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Building a Home

How much to tip?

11 years ago

How much did you tip or planning to tip the workers who have put a lot of time in building your house? If not money, what did you give?

We're at the finishing stages of our build. We are thinking of giving something to the builder, the site foreman, the carpenter and the cabinet maker.

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Comments (13)

pbx2_gw
11 years ago
I'd like to gauge conventional wisdom on this topic also.

I think our tip will come in the form of food & not monetary.

We're @ 50% in our build & the 2 guys in charge; our builder (GC really) & his construction manager have done a fabulous job of keeping us calm & collected.

We really don't interact with the subs they've hired so preliminarily, it's only the 2 above that gets our focus.
galore2112
11 years ago
Nothing. Because I already pay them through their employer. I don't think that this is an industry where the employees depend on tips, like waiters.
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I agree. Don't tip the B&B overall, but if they have maids employed, the guests in the rooms might leave tips when they leave. I'm not sure about a 15-20% + tip for the catering where there is already a separate charge for the service -- especially since that seems like paying 3 times for service: the fee for the service, a percentage of the food bill, and a percentage of the service fee. That seems to me similar to where a restaurant already includes a tip. Suppose dinner at such a restaurant came to $50, and a 15% tip were included -- and then you decided to tip 20% on the total, too. That would be a $20.50 tip on a $50 tab -- 41%. But I really don't know what is customary. Even if not 15-20%, you might want to add something, especially if the food and service were really outstanding and you want to help out a struggling caterer -- just like you might add something at a "service included" restaurant for outstanding service. Would you feel comfortable calling another, similarly sized caterer in the area and asking what is customary, or perhaps acquaintances who have used this caterer?
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My son has been helping my 70-year old brother move out of the 12-room family homestead after 70 years of accumulation -- we grew up in that house, and, pack-rats all, there was stuff from our parents, grandfather and great-grandfather as well as my brother's stuff from 30 of those years. MAMMOTH job, as you might imagine! And there was a deadline. Due to health issues, etc., all this was done over the past 2 1/2 months, while my son had to go to his job as well. Thankfully, it is over and done now. Son found a local small moving outfit, two young guys who did not look overly- muscular, but who were cheerful, clean, efficient and did a fabulous job over two days. The total cost was about $1200 for the labour, and he tipped each of them $150 -- they were worth every penny, but I certainly realize this was a special situation and in no way the ordinary/average amount of tipping, lol!!
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Beth Parsons
11 years ago
Tip? Really? I bring doughnuts/milk to the build site quite often and got gift certificates to Subway for the handful of subs that did a really outstanding job. My GC has been pretty great but I have absolutely no intention of tipping anything other than a plate of cookies.
Beth Parsons
11 years ago
Tip? Really? I bring doughnuts/milk to the build site quite often and got gift certificates to Subway for the handful of subs that did a really outstanding job. My GC has been pretty great but I have absolutely no intention of tipping anything other than a plate of cookies.
tncraft
Original Author
11 years ago
Maybe tip is not the right word. We want to give them some kind of bonus/gift for going above and beyond.
kirkhall
11 years ago
I made my GC a plate of my Christmas cookies/candies that I make for neighbors and friends one year...
phoggie
11 years ago
I plan to take the crew pizza on Fridays....and donuts from time to time...but no tips..they are being paid very well.
davemartin88
11 years ago
We had a small crew of 5 that did 95% of the build for our log house. At the end of the build, I gave the crew a Dewalt AM/FM Boombox unit that also was used to charge their batteries. The boom box they used through most of the build was nearing it's last legs and the guys seemed very appreciative of the gesture. I think it cost about $150?
andi_k
11 years ago
I brought lunch/drinks every other week for whoever was working that day. But, I am planning on getting something for my builder and for the supervisor for Christmas (we just moved in a couple months ago)
akatricia
10 years ago
I'd like to revisit this question. We're getting ready to move in shortly and we'd like to tip the folks that have done such a great job on the house. We've had bumps (inevitable, I believe) but we're really happy with the end result. The crew and subs have been so professional and hardworking. Our house is pretty expensive (around $900k) so I do believe we should be generous. But I don't know what is generous, and what is over the top. Also, I don't want to insult any one. We're talking the architect, general contractor, project manager, field supervisor, and some of the subs (tile, finish carpenter, cabinet maker, electrician, plumber, HVAC guys). Many of the subs are one to two people companies. We do plan on holding a nice party for everyone and their spouses. Any guidance you can give would be great!
User
10 years ago
In 40 years of designing buildings I've never heard of tips or presents at the end of a project but one owner did give a party which was a bit awkward.

IMO the best thing you can do for any builder or design professional is to tell them you will recommend them to your friends or to anyone who calls. These people have little job security so being able to keep working is their greatest goal.
auroraborelis
10 years ago
I gave my architect a very nice bottle of wine when the plans were completed, and I will probably give him another, along with one for our builder when the house is completed.
okpokesfan
10 years ago
We have bought donuts, coffee, pizza, etc. for subs that were doing a great job for us. Not finished yet but don't plan on giving a bonus or anything.

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