Money for string lights

Submitted by LaunderMachine t3_z727jo in baltimore

Howdy y'all,

We're at the stage where we need to collect money from the houses on our street for the string lights to get installed but I'm not sure the best way to do it.

Venmo/cashapp sound the easiest but it's just me holding the money and people might be hesitant about that.

Other apps are interesting but not all people have those apps so I don't want to inconvenience anyone.

Any thoughts on what you'd use to efficiently and transparently collect money?

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Comments

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TerranceBaggz t1_iy5i2x4 wrote

Hi, I’m Chris. I’m the guy who’s done a lot of the lights, particularly in the canton/patterson park/brewers hill area. Most of my customers provide options for collecting payment. Venmo/Zelle/cash/check. Just keep a spreadsheet of payments and share it to something like Google drive like someone else suggested. Many people have a block Facebook group they communicate on or an email chain. I do a lot of estimates so I’m not sure if you met with me or a different company. I’m happy to give you an estimate if not. At 35-40 houses, unless we have to add our own poles to tie into, I’m generally in the $100-110/house range. Feel free to text me for anyone interested @ 410-241-4696.

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Hansel4407 t1_iy4aw18 wrote

Any which way they can give you money (venmo, cashapp, cash, check, zelle, etc) and just track it with a google spreadsheet that you share with everyone who is interested as to who has paid and who hasn't.

Good luck!

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jabbadarth t1_iy4cnv2 wrote

To add to the other comment I'd write up a little contract. Doesn't need to be long or professional just something that says x will pay y and if z happens x gets y back etc.

No reason to start a conflict with neighbors over something trivial because of a misunderstanding.

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neigh_time_pervert t1_iy4ts36 wrote

What’s the per house cost on this? I’m curious how it stacks up against my block that was done maybe 18 months ago. Which was something like 40 houses, lights didn’t cross the street sidewalks done separately, maybe $120 a house if I remember correctly.

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LaunderMachine OP t1_iy4tzu0 wrote

We were quoted for the string lights that stayed on the sidewalks only on each side for 4500$. I'm starting collections at 140 per house because 32/40 agreed to donate to it.

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neigh_time_pervert t1_iy4vff8 wrote

Nice. Seems like consistent pricing. I bet we used the same guy. Or 4500 is just the going rate for that job.

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Proud_Calendar_1655 t1_iy4icgv wrote

With that many houses/people, it might be best to offer them options as in Venmo, Zelle, or cash/check (depending on the cost.) I know about every month I hear of another money transfer app and some people like my mom just don’t trust any of them.

Idk if you’re doing this through any kind of HOA or anything, but it might be best if people pay into an account that’s not anyones personal account. Or if not find another trustworthy neighbor people can also pay if they aren’t comfortable paying you.

But for keeping track, I’d suggest something like a google spreadsheet with house numbers and colored boxes. Simple and understandable.

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christwin t1_iy4iyw9 wrote

Most households on my block were happy to pay upfront by either venmo or check. There was one household where I wrote up a little contract for them and allowed them to pay after the lights were installed. They ended up paying by venmo beforehand because the cost wasn't worth the trouble of continued back and forth for them. I think the fact that most neighbors could correspond on our block's facebook group and everyone knows my particular address helped to add a level of comfort.

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[deleted] t1_iy4eqzl wrote

[deleted]

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LaunderMachine OP t1_iy4f2yp wrote

We got all 40 houses to say yes and 32 of those willing to donate. If one didn't say yes tbh I'm not sure what we'd do. One person was on the fence because she thought the poles would block our already narrow sidewalk and we showed her how skinny they were so she agreed.

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