In the six or so months I’ve been contracting full time, it’s been an adjustment to say to people that I’m a contractor, after saying something else for 30 years. I keep expecting someone to say “hey… didn’t you own the big photo place over in Hamden?”
Anyhow…had a nice thing happen today. On one of the three jobs I’m working on, I’m just subbing for the HO who is acting as his own “GC”. The job’s sort of out of control inasmuch as he’s just desperate to get the house finished ASAP to move in and has hired three guys to do various aspects of the carpentry. I’ve been doing some interior framing, then hanging cabinets (as well as some electrical that was discussed earlier in the b*ried j box thread). Anyway, it’s been a tad annoying since he’s been giving work to guys based mainly how fast they can work, sort of first come first served, which isn’t my forte. This afternoon he came up to me and asked me to “work some magic” on a number of things the other two fellas hadn’t done well, as well as making time in my schedule to run all the trim and hang all the new doors. He commented on the fact that I was the most expensive of the three guys, but that my work was obviously better. Guess I’ll feel a little less sheepish about handing someone a card that says “contractor”. I’m sure tomorrow I’ll screw up something that will make me feel like a fraud, but for tonight…
PaulB
Replies
Well, count your blessings, but it goes both ways. Pretty soon the burden of fixing other people's mediocre work will start to bear. I've been working on a new house on and off for an O/B who had terrible framers. A few weeks down the road I get to go work some more 'magic' and try to make trim look good on their frame.
The other house I'm working on lately is older, built very nicely by guys who are probably all dead. Everywhere I put a level or a straightedge it's perfect. I'd rather work there, no magic required.
I do get the point of your post. Continue to be the best and most expensive, it's the only way to be.
Congratulations, Paul! That homeowner just learned the most valuable lesson he could have learned, from your point of view--either pay you a bit more and have it done right, or pay someone less and THEN pay you to do it over properly.
Once word gets out to his friends that you're "expensive but worth it" you'll be in exactly the niche you want to be in!
Thanks Mike,
I hope you're right but I also know I'm a long way from really meriting that kind of reputation. Hopefully I'll get there...
Don't give in to that "I can do it faster than anybody sh!t." You just do what you do and make it the best you can possibly do every time.
Nah... There's one thing I know I'm not and that's Mr Speedy ;)
Paul
An old contractor always told me he had a reputation of being expensive but good, said that was the best rep you could have!
Doug
Remember 1) Price 2) Quality 3) Time
Customer gets to pick two out of three, but not all three.
Personally, I try to put it in terms of picking one, but I should be so cocky at this early stage of the game ;)
They don't get to pick anything but you. Once they've chosen that, they get (1) quality craftsmanship, (2) a clear scope of work, including exclusions, (3) careful protection of their property and the existing finishes, (4) prompt service, (5) a well-defined financial commitment, and (6) a fair price.
From your lips to God's ears David ;)
David,
I have to take exception to your post. The customer has already "picked" Paul, because of his quality work(and his inherent knowledge).
Protection of property, prompt service, and defined scope of work are naturally included in his quality work. "Fair price"? to whom? Which is why I mentioned the three main points in such an arrangement : price, quality and time. A customer can pick any two. For example:
Price and Quality. low price/high quality= work done at the builder's pace not the customer's schedule.
Time + Price, quick turnaround and low price= low quality, not a popular choice.
Quality + Time= high price
These are generalizations not maxims.