Questions people actually ask
How quickly can someone be on site?
Priority bookings are typically on site within three hours during business hours. Standard bookings are scheduled for the next day or later. If we cannot make your window, dispatch tells you before you commit.
Why is there a 3-hour minimum?
Gophers are employees on payroll. When we send someone to your site they have turned down other work and travelled to you, and we pay them for that. The 3-hour minimum is what makes it possible to pay a fair wage and still show you a $49 rate.
What if the job finishes early?
You are billed the 3-hour minimum. Most customers use the remaining time for something else on the list — that is what the crew is there for.
What if it takes longer than booked?
The crew keeps going if they are free and you approve it, billed by the hour at the same rate. If they are booked elsewhere, dispatch tells you before the end of the block so you can decide.
Are Gophers contractors or employees?
Employees. We run payroll, remit CPP, EI and income tax, issue T4s and carry WorkSafeBC coverage. This matters to you: when you direct a worker’s tasks and hours, misclassification risk is real, and with us it sits with us rather than with you.
Are you insured?
Yes — liability insurance on every job and WorkSafeBC coverage on every hour worked. We will send a WCB clearance letter before the first shift if your general contractor asks for one.
What can a Gopher not do?
Anything that needs a licence or a ticket. That means work at heights and roofing, demolition, asbestos, mould and hazmat, electrical, plumbing and gas, confined space entry, heavy equipment operation, and the rest of the list on our services page. If your job includes any of it, we will tell you and point you at the right trade.
Do I need to provide tools?
Not for the basics — Gophers bring boots, hi-vis, gloves and a hard hat. Equipped bookings arrive with a vehicle, dollies, straps, blankets and hand tools. If the job needs specific equipment, say so in the booking and dispatch will confirm what we bring.
How does payment work?
Nothing is charged when you book. Hours are logged on site and sent to you to approve. Homes pay by card after approval; business accounts are invoiced net 15.
Can I cancel?
Free with 12 hours notice. Inside 12 hours, or if the crew arrives and cannot start, we bill the 3-hour minimum, because the Gophers are on payroll and turned down other work for your booking.
Do you charge extra for evenings or weekends?
Weekends are +15% and starts before 7am or after 7pm are +25%. Both are shown in the quote before you book — the price you see already includes them.
Do you cover my area?
Metro Vancouver: Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, the North Shore, the Tri-Cities, New Westminster, Delta, Langley and Maple Ridge. Outside that we travel for bookings of 6 hours or more — ask dispatch.