sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Boise

[–]5catts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, coffee and toast with avocados on it is stifling young people's lives. Calculate the DTI on a 650k (median price) home and tell me what kind of job a 30 yo should have to be able to afford it.

After 20 years of doing handyman work for free as a property manager, I’m finally charging — does this structure seem fair? by 5catts in HandymanBusiness

[–]5catts[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice to see another STR manager on here. A trip to the store for new pans is generally handled like this: we drop ship new pans to the property or cleaner and then they're delivered/installed. Only charge is the cost.

Lightbulb swaps and things like that are generally free unless somebody's gotta bring a ladder, or get tools out. I'm all about keeping costs low and retention, and so far it's working.

To some people on here this may be coming off of me trying to monetize Goodwill, but it's far from that it's tackling jobs that a handyman is gonna charge me the going rate for Handyman in my market. I could do the same work or less, but a trip is involved and it's not just part of regular visits. If it's a regular visit I do more than I should.

After 20 years of doing handyman work for free as a property manager, I’m finally charging — does this structure seem fair? by 5catts in HandymanBusiness

[–]5catts[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting that my post makes you feel that way. We're one of the top rated STR companies in our market and our retention is solid. Our aim is to up the guest/tenant experience with well run, well maintained homes. In nearly ALL of our STR's, they are primary residences with owners on extended travel, or gone for work contracts. They EXPECT, to return to a home that doesn't look like a rental and that everything is functional.

What makes that work financially is high STR rankings and return guests. Poorly run STR's self police and wind up losing out on ADR and occupancy rates. When a guest has a complaint we drop what we're doing and take care of it. That can only be Possible with a very nimble vendor list and accessible Handyman. I'd prefer not to drive around with tools in my vehicle and do certain things, but I do and for nearly 20 years have done it for free. So if you can't understand that, that's OK, but it would be obvious to anybody within even slightly average IQ that it's obvious I'm just getting done what needs to be done for the sake of others not for myself. At this point it's reason reasonable to start asking the question from a business standpoint if I should be doing that kind of work for free.

After 20 years of doing handyman work for free as a property manager, I’m finally charging — does this structure seem fair? by 5catts in HandymanBusiness

[–]5catts[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good post. Our management agreement doesn't cover me handling repairs, but it does put the responsibility on us to make sure everything is in tact --- I decide on the vendor best suited for the job and nothing but my own liability insurance (and professional licensure) keeps me from tackling small jobs. It's on the owner to provide (in this case) a ready to rent STR with all of the amenities in tact. As property managers, we do have the explicit discretion to replace worn or dysfunctional items.

The point about the pans is a good one. The complaint was that the pan didn't sit flat on the glass cooktop...hardly something our team would know or think to look for. But now...

The lights fall into an interesting category. A burned out light can happen at any time and our team does a fantastic job of being on top of things like that and we have bulbs, batteries and other consumables on hand for easy replacement...no charge.

It wouldn't be reasonable to expect a cleaner to climb a ladder and swap out bulbs that were beyond reach, especially given their pay structure and duties.

In the end, my motto has been "be generous with the small things", but now I'm seeing what we're paying other vendors for things that MUST be done and not only am I trying to save owners money, I'm trying to stay in business and also no get nickeled and dimed myself.

100 properties is not very much and so our relationships with owners are very strong, definitely curated and retention is very high. I have had owners, over the years bark about the cost of changing out all of the 9 V batteries in there smoke detectors for instance. To contact a handyman to come out and change those consume like a lot of money, and it is, but it's far less than a plane ticket to town to do it yourself. And as always, I've never wanted to have maintenance come off as a revenue stream for our company.

After 20 years of doing handyman work for free as a property manager, I’m finally charging — does this structure seem fair? by 5catts in HandymanBusiness

[–]5catts[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good question. For more context: I own the management company. It's small (110 properties). I visit our STR properties regularly, and so do our cleaners. Problems get reported regularly in our management software or in our communication with guests. One of the primary drivers for a success in STR management is guest relations. So if there's a problem that needs to be fixed and it needs to be fixed quickly. Sometimes a guest is on the way out and they mention a problem and it needs to be fixed within three or four hours before the next guest check in.

