Did Anyone Watch The Segment About Contractors On MSN?

Kristina

I'm pretty sure it was MSN. Or CNN, one of those newsy stations.

Anyway, it was a news segment followed by a "discussion" about the safety of people when contractors are working in their homes.

Basically if at all possible, women should have their husbands home or if they are single their landlord.

They should take a day off from work to supervise the contractor.

They should be sure to call references, and if possible perform a background and drug testing on their contractors.

So is it me or is this whole "contractors are scumbags" thing going a bit far?

People laugh at the idea of a website for consumer complaints from contractors, or asking for references but it's ok for them to ask you to submit a DNA sample??

How safe is it for a contractor to go into someone ELSE'S home?? Aren't the stakes the same on both sides?

I'm just getting really annoyed with the double standard I see going on.

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rino1494

I missed it, but unfortunately there are some shady contractors out there that has ruined it for everyone else. Just like everything else, you never hear about the good things, only the bad things. If someone asked me for a drug screening test, I would ask them if they would like me to provide a semen sample too

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Melissa

Kristina, I am so sick and tired of it too!! But I guess others have ruined it for us. Kind of like mechanics, everyone is so skeptical of them, because so many have taken advantage.

Glasshousebltr

LOL Rino.....You should whip it out as ya ask.

Bob

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Bob

River Rat Dad

how about a segment on those homeowners who don't pay, or whine and bitch till the punch list so freakin big the job becomes a loser?

How about those homeowners who think you gotta do everything around their schedule as if we don't have a life?

Say isn't this where Kristina came in?...

fez-head

I love those news stories! They really make us look good and justify my higher pricing. If you find a link let me know and I will put it on my site.

Its those “get 3 estimates ” news stories that I hate.

oldgoat

From the part of it I saw it was just telling women of possible dangers from having people come into their house and how they might avoid puting themselves at risk. I know where we had one woman that hired a large smoke damage repair company to come in and repair her house and was later murdered by one of the workers. The report also mentioned others like utility workers and I believe salesmen. I would look at it as more of a consumer alert than anything. Of course it might also be a heads up for companies to be more aware of the background of the people they hire and how it might be a selling point and/or protect them from a legal situation later. Would you rather be proactive and maybe catch someone that is molester or something like that before you hire them or deal with the aftermath?

Kristina

Oh indeed! I'm not saying there isn't a risk and that it's not prudent to be proactive, but there is never any mention of the "predatory homeowner" who might rape or murder a contractor. People would think we done gone crazy if we even suggested that the CONTRACTOR should do something to protect themselves. A lot of times contractors are going into people's homes alone as well. Who's standing up for them? Who is offering a "contractor alert"?

All this "protect the consumer" crap just gets old when it's seemingly fine to "screw the contractor". I'm not saying that they shouldn't be prudent, but what's good for the goose is good for the gander right?

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dirt diggler

i see the whole "consumer alert" thing

HOWEVER ---

i definitely see where Kristina is going with this whole thread

see my "ask HO's for references" thread ...

while im on the whole complaining thing tonight --- screw Home Depot for their lousy, lowballed installations

hahaa, just thought i'd throw that in

747

The one i seen was last night by geraldo rivera. He was talking about some women being murder by some guy who she hired to power wash her deck. Then he went on how most states don't require GC"s to be licensed and about criminal background checks. I can't stand that loud mouth. I guess he figures if a guy makes a mistake he should never be allowed to work ever again. I believe everybody deserves a second chance.

Mike Finley

I think it's good advice, right up to the drug test, are you sure they said that? That sounds like a little bit of sarcasm. Background check can mean checking the BBB and the Attorney generals office.

Come on now -- I'm the one carry a hammer and a cordless recip saw...

Have you had a contractor in your home lately? Ei-Yi-Yi! I've met some dooseys.

I'm with Jesse- I love that kind of stuff, it makes it sooooooo easy to be in this business. Imagine if everybody had their acts together!

Mike Finley

Yeah! What's up with that! She probably slipped and fell on his knife 68 times in a row!!!!

Mike Finley

I'm not up for the murdering part but, how hot is this housewife that is going around raping contractors?

747

I never meant it like that all i'm saying is this. Just because a guy has been arrested for something doesn't mean he should be classifed as a murder and not be allowed to prove himself on a job. I mean lets get real you know what there is so much crime in this country because when a person looks for a second chance no one will give him one so he has to go back to committing crimes to survive and ends up back in the big house.

Kristina

I think it's good advice, right up to the drug test, are you sure they said that? That sounds like a little bit of sarcasm. Background check can mean checking the BBB and the Attorney generals office.

Definately sarcasm with the drug testing, definately NOT just checking with BBB and AG office. They specifically said, "if you can afford it, do a background check". I'm taking that to mean a criminal background check.

Come on now -- I'm the one carry a hammer and a cordless recip saw...

Any worker who goes into a home. House cleaners carry a rag and mop. Powerwashers have...a powerwasher.



Have you had a contractor in your home lately? Ei-Yi-Yi! I've met some dooseys.
I'm with Jesse- I love that kind of stuff, it makes it sooooooo easy to be in this business. Imagine if everybody had their acts together!

Oof. Obviously, I've again failed to articulate my message properly. I'm not saying there AREN'T bad contractors, I'm not saying it's NOT prudent to research people who come into your home. I'm simply saying it would be nice to hear that contractors of any type should ALSO be prudent with their HOs. Why is it that WORKERS are always portrayed as molestors and murderers? There are plenty of whacko HOs as well.

It was Fox News BTW.

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Kristina

Way to be a typical guy, Mike.

Not ALL contractors are MEN!!!

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Mike Finley

Because... haven't you learned yet - the customer can do no wrong.
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... yeah right!

oldgoat

Actually Kristina they have warned people like realtors that go meet customers and end up being raped or assaulted. My aunt used to be one and she would have her husband come along with her if she was going to a bad neighborhood or she had a bad feeling about the customer. I believe that it is easier though for the contractor/worker to come back to your house since he knows what is there and if the person is a possible target than it is for the HO to come to the contractors and do harm. I'm not saying it isn't possible, but it is far more likely for the contractor/worker to be met by some woman wanting something than to be met by someone out to rape or assault them.

realpurty2

Gee, doesn't this remind anyone but me of a heated discussion we once had about it being a good general practice to act as if we were a guest in H.O's homes and to respect their boundaries?? A few bad apples in the bunch can ruin it for all.

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