Should i tip construction workers

Everyone knows to tip restaurant food servers, who rely on tips to supplement their pay. But what about the various contractors who provide services to you at home? Here is some guidance on contractor tips. Skilled contractors , such as plumbers, electricians, painters, and HVAC crews, are considered professionals, and some have state licensing that unskilled workers do not.

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Home Decor. Holiday Decor. Christmas Trees. Holiday Lighting. Gift Cards. I would be interested in hearing from contractors themselves in particular. Email Save Comment 8. Sort by: Oldest. Newest Oldest. At 2 weeks into your remodel, it is far too early to tell if tips of any kind are warranted. No need otherwise for tips and no professional will expect them or readily accept them. Like Save.

Related Discussions How to be the best client ever? A major kitchen reno we did 4 years ago was promised in weeks, and we finished in 6, which our contractor attributed to the fact that he had everything at his fingertips, which gave him a lot of flexibility in scheduling the various trades. The second piece of advice echoes what cfollowell said about not pitching a hissy fit: anticipate that not everything will go exactly as planned and be flexible and reasonable about it.

Sometimes after walls are opened, you find out you cannot do exactly what you envisioned. There is always a solution, but finding one that accommodates the tradesman while staying within your budget sometimes requires homeowners to adjust their designs and ideas. They really appreciate being able to stay on schedule because usually there's another client waiting in the wings who has been promised a start date. Major changes to a design sets them back; look for ways to solve problems which stay within the budget and time frame of the job as quoted.

Again, all of the advice offered by everyone here assumes you're working with a quality contractor or tradesman. We're in Week 3 of a 4-week bath reno right now. My contractor told me yesterday working on a Saturday to get the job done by Thanksgiving as promised it's really easy to go the extra mile when he's working with a nice homeowner.

First tip: Using buy paper and pencil, you can write down what I say and occasionally remember it. What will they think of next? Second tip: The plan I taped up isn't just wall art. It has measurements and everything. Pretty cool, huh? Fourth tip: Actually, and I know this seems surprising, it's considered rude to use someone else's kitchen appliances without asking so that you can eat lunch on their bed. Sixth tip: If you tell someone in July the job will take 8 days, they will become oddly unpleasant after the first frost warning.

I've heard some people have a dinner and invite the contractors, well at least the ones that didn't screw up! I'm so happy for you that you actually had a good enough experience to even think about this. Doesn't sound like many people want to reward their contractor for anything. We were a DIY project. My GC gets dinner every night!

We are expecting the contractor and his crew to show up to do our kitchen shortly after Thanksgiving. I don't expect to tip him or invite to dinner.

They are professionals and I wouldn't tip him anymore than I would my accountant or auto mechanic. Do you go "Antiquing? Do you get bids from several contractors on your projects? Tips to Hiring a Contractor you can Trust. Luxury vinyl planks--what do you wish you'd known? I need tips. I never even thought of that, even though my GC and his crew did an awesome job. I did, however tell him to use me as a reference and that any future client could come and see my kitchen if they desired.

I also told him that I would highly recommend him to anyone of my friends or family members and use him again in the future if the need arose. We tipped our KD but the GC is still here and we are unsure of what to do. The kd works for the same firm and we gave her some flowers and a gift certificate to a high end kitchen accessory store. She was excellent and I would use her again We weren't living here during the work so buying lunches or setting up coffee was too difficult.

The finishing guy who is doing the deficiency list is excellent so do we tip him as well. Good question and I'll be interested in responses to help guide us. The contractors I use bill out an hourly rate per person than is higher than I make as an hourly rate. No, I don't tip them anymore than they would tip me if I did work for them. In fact I think we cut contractors a lot more slack than we do anyone else, and more than they would give us if they were our patients, clients, or we did some other service for them.

A gift card or something maybe. I think a great recommendation if they deserve it shows the most appreciation. K - thanks for the feedback! I think we will stick with lunch every so often, and a gift card I really think it all depends on how you feel at the end of a project. If THEY haven't caused any headaches and at the end, when you are past the mess and stress of decision making, you are blown away by the work and final product, I don't see anything wrong with showing your appreciation.

It doesn't have to be extravagant either. Yes they are getting paid, often very well, but that doesn't stop me from tipping if it feels good in my heart. I have done three major remodels plus additions and have given gifts to the final two because the spaces were beautiful to my soul. Let's pretend the first didn't happen - and no, there was no gift Which is kinda how I feel responding to this.

I usually get some type of "tip" at the end of a job. I don't ask for it, or require it, or anything else like that. At the end of a job I believe that the clients look around and say "Wow, you did this incredible thing for me! I want to do something to show you how happy I am and how grateful I am for all your hard work.

You know when you get a tip that someone sincerely believes you did a great job. In service positions I feel like it's pretty customary to tip waiters, massage therapists, hair dressers etc so I'm not sure if I follow the comments above about that being unusual.

For instance, johnny says he doesn't tip out his accountant or his mechanic but as an accountant I often get bonuses or tips and I also tip my mechanic in the form of a christmas bonus. I normally recieve money at the end of the job.

Sometimes it's an extra amount tacked on to the last invoice amount with a thank you note, but if it's money it's usually a separate check after the kitchen has been fully functional for a couple of months. I often get gift cards from home depot by then everyone knows I'm a remodeler as well.

If you want to show appreciation for an exceptional hourly worker they like cash. Most of the sucessfull contractors I know really appreicate being paid on time with a thank you note to pin up on their bulletin board. A cash tip is not necessary and maybe even uncomfortable.

Mayne says exterminators generally don't expect tips. Stylists and barbers should be tipped a minimum of 15 to 20 percent of the service, and that tip can be split among others who assisted for example, the shampoo person and colorist. Apply the same value to manicures, pedicures, massages and the like. Think the owner of the salon shouldn't be tipped?

Turns out that's an old tradition. Owners today appreciate and will accept 15 to 20 percent. At a hotel, you're expected to leave a little something for maid service, based on how many days you stayed. But what about at home? Tipping a house cleaner who's employed not by you but by a cleaning service is optional. If you feel so inclined, 10 to 15 percent is acceptable.

Mayne's top three rules of tipping: 1. Offer what you can afford. If you can't afford a tip that will be expected, don't use the service. If you're unsure about a tipping policy, ask a manager.

If the situation calls for it, consider a thank-you card, letter or batch of cookies to show your gratitude instead of a cash gift. If you work with a regular contractor who cuts you a break from time to time, you may be compelled to offer a tip.

Most of the time it isn't necessary to tip an electrician or plumber, Mayne says. Before tipping an in-home health care worker, it's a good idea to find out the policy of the employing agency. Many companies don't allow their personnel to accept cash tips, Mayne says. But "if the home health worker is independent, anything the patient offers would probably be appreciated.