I recently looked at a kitchen for a couple that had some water damage. They decided to go with a whole new kitchen. Long story short, We cant get to it til Feb.
I called the HO told them this and said we can put things back together for them til then. My drywall guy was supposed to contact them thursday and did not, It’s not like him to do that.(he had a problem with his son that day) Well I received this real arrogant message from the HO (telephone tough guy). I was not even involved in the scheduling of the drywall repairs. I said to myself…. Self Do not get involved with these people!!! You guys know a kitchen can be a very invasive job to a HO. So I kindly called the HO and told him we could not do the job. I think I should go by this hunch. What do you guys think about when a HO is a pain in the
and has not even signed the contract yet. Was it the right move? I hate letting work go! Now I’m second guessing myself.
-Lou
Edited 9/22/2008 4:38 am ET by loucarabasi
Replies
On these issues follow your gut feeling. Every time I have not I paid the price for it and we both know how a job with a bully of a HO can be. Even when you get paid and the job is done you feel emotionally raped so I think you made the right call. You won't know what a PIA this guy could have been.............which is good! DanT
Just as you did, go with your GUT it's rarely wrong.
I think you have a pretty good gut.
Mine gets better - after 35 years of dealing with people in jobs, I think I can spot the trouble ones pretty well. That kind of arrogance is a tip-off.
He probably has no idea what goes int this kind of a job and sees it as no more trouble than trading in his car - empty the trunk and glovebox, and drive away...
So a minor delay is just the beginning of his education. somebody else can be the teacher.
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I'm not sure I would dump a job based solely on ONE incident, unless it was pretty bad.
It could be the guy just had a bad day or something. We all say dumb things or act out of character once in a while.
I would dump it in a heartbeat. If someone responds that way because they had a bad day, or are just casual about being a jerk because they think that's how things get done, then they will be no fun to work for. Imagine how he would react when there is a real problem.
Did it occur to you that he might see the water damage and non functioning kitchen as a REAL problem ???If friends and family (And folks on BT) ditched me every time I said something stupid, I wouldn't have many friends.Give people room to be human...
Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within the reach of every hand. [Mother Teresa]
Heres the deal: The guy had enough time to apologize and did not! They both did not think it was rude!
I had a job 8 years ago for an archy, I new I should have bailed but I did not. I have regreted that decision since then. That guy broke my balls so bad. I made good money but it was'nt worth it. I hated to show up!!!
They called to patch things up. I told them I was owed an apology. I still said you can kiss my ars
LMC
"They called to patch things up. I told them I was owed an apology. I still said you can kiss my ars"I'm not trying to start a fight, but don't you think you just stooped down to their level?I've heard some say that, if you insist on wrestling swine, you will invariably get some mud on yourself.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Jon, I did not tell them literally to kiss my ars. Just said I'm to booked up.
Lou
Trust your gut.
I hate letting work go too, but you heard the message, we didn't. If your gut reaction was to back out, then I think you probably did the right thing.
Sometimes its not the message or the fact that they had a bad day, its the underlying attitude that is revealed in the message. If the homeowner has an abusive or demeaning attitude, I would not want to deal with them for an entire kitchen remodel.
It may also be that he was acting out of resentment that you couldn't get to it sooner, and it just wouldn't have worked out for that reason. Don't second guess yourself, just be glad for the headaches avoided, and move on to the next one.
I have to say, as a business owner I put up with an inordinate amount of bad behavior from homeowners, who assume I just have to take it. There are definitely some jobs I wished I had seen the warning signs before I took them.
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Crack yourself some champaign. You dodged a bullet.
I vote with Boss on this one, I think. How many times had you talked with the HO before that call, and how was he then? Everybody has a bad hair day from time to time.
If he responds to your message about not doing his job, it might be worth one more meeting.
Too me , not enough information.
The homeowner was upset, the drywaller dropped the ball and you got the brunt of the HO frustration.
Deep breath time and a second chance, did the HO jump you because you couldn't get there or was he simply venting over the drywaller?
I am with Boss on this one.
i had a builder building a 15000 sg ft house bown the street from me sent the buyer to our store to pick carpet in process of shopping wife cussed husband h usand cussed kids kids cussed mom and dad i builder i did not want job app 35000.00 he got pissed sent them to another store they did not pay man pepossed carpet drapery co. took drapes also if it feels bad it is bad wwm.
"i had a builder building a 15000 sg ft house bown the street from me sent the buyer to our store to pick carpet in process of shopping wife cussed husband h usand cussed kids kids cussed mom and dad i builder i did not want job app 35000.00 he got pissed sent them to another store they did not pay man pepossed carpet drapery co. took drapes also if it feels bad it is bad wwm."Sheesh. Is this English, or what? Very hard to understand what the heck you are trying to say.
