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Discussion Forum

Tipping a general contrator?

DangerousHomeOwner | Posted in General Discussion on May 10, 2004 11:03am

My question: Is tipping a general contractor done? If so, what’s customary?

I am a homeowner who just survived a major renovation. Our contractor, who billed about $20K of the $50K job, was great and we want to give her a tip now that the last piece of the job is done.
Why, you ask? Because she walked us through every piece of the job. Gave us honest, trustworthy input when we asked. And did quality work, to boot, and kept to schedule.
There are somethings I would have changed/done differently, but it was a good experience, and the house is better for it.
Any feedback?
Janet

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Replies

  1. User avater
    EricPaulson | May 10, 2004 11:20pm | #1

    I have rc'd gifts from a bottle of wine to dinner out or in, I've been offered cash in the past and in turn given it to the help.

    Referral for work are the best gift you can give a contractor that you are happy with.

    Eric

  2. caseyr | May 10, 2004 11:39pm | #2

    Tipping contractors???  Is that anything like tipping cows...?

    http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_363.html

    1. WorkshopJon | May 10, 2004 11:44pm | #4

      Tipping contractors???  Is that anything like tipping cows...?

      Hey Casey,

      I learned all about tipping cows shortly after moving to Wisconsin, and hangin' with kids from dairy farms.  The how and why is a fraternal secret though.

      Jon

      1. andybuildz | May 10, 2004 11:50pm | #6

        Hey Jon

                   Do they really do that (tip cows)? Should I ask Boss Hog?

        BE well bro

                         andyMy life is my passion!

        http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

        1. WorkshopJon | May 10, 2004 11:52pm | #7

          Andy,

          Wow, that was a fast reply.  Must be raining there too!!!!!!

          Jon

        2. WorkshopJon | May 11, 2004 12:01am | #8

          "Do they really do that (tip cows)? Should I ask Boss Hog?"

          Andy,

          Like Tom Cruise in Top gun, "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." (refering to a sighting of a MIG 28) google it, See what ya' come up with, then I'll give you the real scoop.

          Actually, it's done by neighboring farmers kids at night.  When you tip a cow (done while it's sleeping), it stops milking for a while, thus temporarily raising milk prices in the area for a while (generally, you tip the whole heard actually, and tipping multiple heards really works great).

          Now only honorable farmers, who really need the extra cash send there kids out at night to do that, or frat kids with nothing better to do, but it sure is fun,

          Jon

          Edited 5/10/2004 5:04 pm ET by WorkshopJon

          Edited 5/10/2004 5:08 pm ET by WorkshopJon

        3. User avater
          BossHog | May 11, 2004 02:53pm | #16

          "Do they really do that (tip cows)? Should I ask Boss Hog?

          Tipping cows is not considered good behavior. It is not practiced in polite company.

          BTW - Did you guys notice the GC on this job was apparently a WOMAN? Some of you apparently missed that, and said stuff like "...if you ever plan on using the guy again..."People get real comfortable with their features. Nobody gets comfortable with their hair. Hair trauma. It's the universal thing. [Jamie Lee Curtis]

          1. andybuildz | May 11, 2004 03:08pm | #17

            BTW - Did you guys notice the GC on this job was apparently a WOMAN? Some of you apparently missed that, and said stuff like "...if you ever plan on using the guy again..."

            Ron

                 Actually I did notice and I became sexist in my thinking process when I was going to say buy her tools but held back thinking she wasn't working hands on.

            Be ashamed of myself (sorry Jen and Darcey)

                                       andy with a dunce hat on in the corner with a time outMy life is my passion!

            http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

          2. User avater
            bobl | May 11, 2004 04:08pm | #18

            I was told by a person of the female perswaytion that "guy" was unisex

            she use to throw a towel with the letters MCP on it at me, never understood what those letteers ment. bobl          Volo, non valeo

          3. User avater
            BossHog | May 11, 2004 04:34pm | #20

            My Sister gave me a poster with a picture of a pig on it. The caption says: "male chauvanist pigs need love too".

            Do you think she's trying to tell me something ???

