Please, check my references!

It is surprising to me how few people bother to check references when they’re selecting a contractor to work on their place.  

Most potential clients will ask for a list of references, which I’m happy to provide.  I think that people with whom I have worked successfully are some of the best advertising I can get.  So it surprises me then, when I ask “What did they say about my company?”, and I’m told that they never contacted the references at all.  I mean, I’m glad I come across as honest, ethical and competent but really…..you never called them? 

More than one client has said something along the lines of “What’s the point?  Of COURSE your references will say good things about you” Well, yes, of COURSE they do…..that’s what I pay them for (cue laugh track).  There are other things to consider though. 

Remodeling, especially in an occupied home, can be a nerve wracking experience.  Your life will be disrupted, your personal space invaded.  For someone who has never gone through that process, it can be incredibly stressful.  So many choices to make, information to process, deadlines to worry about.  How your potential contractor deals with all of those things is critical to your happiness. 

So, if you are someone who places a high value on people returning your phone calls, or answering e-mails promptly, then ask about how well your potential contractor does those things. 

If you go absolutely bonkers over the slightest bit of dust……..ask how that was handled. 

If you like to know who will be at your house, and when……ask how scheduling information was handled. 

Ask.  Ask.  Ask. 

The point of these questions is to get an idea of how your potential contractor does things.  Sure, he’s a great guy, and he does great work, but how will you all get along?  Will you need to modify your style, or will you need to ask him to modify his (a somewhat less successful approach, historically!)? 

See, it’s not just about the end result.  It’s also about the journey that it takes to get there.  The questions you ask early on will help that journey to be as pleasant as possible.  

So, ask already!

What does "Time and Materials" mean?

In general, for most of the work I do, I work for either a fixed price or on a "time and materials" basis.  

With a fixed price, a client shows me the job, and I tell him or her exactly what I will charge to do the work.  Simple.  No risk to anyone but me.

Sometimes, however, I just can't give a fixed price.  If I'm digging into something that I have no way of knowing what I'll find when I open it up, or if the scope of work is general, I may need to work on a "time and materials" basis.  

What this means is that I charge the client for every hour I spend on the job, and for all of the materials, subcontractors and any other job expenses that apply (trash removal, for example).  To those charges, I add a markup, or fee, which is generally a percentage of the total costs.

You'd think "time and materials" would work out great for the contractor, right?  Well, in one way, it does.  There is little risk to me, since I haven't given a fixed price.  At this point, the risk is on the client.  Perfectly fair, and certainly understandable, but here's the rub.

Clients are usually a happy campers when they know, to the penny, what their project is going to cost.  When they don't know, anxiety can set in.  You can guess who the anxiety gets taken out on, can't you?

Now, you should know that I do my best to estimate what the work will cost.  I've been at it for a long while now, and have a good sense of what things will take.  I'm going to share that expertise with you, and I'm generally pretty good, but here's a nugget of truth.......I DON'T HAVE X-RAY VISION, AND I'M NOT CARNAC THE MAGNIFICENT!

So, despite the fact that I consider myself honest and ethical, despite the fact that I'll tell you verbally and in writing that things could end up costing more.....a lot more, despite your assurances of "I understand", despite all of that, I will....when I present you that invoice that is twice what I thought it MIGHT cost, when I see the look in your eyes that says "How could you?!"....I will feel awful.  I will feel like a thief. I will feel like I have let you down.

I hate that feeling.

I don't know if most contractors feel this way, but I know that a lot of us do.  So, the next time you and your trusty contractor happen to be talking about what the best way to go about things might be, consider the above.  It might make sense to pay your contractor by the hour for just long enough to discover what the true extent of the work is going to be, and to then have him or her give you a fixed price to complete the work.  

You'll be happy because you know what things are going to cost, and your contractor will be happy because he knows he has given you an accurate cost; one that will let him make some money and not feel like a grifter at the end of the day.  Win-win.

Demolition

Contrary to what you might have seen on any number of HGTV shows, demolition does not involve the constant use of sledgehammers.  Maybe if you're wrecking an entire house, and don't care what collateral damage you cause.....maybe then.  Mostly though, you'll end up breaking stuff you don't want to break.  If you're a homeowner, maybe that's not as big a deal.  As a contractor though, I get to pay for things I unintentionally break.  So, sledgehammers.....not really happenin' for me!

Things like pry bars, levers and even a smaller hammer are much more surgical tools.  They can be focused.

Now, they won't give you that beating your chest, gorilla sense of satisfaction, that's true.  They will keep money in your pocket though, and, for me at least, that's good enough.

Happy demo'ing!

RAIN.........continued

Ahh, the patter of raindrops leads a man's thoughts to..........constructing an ark.  In the interest of helping others, who might not be as adept at the conversion of cubits to modern day measurements as myself, I offer the following:

 A cubit is the measurement from a mans forearm to the tip of his middle finger. As you can see that means that each mans cubit is a different size. To solve this problem in Ancient times the universal cubit would be the length of the kings cubit.

According to Wikipedia

The distance between thumb and another finger to the elbow on an average person measures about 24 digits or 6 palms or 1½ feet. This is about 45 cm or 18 inches. This so-called "natural cubit" of 1½ feet is used in the Roman system of measures and in different Greek systems.

Over time, units similar in type to the cubit have measured:

• 6 palms = 24 digits, i.e. ~45.0 cm or 18 inches (1.50 ft)
• 7 palms = 28 digits, i.e. ~52.5 cm or 21 inches (1.75 ft)
• 8 palms = 32 digits, i.e. ~60.0 cm or 24 inches (2.00 ft)
• 9 palms = 36 digits, i.e. ~67.5 cm or 27 inches (2.25 ft) 

Good to know when you're downloading plans from any of those "DIY Ark" sites.  The take away here is that your ark may vary a bit.  Not to worry, so long as you can fit all of your stuff aboard.  Happy arking!

RAIN

Rain is wonderful.  It feeds my tomatoes, greens my lawn (in the greenest of ways), washes my truck........all in all, pretty useful.

What rain does NOT do, is allow me to make any money, when I am trying to finish a small exterior project.  Two days, tops, is all the sunshine I need.  It doesn't look like I'm going to get it though.

So, dear customers, we're trying to start your project....really.  And we will....really.  Once this little thing is done....really.  

IF IT WILL JUST STOP RAINING!

Cobbler's Kids

The cobbler's kids have no shoes, so the old saying goes. Not entirely true for me (I've done my Kitchen, Master Bath and built an office), but there are always things remaining to be done.

One day, it would be nice to rework the front of my house, and have a nice screened porch, where everyone could hang out and chat with the neighbors as they pass by.

So many people spend all of their time in the back yard, sequestered from any interaction at all with their neighbors.  Neo-urban communities, like Kentlands and others, have picked up on the idea that it is actually NICE to know your neighbors.  I have to say I agree.  

A neighbor of ours a few years ago extended his front porch into a really great patio.  It is a place where not only his family socializes, but where we, as neighbors, are welcomed when we see them outside.

So it's not an original idea on my part, and it's a small thing, really.  It is one of many small things though, that make my neighborhood a place where I want to be.