Soffit Hive---August 12, 2009

[JP]

This little colony had trouble at some point evidenced by wax moth stuff and collapsed combs. They were able to reuse the fallen comb sections and fight off the wax moths. I believe the queen is in the inner bee vac box, I will know for certain tomorrow morning.

Here's the pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/pyxicephalus/August122009#


...JP

[beee farmer]

nice pics. JP.  good access for a soffet removal... I usuallyend up hav ing to remove the bottom and work over my head, honey drippin in my face.  Hope ya got the queen!

[Irwin]

Thank's Jp

[Cossack]

JP,
     What would you charge normally for a job like this?

[JP]

The going rate in my area averages around $400.00. I don't have a minimum charge. This job was less than 400.00.


Just shook them in a deep nuc about 15 minutes or so ago, didn't see the queen, she may have went right down into the nuc, will check again in a little bit.


...JP

[podius]

I was curious, I see everyone ask how much you charge, but my question is: Do you also repair the structure after your done or do they have to hire a contractor to fix it?

[G3farms]

nice little cutout, that is some real heavy duty looking gutter.

Do you ever come across any mean bees?

AHB nest and if you do how do you handle them?

You are certainly far enough south to see them, haha you can't get much farther south that's for sure!

Thanks for the pics and hope that queen is in there.

G3

[Kathyp]

what people charge varies from place to place.  in my case, i don't charge.  i take the bees, hive, gunk, and do the clean up.  my deal with the home owner is that they do the repairs.  most people are pretty happy with that.  it lets me be a little more picky about the jobs i take.  around here, most of my removals are outbuildings.  lots of farms around.  i do very few houses because i don't want the liability. 

JP does tons of removals.  i do a couple or three each year.  i do it just for fun and the genetics  :-)

[JP]

I do some repairs, I have a few friends that do most of my repairs, they are contractor/carpenters.

I personally have never dealt with confirmed AHB, although I can count on one hand, the amount of truly nasty bees I've dealt with. Most of our bees are sweet hearts, pun intended. ;)


...JP

[David LaFerney]

I do some repairs, I have a few friends that do most of my repairs, they are contractor/carpenters.

I personally have never dealt with confirmed AHB, although I can count on one hand, the amount of truly nasty bees I've dealt with. Most of our bees are sweet hearts, pun intended. ;)


...JP

I'm also curious about this because even though I'm a beekeeping noob I'm a highly qualified carpenter/contractor.  The question is, without getting into YOUR business - typically would someone who does bee removal and charges $400 (more or less) also do any repairs included in that price?  I think if I were doing it I would be fine with removing the bees, boarding up if needed, drying in, cleaning up and making the site safe for that price.  I have a friend/ex partner who would be happy to make it all look like new - once the bees were gone. 

Not to be exploitive, but I imagine keeping the removal and repair parts of the project separate would help to prevent sticker shock.  If I included everything in one bid that allowed a decent profit a lot of people would think it excessive. 

I'm just completing a trap out (for free) which if I were going to charge for I think I would need to get $3-400 for, because of all the time and return trips that I've done.  Still, that's a pretty good deal for the home owner because it avoids damage and repairs. 

[Natalie]

Great pictures jp, I could even eggs in pics 11 and 13.

[JP]

David, that price is usually just to remove the colony, but depending on the type of repair needed it could include the repair.


...JP

[David LaFerney]

David, that price is usually just to remove the colony, but depending on the type of repair needed it could include the repair.


...JP

Thanks, that's really very helpful.

[annette]

JP

I made a decision that if I ever have to do a cutout in my house, instead of hiring some inexperienced person around here, I will fly you out to do it, give you room and board and whatever money you want on top of that.

You definitely are the expert.

[JP]

Now Annette, for you there of course would be no charge, but you better hide that tasty lip balm! :-D


...JP

[David LaFerney]

Great pictures jp, I could even eggs in pics 11 and 13.

Are those eggs or a reflection?  Isn't that nectar in those cells?

My bad.  I do see eggs in the white cells at the bottom of the nectar.  Good eye.