Lack of common courteous sense.

[andyt11]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

From what ive seen in my home improvement dealings, the customers that are the biggest shytheads tend to be the high dollar ones. The nicest ones always seem to be the lower range ones. They are more down to earth, they are the ones that will offer you something to drink, or lunch. Have no issue with you using their "facilities".
There is no way in hell that that I would not let someone working in my house, use the bathroom.
One job i was doing, the woman was home, she tells me she has to run to the store and she'll be right back, she starts walking out, turns around says " by the way, we have cameras around the house." and walks out. I was tempted to leave right then and there.

Wow! That's rude!

On the odd occasion we have anyone doing work at the house, we always feed and water them. It just makes sense. People are going to be much more inclined to go the extra mile and do a good job (should the opportunity arise) if they are not working for a dink.

[vash]

my friend Jeremy. previous job, carpenter.

he was not allowed into the pristine home, especially the crapper..so he went native and took a dump in the bushes.

next thing you hear, was the homeowner yelling at his dog to stop eating his own poo..!! the dog ate jeremy's dump!!

it really is the best bar story. so funny. i am not condoning this type of behavior.

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Jeremy, where did you get the recent pic of a clean shaven Milt

I admit that's not a current pic of Milt. However, I was able to get this snapshot of him leaving the tile/backsplash job at the end of the day.

[Zeke]

I had forgotten about cameras. I did this window repair job last summer. I had worked for the mother of the clients, an attorney, a few times. They both work and tell me where the key is. I noticed the Internet cam placed on a side table if full view of the room. Felt weird working on camera, but not much rattles me. The only thing was that the couch in front of the windows was a sectional beast. I could not move it. I tried picking it up and it wasn't going anywhere. It was on an area rug next to hardwood floors. I knew I couldn't skid it on the floors. So I removed the cushions, covered it with my own clean drops and stood on it a few times.

They knew where the work was going to take place but took no measure to ensure access. Never heard from those 30 somethings again.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by vash

my friend Jeremy. previous job, carpenter.

he was not allowed into the pristine home, especially the crapper..so he went native and took a dump in the bushes.

next thing you hear, was the homeowner yelling at his dog to stop eating his own poo..!! the dog ate jeremy's dump!!

it really is the best bar story. so funny. i am not condoning this type of behavior.

Just got back up from the floor. That's hysterical

[speeder]

If someone is working at your house, you have to let them use a bathroom and have access to drinking water. That's just basic human decency. As for getting ripped-off by workers who were in your house or shop, that's what you get for being cheap and using some lo-bid contractor with no name to protect and no references who hires criminal schitbags.

A large part of my business model as a painter was my name and references. I could charge more, (a lot more), because of the quality of my work but also because I could tell people that I know and trust my workers and never, ever hire random strangers to work in someone's house. I frequently worked inside of houses and had their key for days or weeks where they had *one painting* that was worth more than the house and could be carried out by a child. And that does not include all of the other paintings that were worth more than the house.

Your name is your bond, and your value in this world. I've never had to stoop to working for people who would deny a bathroom or other common courtesies to workers. Most of the people I've worked for either were friends going in or are friends afterwards.

As for the no A/C deal, I know people of means who are not running their A/C right now because it's so damn expensive. Hundreds of dollars a month and times are tight for some people.

[VINMAN]

The way you present yourself as a contractor is just as important too. I see so many that look like total slobs working on peoples houses. When i go to look at a job or an estimate, I wear a clean collared shirt with my logo on it. Clean pants, etc. Shaven. I wont show up in a ripped up Carharrt, and grimy boots, looking like i just came out of a crawl space. I pretty much work in the same outfit. Unless im doing real dirty work outside. I probably dress neater than I do at my regular job. Image is very important to people.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by Zeke

But your attitude sucks. I hope there's a blacklist in your area and you're on it. I wouldn't change out a hose washer for you. Have a nice life. [INGORE]

Why would his place be on any contractors' blacklist? If anything, his shop is now known as the place where they have all sorts of great stuff just sitting around.

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I hope there's a blacklist in your area and you're on it. I wouldn't change out a hose washer for you.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Look171 - the woman may have had a bad experience in the past.

I recently contracted to have an addition built onto my shop. The shop has one restroom, at the back of the building, so I thought nothing of letting the crew walk through my building to use the restroom.

The metal erecting crew finished their portion of the job on a Tuesday, then on Tuesday night my shop was broken into and several thousand dollars worth of tools and personal property were stolen.

Because of this, the other contractors (framing, electrical, drywall) all were restricted from entering any portion of the building other than what they were working on. I no longer give a f*k if they have to drive 4 miles for a drink of water. F*k day-labor meth heads, and the business people who employ them.

For the record, all my employees undergo background checks and drug testing.

Yes, that's why I make sure my men know not to use the home owner's restroom. They should "NEVER" go to parts of the house where there is no work. I understand completely how she feels. My crew is small and I know the guys well so I trust them. There are great people out there,that much I do know. Many of them appreciate us, the bad apples ruin it for all of us.

