I have a brother who is a seasonal worker (manages golf course) and just got laid off for the winter as is typical.  I just got 2 cord delivered that’s in a big pile in the driveway (next year’s wood).  I could stack it myself - as I always do - but he’s always looking for cash through the winter so I thought I’d offer him some to take that stack, walk it (or wheelbarrow it) about 60 yards or so and stack it for me.  What do you think is a fair price to offer him to do it?  Any advice?  I know some wood guys will stack at an addition price, but I never do this because me and my three sons stack everything ourselves, so don’t know what they charge.  Just looking for a ballpark so that I’m not insulting to him and not overly generous on my part either.  Thoughts.

Pay him by the hour.

Yeah, I thought about that, but I’d rather just come up with a lump sum.  That way he can come and go as he pleases.  He can work his ass off and get it done if he wants, or work slow and I won’t be watching from the inside bithin about how slow he’s going since he’s paid by the hour.  I was just thinking of offering him $100 bucks but I honestly don’t know if that sounds like too much or two little.  I figure it takes me about 5 hours to stack 2 cord.  100 seems generous - but not overly generous - to me.

I think $20 Bucks an hour is a very fair price,especially done at own pace.   Throw in some lunch, since its your brother.

60 yards is quite a way to move that wood, even with a wheel barrow.  I hope it is not up hill!  I move mine about 120 feet but I can use the trailer on my 4runner or I can use the cart on my lawn tractor. 

It takes me about an hour or so to load a cord in my tractor and move it and stack it in the shed - and that is with one helper if that helps at all.  I think $100 could be fair depending on how it is being moved.

That’s a lot of pain in the ass work.
$200 would not be too much.

Ask him what he’d charge to do the job.

I proposed paying him to do the work, and he told me he will do it, but won’t take my money.  I told him I’m not helping him at all, and want to pay him.  He said to make him dinner.  Now I can’t figure out how I can even trick him to take money, so I’m going to just end up doing it myself.

Accept his offer, make him a nice dinner, and then buy him a nice gift afterward with the receipt so he can “exchange” it if it doesn’t suit him.

LLigetfa - 02 November 2009 01:31 PM

Accept his offer, make him a nice dinner, and then buy him a nice gift afterward with the receipt so he can “exchange” it if it doesn’t suit him.

yeah, make sure it’s something he hates, or maybe something stupid, like three or four toddler winter coats that come out to 150 bucks. then he’ll have to exchange them.

chutes - 02 November 2009 01:25 PM

Now I can’t figure out how I can even trick him to take money, so I’m going to just end up doing it myself.

commit a federal crime and steal his mail and pay a bill for him.

Get him an extra fancy Xmas present. He’ll know.

if he does not want to work for cash, find something he really would like but cant afford per his financial situation, and buy him that.
working for a tangible item is different than working for cash, at least when it comes to family…
does he need a new set of tires on his car?(thats probably way more than 200$ though), a new winter jacket?, etc etc
you get my drift.

Let him stack the wood, make him a nice dinner and after dinner give him a $100 or $200 gift certificate to the food store where he shops. Everybody appreciates food especially when they are laid off.

Steveo - 02 November 2009 03:11 PM

Let him stack the wood, make him a nice dinner and after dinner give him a $100 or $200 gift certificate to the food store where he shops. Everybody appreciates food especially when they are laid off.

+1

Shari

Or just set a place at the table for him till he gets back to work.

These are all awesome ideas.  Danno - you’re too funny.  The toddler jackets is good idea though, cause my brother has a good sense of humor, so he’d at least laugh through his anger.  The grocery store gift card is a good way to go too, I just think he’d throw it back at me.

Before my first reply I wondered if I wanted to speak up
because the first thing I thought was
it involved family.
Maybe just do it with your kids
and have him for dinner anyways.

Thanks Kenny.  He has dinner here all the time (and other stuff, like my fridge full of beer).  That, I think, is why he is reluctant to take money for helping me, because he probably feels that I do too much for him, when, really, I’m just happy to share and spend time with him.  Truthfully, kids have been sick, I’m busy, and would love to pay him to do it, but I think pride and family is getting in the way of him saying yes, when, it is a fair offer.  I get something, he gets something.  I think he feels like he wants to do it for me, since, he probably thinks I already do too much for him.  Maybe I should just take his offer, let him work, and when he’s done I’ll grill him a fat porterhouse steak, backed potatoes, and deep fried onion rings….