News article:

http://realestate.msn.com/article.as...1445&gt1=35000

My favorite anecdote:

When asked why it was taking so long to install a garbage disposal, the
worker replied: "When they showed me this morning at Home Depot, I thought I
understood."

It's sometimes hard to find an honest workman; give him cookies.

On Jul 19, 7:40*am, "HeyBub" wrote:
News article:

http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=207414451=35000

My favorite anecdote:

When asked why it was taking so long to install a garbage disposal, the
worker replied: "When they showed me this morning at Home Depot, I thought I
understood."

It's sometimes hard to find an honest workman; give him cookies.

# 11. Dont blindly accept that the copy of his insurance certificate,
or lisence that he gives you is real, call his broker, they will
inform you if he is covered now and when it expires, a broker usualy
will mail you a copy. I recieved one that was a phoney. Call your city
clerk also

# 12 Go to your local courthouse, records are open to the public. I
hired onecontractor that I found out to late he would loose 1-2 cases
a year in court for the last 10 years. Contact anyone listed if there
were cases, I hired a guy that owed near 10 people, but nobody could
collect since he rented and had anything of value in his girlfriends
name. He put in my windows, a week later it rained, they leaked, I
went to court and won, I never collected, his nickname was "Speedy"
from Ind.

# 13 A permit pulled is your friend, not a tax. You get free unbiased
inspections as the job progresses if you request them, put in contract
you dont pay in full until it passses the final inspection. [ To many
folks get half assed jobs done and dont ever know it until its to
late] I am almost never 100% satisfied, and catch mistakes on most
every job I hire out.

# 14 Hire someone else that Knows the business to oversee the job and
can make sure your contract and job dont get you in the position of
partial paying before finish points are met.

# 15 Most important, check refrences and go see work, a guy in
business 10 years should have a list so long you will never have time
to check them all. If a guy gives you refrences of 10- 5000$ jobs and
with the size of his crew and completion time you know it represents 2
months work for him, you have to wonder that he isnt showing you much,
because he cant.

# 16 Depending on type of job big advance Down payments can hurt you,
as in they dont show up. I attempt to negotiate, to pay most when they
actualy start, by check.

HeyBub wrote:
News article:

http://realestate.msn.com/article.as...1445&gt1=35000

My favorite anecdote:

When asked why it was taking so long to install a garbage disposal, the
worker replied: "When they showed me this morning at Home Depot, I thought I
understood."

It's sometimes hard to find an honest workman; give him cookies.


Hi,
Sure I treat them like royalty. Two guys who did our reroofing job(metal
tiles), I gave them a bottle of wine, bottle of aged rye each after
treating them with a backyard BBQ. They completed the job beyond our
expectation/satisfaction. Good ones are still out there but hard to find
because they don't need to advertise.

"HeyBub" wrote in message
m...
News article:

http://realestate.msn.com/article.as...1445&gt1=35000

My favorite anecdote:

When asked why it was taking so long to install a garbage disposal, the
worker replied: "When they showed me this morning at Home Depot, I thought
I understood."

It's sometimes hard to find an honest workman; give him cookies.


What a STUPID story...In 20 years of drywall contracting here in Maine with
NO licensing laws I have rarely seen any of the crap the story talked
about..Getting paid however is the problem I see most...Quite a few jobs I
bid on the homeowner adds things on with the old "since your already here"
line like that means I'll do it for free or at a reduced rate or the "we've
decided to do this instead" and expect me to take rock down and do it over
for free or "we thought that was included" line and I have to fight to get
paid...I get the money for the materials the DAY they are delivered..Half of
the rest when the rock is hung and the remaining when the job is complete
plus the add ons per my contract...Usually all I have to do is tell them the
rock comes down ALOT faster than it went up to get paid...And yes I have
taken it down once when the homeowner refused to pay for the hanging untill
the job was complete and RAN not walked away from the job...I also called
every other drywall contractor I knew and told them to BEWARE...They won't
pay....He must of gotten somebody out of town to do it at a higher rate
because of travel....LOL...Screw him...I also know quite a few general
contractors who have been running back to jobs for over 2 YEARS trying to
get the rest of their money...Homeowners nit picking every little thing or
trying to say something was included that clearly wasn't hoping they will
just give up and go away even after doing the everything they asked...I
asked why they didn't take them to court and they said the judges almost
ALWAYS sides with the homeowner regardlees of the facts even going so far as
to blaming the contractor for "not explaining things clearly"...Check out
the responses to the story....LOL...

