Hiring day laborers?

[Igelfreundin]

Does anyone have experience hiring day laborers? I’ve been doing all the work on my new-to-me 70-year-old house myself, but was thinking about hiring a couple of people to help with interior painting this weekend. My plan is that I’d work alongside of them, so the three of us should be able to get a lot done, and I’d be able to supervise, which might be important because I’ve only got rudimentary Spanish skills.  I’ll provide all the equipment.

In particular: Does $15 per hour (in the DC area) for interior painting sound reasonable? Should I plan to provide lunch?

Any advice is appreciated.

[smalllife]

No personal experience, but my uncle did this up in your area (grabbed the guys that are always at the big home supply stores looking for work).  I believe he did $10-$15 - cash, with food.  Not positive if it was a full day.

[Le Poisson]

We did this for moving - hired a guy to load the truck and another to help unload.

We sent an email to a local church describing the sort of person we needed and asked the minister to let us know if anyone in his congregation could use a little cash. On one end it turned out really well, we got an out of work contractor who was built like a bull, and worked dang hard.

On the other, we got totally the wrong guy - a college kid who hardly did anything and wouldn't lift heavy stuff, but seemed to enjoy our daughter's company.

[MsSindy]

My DH approached a guy that was doing landscaping work and asked if he wanted to do any "side" work on the weekends.  We pay $16/hr (Philly suburbs) plus I provide a nice lunch for them.  We got lucky and found someone who has a lot of motivation to work and so he's been doing side work with us for the past 5 years - he's kind of like family now!  Whenever we have larger jobs, we ask if he can bring another guy and he typically supervises the other guy.  Our guy, Morris, speaks pretty good English, is very jovial, is a hard worker and always shows up on time!

And, just recently we found out that he's been sending all his extra money back home to his wife (no kids) and they have been building their own home over the years.  He also supports his brother who hurt his back and can't work.  He plans to "retire" from the US in a couple of years and go back to Mexico and probably open a small shop/restaurant stall (He's just turning 40).  So, I feel good that we're able to help him with this goal.  It's certainly been a win-win for both of us, plus we enjoy having him around.