Homers!

[Resu]

As with my previous question, for fellow trainees AND mentors.

What is the general view on homers. Obviously it all falls down to competency but I just wondered what other peoples views on it were? (I'm sure I would know the answer if I asked in the main part of the forum!)

On the same topic, ok I understand we are all based in different parts of the country, but how much would you charge for a homer compared to your work wages (a percentage would be fine ) obviously it would likely be smaller jobs but then you have to consider running your own vehicle (if you don't get the work van home!), markup on materials, probably doing it in the evenings or at weekends too as well as covering your own "backside" should anything go wrong!

Thanks again chaps!

 

[Drexyn]

Off topic here mate but where in Scotland are you?

 

[Marvo]

I'm not sure what a 'homer' is.....apart from the Simpsons....but I assume you've something else in mind

 

[Resu]

Off topic here mate but where in Scotland are you?

North West

I'm not sure what a 'homer' is.....apart from the Simpsons....but I assume you've something else in mind

A small job outside of work usually for cash. Not sure what else you could call it? Lol

 

[Marvo]

Ahh, I'm bit slow on the uptake, never heard of the phrase before but I'm with you now. When I worked in the UK the British Telecoms guys there used to call them 'foreigners' which was also confusing because I thought they were referring to me until I found out what the word meant in that context. Maybe that name was just a local one.

The way they used to do it was the customer would get a quote or two then the guys would offer to do it cash for around a third less or maybe more in some cases. This meant the customer got it 30%-40% cheaper but the tradesman was making good money because whereas the original quotes had VAT included in them he obviously wasn't declaring the work so he wasn't paying the VAT over to the taxman. A lot of the time they also stole the materials for the job from the company so their profit margins were even higher.

Problem is you're only going to make one friend which is the customer (hopefully) but you'll make several enemies if you get caught such as your employer, the taxman and the guys who wasted their time and energy giving the original quotes. My advice would be tread carefully.

 

[Paul.M]

Resu I think the Mentors dont really want to answer your question about how to work on weekends for cash in hand at trainee level, it is a bit awkward for us mate.

If your going to do it get yourself some PLI at the very least to cover the type of work your going to do.

Only take on the small jobs that you are competent to carry out, that you are able to test and cert. Cover your backside. This is the land of "No win, No fee" and I have heard of many stories of tradesman doing weekend work being taken to the cleaners for a simple mistake. EG hot drill bit on a carpet, cost him £800 out of his own pocket for a £70 job! For me... 15 years ago I put my backside through a ceiling but I have the skills of a plaster and decorator so I fixed it myself free of charge and got a tip from the home owner. Lucky! that could have cost me about a grand for a £100 job.

Any trainees that are reading this thread PLEASE be careful in your decision to work outside of your Monday to Friday job. I'm no Angel (in the past ) and I would not of done the "weekend work" if I knew then what I know now. Its your choice, we cant tell you how to live your life. Only give you advice via experience. My answer is no, dont do it at this level. Your time will come through hard work and qualifications.

 

[Marvo]

Yeah, reading Pauls post I'm guessing things have changed in the last 25 years or so please heed his warnings. Nobody worried about liability insurance and no win on fee lawyers in the good old days.....or traffic cameras, Asbo's, CCTV surveillance and computer viruses for that matter.

 

[Resu]

Resu I think the Mentors dont really want to answer your question about how to work on weekends for cash in hand at trainee level, it is a bit awkward for us mate.

If your going to do it get yourself some PLI at the very least to cover the type of work your going to do.

Only take on the small jobs that you are competent to carry out, that you are able to test and cert. Cover your backside. This is the land of "No win, No fee" and I have heard of many stories of tradesman doing weekend work being taken to the cleaners for a simple mistake. EG hot drill bit on a carpet, cost him £800 out of his own pocket for a £70 job! For me... 15 years ago I put my backside through a ceiling but I have the skills of a plaster and decorator so I fixed it myself free of charge and got a tip from the home owner. Lucky! that could have cost me about a grand for a £100 job.

Any trainees that are reading this thread PLEASE be careful in your decision to work outside of your Monday to Friday job. I'm no Angel (in the past ) and I would not of done the "weekend work" if I knew then what I know now. Its your choice, we cant tell you how to live your life. Only give you advice via experience. My answer is no, dont do it at this level. Your time will come through hard work and qualifications.

Never thought about that. I meant more smaller things for family & extended family more than touting about for them. Nothing major and certainly no big cash deals. I find I'm being offered more and more often now and the extra dosh comes in quite handy. I would never take on anything out of my depth. My boss is happy for me to take on any external work provided I run it past him and is happy for me to certify it through the company. I would only accept jobs I feel I am competent to perform and he is obviously happy that I am competent enough too by letting me do this. He even offers me use of the van for homers.

Yeah, reading Pauls post I'm guessing things have changed in the last 25 years or so please heed his warnings. Nobody worried about liability insurance and no win on fee lawyers in the good old days.....or traffic cameras, Asbo's, CCTV surveillance and computer viruses for that matter.

That's the way of it now mate, getting harder and harder to live without worrying about something.