On Jul 19, 5:11*pm, "benick" wrote:
"HeyBub" wrote in message

m...

News article:

http://realestate.msn.com/article.as...1445&gt1=35000

My favorite anecdote:

When asked why it was taking so long to install a garbage disposal, the
worker replied: "When they showed me this morning at Home Depot, I thought
I understood."

It's sometimes hard to find an honest workman; give him cookies.

What a STUPID story...In 20 years of drywall contracting here in Maine with
NO licensing laws I have rarely seen any of the crap the story talked
about..Getting paid however is the problem I see most...Quite a few jobs I
bid on the homeowner adds things on with the old "since your already here"
line like that means I'll do it for free or at a reduced rate or *the "we've
decided to do this instead" and expect me to take rock down and do it over
for free or "we thought that was included" line and I have to fight to get
paid...I get the money for the materials the DAY they are delivered..Half of
the rest when the rock is hung and the remaining when the job is complete
plus the add ons per my contract...Usually all I have to do is tell them the
rock comes down ALOT faster than it went up to get paid...And yes I have
taken it down once when the homeowner refused to pay for the hanging untill
the job was complete and RAN not walked away from the job...I also called
every other drywall contractor I knew and told them to BEWARE...They won't
pay....He must of gotten somebody out of town to do it at a higher rate
because of travel....LOL...Screw him...I also know quite a few general
contractors who have been running back to jobs for over 2 YEARS trying to
get the rest of their money...Homeowners nit picking every little thing or
trying to say something was included that clearly wasn't hoping they will
just give up and go away even after doing the everything they asked...I
asked why they didn't take them to court and they said the judges almost
ALWAYS sides with the homeowner regardlees of the facts even going so far as
to blaming the contractor for "not explaining things clearly"...Check out
the responses to the story....LOL...

Overly picky or perfectionists customers are quite a challenge.

Percentage wise, they are a small group.

I charge them more on any subsequent jobs for what I term "hazardous
duty pay."
I also give a heads-up to other contractors. :-)

Andy

On Jul 20, 1:56*pm, WhiteTea wrote:
On Jul 19, 5:11*pm, "benick" wrote:





"HeyBub" wrote in message

om...

News article:

http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=207414451=35000

My favorite anecdote:

When asked why it was taking so long to install a garbage disposal, the
worker replied: "When they showed me this morning at Home Depot, I thought
I understood."

It's sometimes hard to find an honest workman; give him cookies.

What a STUPID story...In 20 years of drywall contracting here in Maine with
NO licensing laws I have rarely seen any of the crap the story talked
about..Getting paid however is the problem I see most...Quite a few jobs I
bid on the homeowner adds things on with the old "since your already here"
line like that means I'll do it for free or at a reduced rate or *the "we've
decided to do this instead" and expect me to take rock down and do it over
for free or "we thought that was included" line and I have to fight to get
paid...I get the money for the materials the DAY they are delivered..Half of
the rest when the rock is hung and the remaining when the job is complete
plus the add ons per my contract...Usually all I have to do is tell them the
rock comes down ALOT faster than it went up to get paid...And yes I have
taken it down once when the homeowner refused to pay for the hanging untill
the job was complete and RAN not walked away from the job...I also called
every other drywall contractor I knew and told them to BEWARE...They won't
pay....He must of gotten somebody out of town to do it at a higher rate
because of travel....LOL...Screw him...I also know quite a few general
contractors who have been running back to jobs for over 2 YEARS trying to
get the rest of their money...Homeowners nit picking every little thing or
trying to say something was included that clearly wasn't hoping they will
just give up and go away even after doing the everything they asked...I
asked why they didn't take them to court and they said the judges almost
ALWAYS sides with the homeowner regardlees of the facts even going so far as
to blaming the contractor for "not explaining things clearly"...Check out
the responses to the story....LOL...

