HI ALL , I AM A NEW MEMBER TO THIS FOURUM BUT A BIG FAN OF ALL THE IDEAS ECT. THAT I FIND HERE.. I STARTED A SMALL HANDYMAN TYPE BUSINESS TWO YEARS AGO AND HAVE DONE PRETTY WELL FOR MYSELF. MY QUESTION IS I HAVE A CUSTOMER THAT WANTED A DOOR AND SOME TRIM WORK THAT I BID OUT AS BEING TWO DAYS MAX WORK NOW IM FINDING OUT THAT THE HO EXPECTS ME TO WORK AFTER SHE GETS HOME FROM WORK (NO ACCESS DURING NORMAL DAYTIME HOURS) AFTER A LONG DAY ITS RATHER HARD TO GET THERE AT 6PM TO START. HOW WOULD YOU GUYS HANDLE THIS. THANKS AGAIN MIKE
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I'd tell her that if she feels a need to be home while you're working she will have to go to her job at 6pm and work all night.
Don't use all capital letters. You're yelling.
Welcome to Breaktime.
Smile. It could be worse. You could be me working for you.
After hours work.... More trips because of the extra days as a result of the shorter work hours.. You are now working in over time mode...
You have to charge additional fees accordingly.
All caps means you have raised your tone of voice AND ARE YELLING.
Obviously, she isn't comfortable giving strangers full access to her house and possessions when she isn't present. I don't blame her one bit.
That being said, it seems you'll have to decide if you want the work, any additional work from her and/or any potential referrals from it enough to comply. Maybe you could do it on Sat. if that works better for the both of you.
If neither her stipulations nor your Sat. proposal suits the both of you, it sounds like you'll have to take a pass on this client.
I don't think what you're encountering is unusual these days. Trust is something you earn. Usually that takes time or testimonials from her friends and acquaintances.
Would you turn a stranger loose in your house while you're not there? I wouldn't.
mike,
When you gave her the price, you were under the assumption that you would be working normal hours. The moment she brought up "after 6" you should have responded with "That's gonna cost another ......" (insert 50% (minimum) of labor portion of bid).
Maybe it's too late to do that on this job, but the lesson will be learned. Actually, it's a good idea to establish when the area is available to you to work on before giving a price in the first place.
In line with that, I like to ask how early and how late they appreciate getting a phone call.
Me?? When the client says I can't work during the day, I say I'm sorry, but I can't work evenings or weekends. So I don't work for them.
Another day, another tool.
Hi and welcome. I do the same type of work. I can understand her point if she does not know you very well. I sometimes feel uncomfortable if someone is not there to represent the owner. Most of my customers end up asking me to keep a key so I can attend to emergency situations. I feel comfortable with most but there are some that I would decline to hold a key for.
I would tell her that you had bid it for normal hours and that it will probably take more time and that the labor rate is going to have to be at a premium. Just think what will happen if you need some unexpected part just after the lumber yard closes or the big boxes have locked up.
As to the all caps they are just plain hard to read. Good luck.
I don't think she has any idea what the job entails and it would be hard for you to make a dollar if you have to set up more than once. Adding up the extra time it will take you to set up, knock down, travel back and forth, I would be suprised if it didn't double or triple your price.
Bending a little bit backward for a good customer does not mean bend over...
Turtleneck
the only miracles I've ever produced are waiting for me at home
Bending a little bit backward for a good customer does not mean bend over...
Ouch! Gotta remember that one.
SamT
"Law reflects, but in no sense determines the moral worth of a society.... The better the society, the less law there will be. In Heaven, there will be no law, and the lion will lie down with the lamb.... The worse the society, the more law there will be. In Hell, there will be nothing but law, and due process will be meticulously observed."
Grant Gilmore, The Ages of American Law (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1977), pp. 110-111.From 32866.117
Thanks for all your great answers. I called to try to work tonight at 6 pm but all I got was you will have to leave at 7 pm as we are leaving. I guess Ill have to chaulk this up to experience. Thanks for the heads up on the all caps.. Mike
mike.. if you got a deposit... send it back ... nicely..
and make sure you put a clause in your porposals about "normal working hours"
ours is 700 to 3:30Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
See if you can get in at 3:00 AM to do the work?
You obviously don't have a valid contract that will stand up in court, because it must be a meeting of the minds and she's clearly outta her mind. Boost the price, let her take off work or pass. Do you really want this type of customer? Do you think things are going to get better? Do you want to stay in buisness?
______________________________________________________If you were arrested for being a quality builder would there be enough evidence to convict you?
Seems pretty obvious that she doesn't really want the work done. She just wants to play games..
Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin
You can probably relate to this, I had a customer, a good one. but his wife worked second shift( 3:30 to midnight)
He wanted me to roof his house, but I couldnt start until 10 am. and it was July!
I did it but I charged him to death.
Doug
All, Yes I did get a deposit and should have sent it back. I did change my contract to read normal working hours and will work saturdays hoping to finish this job soon. thanks for all the great advice. Mike
We were doing one once and the lady came out to ask if we could please nail more softly. Seems the vibrations were making the pictures on the walls turn off level..
Excellence is its own reward!