"The darkest hour of any man's life is when he sits down to plan how to get money without earning it." - Horace Greely
logo

Go Back   Saving Advice > Financial Chit Chat > General Discussion

General Discussion Please read our Forum Rules before posting
Feel free to talk about anything and everything about money.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 12-21-2008, 03:34 PM
gamecock43's Avatar
gamecock43 gamecock43 is offline
$ Saving Jr. College Student
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Coastal Georgia
Posts: 477
Last Blog Entry: Catch Up...
Points: 2655.00
Donate
Default Buying a house! Who to tip?

Hey guys,
My husband and I are in the process of buying our first house!! (Pictures in my blog...go look...I love it) We have the inspection on Tuesday...which leads me to a few financial questions.

Who do we tip? Do we tip?
We will be dealing with an inspector on Tuesday, then an appraiser is coming out, and we will have a real estate lawyer...I don't know the tipping etiquette.

Then there will be moving guys....do we tip them each after they load our stuff into the truck to "bribe" them to unload carefully...or tip after everything is unloaded so they dont think they got their tip and then unload badly...or tip after the load/unload...but then they might think I am a lousy tipper since I will be diving the tip in half. How much to tip anyways?

...this whole tipping thing drives me nuts. I wish I could hire someone to perform a service and then pay them for the service and send them on their way.
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 12-21-2008, 03:38 PM
disneysteve's Avatar
disneysteve disneysteve is offline
$ Saving Guru
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 16,309
Last Blog Entry: March 2012 Survey Income
Points: 99391.30
Donate
Default

The only person/people you should consider tipping are the movers. Professionals - appraisers, inspectors, lawyers - don't get tips.

I wouldn't tip the movers until the job was completed to my satisfaction.
__________________
Steve

* Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
* Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
* There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 12-21-2008, 03:38 PM
MiikeB MiikeB is offline
$ Saving HS Sophomore
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 151
Points: 810.00
Donate
Default

No one needs to be tipped when buying a house. You could tip the moving people I guess, I would tell them "be careful with the stuff and there might be something extra in it for you at the end." If they do a good job I would then tip like $10 each, but again, not required or expected from anyone imo. It also depends if they are simply putting things inside or if they will move/somewhat position furniture to the appropriate place.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 12-21-2008, 03:39 PM
Gjowers Gjowers is offline
$ Saving Sixth Grader
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 69
Points: 400.00
Donate
Default

I didn't tip anyone when I bought mine. The movers would probably appreciate sodas and snacks though. Buy them a dozen donuts.
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 12-21-2008, 03:48 PM
Snave Snave is offline
$ Saving Jr. College Student
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: ohio
Posts: 416
Points: 2280.00
Donate
Default

Movers only. They bust their rears. We had 3 from a moving company and got them pizza for lunch and then gave each an additional $25 each. If I was in that back-breaking job, I would appreciate it.
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 12-21-2008, 04:10 PM
gamecock43's Avatar
gamecock43 gamecock43 is offline
$ Saving Jr. College Student
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Coastal Georgia
Posts: 477
Last Blog Entry: Catch Up...
Points: 2655.00
Donate
Default

oh thank god I don't need to tip the typical 15%!! We are anticipating the movers to cost around 3 grand.
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 12-22-2008, 07:37 AM
jIM_Ohio's Avatar
jIM_Ohio jIM_Ohio is offline
$ Saving Professor
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Milford, OH
Posts: 5,388
Last Blog Entry: Career change
Points: 27923.63
Donate
Default

Movers definitely.

I would o the following:
If they are there first thing, have some breakfast waiting (doughnuts, bagels or similar. Coffee and juice too).
Offer to buy them lunch in middle of day. Take their order and bring it to them.
At end of day have a six pack for them when done
then tip as appropriate.

I did all of the above when we moved and not one scratch on anything.

If they work for a company (ours worked for Mayflower) it's possible the movers don't show up (our original movers did not)... so plan accordingly.
__________________
  • General questions get general responses. Specific questions get better responses. Want a better answer? Re-read my signature LOL
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 12-22-2008, 07:54 AM
Investing First Steps Investing First Steps is offline
$ Saving HS Freshman
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 102
Points: 545.00
Donate
Default

I strongly recommend ONLY tipping the movers if they are good and do everything to your satisfaction. I have had nothing but bad experiences with movers.
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 12-22-2008, 11:05 AM
segmond segmond is offline
$ Saving HS Sophomore
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 156
Points: 845.00
Donate
Default

I agree, in these hard times, I am not TIPPING anyone, I won't even tip the movers, however, what I will do is order some pizza and some cold drinks, help them move instead of just sitting and watching them.
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 12-22-2008, 12:48 PM
disneysteve's Avatar
disneysteve disneysteve is offline
$ Saving Guru
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 16,309
Last Blog Entry: March 2012 Survey Income
Points: 99391.30
Donate
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by segmond View Post
I agree, in these hard times, I am not TIPPING anyone, I won't even tip the movers, however, what I will do is order some pizza and some cold drinks, help them move instead of just sitting and watching them.
I think buying lunch is the same as giving a tip. Either way they are getting a bonus for doing the job, so that's fine.