Overly picky or perfectionists customers are quite a challenge.

Percentage wise, they are a small group.

I charge them more on any subsequent jobs for what I term "hazardous
duty pay."
I also give a heads-up to other contractors. :-)

Andy- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Agree. Many years ago use to fix TVs and developed a good reputation
for honest and ethical business. If didn't fix in the house, didn't
charge and gave customer alternatives for taking it elswhere or my
'bench job'.
That gave customers with limited resources time to decide in a
dignified manner.
Occasionally one would get an overly suspicious customer (either by
nature or had been burnt by some previous repairman?). The sort that
would stand over you almost suspecting you of stealing something out
of the TV set!
In only one case did I 'fix' the deteriorated parts so the customer
could not take them to another repair shop and claim that their
replacement was unnecessary.
One very small item (about 50 cents) was a resistor that 'looked'
perfect with bright colours, but it tested open. Knowing that the
customer would definitely question that, based on its pristine
appearance, I took the propane torch to it and burnt it to the
proverbial crisp! Similarly one tube (an #AX4 diode) tested OK but
didn't work, whereas a brand new one worked fine. Again knowing the
customer might take it to the drug store tube tester and diodes being
particularly suspect to erratic test readings might again claim its
replacement was not required. So a touch of mains voltage took care of
that!
And that friends is my public admission of the one and only time I
falsified the condition of any parts. Most customers when the replaced
parts were brought back with the repaired set, would say "Here chuck
em in the garbage" or, if they said "Any use to you?" I would make a
point of trashing them myself right then and there.
As mentioned suspicious customers were rare, once one's reputation had
been established. Later we were in the catering business (weddings and
such) and again only the occasional customer was a problem.
But isn't it interesting communicating with people?

"WhiteTea" wrote in message
...
On Jul 19, 5:11 pm, "benick" wrote:
"HeyBub" wrote in message

m...

News article:

http://realestate.msn.com/article.as...1445&gt1=35000

My favorite anecdote:

When asked why it was taking so long to install a garbage disposal, the
worker replied: "When they showed me this morning at Home Depot, I
thought
I understood."

It's sometimes hard to find an honest workman; give him cookies.

What a STUPID story...In 20 years of drywall contracting here in Maine
with
NO licensing laws I have rarely seen any of the crap the story talked
about..Getting paid however is the problem I see most...Quite a few jobs I
bid on the homeowner adds things on with the old "since your already here"
line like that means I'll do it for free or at a reduced rate or the
"we've
decided to do this instead" and expect me to take rock down and do it over
for free or "we thought that was included" line and I have to fight to get
paid...I get the money for the materials the DAY they are delivered..Half
of
the rest when the rock is hung and the remaining when the job is complete
plus the add ons per my contract...Usually all I have to do is tell them
the
rock comes down ALOT faster than it went up to get paid...And yes I have
taken it down once when the homeowner refused to pay for the hanging
untill
the job was complete and RAN not walked away from the job...I also called
every other drywall contractor I knew and told them to BEWARE...They won't
pay....He must of gotten somebody out of town to do it at a higher rate
because of travel....LOL...Screw him...I also know quite a few general
contractors who have been running back to jobs for over 2 YEARS trying to
get the rest of their money...Homeowners nit picking every little thing or
trying to say something was included that clearly wasn't hoping they will
just give up and go away even after doing the everything they asked...I
asked why they didn't take them to court and they said the judges almost
ALWAYS sides with the homeowner regardlees of the facts even going so far
as
to blaming the contractor for "not explaining things clearly"...Check out
the responses to the story....LOL...

Overly picky or perfectionists customers are quite a challenge.

Percentage wise, they are a small group.

