Bob Gibson
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- Messages
- 11,481
- Location
- Merrimack, New Hampshire
Frank they must be Yankees
Hey, at least we know that "stuff" flows downhill
Frank they must be Yankees
just had a rotten day today.
but I think Id have to put alot of blame on the contractor for not really letting the person know no matter how much pull their money has, their money might not be able to defy gravity, and thats something that could later on be a problem.
What? the future homeowner says? The contractor should answer, well, even with an expensive system , there might not be a guarantee that one day youll be dining and you will be ankle deep in your own poop.
I think even a common, dumb, moronic yankee would understand that noone likes to eat wheres theres poop.
This is why there are reality shows like Holmes on homes. Seems its so common the horrific jobs contractors do are always in need of correction.
A plumber once told me the two prime directives of plumbing:
"Stuff" flows downhill.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Don't forget..."Don't chew your finger nails"
I would agree in principal, but here is what happens, at least if you tell them up front.
The next bidder comes along and when they ask about the downside that you explained to them indepth, he just flat lies and tells them that can not happen with his system, so you lose a job.
I have always been taught to be honest, and as a contractor I always bring up any potential problems that I see with say a roof design for example. The next bidder says, " Oh, Larry is full of crap, we can do that with no problem whatsoever!" or the architect gets insulted and keeps me out of the bidding. I look like an idiot, until a few years down the road when there is a problem, but at that point the job is done, and I didn't make any money. I love it when they call me to fix the problem......
I have learned the hard way to keep my mouth shut. You are giving the average homeowner way too much credit.
The other Larry
As much as I hate to, I keep my mouth shut these days
Are you saying that you don't tell a prospective customer that his plans carry risks, in order to get the work?
I don't like the dancing I have to do to get work, and in fact have grown to hate my job as a general contractor. Not because I do not like the work, but the politics and the paperwork drive me nuts. But I'm 55 and have invested way too much money in this business, and change comes hard. I hope to be doing just commission work in the shop in the next couple of years, but I have to be debt free before I make that jump. One more good house and I am there, and I can't wait.