should i refer (by Laura [MD]) Sep 20, 2017 12:29 PM
should i refer (by David [MI]) Sep 20, 2017 12:45 PM
should i refer (by AllyM [NJ]) Sep 20, 2017 12:55 PM
should i refer (by WMH [NC]) Sep 20, 2017 1:16 PM
should i refer (by Deanna [TX]) Sep 20, 2017 2:02 PM
should i refer (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Sep 20, 2017 3:02 PM
should i refer (by Robert J [CA]) Sep 20, 2017 5:41 PM
should i refer (by Steve [MA]) Sep 21, 2017 3:19 AM
should i refer (by WMH [NC]) Sep 21, 2017 10:02 AM
should i refer (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Sep 21, 2017 12:54 PM
should i refer (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Sep 21, 2017 12:58 PM
should i refer (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Sep 21, 2017 11:32 PM
should i refer (by John2 [MI]) Sep 22, 2017 6:39 PM
should i refer (by Robin [WI]) Sep 23, 2017 11:33 AM
should i refer (by Laura [MD]) Posted on: Sep 20, 2017 12:29 PM Message:
I finally have a competent reasonable priced handyman.
Now my new dilemma. I am constantly being asked to refer handymen. i normally do not offer suggestions.
However i want to do what is right by everyone. My concern is if i recommend him to friends he will NOT be available/ or cost more when I need him.
What is the best to handle this situation, and do right by everyone including protecting my interests.
Part of me feels you can not go to a cleaning business and ask the owner which of their cleaners is best so you can hire them aways from the company?
--108.28.xxx.xx |
should i refer (by David [MI]) Posted on: Sep 20, 2017 12:45 PM Message:
If your friends want him for their own house, then it's basically one off jobs. If it is another Landlord , I would not. --166.137.xx.xx |
should i refer (by AllyM [NJ]) Posted on: Sep 20, 2017 12:55 PM Message:
If he doesn't have work he won't be a handyman long People don't have jobs everyday when they work for themselves. I have a handyman who was just starting out and I was one of his first customers. I always recommended him. I got his attention because I booked him for three hours every week or every other week and found something that needed doing With twenty units back then it was no problem to find him three hours of something to do. I suggest you hire him for a given time at least every other week.
He is working for me these two weeks on my empty two bedroom in the Cute Cape Cod that the mold lady trashed. So I guess that's been about 12 years that he has been working for me with gaps of six months to a year when he branched off into longer term jobs and I was using a contractor for bigger jobs. --73.33.xxx.xxx |
should i refer (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Sep 20, 2017 1:16 PM Message:
Laura, at this point you would not be lying to say, "I'm testing out a new guy. Not ready to refer him quite yet after my experiences with other guys, but I'll keep you posted..."
If he's a good handyman he probably doesn't need your referrals and you will just be adding to your competition for his time. If he's not, it will be on you because you referred him! --173.22.xx.xx |
should i refer (by Deanna [TX]) Posted on: Sep 20, 2017 2:02 PM Message:
If I don't have enough work to keep a guy occupied full-time, I don't feel possessive towards him.
If I have a guy, I give him as much work as I can, and I pay him promptly as agreed. But I know that if I have a week's worth of work, let alone a one-off job, it's not going to compete with the guy who can offer steady employment for a month or two straight. And if my guy can find steady employment with someone for a month or two straight, I'm happy for them--- because it means they're successful at what they do, and they're going to keep on doing it, rather than chucking the whole thing and getting an 8-5 somewhere and giving up the handything in general.
I like seeing people around me succeed. If they're loyal, they remember that I'm reliable and good to do business with, and they'll make room for me, even in their busy days. If I'm just another paycheck, they won't give me any special treatment, and that's okay, too--- it forces me to go out and discover a backup competent handyguy, who may well evolve into my primary competent handyguy. --96.46.xxx.xx |
should i refer (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Posted on: Sep 20, 2017 3:02 PM Message:
If he's good, he'll get lots of business all by himself. If you refer business to him, make sure your friends mention your name so you get credit for it. He'll remember that and you'll benefit in some way or another.
I've had a contractor I've used and referred for 15 years. His subs are great too. He's worked me in for a small job or two many times during his busy season. He's also let me deal with subs directly if it's a specific task not requiring multiple trades. --108.69.xxx.xxx |
should i refer (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Sep 20, 2017 5:41 PM Message:
I am a landlord and also a licensed contractor. Many landlord "friends" have asked me for recommendations also. Each time I've given up a "name" then all of a sudden that "handyman" isn't available for my units/properties because he has too much work from my friends. OR what's worse, the handyman raises his prices on me because he's so busy.
Case in point, my painters. I had some great painting crews. They had their own small companies. Some with licenses and some without (working under the table).
Their price for painting a small 1 bedroom apartment went from $600 to $900. And a two bedroom from $800 to $1,400 all within a years time.
I had to find new painting experts to do my jobs. Then one day my original painter got caught doing an exterior job without a license. He could no longer paint outside anywhere in fear of getting caught again and paying a larger fine, $10,000 the next time. SO when I needed the exterior of two of my apartment houses painted, he declined until I told him he could work as my employee since I'm licensed. And then be began to work for me again after a 9 year absence.
So now when people ask for a good handyman or tradesman, I have to think long an hard to see if the person who's asking me has done my any favors lately. --47.156.xx.xx |
should i refer (by Steve [MA]) Posted on: Sep 21, 2017 3:19 AM Message:
I find that good subs & handymen are like good fishing spots, something you should think long & hard about before sharing. --72.93.xxx.xxx |
should i refer (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Sep 21, 2017 10:02 AM Message:
Painters have to be licensed??? --173.22.xx.xx |
should i refer (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Sep 21, 2017 12:54 PM Message:
Laura,
Your nice, helpful personality can mess up your business.
Your first priority is to protect YOUR business.
You do not have to answer everyone's questions. Same as "how much money do you make?" or ladies "How old are you?"
The football coach does not teach his competitors his special plays.
Businesses have trade secrets. It's YOUR job to make YOUR business work and THEIR job to find their own handyman.
It's the handyman's job to find his customers, not yours.
I do not give out ANY of my helper's names, not even for one of jobs.
Example: I finally found a good guy to work at my own home. He was working in my yard when the neighbor walked over and hired him on the spot. Job not finished. Gotta find a new guy.
BRAD
--68.50.xx.xxx |
should i refer (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Sep 21, 2017 12:58 PM Message:
Another...
Sometimes we have to protect our business from our friends.
Even well meaning friends or LLs can unintentionally hurt your business.
BRAD --68.50.xx.xxx |
should i refer (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Sep 21, 2017 11:32 PM Message:
Trying to find a better example...
If you had a restaurant known for the best tasting food, you would not be giving out your secret recipes or loaning out your chef to other restaurants because their chef quit. Someone has to cook for your customers.
People ask me all the time "How many houses do you own?" and I answer "a few". They say "No really!" and I respond "Yes, really."
BRAD
--68.50.xx.xxx |
should i refer (by John2 [MI]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2017 6:39 PM Message:
I don't refer anyone anymore... I referred my drywall guy to someone and they now complain about "my guy" every time I see them... --24.231.xxx.xx |
should i refer (by Robin [WI]) Posted on: Sep 23, 2017 11:33 AM Message:
I referred my reasonably-priced handyman to a friend who wanted to get into the business. My handyman upped his prices 25% for my friend, realized he could get more, and upped them on me too. That's the last time he'll get a referral from me! --204.210.xxx.xxx |
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