I charge them more on any subsequent jobs for what I term "hazardous
duty pay."
I also give a heads-up to other contractors. :-)

Andy

Seems to be more than just a small percentage around here in Maine ,
especially the high end homes on the coast... Mostly folk from the cities
and the richer they are , the worse they are..Most of the "regular" folk are
pretty good...As a result I too have 2 prices..One for the locals or return
customers and one for the ones that look like they are gonna be a PITA...I
have become pretty good at spotting them after talking to them a little
while but if it turns out they aren't a PITA I cut them a break by saying
the job went faster than expected and I've adjusted the final bill
accordingly....Although I like your hazardous duty pay saying and may use
it......LOL...Around here the construction world is pretty small and we tend
to look out for each other as well...

I charge them more on any subsequent jobs for what I term "hazardous duty
pay."
I also give a heads-up to other contractors. :-)

I introduced the "ass*ole tax" concept to a younger electrician I knew.

People that worked for the same corporation, although they had by various
means, put the screws to him (including one that tried to get him fired)
would take others recommendations to hire him for personal jobs and then
they'd -expect- to get a 'staff discount' on his bids.

I told him IF he was going to bid their jobs ( I wouldn't have) to calculate
his fair price, and THEN ADD $ 100.00 A-H Tax to his final bid..
He had numerous folks ante up the TAX.
This was about 20 yrs ago..AH tax has obviously increased now.

I do believe there is some truth to this. My Dad had a
customer one time, he'd figure his price, and then multiply
it by one and a half. Which worked out about right.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"benick" wrote in message
. ..


Overly picky or perfectionists customers are quite a
challenge.

Percentage wise, they are a small group.

I charge them more on any subsequent jobs for what I term
"hazardous
duty pay."
I also give a heads-up to other contractors. :-)

Andy

Seems to be more than just a small percentage around here in
Maine ,
especially the high end homes on the coast... Mostly folk
from the cities
and the richer they are , the worse they are..Most of the
"regular" folk are
pretty good...As a result I too have 2 prices..One for the
locals or return
customers and one for the ones that look like they are gonna
be a PITA...I
have become pretty good at spotting them after talking to
them a little
while but if it turns out they aren't a PITA I cut them a
break by saying
the job went faster than expected and I've adjusted the
final bill
accordingly....Although I like your hazardous duty pay
saying and may use
it......LOL...Around here the construction world is pretty
small and we tend
to look out for each other as well...

On Jul 19, 6:11*pm, "benick" wrote:
"HeyBub" wrote in message

m...

News article:

http://realestate.msn.com/article.as...1445&gt1=35000

My favorite anecdote:

When asked why it was taking so long to install a garbage disposal, the
worker replied: "When they showed me this morning at Home Depot, I thought
I understood."

It's sometimes hard to find an honest workman; give him cookies.

What a STUPID story...In 20 years of drywall contracting here in Maine with
NO licensing laws I have rarely seen any of the crap the story talked
about..Getting paid however is the problem I see most...Quite a few jobs I
bid on the homeowner adds things on with the old "since your already here"
line like that means I'll do it for free or at a reduced rate or *the "we've
decided to do this instead" and expect me to take rock down and do it over
for free or "we thought that was included" line and I have to fight to get
paid...I get the money for the materials the DAY they are delivered..Half of
the rest when the rock is hung and the remaining when the job is complete
plus the add ons per my contract...Usually all I have to do is tell them the
rock comes down ALOT faster than it went up to get paid...And yes I have
taken it down once when the homeowner refused to pay for the hanging untill
the job was complete and RAN not walked away from the job...I also called
every other drywall contractor I knew and told them to BEWARE...They won't
pay....He must of gotten somebody out of town to do it at a higher rate
because of travel....LOL...Screw him...I also know quite a few general
contractors who have been running back to jobs for over 2 YEARS trying to
get the rest of their money...Homeowners nit picking every little thing or
trying to say something was included that clearly wasn't hoping they will
just give up and go away even after doing the everything they asked...I
asked why they didn't take them to court and they said the judges almost
ALWAYS sides with the homeowner regardlees of the facts even going so far as
to blaming the contractor for "not explaining things clearly"...Check out
the responses to the story....LOL...

