I live in an apt building in Wash, DC. There is no doorman, but a building manager and of course a super. The building manager rented me the place, but on a day to day basis doesn’t do a whole lot for me, but mainly rents out other apartments that have become vacant. The super does everything and truly busts his ass, doing all the things that supers do. I want ideas on how much of a Christmas tip I should give. Also while you’re at it, any ideas on tipping the paper delivery person would also be appreciated.
Just throwing this out there, since I don’t know how much your rent is or how high end of a building it is:
If I was your super, I’d be happy as hell with $50 and a card that said “I/we appreciate everything you do for us” or something similar. Actually I’d be happy with just the card, it’s nice to be appreciated, and a lot of hardworking supers just get negatives from tenants. I had a super who lived in my building, and was badgered day and night with complaints and requests from tenants. People expected him to be on call 24 hours a day, and would get really upset if he had the audacity to not be home when someone tried to flush an entire roll of tp down the toilet or whatever. Hmm now that I think about it, give him $100 if you can :D.
Paperboy, I’d give $20 if you can afford it (and he’s a decent paperboy), less if you can’t or he isn’t. You can always ask some of your neighbors what they’re planning on giving.
For the super, I would say anything from a nice card (if you are a graduate student) to $25 (if you are a young person just getting started in your career) and then going up accordingly, to as much as $100 (if you are an executive or living off a trust fund).
I agree with $20 for the paper person.
Thanks for the replies. Anyone have an opinion on the building manager?
My building manager is more of a professional … he works in an office, kind of like me. I don’t consider his position one that gets tips. Maybe your manager does more hands-on work around the building?
Wait, what? You’re supposed to give gifts to the building management? Oh shit yo. I’ve never talked to the building super save for when I moved in and switched parking spots, and I’ve never called maintenance so I just have a vague idea that that guy who hangs around the building with a management company logo on his shirt is the maintenance dude.
Or is it different when it’s a large building? There are two 14-floor buildings side-by-side here, which is really big for the province I live in.