Bonus/Tip to Contractor?
I recently closed on a 3 family, and as part of the negotiation the seller, who is a developer, agreed to build me anotherstudio apartment in the unfinished basement. (We filed/C of O etc.) I had the seller put 25K in escrow until the work was completed. While the work was going on, I ended…
I recently closed on a 3 family, and as part of the negotiation the seller, who is a developer, agreed to build me anotherstudio apartment in the unfinished basement. (We filed/C of O etc.) I had the seller put 25K in escrow until the work was completed. While the work was going on, I ended up working fairly closely with the contractor. He basically did a great job, but it took about a month longer than the contract specified. Since the seller is paying the contractor directly, I’ve never given him a dime. I’m just wondering … as I am happy with the work done, if it is customary or necessary for me to give the contractor a bonus of some sort, and if so, how much? Thanks for your input.
But, but, but…why are we rewarding people for finishing a month late?
If you worked in an office, would you expect delight from yoru boss if your report were a month late?
Give him (or her) a nice bottle of whatever they drink (or the Peter Luger cert. is a great idea) and promise to use him or her in the future on all your work (you will have work). Then publicize him or her via neighborhood listservs, Brownstoner, etc. Our contractor is so happy for all our good recommendations of him that he gives us special priority in responding (or so he says…) and perhaps more consideration in rates.
Please share who is your Contractor!!!
thanks
A gift is classy. A cash bonus or tip is likely to be misread.
When I worked as a custom fabricator, it felt like the only time I ever got cash bonuses or tips was when someone jerky wanted to control me. I developed a heuristic about not trusting people who paid a tip or bonus that probably wasn’t 100% accurate, but did keep me out of trouble.
Get him a nice bottle of wine or a gift certificate to Peter Luger or something like that. No need to give him a cash bonus.
Do you realize how unusual your story is? Satisfied with a contractor?!!!
Just give him $2k since you’re so happy with the work.