are things going backwards as i get older? walk away

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wyreman,

Why do you feel obligated to write a report or anything ?
Did you sign a contract or something that legally
obligates you ?.....If not, then I would not write anything
as that may be construed as prima facie evidence in a
court of law........Do you really want to be dragged in to
something legal that could harm you financially; as well
as, your reputation ?

Investing 1.5 hrs. [ already ] in to a subjective report
without having an agreement "up front" about covering
ALL of your expenses and time, seems non-prudent
and a waste of your time to me.

I agree with others........Make a simple telephone call
to the owner and explain that you cannot take on
this work right now, but will gladly discuss options
when the property is vacant......Cut your losses now,
and do not submit anything in writing........CYA man,
...CYA !

Your description has "Train Wreck", with lots of
financial & other exposure written all over it. :thumbsdown:


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wyreman said:
How did I get a call like this?

how to gracefully decline the job -
Click to expand...


1: you answered the phone. that'll teach you to leave that damn thing alone.

2: "i'm sorry, but my work constraints at this time do not permit me the time
that this job will require. i wish you the best success in resolving this. of course,
there is no charge for the time i've put in. i'm sorry i won't be able to help you
with this".

you already knew these answers when you posted the message here. suck it up,
call them up, say it, make nice.

and leave their phone number in your cellphone so you can let it go to voicemail
when they call back. they will.

i'm a sparky. i'm neither a paralegal, nor a docent tour for failed electrical infrastructure.

i'm slammed, and it's getting worse. i had to cancel a haircut appointment, as i don't
have a spare hour in the next four weeks. between personal stuff and work, i got home
at 4 pm, fell asleep on the couch, and had a good customer wake me at 5:45, needing
two panels replaced, as they burned up. tomorrow just changed. i feel like a drunk running
thru traffic on the freeway.

this was recess. back to work. i have a RTB a compressor station, and i can't even define
the scope of work from the contract drawings. and it's ocal. what could go wrong? what's an
extra football field of 4" ocal among friends? sure, i'll be happy to pick that up. ocal is cheap.
 
Fulthrotl said:
1: you answered the phone. that'll teach you to leave that damn thing alone.

2: "i'm sorry, but my work constraints at this time do not permit me the time
that this job will require. i wish you the best success in resolving this. of course,
there is no charge for the time i've put in. i'm sorry i won't be able to help you
with this".

you already knew these answers when you posted the message here. suck it up,
call them up, say it, make nice.

and leave their phone number in your cellphone so you can let it go to voicemail
when they call back. they will.

i'm a sparky. i'm neither a paralegal, nor a docent tour for failed electrical infrastructure.

i'm slammed, and it's getting worse. i had to cancel a haircut appointment, as i don't
have a spare hour in the next four weeks. between personal stuff and work, i got home
at 4 pm, fell asleep on the couch, and had a good customer wake me at 5:45, needing
two panels replaced, as they burned up. tomorrow just changed. i feel like a drunk running
thru traffic on the freeway.

this was recess. back to work. i have a RTB a compressor station, and i can't even define
the scope of work from the contract drawings. and it's ocal. what could go wrong? what's an
extra football field of 4" ocal among friends? sure, i'll be happy to pick that up. ocal is cheap.
Click to expand...
I don't mean to hijack the thread but I might. When you find yourself "slammed" do you increase your rates? In theory you would increase your rates until you reach a more comfortable work load right? Or do you feel it is temporary and rates are about right for the long term? I am finding myself in this situation and wondering about philosophies on this. ....
 
Last edited:
K8MHZ said:
I have been a landlord, a tenant and am now an electrician with a few hours of working on old houses under my belt.

Take it from me, do not get involved in tenant/landlord disputes. You can't solve those problems electrically.
Click to expand...


I agree, leave this one alone.
 
RUN-AWAY..

RUN-AWAY..

Make -up , I'm busy excuse.
or
My insurance does not cover that.
or
Have a home -inspector make the report, then give estimate for repairs,
or
Quote $20,000 to rewire the whole house, and, it will take at least a month without power, and, only valid during the cool fall months, and, the house must be vacant and cleaned(flea- sprayed) before starting.
 