The MSN article was written by a hack and simply stated stuff that has
been said a million times before. The comments, at least some of
them, were written by kooks. The only real comment that made sense
was that there are people looking to get over on people in all walks
of life. Again, this is no surprise.

If you have to fight to get paid they you are either not screening
your customers carefully enough or your written agreement - assuming
you use one - isn't up to snuff.

It IS the job of the contractor to explain clearly to the owner what
is to be done and how it is to be done. Many contractors do not like
it, but it is a part of the business.

The simplest way to deal with the wallyas (while you're at it) is to
have a change order fee in your contract, a clause that says that no
change work can be started or other work delayed while waiting on a
change order to be signed, that no work is started until it is signed
and that all change order work is paid in full up front. If the
homeowner balks at this part of your contract before signing, it has
done it's job and eliminated a potentially problem customer for you.
It is your job to explain why the clause is there and why it is
constructed that way.

There are a lot of cowboys in the home improvement business and they
don't make it easy to tell the good from the bad as they don't wear
white or black hats. Contractor licensing laws came about in an
attempt to prevent hacks and scam artists from preying on the
unsuspecting. Licensing laws don't eliminate hacks or scams - if you
can come up with a foolproof method of separating the good from the
bad everyone will definitely listen.

The same as anything else in life, you have to start with a basis of
trust and have practices that plan for the worst. You are in business
- at least as important as your work skills are your business skills.
If you have problems getting paid the business skills need work. It
may be your contract, it may be learning how to eliminate the 1 in 10
problem customer that will do everything in their power not to pay you
- before you sign a contract.

R

In article
,
RicodJour wrote:



The MSN article was written by a hack and simply stated stuff that has
been said a million times before. The comments, at least some of
them, were written by kooks. The only real comment that made sense
was that there are people looking to get over on people in all walks
of life. Again, this is no surprise.

If you have to fight to get paid they you are either not screening
your customers carefully enough or your written agreement - assuming
you use one - isn't up to snuff.

It IS the job of the contractor to explain clearly to the owner what
is to be done and how it is to be done. Many contractors do not like
it, but it is a part of the business.

The simplest way to deal with the wallyas (while you're at it) is to
have a change order fee in your contract, a clause that says that no
change work can be started or other work delayed while waiting on a
change order to be signed, that no work is started until it is signed
and that all change order work is paid in full up front. If the
homeowner balks at this part of your contract before signing, it has
done it's job and eliminated a potentially problem customer for you.
It is your job to explain why the clause is there and why it is
constructed that way.

There are a lot of cowboys in the home improvement business and they
don't make it easy to tell the good from the bad as they don't wear
white or black hats. Contractor licensing laws came about in an
attempt to prevent hacks and scam artists from preying on the
unsuspecting. Licensing laws don't eliminate hacks or scams - if you
can come up with a foolproof method of separating the good from the
bad everyone will definitely listen.

The same as anything else in life, you have to start with a basis of
trust and have practices that plan for the worst. You are in business
- at least as important as your work skills are your business skills.
If you have problems getting paid the business skills need work. It
may be your contract, it may be learning how to eliminate the 1 in 10
problem customer that will do everything in their power not to pay you
- before you sign a contract.

R

I rarely manifest the graciousness to applaud well-reasoned posts, but
I'll make an exception. Your contentions are accurate and articulately
expressed.

Contractors as a lot are at least as incompetent and dishonest as
customers are unrealistic and difficult, so I'm a little tired of
hearing from the so-called professionals, about how much they loathe
their customer base.

On Jul 21, 11:39*am, Smitty Two wrote:
In article
,



*RicodJour wrote:

The MSN article was written by a hack and simply stated stuff that has
been said a million times before. *The comments, at least some of
them, were written by kooks. *The only real comment that made sense
was that there are people looking to get over on people in all walks
of life. *Again, this is no surprise.

