Keep my mouth shut!

[torint]

I really like this kind of work, so much that I shot myself in the foot yesterday. Res Cust. did a horrible job on a service change. Called me to give an estimate. When I gave the estimate I was too detailed on what I needed to do. Cust said "thanks I will call you later". Cust is now doing the job over with my unknowing guidance. I won't be as detailed again.

 

[bphgravity]

Re: Keep my mouth shut!

I have run into this problem from time time as well. I feel it is a very professional service to provide detailed information and to explain jobs out. In most cases, this is a nervous homeowner that knows nothing about electricity and welcomes the comforting info. These DIY'ers that take advantage of our courtesy and generosity are what makes contractors jaded and less likely to assist with answering questions and give advice. I won't let one jerk ruin my desire to be helpfull.

 

[russ]

Re: Keep my mouth shut!

I run into a similar problem, only it's with general contractors. Sometimes these guys try to do some of the electrical work with out useing the electrician. Could be a lot or just a little work, like extras on a job. If I suspect this I will refuse to give the violations to the general and will call them in to the electrician himself.
Thats when I find out who really did the work.

Russ

[ April 24, 2003, 08:25 AM: Message edited by: russ ]

 

[renosteinke]

Re: Keep my mouth shut!

I would consider sending the cheapskate a $200 bill for my consulting, engineering, and design services. I'd enjoy watching him explain to the small-claims judge just why he has no obligation to pay for my time & expertise! (Even if I lost, it'd help discourage him from being so clever next time!)
Photos (before 7 after) and a letter detailing what you propose to do would also be very persuasive.

 

[a.wayne3@verizon.net]

Re: Keep my mouth shut!

Our company in the tampa area does about 1500 to 2000 homes a year. We have had several instances in which the home owner added lights ,receptacles to cut the builders charges,but we have a policy we stick to....... If you do any work outside of the parameters that are in writing and that our company did, then we void the warrenty......there are alot of diy out there ,but we put or license and reputation on the line with every permit we pull........... 10 years down the line the house has a fire and its electrical!!!!!!!!!!!who holds the cards???? not the original homeowner that added a light so he wouldnt have to pay the builder. Us......

 

[sparkmantoo]

Re: Keep my mouth shut!

every body wants something for nothing. everybody wants a deal. they always try to capitalize on your intergrity to give them a honest answer to their questions. people sometime amaze me. :roll:

 

[daveselectric]

Re: Keep my mouth shut!

I recently had a prospective customer call me out to check on his kitchen lighting problem. He was a diy. He remodeled the kitchen tapping off existing knob & tube. Nothing was to code. He asked what the problem was. I told him he fried his 3 way dimmers. He continued his questioning, and I told him based on my experiience he toasted his dimmers. He said that he could replace the dimmers with 3 way switches and that would confirm my diagnosis. He than showed me another of his diy projects and again I told him he screwed up. Bak to the kitchen, he asked my opinion. At that point I was frustrated and told him that I do not make a living giving advice but by doing the work, and that if he wanted the work done to call me. Two days later I sent him a bill for $50.00 for consulting services. I have not received payment yet. I continue to send invoices and follow up with a call.

 

[racraft]

Re: Keep my mouth shut!

Originally posted by renosteinke:
I would consider sending the cheapskate a $200 bill for my consulting, engineering, and design services. I'd enjoy watching him explain to the small-claims judge just why he has no obligation to pay for my time & expertise! (Even if I lost, it'd help discourage him from being so clever next time!)
Photos (before 7 after) and a letter detailing what you propose to do would also be very persuasive.

And how are you going to get an "after" photo?

 

[racraft]

Re: Keep my mouth shut!

Originally posted by torint:
I really like this kind of work, so much that I shot myself in the foot yesterday. Res Cust. did a horrible job on a service change. Called me to give an estimate. When I gave the estimate I was too detailed on what I needed to do. Cust said "thanks I will call you later". Cust is now doing the job over with my unknowing guidance. I won't be as detailed again.