            (-:Men aren't pigs...pigs are gentle, cute creatures

          4. migraine | May 12, 2004 04:19am | #28

            she use to throw a towel with the letters MCP on it at me, never understood what those letteers ment. 

            MCP is "male chauvinist pig"

    2. User avater
      BillHartmann | May 11, 2004 04:37am | #12

      And here I thought that she was talking about tipping the portajohn with the contractor in it.

      1. WorkshopJon | May 11, 2004 04:09pm | #19

        "And here I thought that she was talking about tipping the portajohn with the contractor in it."

        Bill,

        Don't know if you've seen it, but that was done on "Jacka$$" (the show, not the movie).

        Jon

  3. andybuildz | May 10, 2004 11:43pm | #3

    Don't give money.

    Buy a gift certificate for dinner for two at a real nice reastaurant.

    Be well appreciated

                         andy

    My life is my passion!

    http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

  4. WorkshopJon | May 10, 2004 11:50pm | #5

    My question: Is tipping a general contractor done? If so, what's customary?

    Janet,

    Depends on a bunch of stuff............If you live in Texas, No.

    If you live out east, and ESPECIALLY if you ever plan on using the guy again or anybody he knows, yes.  Doesn't have to be cash though, and ...Did he do a good job?

    Actually, some good pics (for his portfolio) a letter of thanks, and a gift certificate, I tend to think would be more he gets from the average client.

    Jon

  5. 4Lorn2 | May 11, 2004 12:04am | #9

    Is that like tipping cows?

  6. Piffin | May 11, 2004 03:24am | #10

    I do think it is appropriate to show gratitude for outstanding conduct and performance. I have recieved bonuses and gifts of wine, items, and cash. Three times on jobs of approximately a quarter million, I recieved five, five, and ten thousand bucks. When the ten was oferred, I said, the only way I can accept that is if you part some of it to my crew who are the real stars here. He told me to do whatever I wanted with it, but he was very impressed with the performance. I kept five and turned the other five to the crew.

    I think 6the thing to keep in mind is to find a way to say "Thanks, I appreciate all you did" in terms that will communicate that idea to the person you are gifting. There can be other ways to do this besides cash, depending on their needs and interests, and your abilities.

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

  7. User avater
    ProDek | May 11, 2004 03:40am | #11

    Go to this website and buy him/her a hammer. They'll remember you every time they swing it. 20-22 oz is best.

    http://www.douglastool.com/

    "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

    Bob

  8. User avater
    jonblakemore | May 11, 2004 05:02am | #13

    Janet,

    I recently received a $100 tip for a one week deck job.

    The client had their 10' high deck take a nose dive with them on it in September. The man of the house just got his final cast off but they will never had the same mobility they once did. Because of this, his wife was very concerned that the deck would be solid and safe. We took a good amount of time out of our schedule to reassure her and just get to know her in general, which was easy to do as she was a very nice woman.

    I guess she really appreciated our efforts as we got a fairly sizeable tip for 6 days work.

    A gift certificate for food/tools would be good, especially if the company has a strict no tip policy, but legal tender is always appreciated.

     

    Jon Blakemore

  9. User avater
    Dreamcatcher | May 11, 2004 06:29am | #14

    I just finished an exterior restoration job for $1400. Got my check and thought there was a problem.....nope got a 10% bonus.

    Not only that, halfway through they gave me a $50 gift certificate to the local steakhouse.

    I think they were trying to hook me up with their daughter too...until they found out I was married.

    gk

  10. Frankie | May 11, 2004 08:34am | #15

    Referals are the best TIP.

    For the present you can give a an evening for two at a local great restuarant. Give the restaurant your credit card # and tell the GC everything is taken care of. If they are who you think they are they won't order a Chateuax Lafite Rothchild.

    FR.

  11. bk1000 | May 11, 2004 04:40pm | #21

    I've never heard of tipping, but getting her a nice gift (fancy restaurant gift certificate, for example) would be a nice gesture, if you are really impressed with her work. Of course, recommending her to neighbors / friends is also highly appreciated.

