Job You Just Hate To Go Too

stacker

ever had a job,you just hated to go to everyday?
i am on one right now.ive been on it for 3 months and counting.i had planned on being in and out in 2 months.(stucco,stone,and tile).the problem is the home owner.they are there 8 hours a day,everyday,and picky as all get out.now granted this is a million dollar plus home,but use some reason.the wife is leaving next week for a 3-4 days,and i cant lay stone unless she is there(altho i have done this all my life)they are both leaving in 2 weeks for a week,and i cant lay inside tile,unless they are there.
thursday i installed the shower floor.it was like tag team wrestling.he would stand and watch me and the wife would come in and he would leave and she would watch,the he would come back she would leave................ i had one guy quit yesterday because he cant stand going out to the job.i hate it too but its my job,i contracted to do it and by god im gonna finish it.

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life is short,do your masonry naked!!
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Mr. D

i told the home owner thursday that i haven't had a babysitter in over 20 years. he was only there for 5 minutes friday. i wish i would have said that on monday.

i'm n ot usually that brash but this was the 2nd job in a row like that. if i wanted someone on my shoulder i'd get a parrot.

Robie

I can relate to that! I recently did a tile backsplash in a kitchen. It was literally like the HO was tied with a rope to the back of my belt. Just for fun, now and again, I would make a quick stop and he would invaribly bump into me. He wasn't so much concerned about the quality, but wanted to help. It was a PITA.

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If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. ~Alan Simpson

tcleve4911

Hey Stacker-
Welcome to the trades!!! Customer's read so many horror stories, they don't trust anyone or they watch TV and think averything takes a 1/2 hour.
You're good at what you do so embrace that. Contract negotiations can sometimes warn of these i.e. "We work 7:30 - 4:30. The site will be accessable unless otherwise notified ahead of time" or something like that.
Some customers have too much money & too much time
Good luck - be patient

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Back in Maine
Dubbin' Around
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mdshunk

I don't mind when people watch, talk, ask questions, whatever... but I'm not normaly on a job very long. That would get super old after a few weeks or months.

joasis

Back several years ago, we had a HO who would climb up on the roof to watch....due to the weather, we were tearing off in stages, tear-off and roof, tear off and roof...well,,he was up there, jacking with us and stepped on a 2 inch galvanized roofing nail.....never came up one more time....and we couldn't keep from laughing. He hobbled around for a month after that one and I bet he would have sued if he could have found an angle.

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theworx

Did a job a couple weekends ago in an up/down duplex for a retired guy. He had plumbing replaced and hired me to put on FRP as wainscoting to cover the mess the plumbers made. Before I even started he had a few pages of info that he had drawn up for me (cut lists of material, diagrams of how he wanted it fastened, details of all materials used, etc...). Right then I was worried.

I picked up my materials and showed up to do the work. At first when I was working he was standing right behind me watching, not so much to make sure I did it right, more like he wanted to be a part of it. Well after about the second hour of having me jump up to go outside and cut more material and bumping into him he finally said "I'll go watch TV because I'm just in your way" (I'm glad he was the one to say it).

The second day he basically stood in the hallway outside the door of the room I was doing. He just talked up a storm (I think he likes the company). But at least he wasn't right behind me. After I was done we sat and had coffee as I wrote up my bill. I asked him what he did before he retired. He said he was a Rocket Scientist. I smiled and said I used to be a Brain Surgeon. No response. Then he continued and said he used to work at Bristol Aero Space designing rocket engines. Doh , foot in my mouth. That would explain the detailed drawings he gave me.

At the end of it all he paid me (cash) and told me I was a good craftsman (then he pulled out his wallet again and gave me another $150.00). He said it was for the good quality work and the effort I put in. So in the beginning I was worried about the outcome but I'm very happy now. Not to mention he gave me a small case of 3M high heat silicone (I guess he had some stock piled) and told me it's the best you can get and trust me I'll make good use of it!!!

widco

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Peladu

Exactly!

I have my customers sign a safety sheet saying that they really shouldn't be in the work area. After they read (and sign) the safety sheet they get worried for their safety and seem to stay away. There's always the exception to every rule.

6stringmason

Sounds like a real PITA Stacker. I dont know if I could hold out that long without saying something.

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920-680-3195
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realpurty2

Two contract terms that might help in situations like this...


Customer agrees and understands that access to the jobsite must be provided between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, for the duration of this job. If at any time access is not available to the Contractor for any reason, the Customer agrees to reimburse the Contractor for expenses incurred for travel and lost time at the rate of $30.00 per man-hour, and $0.44 per mile per vehicle.


Due to insurance regulations and safety procedures, the customer, other contractors, workers, children, pets, and individuals will not enter the work area unless agreed upon by both the Contractor and the Customer. If other contractors, workers, children, pets, or individuals are to be present during the duration of the scope of work, the Customer shall not schedule or permit such activities that will interfere with or prevent the timely and successful completion of the work. The Contractor shall not be held liable for any damage caused to its work by anyone other than the Contractor and its employees. The Customer agrees to compensate the Contractor at the rate of $30.00 per man-hour to correct all such damage.

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Woman in a Man's World.

stacker

one thing i forgot is a real kicker.yesterday while i was talking with the wife about scheduling the tile work,she told me she wanted me to tile the guest bathroom first.i suggested the master suite first since they are wanting to move in.she told me she wanted me to PRACTICE on the guest bathroom first. WTF is that all about.the only thing they know about building a house is what they have learned on the internet and from the helpful hands at home depot .the only reason i am still there is i made a commitment and i stick with that.in all my years of contracting i have only walked on one job.i was 80% done on that job and just couldnt put up with the general any longer.

the reason the ho is on the job everyday all day is they work from home and have set up an office in the basement so they can work there and watch everyone.this is over 11,000 sq ft home.2 carpenters and a helper,me with 2 helpers(one now).he is doing the finish electrical.she is doing the faux painting.havent seen a plumber on the job since i started.

__________________
life is short,do your masonry naked!!
http://ok.local.yahoo.biz/knabemasonry/index.html

dirt diggler

I don't mind the nice ones who just like to come out and talk ...

really, if you think about it --- what seperates you from your competition??

I'm sorry, but one guy's stonework (hypothetically) won't look much different from another's (to the UNtrained eye --- which is your client's eye)

my point is, a lot of repeat business simply comes from people who LIKE you.

THis "liking" comes from talking

Talk it up!

Debookkeeper

Ummm -- maybe that has something to do with why they are always watching you.

BreyerConstruct

De, you stole my post! LOL

~Matt

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Debookkeeper

Great minds!

Deb

stacker

my ex wife said it wasnt that noticable

__________________
life is short,do your masonry naked!!
http://ok.local.yahoo.biz/knabemasonry/index.html

Debookkeeper

I can't find a comfort smiley!

ruskent

I am on a job right now that i hate going to. The real kicker is, that i should of saw the warning signs and never took the job to begin with.

Here is the story. I give a guy a estimate. He tells me i am out of my mind. How can i justify charging that much. Bahhah He goes on for 5 minutes. I finally butt in and say "Sir this is the price. If you want me to do the job let me know, bye." I hang up on him. He calls me 4 weeks later and says he wants me to do it! I finally started it 3 months later.

The guy is 77 years old. His wife is 12 years younger and works all day. So he has nothing better to do then come out and pick apart everything i do.

This is the first time i have ever had anyone give me any proablems.

Matt

lxdollarsxl

I have something similar on mine with the inclusion that when the HO is on site (where we are working) work will stop for safety and only recommence when the area is clear.

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Damned if im gonna do it more than once.