Labor Cost for Trim Installation

[Robert Uhlman]

Hey everyone. I’ve got an unlicensed/uninsured handyman whom I pay cash to do little things around my properties. He works hard and does great work, always happy to find something he can do. 

I’m doing two heavy rehabs right now, and had to let the GC go, so I’m managing subs myself. My handyman has agreed to do some trim for me, and just said to pay him whatever I think is fair. He’ll be doing some baseboards, window casing, and probably quarter round after the flooring goes down. I pay for all materials, he only gets paid on labor. 

What is a fair rate? I can’t find any guidance in J Scott’s book and I haven’t been able to find solid answers on the forums. The range of quotes I’ve gotten is nuts, with one guy wanting to charge $1 per square foot of living space and someone wanting $6.75 per linear foot. Someone else suggested 50-75 cents per linear foot of baseboard and the same rate for quarter round. 

Oh, also apparently my first post after lurking for years

[Kerry Noble Jr]

You can pay like a piece rate or like a day laborer rate. so you could present it to him at $20 an hour......just an example....