On Jun 1, 11:47*pm, "SteveB" wrote:
"L. Guteireze" wrote in message

...





Greetings

I'm retired from the construction industry, but not yet retired.

We live in a neighborhood, where people help their neighbors, we have
neighborhood cookouts & such. Though retired from construction, people
still ask me to repair this or that, some drywall work, odd job etc. I
always attempt to help people out, and if I find it's going to be a
project which will take time, I refer them to a contact. When I do work,
its for a modest charge, because I no longer hold a license, or carry
insurance.

A younger couple moved into the neighborhood. They wanted a deck & patio
door replaced. After asking around, a few neighbors pointed them my way..
Being up front, I told them I would _help_, but wouldn't give them a price
on anything.

They came up with a 14'x16' deck design, I drew it up, so they could get a
permit. I set up batter boards and strung it out for the post holes (6 of
them). The deck was going over part of a concrete patio, so I had him rent
a concrete saw to remove where 4 holes were going to be placed. I cut out
4 areas 12"x12" for these holes. My first sign this guy was cheap, was
when he started bitching about how much the saw cost along with the blade.
I helped the fella run the auger, called to have the holes inspected,
poured the concrete, set the beams & all floor joists. He wanted to
install the flooring himself, and I showed him how to do some railing,
because he wanted a built in gate within the railing. When it came time
for the steps, I figured them out & cut them for him. After the deck was
completed, his wife started complaining the deck was too _small_. It was
their design, with them saying how big they wanted it.

For the patio door, I still have aluminum coil stock, and an aluminum
brake to bend for flashing under the new door, and on top for a _z_
flashing. I set the french doors, which he & his dad were the helpers.

So he says he will have a cook out when it's all done. I never discussed
getting paid, and I really don't want a dime for it. He said he will have
a cook out when everything was done. Well, he did, several of them, and
didn't invite myself or my family to join. He didn't invite anyone in the
neighborhood, just some drunken _friends_ from his old neighborhood. This
was last year when the work was completed. I just wonder where these
friends were, when the work was being done.

Fast forward to this year. He wanted to borrow my sawzall, I told him I
don't loan tools.

Now my lawnmower recently died. This guy bought a new Scag zero turn this
year. He seen my brother bring over his mower for me to use. The guy
walked over, said I should have asked him, for he would cut my yard for a
mere $30 a pop. I was totally stunned, he would even suggest he would
charge me. The fella doesn't cut grass for a living, this is his toy, and
I know it was expensive, but geez. Not only that, several people in the
neighborhood have different companies cut their yards for $20, and all
these lots are similar in size.

Am I getting a taste of the "me" generation?

I know, I should just get over it.

You just did what any good person would do.

I disagree. Loaning a guy who just moved into the neighborhood a hand
tool or giving him a ride to pick up his car is reasonable. Getting
involved in an open ended project to build a whole new deck and
install french doors because other neighbors sent them over is nuts.
For all anyone knows, the new guy could have spent the last 10 years
in jail.

In the situation discussed, I would have been willing to go over, take
a look, spend an hour or so and give them some ideas and advice on how
to proceed, but that's it. You start out small and see how and if
they respond and how the relationship grows over time.





*But you did it for a person who
doesn't have a clue.

Far more likely, he does have a clue. He's figured out how to use
people to get what he wants.




I'm a retired welder. *I have equipment, and do a lot of stuff for myself,
and "friends". *I don't broadcast it around. *When the question comes up, I
give a price, take it or leave it. *None of this, "I'll do this for you
later." *I could be napping or fishing. *When you get these new little
yuppie creeps, they don't know how to do it, or they wouldn't be asking you.

You just got in too far, too deep, and too soon. *I can tell you're a right
guy, you just hit a "taker" who took advantage of you.

Exactly.


Now for the payoff. *You gonna let it happen again?

Steve- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -