Thanks for all the previous advice I got concerning this matter.
The biggest problem is I’ve been doing PR for the GC as his laborer screwed up some very simple tasks. This may have contributed to the HO’s concerns over the entire project but still don’t excuse her behavior. I had basically made peace with the situation enough to do some minor touch up and hang an exterior door. Another thing worth mentioning is this HO hovers about like no other. I’ve learned if there is even a minor problem or soething has the appearance of being tough to wait till there are away or they will get VERY concerned.
Case in point: I haven’t been able to do the final adjustments to the french doors. If she sees me pulling off a hinge to shim out the last 1/32″ she will freak! So in the meanwhile she has noticed it’s out about 1/32″+/- where both doors come together. Yet another barrage of calls to HD and now a rep from the door manufacturar is coming out to see if the doors are defective. I was to be in yesterday to do all the final touch up and cleaning and be out clean but that won’t be happening now.
My solution: RUN!!!!!!! But.. that leaves the GC who is a friend pretty well stuck. He understands and agrees with me as this being the worst client he’s had in 30 years of being a GC, it would probably be ok. But how does it look for the “ace” to just back out of a job due to client insanity? Once again at my request I was given a little more responsabilty on this job to see what it’s like and see if I want my lisence as a result. So the GC is not at fault at all.
I don’t want to seem like a failure of quitter but some one who calls factory reps over 1/32″ is someone who will never be happy so perhaps it’s best I just pack it in now. Unfortunatly the GC still has a contract and my bailing will not help his situation.
Any legal angle we can take? I’m serious when I say we should just bail on our labor and try to get what we can for the materials we invested. If we only loose $1000 each I’d say we were very lucky at this point but I fear this type of HO will not leave it at that.
Should I stay or should I go?
N
Replies
This sounds like the time to cut your "eye teeth". Your instincts say to fall back before the quicksand goes over your head. Your "fiber" says to stay with it and not abandon the GC. The GC says that this is my problem, you go to house. You want to listen to him but just can't.
With this woman, nothing seems to prevail. CYA has taken on a whole new meaning. Documentation, documentation and still more documentation on what you and the GC have done to satisfy and appease the woman. BTF that this is going to go to the judge.
If this woman finally declares that all is fine and that she is a happy camper you are liable to see a vindictive side to her latter that is sure to get your attention. This seems to be her control freak nature. If you pull out she will come after you just the same. I would see it to the end because that's me and she sounds like some one I would not dare turn my back on. 1/32" of an inch is giving out a lot of information and clues.
I reality what do you suppose the HD and the door mfg are going to say. Wanna bet in the long run you and the GC are going to be left on your own. Then there is the next know nothing air head that plants new seeds in her head over this and here we go again.
Personally I would see it to the end if only to CMA.
With a customer that picky you need to stop fixing things as she finds them. Leave the door out of adjustment or better yet break some glass or put a ding in the wall and take your merry old time fixing it. Hopfully if she takes the bait and all her attention will be drawn to that and away from new work.
I once hung an arched double doored wall cabinet upsidedown and left it that way while we put the rest of the kitchen in. The customer was so freaked they never saw anything else and in the end we flipped the doors took maybe a minute but saved us days of nitpicking on the job.
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Slick trick. I'll have to remember that.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
This technique is called seeding the punch list, but its risky.
Put a door handle on upside down, things like that. Make a production of how observant and thorough they are.
I'm not sure its a good idea.Tom
Finish it.
Do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.
Screw the homeowner trouble. Just do the job correctly, and as quickly as possible. When you are sure that you have done everything that you can possibly do, then walk away from it. As someone else said, she will continue to be a pain in the arse whether you finish it or not. So just do what you know to be the right thing to do, and wash your hands of it.
A good heart embiggins even the smallest person.
Quittin' Time
it would seem to me that having the door manufactures rep come to the job site is to your addvantage as he will most likely side with you, and reinforce your position. if you followed the manufactures instructions how can he not?stand your grownd see it through. then get the hell out of there and never look back! good luck
Edited 6/15/2003 11:05:00 PM ET by TECONAIL
Actually many problems arose from following the directions. I knew this owner would be a stickler for 'doing it by the book" I actually followed to the letter the instructions and noticed several erroneous points along the way. I actually have some work to do to fix their mistakes.
I'll just mention the fact that the instructions for both a french door and a sliding door are exactly the same. And the are step by step directions with warnings to follow them all or voiding the warranty. The fact that I'll be forced to point this out to the rep may or may not help my case.
Right now the whole jobs on hold till the "ceo" arrives. She said "rep" but I'm guessing nothing but the CEO of the company will satisfy her.
I'm sure there will be a part 4.
N
thats ok. now the ball is in the reps court and you can question them on why the instructions are the same for both doors your still in a win position
People like that you need to just yes them to death and make them feel like there the boss. sometimes we need to suck it up and do our work with a smile and pretend that they'er the best customer we've ever had. As far as the door hanging goes 1/32 of an inch out is by far within industry standard.
your right but only if It means I wont be geting a call back on the job as a result of yes yes yes .when it comes to what the customer wants thea are allways right . and I will give them what thea want if I can .and If I can not I will tell them why not and we can together come up with a differend plan