My men know this and I am very clear about the fact that we are there to do work, and not live in comfort and drink their flavored coffee. They can do that working for someone else. You need to take a dump, drive down to the local Micky Ds and take as long as you want. I don't care.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

Our kids or mine anyway weren't taught any manners at school. That's been my job. I've spent endless hours talking to them about he importance of good manners. Some of it has sunk in but at times I feel like I'm fighting a loosing battle...

Part of my job is technical support and some of our clients work from home. So at least twice a week I have to go to the clients home to do my job. How often do I get offered a drink or cup of coffee? Rarely at best and I can be there for hours fixing the problem. So I bought a small refrigerator for my car and keep it stocked with OJ, bottled water and soft drinks (pop?). I just excuse myself and go out to my car and have a break.

they will. They learn by experience and watching. Just think, how did you learn? You got it from your parents.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by speeder

If someone is working at your house, you have to let them use a bathroom and have access to drinking water. That's just basic human decency.
------------------------------------------------------------------
As for the no A/C deal, I know people of means who are not running their A/C right now because it's so damn expensive. Hundreds of dollars a month and times are tight for some people.

I agree but I don't use the head if I can help it. Others that are in my supervision will have to go elsewhere. Water, of course, but I bring that too.

If this chap is that close in his finances, he shouldn't be hiring me.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

From what ive seen in my home improvement dealings, the customers that are the biggest shytheads tend to be the high dollar ones. The nicest ones always seem to be the lower range ones. They are more down to earth, they are the ones that will offer you something to drink, or lunch. Have no issue with you using their "facilities".
There is no way in hell that that I would not let someone working in my house, use the bathroom.
One job i was doing, the woman was home, she tells me she has to run to the store and she'll be right back, she starts walking out, turns around says " by the way, we have cameras around the house." and walks out. I was tempted to leave right then and there.

Isn't that the truth about the rich. They forget that you and your crew are human also but that's ok. I really like working for the upper middle class folks. Nice to deal with and never any complains. The rich requires a bit of work. Many of them are actually OK. When we work for Carloe King, she had food catered for us daily. That earned her lots of brownie points.

[scottmandue]

This is why when I worked in a high end house I always peed in the sink... gotta keep that crapper clean!

But seriuosly, we did some high end jobs behind the gates (Rolling Hills) and Belmont shores, bronze and marble statues, original oil paintings, and the owners would gleefully hand over their house keys to this stinky, grungy, guy reeking of beer (me) and go on their merry way. OK this was 20 or 30 years ago... or maybe it was just my honest face

Then there was the guy who tossed me the keys to his new 928 so I could install a heater in his garage.

[Tobra]

Well sure, a 928, what are you going to do, drive it into Lake Michigan?

Dude, if they put a web cam in there, you should have given them a show. Maybe give them a look at the old chocolate starfish, or shake your johnson at them. I could never have resisted that

[look 171]

No keys= no work. Get someone else. Its that simple. We don't advertise, we are no where to be found on the net. There are exceptions to some of the people I have done work for. Many are high profile Hollywood Mucky Mucks, so I understand about the keys. Usually their personal help is always around to let us in and out of their home. Yes, we actually do use their guest restrooms and we keep the dripping dick to 0. My men will wipe up the water on the rim around the faucet just so there are no water marks. There little things goes a ling way. Home owners appreciate these little things.

[VINMAN]

Ever see that story on , I think 20/20. Some woman was gettin her carpets cleaned. She had a cam in her in her living room and bedroom. The guy was going through her panties and whackin off with them. Caught everything on camera. He ended up getting locked up.

[biosurfer1]

You had my sympathy until you started *****ing about the tip you got. I wonder how you would feel after tipping a guy for work you had done and then find out he went on a public forum and started complaining about what a dickhead you were for one thing or another.

If you need more money for a job, charge more...pretty low class to whine about not getting a bigger tip when tips are supposed to be gratitude above and beyond the agreed upon cost for the work.

[notfarnow]

Once I find a good tradesman, I treat them like gold.

I'm a fussy painter... it took me ages to find someone that does *really* great work. He's not real expensive, and he's tidy, works hard and is a real nice guy to have around.

Next week we're having a party, so there's a big push to get all that paint & trim finished. He's been here till 7pm or so just about every night. When I get home with the kids at 5ish, he always gets a cold beer in a frosty mug. When we make supper, we make enough for him.

I only refer him to my clients who I feel DESERVE him. He's too nice a guy to be stuck dealing with cheap pricks who want an apartment painted for $200. There are lots of bottom feeders that can do that work (I know, I use them too). This guy gets my nice clients with $$$ who want GREAT work but also have certain expectations regarding timeliness and tidyness.

Yesterday he told me he's starting to get too busy. Perfect, I said, looks like I'll have to start paying you more if I want to be top of the list. And I did.

[Zeke]

Nice story, Jake. You have a good attitude because you made yourself successful from scratch.

Or maybe it's the other way around.