How do you know the customer is doing the work himself, and that he didn't find someone else who would do the work cheaper.

As a homeowner, I get several estimates for work that I want done, then decide based on all factors who I will allow to do the work.

You may be right (and probably are), but I wouldn't bet the house on it.

 

[torint]

Re: Keep my mouth shut!

To racraft: You would have to be there to understand the situation. Slum Lord told me on the phone "Edison won't pull a line untill the work is done correctly, come over and do the work, I will pay you CASH right now". When I got there he started showing me all types of work that he and his crew of Laurel and Hardy had attempted. If you've ever delt with Slum Lords before, you can sometimes get a intuition of whats going on. I did'nt add things together untill he said "Thanks I will call you later". After he said "I will pay you cash today".

[ April 25, 2003, 12:50 PM: Message edited by: torint ]

 

[sjaniga]

Re: Keep my mouth shut!

We also work with a lot of slum lords, real @#$%$#@ pieces of work. There should be a whole other code just for them.

 

[cm]

Re: Keep my mouth shut!

The longer you do this the wiser you become every situation makes you smarter people trying to pick your mind ,realtors want a survey for free then if the deal goes thru you get paid at closeing,cheep slumlords,tennants ask for work,people want extras and dont want to give you money up front,shister gcs ,shister owners somone needs the violations fixed for their law suit,somone started the job and wont come back,people in trailer parks on lots they dont own want work, service companys.Your time is your most valeable asset not to mention your tools truck isurance etc if you must do this kind of work do it for people you are sure of,or screen the people,or ask for money up front.You can sit at home and not loose money without ware and tear on your tools and body

[ April 26, 2003, 11:35 AM: Message edited by: cm ]

 

[rrrusty]

Re: Keep my mouth shut!

When I do some work for a sludgelord for the 1st time I give a written estimate and have it signed by him/her prior to work starting and if the cost of the parts is of a fair size I recive the money for the parts and permit up front; wait till the check clears and go do the work; The signature is an agreement that will hold up in court because his signature is on it. Yes it helps to not be so detailed to a customer as to what needs to be done; If you are doing consultation then that is a fee

 

[jgriffin]

Re: Keep my mouth shut!

I've had the same problems with a few service calls I've made. The DIYer screwed up the project and needs someone to fix it because he can't get it to work. Then you have the customer who needs a material take-off, so he can get you the material from someone he knows at cost,(usually the big orange box),Then customers SHOP the work out after they find out exactly what they need. They'll use your material list and estimate to find a deal. IMHO, I'm not a non-profit organization and dislike screwballs wasting my time. If all they want is free advice, they should stick to the DIY centers.

 

[tshea]

Re: Keep my mouth shut!

LOLROF!!! I was in a discount center and grandma and her 20 something DIY grandson walked past. I was wearing my work hat which has company name! You guessed it. They had a cart full of DIY service changing material. The old lady boldly asked if this is what they need to do the work? I thought for a second and then gave a dumb look and replied, "OH the hat. Someone gave it to me" and quickly moved on. I wonder if they ever got the power company to hook it up???
DIY scare me!

 

[renosteinke]

Re: Keep my mouth shut!

How do I get the "after" pictures? I forgot- out here we use "all-in-one" panels, mounted on the outside of the house. Some of you aren't so lucky as to have all of your work out in the open!

 

[lady sparks lover]

Re: Keep my mouth shut!

I'm sorry about you mishap. That was really cheesy, and if I were you I would fight it. Who knows, God might looking out for you, because he may botch the job and ask you to fix, in turn costing him more money. You never know...sorry about that...

Originally posted by torint:
I really like this kind of work, so much that I shot myself in the foot yesterday. Res Cust. did a horrible job on a service change. Called me to give an estimate. When I gave the estimate I was too detailed on what I needed to do. Cust said "thanks I will call you later". Cust is now doing the job over with my unknowing guidance. I won't be as detailed again.