If you have to fight to get paid they you are either not screening
your customers carefully enough or your written agreement - assuming
you use one - isn't up to snuff.

It IS the job of the contractor to explain clearly to the owner what
is to be done and how it is to be done. *Many contractors do not like
it, but it is a part of the business.

The simplest way to deal with the wallyas (while you're at it) is to
have a change order fee in your contract, a clause that says that no
change work can be started or other work delayed while waiting on a
change order to be signed, that no work is started until it is signed
and that all change order work is paid in full up front. *If the
homeowner balks at this part of your contract before signing, it has
done it's job and eliminated a potentially problem customer for you.
It is your job to explain why the clause is there and why it is
constructed that way.

There are a lot of cowboys in the home improvement business and they
don't make it easy to tell the good from the bad as they don't wear
white or black hats. *Contractor licensing laws came about in an
attempt to prevent hacks and scam artists from preying on the
unsuspecting. *Licensing laws don't eliminate hacks or scams - if you
can come up with a foolproof method of separating the good from the
bad everyone will definitely listen.

*The same as anything else in life, you have to start with a basis of
trust and have practices that plan for the worst. *You are in business
- at least as important as your work skills are your business skills.
If you have problems getting paid the business skills need work. *It
may be your contract, it may be learning how to eliminate the 1 in 10
problem customer that will do everything in their power not to pay you
- before you sign a contract.

R

I rarely manifest the graciousness to applaud well-reasoned posts, but
I'll make an exception. Your contentions are accurate and articulately
expressed.

Contractors as a lot are at least as incompetent and dishonest as
customers are unrealistic and difficult, so I'm a little tired of
hearing from the so-called professionals, about how much they loathe
their customer base.

If you loath customers, it probably comes out in your dealings with
people.
If you are pleasant, you get called back more often.

In dealing with others, I believe in:

1. Being honest
2. On time
3. Keeping customer informed, especially when you find a new problem
that affects the current
job.

Hope you have a great week,

Andy

Bad on your business too.

Andy

"WhiteTea" wrote:
"HeyBub" wrote

ALWAYS sides with the homeowner regardlees of the facts even going so far
as
to blaming the contractor for "not explaining things clearly"...Check out
the responses to the story....LOL...

Overly picky or perfectionists customers are quite a challenge.
Percentage wise, they are a small group.
I charge them more on any subsequent jobs for what I term "hazardous
duty pay."
I also give a heads-up to other contractors. :-)

LOL! Andy, we are the flip side of that. My reputation is well known
locally (passed by word of mouth). First time, they give me the normal
rate. Next time, I get a reduced rate and seem to bump other folks back
down the list. It's simple really. I'm polite, nice, pay on time (even
running to the bank for cash once in hard times on payday for a smaller
outfit just starting out. Registered and all legal, just short on cash and
preferred no delay as bank transactions took place). But the killer reason?

I feed the troops ;-) They fight over me because while I call myself a
'good cook' they tend to insert 'fantastic @%^#& cook- GOTTA Have that Job
on MY set Boss!!!!' I send'em home with fresh bread not even cold yet from
the breadmaker, and whatever else. Last time I had a big group, (9 guys) I
made 15 lbs of pulled pork, 1 gallon of 'japanese coleslaw' (an unsweet
type, oniony vice sugary), 4 loaves (2 lb each) of bread, 2 apple
crumb-cakes, carmelized onions with fresh whole green beans and sesame seed,
and I forget what else.

What folks forget is this works both ways. Good reps from contractors about
customers who don't abuse them are golden! And hey, I love to cook! It's
certainly not painful to get 200$ knocked off the bill and spend 50$ of that
largess to feed'em!

Um, folks following this, it doesnt work if you cant really *cook*. We
aint talking frozen totino's pizza nuked semi-warm.....