A little harsh maybe?
It looks like construction guy typing to me.
me too, but can you translate it to something understandable?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
See translation above. Actually, it's a pretty good story.
can you translate it to something understandable?
Wasn't Talk like a Pirate Day just past?
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/translator.html
I was thinking the same thing.It's not too late, it's never too late.
TRANSLATION FOR PIFFIN (AND OTHERS)"I had a builder building a 15,000 sg ft house down the street from me. He sent the buyer to our carpet store to pick out carpet.In the process of shopping the wife cussed husband. The husband cussed the kids. The kids cussed mom and dad. I told the builder that I did not want the job which was approximately $35000.00 worth of carpet and installation. The builder got pissed at me and sent them to another store. They did not pay for the carpet (they stiffed the store that supplied it) and the carpet-man reposessed the carpet. The drapery company also (got stiffed) and took back the drapes. Moral: If it feels bad, it is a bad omen."
Thanks. It IS a great story.I got the part about the cussing family sending bad signals, but couldn't quite cipher it after that part, other than to know it went south from there.Family dynamics do tell a lot about people, including the kids. They are taught how to behave in the family unit and they are less likely to hide their behaviour than the parents are so they give a sneak preview...I had a customer once who showed me at contract signing time that he was very dominating and snarly towards his wife and grandkids. At the time, I figured he was just having a bad day, but later on he proved that it was in his nature. He started trying to dominate me and get snarly doing it.
I straightened him right out and on the next go-round, I let him find another contractor.another example - A guy I had just started working with seemed nice enough at first.
One night at school - one of those openning season get to know your teachers open house things for parents to come get food and walk around meeting and greeting - I happened to be standing in the hall when this guys wife had to straighten out his two daughters for slight misbehavior. Then as she walked away, the two mini-bitches let loose a stream of vindictive words just under their breathe so Mama couldn't hear that made my jaw drop.
As I got to know that guy later, I could see that he had a problem controling his anger and his mouth. And turned out that the Mama bitch had other nasty problems. The kids had learned it from the parents.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
hey...
are you retelling the olde " apple don't fall far from the tree" story ?Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
reckon so
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Trust your six-pack abs
"Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words." - St. Francis of Assisi
I've always been thankful when something happens that brings out a potential client's true colors...before we sign a contract.
Impatience or patience are both good signs of how things will go. So are arrogance or humility.
In my view, you made the right choice. Now maybe the guy will pull in his horns and treat the next contractor with more respect.
"Now maybe the guy will pull in his horns and treat the next contractor with more respect."I wouldn't bet any of my milkbones on that.
I wouldn't bet any of my milkbones on that.
My "maybe" covers less than 50%. It depends on how you tell the guy that you won't be doing business with him. Or why, in the middle of the job, you just put a contractor's lien on his home.
"Your behavior is beginning to make you look just a little flakey there, Bozo".
"That's MISTER BOZO to you, BUDDY!"
;-)
I think you should go with your brain instead of your gut. You said that your drywall guy was supposed to contact him. Did you tell the client that? If so, then he was expecting a call. You trusted in a sub to do your work for you and he didn't do it. You're the guy the homeowner wants to hire, so you screwed up.. maybe. It depends exactly on what you said to him.
I'm the sort of individual who hates to be the schedulee, but I'll live with it. If a contractor, locksmith, anyone... schedules an appointment then I expect them to keep it. If they have a problem then I expect a phone call. If there was a real problem then I'll be understanding if someone explains the situation to me.
I suggest that you take a deep breath and really assess this situation to determine if you are at all culpable.
I dont buy into the "everybody has a bad day" crowd.
there are certain protocols when doing business and excessive attitude has no place. thats a bridge burner. how could you possibly want to continue down the path of a kitchen remodel with early signs of disrespect towards you?
I'd walk.
YO lou your in jersey everybodys a jerk in jersey.
water you in south jersey or sumpting??;]
Ye, where you at?
Lou
Im in Oregon but grew up in jersey, go with your gut. I still have a heavy accent and sometimes people think im mad or a wiseguy so you cant always tell
You're booked until February, I wouldn't care about this guy. You would be lucky if he really waited for you. I have trouble putting absolute start dates on jobs 6 months from now.
It's unfortunate that some people must belittle, or dominate, or talk down to others when they're interacting, in order to feel they're "winning". Those kinds of one-sided relationships usually can't go on for long whether they're marriages, employee/employer relationships or business relationships.
In my opinion you terminated the relationship at the right time. The guy showed his colors early. Go buy yourself a beer and move on.
That's as far as I go with my two bit psychological drivel.
I would have done the same thing you did but I would be looking for a new drywall man I could depend on.