Brown Construction is a full service contractor providing clients with a comprehensive range of preconstruction and construction services for new construction and renovation projects in the Western United States. The primary services we provide are detailed below, along with the delivery method options we most commonly implement. We understand that each client and each project will have their unique set of goals and needs, so we’re here to help guide you through these service options to ensure yours are met. We provide preconstruction and construction services and self-perform portions of the work. We procure and administer all subcontracts for the project. We are highly experienced with numerous general contracting delivery methods, the most common of which are below. CM/GC (construction management/general contracting) The advantage of bringing us in early on in project design is the substantial cost savings that comes along with receiving these wraparound services, as well as helping to minimize scope gap when the project moves into construction.

Brown Construction can provide the following preconstruction services in the planning and design phases of a project (additional services are provided as-needed). Value engineering & cost analysis (incl. life cycle cost analysis) Cost estimating (conceptual and detailed) Building information modeling (BIM) Facility & technology assessments We provide preconstruction and construction services, but do not self-perform any portion of the work. Construction management delivery methods are below. Typically, all subcontracts are procured and administered by Brown and we guarantee the schedule and cost (construction management at-risk). If the client prefers to administer all subcontracts directly, we provide our construction management services on a fee basis. We provide all services for planning, design, construction and commissioning of a project. We hire the architect, engineers and all consultants required to meet all of the project needs. This team works closely with the client from the very beginning of the project through commissioning and warranty.

“Design-build” describes both the service provided as well as the delivery method.business for sale laramie wy We are contracted early in the planning or design phases of a project to work collaboratively with the client, project architect, engineers and other consultants that the client has hired. fixers handyman servicesWe perform budget/cost updates regularly throughout the design process to ensure the project can be built within budget. business for sale cecil plains“Design-assist” describes both the service provided as well as the delivery method. CM/GC (CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT/GENERAL CONTRACTING) We work as a construction manager through preconstruction, then as a general contractor from the subcontractor bidding process through construction, procuring and administering all subcontracts and possibly self-performing some work.

“CM/GC” describes both the services provided as well as the delivery method. Our approach focuses on client needs and resources every bit as much as design and materials. Communication is the centerpiece of our project approach—we are committed to an open, collaborative exchange of ideas with all team members from the owner to subcontractors. Our ability to successfully manage a project centers around our understanding of the big picture as well as the details, managing that information effectively, and cultivating relationships that create a professional, quality environment. The following delineates our typical project approach. Brown Construction, Inc. builds a wide variety of project types for both public and private owners. While we specialize in both multifamily and commercial projects, construction of multifamily and mixed-use housing has been the backbone of our business for over 50 years. In just the past seven years, including current work, our portfolio includes over 5,000 living units, with projects ranging in size from 14 to 652 units.

Our commercial work ranges in size from 2,000 to 220,000 square feet per building. We also have a strong portfolio of academic, civic, and community work. Approximately 85% of our work has been under design-build or design-assist, negotiated contracts. With a dedicated preconstruction department and veteran estimators, we excel at collaborating early on in project design to produce the best outcomes. Brown Construction, Inc. has significant experience with all of the following project types (for project details and photos, see the Experience page): Student housing: on- & off-campus Senior living: independent, assisted & memory care Will Make Your Life Easier I can fix or improve just about anything!  Don’t see what you need?  Just give me a call and ask! Call Now For a Free Estimate Take Care of Fix-it Lists Flat Screen TV Wall Mounting Switch and Outlet Replacement Appliance Repair & Installation Troubleshoot Most Home Problems

Help Around the House IKEA & Furniture Assembly Hanging Mirrors & Art Outdoor Play Structure Assembly Bath Grab Bar InstallationHow much should you charge per hour as a handyman?Unfortunately, there is no simple answer.  In fact, handyman hourly rates are all over the map.  Some demand over $100/hour (I’ve seen $150/hr) because they know what their doing and do it efficiently, professionally, and immaculately.  Then, there are the guys on craigslist that only charge $10/hour and still have trouble getting customers!So, where do you fit in on this scale?  What’s a good rate to base your service pricing on?That’s what I hope to help you answer in this article.  I’m going to lay out a step-by-step process you can follow to help nail down a rate that will keep you profitable and busy.Whether you are charging by the hour or by the job, follow these steps to price for success.How much does it cost for you to live comfortably and happy?Write down a list of all of your expenses and an approximate monthly total for each.  