"cshenk" wrote in message

I feed the troops ;-) They fight over me because while I call myself a
'good cook' they tend to insert 'fantastic @%^#& cook- GOTTA Have that Job
on MY set Boss!!!!' I send'em home with fresh bread not even cold yet
from the breadmaker, and whatever else. Last time I had a big group, (9
guys) I made 15 lbs of pulled pork, 1 gallon of 'japanese coleslaw' (an
unsweet type, oniony vice sugary), 4 loaves (2 lb each) of bread, 2 apple
crumb-cakes, carmelized onions with fresh whole green beans and sesame
seed, and I forget what else.

Things like that go a long way. We always have refreshments on hand, even
if the guys are not working for me.

When the town crew was trimming trees on the street, my wife went out with
coffee for them. I later found a bunch of firewood on my lawn.

When the house across the street was being built, my wife gave them
unlimited ice water and water for other uses, occasional coffee and snacks.
.. More firewood, plumber fixed my toilet, another guy patched a hole from a
tree taken down and a few other little favors..

Three years later, I had a problem with my sewer line. Called the same
contractor that did the line for the house across the street. Turns out, it
was cause by the utility company moving a pole. He did the repair, billed
me and waited until the utility company paid up before he took any money.
He remembered we allowed him to use our cleanout to find the sewer line in
the street.

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
"cshenk" wrote in message
I feed the troops ;-) They fight over me because while I call myself a
'good cook' they tend to insert 'fantastic @%^#& cook- GOTTA Have that Job
on MY set Boss!!!!' I send'em home with fresh bread not even cold yet
from the breadmaker, and whatever else. Last time I had a big group, (9
guys) I made 15 lbs of pulled pork, 1 gallon of 'japanese coleslaw' (an
unsweet type, oniony vice sugary), 4 loaves (2 lb each) of bread, 2 apple
crumb-cakes, carmelized onions with fresh whole green beans and sesame
seed, and I forget what else.

Things like that go a long way. We always have refreshments on hand, even
if the guys are not working for me.

When the town crew was trimming trees on the street, my wife went out with
coffee for them. I later found a bunch of firewood on my lawn.

When the house across the street was being built, my wife gave them
unlimited ice water and water for other uses, occasional coffee and snacks.
. More firewood, plumber fixed my toilet, another guy patched a hole from a
tree taken down and a few other little favors..

Three years later, I had a problem with my sewer line. Called the same
contractor that did the line for the house across the street. Turns out, it
was cause by the utility company moving a pole. He did the repair, billed
me and waited until the utility company paid up before he took any money.
He remembered we allowed him to use our cleanout to find the sewer line in
the street.



Ed, isn't it amazing what happens when you're nice to people?
They remember, all small kindnesses add up are are repaid in
one way or another.

TDD

HeyBub wrote:
News article:

http://realestate.msn.com/article.as...1445&gt1=35000

My favorite anecdote:

When asked why it was taking so long to install a garbage disposal, the
worker replied: "When they showed me this morning at Home Depot, I thought I
understood."

It's sometimes hard to find an honest workman; give him cookies.


All good points. An honest contractor is 1 in a 100. I have had horrible
experiences with contractors. But I have finally found one who makes
sense. He let's me do all the electrical work except connecting circuits
at the panel. He reviews what I've done and makes recommendations on how
to improve things. Basically, he does only things I cannot do. Another
example - I dry fit all the plumbing and he solders the joints,
especially when they are above your head or near wires. BTW he is
licensed everything. His charge is $300/day, 8 to 5pm and doesn't take
lunch. If you are a DIYer, look for something like that.

Also, it's true that there is no such thing as a bargain. But do
remember, that a high price tag is often a polite way to decline a job.
When I needed a new roof on the addition and four skylights put in, I
got estimates of 6500, 5700, 4300, 3500, and 1900. I went with the 1900.
They showed up with a crew of 5 at 7am, were done by noon, removed a
useless antenna on the main roof and removed 2 tons of my own
construction debris (rationale being, we are here, we have a dump truck
- why not). They've been in business for 30 years.

I have recently posted a question about the plastering estimates I've
been getting for my kitchen. The first one was $8500, the second $7200,
the third $2100, and the forth $1800. I'm going with the $2100 - they've
been in business for 50 years.