    1. DangerousHomeOwner | May 11, 2004 05:09pm | #22

      Bill & All,

      Thanks for the input. After staking out the portojohns, I gave up and bought her a gift certificate to a local high-end art store--she's an artist when she isn't working.

      Thanks again,

      Janet

  12. User avater
    JeffBuck | May 11, 2004 10:32pm | #23

    Cash is fine ...

    other stuff's good too.

    Gift certificates ... restraunts ... amazon (for tools) ... etc.

    But .. some people don't go out to eat ... and others don't mail order ...

    Cash ... one size fits all. ( but there are some who for some odd reason say "no thanks to cash" ...)

    You would know your contractor best.

    Jeff

    Buck Construction, llc   Pittsburgh,PA

         Artistry in Carpentry                

    1. WorkshopJon | May 11, 2004 11:35pm | #24

      "Cash ... one size fits all."

      Jeff,

      Sorry, but I have to disagree.  Cause really, it's the thought that counts.

      Do you honestly think I'd come out ahead if I gave my wife cash instead of lingerie for Christmas, her B-day, or our anniversary.

      Try it sometime, see what happens. LOL.

      Jon

      1. User avater
        JeffBuck | May 11, 2004 11:48pm | #25

        we're not exactly talking about giving the contractor lingerie either, are we?

        cash is fine.

        JeffBuck Construction, llc   Pittsburgh,PA

             Artistry in Carpentry                

        1. WorkshopJon | May 11, 2004 11:55pm | #26

          "we're not exactly talking about giving the contractor lingerie either, are we?"

          Depends on the relation Jeff.

          Lately, my wife seems to view me as her personal "contractor"

          Ain't goin' to go any further on that comment.

          Jon

        2. andybuildz | May 12, 2004 02:54am | #27

          Hows a bout a gift certificate to a hot massage parlor fer dem sore bones?

          I see nuttin' wrong with that.....For a chick contractor or a dude contractor.....

          Be sounding perfect to me

                                  andyMy life is my passion!

          http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

      2. User avater
        jonblakemore | May 12, 2004 05:42am | #29

        "Cause really, it's the thought that counts."

        Very true. The fact that the client even said "thanks, you did a great job" means alot sometimes. A gratuity is an even bigger step.

        I still agree with Jeff- cash is good for every need. 

        Jon Blakemore

        1. 4Lorn2 | May 12, 2004 09:54am | #30

          On the other hand tipping is IMHO often a sop for the guilty conscience of a owner that massively screwed the tradesmen. Not always but I have seen it. GC puts out feelers for trades people. Drags a line about how there are going to be another twenty homes real soon. So some contractors drop their prices in the hopes of getting their foot in the door on a larger contract.

          Thing is that after a lot of hemming and hawing the other 20 houses are not built because:The market isn't right.He is having a temporary cash flow problem.The local government is making it hard to build with all the regulations.Family problems have got me on the ropes.The location where the other houses are going needs special permits.A Whooping crane, or similar, built a nest on the site and we can't built until it leaves.The ground is too wet or dry.

          There is always a reason. He will throw in. 'Things slowed down but all the contractors love me because I gave out a big bonus'. Bonus was $100. Most of the contractors cut their prices several thousand dollars.

          Six months later he is pulling the same trick on another batch of contractors. When confronted why you didn't get the announcement he claims the computed got bunged up, the secretary is new or he will claim to 'clearly remember putting you name on the list'.

        2. WorkshopJon | May 12, 2004 06:44pm | #31

          "I still agree with Jeff- cash is good for every need."

          Jon,

          I don't disagree, just putting thought into it can really go the extra mile big time.

          I tip my garbage guy during the Holidays (rarew here) and give him a thankyou card, and throw him a bottle of chilled ice water from the cooler if I see him in the summer on a hot day. I'll bet I'm the only one on his route that knows his name.....and the names of his wife and kids.

          And you know what, every week he drags my container up my 150' drive (vs. left at the curb like every one else) and never complains when I have 20 100lbs bags of demo refuse by the curb, even though he's not supposed to take anything that isn't in the container (200lbs max)

          It's the thought..............not the $ value, that makes a tip count, though I guess you can make up for lack of thought with $$$.

          Jon

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