Good Karma

An interesting thing happened today. The other day, I was doing some long overdue job costing, and noticed that, on an addition I had completed early last fall, my actual costs for the electrician's work were 1/3 less than I had budgeted. After digging around a little bit more, it became apparent that he had never sent me a bill for the final third.

Now, I'm never one to chase someone down to give them money, but it was clear that I owed him for the work, so the ethical thing to do was pay the man. So I cut a check and put it in an envelope with a note apologizing for the very late payment, and asking to PLEASE! bill me promptly!

So today, he dropped by one of my jobs to do a bit of work, and I let him know that he should be expecting a check shortly, and why. He looked a little chagrined and told me that he had forgotten to bill me for so long that, by the time he remembered....several months later....he decided not to send the bill, for fear that I'd be pissed. He also mentioned another job...long since completed....that he had opted not to bill me for for the same reason. Lastly, he mentioned that, on my last payment to him, he thought maybe I had overpaid him.

My electrician is a GREAT guy. He does excellent work, is prompt, easy to get hold of, keeps the job clean, is unfailingly honest and is an all around professional. What he is NOT, though, is very diligent about paperwork.

Anyway, after I told him I'd look into that other job, and the possible overpayment, I reamed him for not billing me quickly, when I still had the money hot in my hands. It's not that I couldn't pay him, but that it puts an unanticipated hit on the ol' cash flow. I reminded him that, as nice a guy as I am, I seldom chase people down to pay them and that, unless I have a bill in my hands, the odds are better than even that I'll forget all about it.

Lastly, though, I thanked him and he thanked me in turn for being honest and above board. I've said before how much I appreciate those I work with. We look out for one another and none of us would ever knowingly take advantage.

And that, in the end, is one of the reasons I love where I am and what I do. I am, daily, in the company of quality people, and money just can't buy that.

By the way, if you're looking for an outstanding electrician, give Anthony Pizzino of Live Electric Design a call at 301-802-4762, or at anthony.pizzino@yahoo.com