DIYbanter - View Single Post

In article , (v) writes:
On 11 Oct 2004 10:20:53 -0500, someone wrote:

I own a home in Northern Virginia and it's been discussed in the local
papers and among friends that it's really hard to get contractors to work on
residential projects lately. So I understand that. The contractors are having
booming business right now and they're swamped.

[snip]

The contractors I know regale me with "stupid homeowner tricks"
stories. Like the guy who started yelling and screaming that he was
being ripped off because he had put calipers on his "half inch"
sheathing and found it was only 7/16ths. On this one, which was
reported to me as it happened, the contractor actually asked me what I
though he should do - and I suggested he have the customer measure his
2x4s (which we all know are actually 1-1/2 by 3-1/2.

Heh, but if he did that, it would give the jerk another thing to beat
him up over. A homeowner like that would accuse the contractor of getting
crappy materials for everything.

Supply and demand is what it is. My suggestion is to make it as
precise and easy for the contractor to understand what to do, WITHOUT
the need for personal "showing" or "telling" or explaining. Draw up
and specify the work so that you do not need to SAY it. This is
partly a gender thing - supposedly a study done by Home Depot about
tools & products showed that males preferred to read the specs and
study the product without anyone "bothering" them - while females
preferred to have a person describe and show them (even if the written
specs and directions were present), Not exactly the same, but I think
analogous.

Ahh. I figured that was too formal for what I needed, but now I think
you're right. Even though I only want my driveway and sidewalk redone, which I
don't think is a big job, there are a couple details I want to specify. I'll
give that a try. I work in computers, so even though I'm female, I can draw it
up fairly analytically with measurements.

As for customer service - well, a lot of guys go into the trades
because they are good with their hands, and not because they like
dealing with people. This leaves an opening for larger businesses
that stress the service side - and then sub out the work to the
others, with a big markup to the customer. If you see a business
opportunity here, go for it. Otherwise it is what it is.

I understand that. I think that for those who have a receptionist or
secretary who answers the phone, they can certainly train her to help with
followup. But that's just my armchair quarterbacking. :-)

I try to have stuff drawn up and written down and fax'd over, and then
they can come look at the site any time without taking up my time
either. Contractors have only their time to sell, and when they are

That's excellent advice. Thank you very much!

--
- Sharon
"Gravity... is a harsh mistress!"