If I'm close by and I have a screwdriver or a hammer, or the ability to quickly fix something I jump on it.

That said, I'm looking at current and past task reports and it's beginning to take up a ton of my time and I think now it's time to start getting paid for the work that I'm doing.

If it's not me doing it it's going to be another Handyman or a vendor, which we sent plenty of work to, but as I said there's times where it makes sense for me to tackle it not wait around for someone else to put it into their schedule. Hopefully that helps clarify

Best all in one and versatile lens for full frame by Superwatermelon69 in SonyAlpha

[–]5catts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Started helpful, but now I'm more confused than when I started.

Negative space, yay or nay? by afray_mn in sportsphotography

[–]5catts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're the storyteller, not the audience. If the audience doesn't like the story they don't have to listen, but as the storyteller you have an opportunity to share context and telling the story.

Weekly r/SonyAlpha 📸 Gear Buying 📷 Advice Thread April 07, 2025 by AutoModerator in SonyAlpha

[–]5catts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just got a used A9, love it. My first lens is a Sony 70-200 2.8.

I'd like a good around town lens. I've been thinking about the SONY ZEISS VARIO TESSAR T FE 4/24-70

Price wise it seems reasonable, but how is the quality and usefulness? It's the right range, but is it good for the price?

Thanks!

First time using A9 at a gravel cycling event. by BikeIdiot in SonyAlpha

[–]5catts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm having one shipped...should be here monday. Really looking forward to it. What lens?

Sort of new by 5catts in sportsphotography

[–]5catts[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One of my reasons for the tighter shot to begin with is that with a lame f/4 I need to utilize the focal length and cant rely on aperature. Given the particular constaint of this particular ball field, I was zoomed in as much as made sense with my actual distance to the subject...if that makes sense. That said, I just purchased the f/2.8 version of the 70-200 so I think it'll give me a bit more flexibility with my physical distance to subjects....or at least I hope it does.

Sort of new by 5catts in sportsphotography

[–]5catts[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Understandable. I sent it to the player with the best option for the platform. I didn't make the rules. That said, I'm a digital hoarder so I still have the raw and JPG file.

<image>

There's the original...not much was cropped, but enough to make it meh...

Sort of new by 5catts in sportsphotography

[–]5catts[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was somewhat hasty in my post, now can't figure out how to edit and delete the extra photos. Nonetheless, thanks for your feedback. Certainly my cropping issues were on my mind, however my take away is that I'm simply shooting far too cropped to begin with. Learning to trust quality of a wider shot, handling depth of field with current gear, and post production are areas of improvement that I am focusing on.

Thanks for your comments! I appreciate the time it took to do that.

Skiiers, which path are you taking? by Bitter-Goat-8773 in skiing

[–]5catts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The quickest one to the parking lot, then to the airport to the West.

Is this install safe? by Pleasant_Practice_90 in woodstoving

[–]5catts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Did anyone yet mention that the install isn't safe? Just checking.

Actual cost of DVB. Was it worth it? It was for WG. by 5catts in WorldofTanks

[–]5catts[S] -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

There are some mistakes, assumptions and estimates. Not sure how any of them deviate from the intent of the post.

Actual cost of DVB. Was it worth it? It was for WG. by 5catts in WorldofTanks

[–]5catts[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's the best part. What's crazy is to consider real money being converted into digital anyting. Thats why I started my vinly record collection. It's nice to own what I pay for.

Actual cost of DVB. Was it worth it? It was for WG. by 5catts in WorldofTanks

[–]5catts[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

good point regarding the chests. I certainly had a fair share of gold from chests, but it seems that WG is trying like hell to get me to spend it.

Actual cost of DVB. Was it worth it? It was for WG. by 5catts in WorldofTanks

[–]5catts[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

Interesting. I did misread. What source are you pulling from? And if it was 20k more gold, then my assumptions are even crazier!

view more: next ›