Spend time and try to think of all of your expenses, even the ones you only pay once a year.  Assign a monthly value to each and  add them into an excel spreadsheet (or just write them down).Make sure not to leave anything out.  Include entertainment and even a little extra for unexpected expenses.  The idea here is see how much living actually costs.  If saving money for retirement is part of your lifestyle, make sure and include that, too.Now, list your handyman business expenses and assign a monthly value to each expense.  Once again, include everything.  Here is a list of most handyman business expenses.(To get more detail on the expenses of running a handyman business, check out this complete pricing guide which details all of the expenses you will encounter and other helpful tips and strategies to help you succeed.)Figure out your tax responsibilities by doing a little research.  Here are some taxes you will be required to pay.  However, this list is not all inclusive and you may have other tax obligations outside of these.  

I am not a tax professional and am only providing the following information as an example.  Your specific tax obligations may be different and you may consider consulting with a professional. – For the year of 2014, self employment taxes are set at 15.3% according to irs.gov.  These do change each year, so you’ll need to keep up with this. –   As you probably already know, this tax depends on how much money you make each year.  The more you make, the higher the percentage of taxes you will pay.  For the purpose of figuring out your hourly rate, you will need to estimate this tax.  After all expenses and tax write-offs, I don’t plan on making more than $30,000 this year.  I’ve estimated my federal income tax at about 15% based on my expected tax bracket. – Check with your state to find out if you need to pay this tax.Once you have an estimated percentage for each tax, add them all up to come up with your total tax percentage.Let’s say your taxes are as follows:Self employment:  13.3%

Federal Income Tax:  15.0% (based on less than 32K/year) State Income Tax: 0%Total Taxes = 28.3% (example only)The next step is to figure out how many billable hours you are going to work each month (assuming you have the business).You may be thinking that 40 hours is a good estimate.  In reality, however, with all of the quoting, following up, driving time, etc. it is probably more realistic that you will bill somewhere in between 25 and 35 hours per week.The goal here isn’t to see how many hours a week you can work, but how many hours it is reasonable to work without totally consuming your life.  After all, you’ve started this business to have some freedom right?  Enjoy that freedom and set a limit on your billable hours.For my handyman business, I’ve decided that 25 hours/week is a good amount of work.  This allows me time to improve my business, have a personal life, and run this blog.  I’ve based my work load on my own personal lifestyle design.  I recommend you do the same.

Don’t want to do the math? I’ve created an hourly rate calculator to help you do this faster than ever! Click here to download “The Handyman Hourly Rate Calculator.”Now that you have an understanding of your costs and how much you think is a reasonable time to work, you can do some quick calculations to see how much you need to charge to live the lifestyle you have designed for yourself.It goes like this: Total Monthly Living Expenses = L Total Monthly Business Expenses = B Total Hours/Month = H Total Taxes (%) = T  Hourly Rate = L/[H * (1 – T)] + B/HExample: So let’s say you need to make $3,000/month to live, expected your business expenses to be about $1,200/month, estimate your taxes at about 30%, and plan to work about 32 billable hours per week.L = Monthly living expenses = $3,000 B = Business Expenses = $1,200 H= Monthly Billable Hours = 128 T = Total Tax Rate = 30% = 0.30Hourly Rate = $3,000/[128 *(1-.3)] + $1,200/128 =  $42.86/hour  So, now you know how much you need to charge in order to live the now defined lifestyle that you have laid out in terms of expenses.

The next step is to evaluate this hourly rate and determine if how you can provide that much value in one hour.Is the number you came up with reasonable?  Based on your experience, qualifications, etc, can you comfortably look a customer in the eye and say “I charge X amount?”  If you can, awesome. If you don’t feel comfortable charing that amount, why not? What’s holding you back? I’ve found that most handymen tend to undervalue their services. I made that mistake and it cost me tens of thousands in my first year as a handyman. Instead, learn the business skills you need so you can gain the confidence to charge what you should. It’s likely higher than you think.Be sure to download the “Handyman Hourly Rate Calculator” by clicking the link below. “Handyman Hourly Rate Calculator”Congratulations! You’ve just completed the first step to pricing for success. But, don’t stop there! There a dozens of tips and tricks that can help you add thousands in profit each year while keeping your customer happy:Quoting best practices – Learn the tricks of the trade for talking money with customers.