JMNSHO.

We get projects like this now and then where someone wants an opinion on existing equipment, and how best to deal with it. We don't often get them, but they come up now and then.

My suggestion is either just flat out turn down the job or tell the owner that the best you can do is look at what is there and tell him what does not meet minimum code standards at the time of installation, along with anything that is not working, or is especially unsafe.

Charge him whatever time you think it will take to do an adequate job.

If h is unwilling to go along with this, just move on to the next customer.
 
JMNSHO.

We get projects like this now and then where someone wants an opinion on existing equipment, and how best to deal with it. We don't often get them, but they come up now and then.

My suggestion is either just flat out turn down the job or tell the owner that the best you can do is look at what is there and tell him what does not meet minimum code standards at the time of installation, along with anything that is not working, or is especially unsafe.

Charge him whatever time you think it will take to do an adequate job.

If he is unwilling to go along with this, just move on to the next customer.
 
electrofelon said:
I don't mean to hijack the thread but I might. When you find yourself "slammed" do you increase your rates? In theory you would increase your rates until you reach a more comfortable work load right? Or do you feel it is temporary and rates are about right for the long term? I am finding myself in this situation and wondering about philosophies on this. ....
Click to expand...

been out of town... just logged in.

i price the same way fast or slow, pretty much.
i'm charging a fair price for the work i do. the
funny thing is, as i've moved more into the work
i prefer, (heavy commercial and industrial) i find
that underpricing my work will lead to less work.

if you don't think your work is worth anything, how
do you expect anyone else to think it is?
 
Fulthrotl said:
been out of town... just logged in.

i price the same way fast or slow, pretty much.
i'm charging a fair price for the work i do. the
funny thing is, as i've moved more into the work
i prefer, (heavy commercial and industrial) i find
that underpricing my work will lead to less work.

if you don't think your work is worth anything, how
do you expect anyone else to think it is?
Click to expand...

You also need to charge according to your overhead costs. If you are a one man shop, only do single family dwelling work, you may not have quite the inventory of equipment that someone that has larger crews and has heavy equipment for big projects. The second guy needs more funds then the first guy to keep up with all the additional overhead and very likely will have higher minimum customer charges regardless of how busy he is, or isn't.
 
rt66electric said:
Make -up , I'm busy excuse.
or
My insurance does not cover that.
or
Have a home -inspector make the report, then give estimate for repairs,
or
Quote $20,000 to rewire the whole house, and, it will take at least a month without power, and, only valid during the cool fall months, and, the house must be vacant and cleaned(flea- sprayed) before starting.
Click to expand...


I just about fell out of my chair laughing at this comment, thanks for that. Aside from it being funny, it's true. This seems like a potential time & liability nightmare. I would not get involved and I would absolutely not give them anything in writing.
 
my two cents,

When I'm writing a report, I state just the facts. For example, I would write:

"(Front room) receptacle not securely fastened." Period. Or, "Receptacle worn out, needs replacement." Or "Receptacle broken and loose fit."

"Breaker panel obsolete with unverified functionality."

"GFCI protection not installed in hall bathroom."

"Building wiring not inspected, existing knob and tube method presents uncertain conductor viability."
 
conductor viability

conductor viability

I like that Phrase " conductor viablilty" Sounds better than
" P.O.S. "
or
"worn out"
or
"served its useful life"
or
" knob and tube"
or
"Can't tell squat"
or
"do you have fire insurance??"
or
"that burnt smell is 'smells like money'"
or
 
rt66electric said:
I like that Phrase " conductor viablilty" Sounds better than
" P.O.S. "
or
"worn out"
or
"served its useful life"
or
" knob and tube"
or
"Can't tell squat"
or
"do you have fire insurance??"
or
"that burnt smell is 'smells like money'"
or
Click to expand...

It is just a professional way of saying "I don't know when or how catastrophically it may fail":happyyes:
 
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