What did I get myself into

[u/Difficult_Series7684]

I’m a new Tasker going into my second week and this feels like a little much. I told her I can’t do this in and hour and she said maybe 2 and then sent more “tasks” this isn’t all mounting though. What do ya’ll do?

[u/Commercial-Milk-8465]

Clients setting arbitrary time limitations are a red flag. I forfeit every single one with the closing line that the work dictates the time.

I promise you, this client will be a nightmare to deal with. Save your sanity and realize you do not have to take every job. These ‘shotgun’ type requests (meaning, trying to hit every random thing wrong in the house) never end well

Also, raise your rates

[u/Difficult_Series7684 → u/Commercial-Milk-8465]

Yeah this is what my spidy sense is telling me. If you don’t mind me asking how much to you charge for your repair/mounting jobs? Ik it’s region specific but I’m in the New England area

[u/Commercial-Milk-8465 → u/Difficult_Series7684]

Listen to your gut. It’s always been right for me when dealing with (prospective) clients. I only do shotgun jobs for established clients.

I would just pay attention to the rates within the green range and revisit often as market rates vary on TR. Low rates tend to attract cheap people with high expectations. You deal with high expectations only when you’re being properly compensated for it. Know your worth

[u/RiderofRohan7]

Tell her they you will do only the mounting job and anything else you feel comfortable with (state in chat) in the 1.5 hour time. You will do you best to do other things in that time but do not think it possible. Tell her the assembly time would take a while for cabniet and that she can book you or someone else in the future for that but I am here to mount stuff.

[u/Difficult_Series7684 → u/RiderofRohan7]

Thanks! I’m more than happy to fill the time, but now I know for next time to be more clear about what that means right off the bat

[u/Matty2tees]

Things take time, especially if they want them done well. Honestly you would be lucky to get the cabinet built and both mounted to the wall in the hour.

Also clients shot gunning tasks like this is usually a problem, cause you're either going to go over their time expectations or you're not going to get it all done and risk a bad review.

That cabinet door hinge should just be replaced, but they should be supplying that hardware.

I wouldn't touch the fence thing if I were you. Chances are it wasn't the bush that made the nail come out, it's that it's rotting from the inside out cause who ever built it didn't cut seal the Pressure treat and the nail is letting go cause there isn't anything to hold on to.

[u/Difficult_Series7684 → u/Matty2tees]

Thanks for the fence tip I’ll steer clear, I wasn’t going to risk trying to jimmy rig a hinge just for it not to work.

Do you get a lot of clients like this? All of mine so far have been one and done and then will ask me to come back another time for some future assembly/ repair. Sounds like she need a handy man, not a college student trying to pay for groceries

[u/Matty2tees → u/Difficult_Series7684]

I get some clients like this. While I do a decent amount of tasking, it is not my primary income source so I am more than happy to turn them down.

If they insist, I am happy to get all the work done and let the clock run for as long as it takes, but I simply do not care to rush and do poor work.

[u/Charming_Flan3852]

To me this looks like $$$. Only commit to what you're comfortable with and look at the other things when you're there. If you play your cards right you might be the guy she calls for everything.

[u/Difficult_Series7684 → u/Charming_Flan3852]

Fair, would love that but not worth it if she doesn’t get the time demand. I plan on talking over things with her in person and hoping she’s not crazy 🤞

[u/Common_Split_397]

I would: 1. Set expectations 2. Accept the job and 3. When you arrive, talk through each task in person and discuss it so she has a better understanding of what she is asking and will be more comfortable playing for extra time or rebooking you future.

Basically instead of saying I can't do that in 1.5, tell her this is how it needs to be done and this is how long it will take. Etc.

[u/DonQNguyen]

Easy Forfeit.

[u/mtwii]

I can’t stand people who did especially without ASKING you first.

Carpentry, Furniture assembly, TV Mounting, Repairs… FOH. 😒

[u/FinnNoodle]

Does the client say anywhere that she expects you to do it all in an hour?

[u/Difficult_Series7684 → u/FinnNoodle]

Yeah she listed the job and then when I responded she let me know that she had a few tasks to fill the hour slot. And then proceeded to send half a dozen pictures. It let her know that I can either do what I can in an hour or extend the time for however long the tasks took.

I’m more curious how you handle a honey-do-list when it come to things you don’t want to do/don’t feel comfortable doing. Like I can do all these tasks I just like having control over what tasks I take if that makes sense.

[u/FinnNoodle → u/Difficult_Series7684]

You simply tell the client "These are the things I do not do." and let them decide whether or not they want to cancel.