On Mon, 28 Aug 2006 13:42:55 +0100, woodpassion
wrote:


Remodeled basement for longtime friends, including
tear out of old paneling , framed,
drywalled, replaced windows, and hauled all the debris away. Said
friends didn't even offer to buy my sandwich when they ordered out for
lunch on several ocassions while I was slaving away in their basement.

So, "basement" friends want existing bathroom next to finished basement
remodeled. I need some guidance on how much to charge...anyone here do
paid work for friends? I'd like to just charge a flat fee of what it's
worth to me to even bother doing it...they want me to give them an
hourly rate and an estimate of how much time it will take. What do you
think? Thanks for any input.

I've got a friend for whom I have done things. He's also a guy to
whom I have loaned tools. He's never expected me to work for free and
he's taken good care of my tools if he's done the work himself.

He recently asked me to make something for him. I worked up how much
I would charge for that, told him and didn't hear back. I guess his
situation can't fit that into his budget at this time. The work
hasn't been done by me, him or anyone else.

In the end, we're still friends.

The good part is the he recognizes that by asking me to make something
he's taking up my time and putting wear on my stuff and compensates
accordingly. Probably not as well as if I'd be doing this for a
stranger, but it still works out.

It sounds like your friends don't recognize the value of your time to
you. They think you're their servant. I wouldn't do much of anything
for them. If it were me, I'd be busy into the forseeable future and
let them find someone else to do the work. No, I wouldn't have a rude
confrontation, I'd simply be unavailable. Maybe they'll figure it
out, maybe they won't.