As for helping them, I think you should ask first. Professional movers usually have their own routine and you could get in the way. They also probably won't let you on the truck for insurance reasons. Besides, it they are being paid by the hour and you help, you make the job go faster which takes money from them.
__________________
Steve

* Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
* Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
* There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.
Reply With Quote
  #11 (permalink)  
Old 12-22-2008, 01:20 PM
MoneyTrev MoneyTrev is offline
$ Saving Jr. High Schooler
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Posts: 86
Points: 470.00
Donate
Default

I remember my parents tipping movers although my parents helped out too! If you give them some incentive to do a better job, they'll do it!
Reply With Quote
  #12 (permalink)  
Old 12-22-2008, 04:27 PM
maat55's Avatar
maat55 maat55 is offline
$ Saving Post Graduate
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 3,481
Points: 18557.00
Donate
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by disneysteve View Post
The only person/people you should consider tipping are the movers. Professionals - appraisers, inspectors, lawyers - don't get tips.

I wouldn't tip the movers until the job was completed to my satisfaction.
I second this.
Reply With Quote
  #13 (permalink)  
Old 12-22-2008, 04:44 PM
creditcardfree creditcardfree is offline
$ Saving College Senior
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Midwest
Posts: 2,053
Last Blog Entry: More Snowflakes
Points: 13741.50
Donate
Default

Honestly, I didn't tip my movers. I just didn't think about it at the time...since there is so many other things going on.

There were about 7 guys for loading and only 3 for unloading. I figured they are getting paid by the moving company. I did say thank you numerous times and let them use the restroom when needed. They did a really great job!
Reply With Quote
  #14 (permalink)  
Old 12-23-2008, 06:24 AM
Caoineag's Avatar
Caoineag Caoineag is offline
$ Saving College Freshman
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 543
Last Blog Entry: Took some time off but I am back
Points: 2815.00
Donate
Default

We moved ourselves but I gave a thank you gift to my realtor. Something about 7am, freezing rain and cutting security bars off my windows for a couple of hours so I can close on time inspires my gratitude! Especially since we kind of let our realtor do all the heavy lifting with our less than helpful mortgage person. Normally though I wouldn't since they get a commission (and normally people buy much more expensive houses than we did). What's really funny is she got us a thank you gift to Home Depot I still feel a little bad that if you do the math, I cost more than my realtor did but we have been trying to make it up to her by referring everyone else to her
Reply With Quote
  #15 (permalink)  
Old 12-24-2008, 10:26 AM
segmond segmond is offline
$ Saving HS Sophomore
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 156
Points: 845.00
Donate
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by creditcardfree View Post
Honestly, I didn't tip my movers. I just didn't think about it at the time...since there is so many other things going on.

There were about 7 guys for loading and only 3 for unloading. I figured they are getting paid by the moving company. I did say thank you numerous times and let them use the restroom when needed. They did a really great job!
10 guys in total? I wouldn't tip em either, if you tipped each one $5, you do be out of $50. However, am sure you can get 2 large pizzas for far less plust some drinks.
Reply With Quote
  #16 (permalink)  
Old 12-24-2008, 04:26 PM
MiikeB MiikeB is offline
$ Saving HS Sophomore
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 151
Points: 810.00
Donate
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by segmond View Post
10 guys in total? I wouldn't tip em either, if you tipped each one $5, you do be out of $50. However, am sure you can get 2 large pizzas for far less plust some drinks.
I would definitely get more than 2 pizzas for 10 hard working movers but I agree, never thought of it but food is probably more appreciated than anything. Especially because if the movers all ride in the trucks to location, I assume getting somewhere to eat would be complicated having to close the truck up and go out.
Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off



Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
SEO by vBSEO 3.0.0 RC6 © 2006, Crawlability, Inc.

Copyright © 2012 SavingAdvice.com. All Rights Reserved.