effort made them cut a few less corners then it was well worth the $25.

Other workers for small things I usually offer cold waters or Powerades if it is hot

 

[WEDWDW]

Thanks for the replies.

I think I need some help.lol

Below is what I have been tipping.

Which should definitely be tipped,which is acceptable either tipping or not tipping and which should definitely not be tipped?



I tipped the guy who pressure washed the driveway $50.

I tipped the 2 guys who pumped the Septic Tank $50 each.

I tipped a Painter who did some outside painting IN THE TERRIBLE HEAT $100.

I tipped the guy who replaced the AC motor on an emergency basis $100.

I tipped the gutter cleaner guy $50.

I tipped the 2 guys who delivered and hooked up the new Fridge $50 each.

I tipped the plumber $50 for fixing the shower.

I tipped the guy who pressure washed the windows and house $50.



Thanks for any opinions.

I don't mind tipping,but if it is perfectly acceptable to not tip,I don't mind that either!

I am not cheap,just thrifty!lol

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I tipped the guy who pressure washed the driveway $50.

I tipped the 2 guys who pumped the Septic Tank $50 each.

I tipped a Painter who did some outside painting IN THE TERRIBLE HEAT $100.

I tipped the guy who replaced the AC motor on an emergency basis $100.

I tipped the gutter cleaner guy $50.

I tipped the 2 guys who delivered and hooked up the new Fridge $50 each.

I tipped the plumber $50 for fixing the shower.

I tipped the guy who pressure washed the windows and house $50.

wowsers I wouldnt have tipped any of them. All of them are being paid proper wages by the companies they worked for, you are paying for the service they provide. No need to tip any extra. Would just offer water, tea, coffee and snacks to all of them and the use of restroom.