How bad did I get ripped off by my handyman?

I had a handyman replace 3 wooden posts holding up my patio that were completely rotted out. Seemed like a fairly simple job, but I didn't trust myself enough to do it, so I hired someone. He charged me 400 bucks, and it took 2 people about 5 hours to complete, but a lot of it seemed like down time. He told me he bought a pressure treated lumber, and put in some sort of metal piece at the bottom to prevent future rotting. Not sure if it's bs though. I was planing on it being around 200, so I was shocked when he told me the final price, but I paid to avoid trouble. Also, I know this particular is bit pricier, but he does good work. I am just wondering how f'ed I got. I am in Los Angeles for reference.Thanks

 

I would of charged the about the same. Dont sweat bro

 

Hiring someone to do it will always be expensive, but sometimes it is the only way to go.
This seems about right to me, so don't overthink it too much. Be glad it is done and enjoy the time that you can now spend on something else, rather than to have to tackle that job by yourself.

 

Honestly, I can't speak for the prices out there. This is an extremely simple fix. It would take two people but not nearly that long. Did they have to pour concrete to set the poles??

 

It looks like a nice job, worth the $400 to me. Did he have to re-pour any concrete for those posts? or could you give us a better description of what he actually did.

 

Not a rip off

 

Seems like a fairly good price, actually. And raising the wood up off the ground with a metal spacer will extend the like of the posts by many, many years

 

Hiring a tradesman to come out and do a job. If it's cheap, it most likely unskilled and shoddy work.

 

or unlicensed

I may just be a lowly mechanic but that looks like a simple fix to me...

Also looks like those brackets were there, the whole underside of that porch is cement already. I dunno...

 

Fair piece for LA

 

That's $40.00 bucks an hour. If they are reputable they will pay state, local and federal tax plus social security. Plus gas and travel time. So the $400.00 doesn't' sound too bad but, the down time is what makes me think they may have goosed you a little, but we all have been goosed one way or another.

 

It's less than that once you figure materials. Pressure treated lumber isn't cheap.

OP, I'd say you did just fine with the price. I live near Boston and I'd bet you'd pay 30 - 40% more for the same job out here.

 

$400 for 2 people, materials and 5 hours labor?..... I'm wondering if he made ANY money from the job.

You paid fairly.

 

Most accurate post in this thread

 

It does seem pricey until you break it down. Then its not to bad. Considering its pressure treated lumber, that stuff is 'SPENSIVE. I think that pretty fair, with all things considered.

 

+1

Looks like he did good work.

 

Usually you ask them to walk through the job with you step by step and get an estimate up front.

 

Sounds about right to me, and I do stuff like this for a living. Money's about what we would charge, but we'd have gotten it done in far less time.
Treated posts aren't cheap, even if you go somewhere like Pro Build or 84 Lumber. (Don't know if y'all have those out where you're at.)

 

so these jobs are charged by job or time? getting it done in far less time equals more profit. Why would they have a lot of downtime?

 

Probably not that bad, there is sometimes a lot that goes in to "little jobs" that the average guy may not see or think about.