No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

ChrWright

I was curious to hear from any contractors with experiences along these lines. I've been in business for 10 years now on my own and have come to hold this as a rule to live by.

I've heard others talk about their attachment to clients/projects and how that can sometimes lead to "freebies". I've caught myself doing a lot of things for free on past projects in order to "make up" for delays or other issues. With few expeptions, giving materials or services for free often leads to a sense of entitlement on the part of clients--even well meaning ones. The road to hell is paved with good intensions, so they say. It's incredibly easy to lose track of how much you're giving away when you're first starting out and all you're giving is your own time.

Early in my career, this resulted in a perfect storm for my business that almost bankrupted me. It was a difficult project for a very difficult client who thought she was owed all manner of things for free just because of where her house was, who she knew in the neighborhood, and because she CHOSE to live in the house during the project (a very major one)....

If you're lucky, you can spot the difficult ones at the bid stage and can avoid working for them. I've backed out of more than a few projects because I could sense there would be issues during the project, or that they might have unreasonable expectations.

I do still give extras from time to time, to build good will and reward a homeowner who has been good to work for. But what I've come to understand--and it's purely human nature--if you don't value yourself, your ability, your time---then certainly no one else will.


Any thoughts?

Mike Finley

Everybody in this business needs to print out what you said and tape it inside their eye lids.

I think you are right about everything you said.

POOLMANinCT

you can get sick, looking at "money left on the table" in your earlier days......

they'll be time enough for countin' when the dealins done...

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......Less with the jaw & More with the paw.....

Chris Johnson

Generally I use years of experience now to point out things I see are missing from the plans/specifications, this always makes me the higher bid, some people concur and will take my advice and spend the money now. In my earlier years I would bid the job as is and open my big mouth after I started, I too was giving items away without charge. Now older and wiser no more, if the client is a good one and I am making good progress on the project I don't mind throwing in a thing or do that has little value but makes the client feel warm and fuzzy inside. I operate out of my house and usually invite people over for meetings when I am getting into the 'full new house' build, during this time my wife meets the people and now I listen to her advice, early on I wanted all the work and she would warn me of the way people were, such as they will be a problem.

Customers I've learned to avoid...School Teachers...Patrol Cops...each of them feel they have a position of control and won't accept NO for an answer.

I'm sure a few of you can add to the 'profiling' list

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Chris

ChrWright

Engineers--they will detail you to death...I had one who spreadsheeted a project down to the last 2x4, nail and minute of labor... Needless to say I did not do his project.

Attorneys--they will contract you to death...And will be the first to beat you up when things aren't EXACTLY to scope/design/specifications.

Doctors--the ultimate know-it-alls who think that anyone who's not a doctor can't possibly make anything more than minimum wage.


Obviously there are exeptions to every rule...And these are extreme versions of the types...

AbeBarker

I say with an ego, I was the King of Freebies, in my stupid mind it was a marketing strategy. My social life grew with my clients.

This Spring, I took out the ax and decided everyone gets the chop.

Now I'm making significantly more money and I have many customers who are treating me like an asshole.

I'm and asshole laughing my way to the top.

mdshunk

The hard one's for me are life-long federal level civil servants. I can deal with teachers, doctors, and lawyers just fine. Engineers are a bit of a struggle, but manageable. Get a retired federal government worker, and I'll show you a genuine wack job. The other group I have trouble with is "second generation money". The parents probably worked hard and make some dough in their life, and were probably nice people. The second generation money crowd never had to work for much, and in their adulthood they're still acting like spoiled brats.

K2

I know it's been discussed here before but the "Reverse BBB" Where businesses could leave a complaint on record about a homeowner, customer. And /or give them a good or excellent rating also. Like ebay customer feedback. Sounds like something Nathan could do in his spare time.

Tscarborough

I give freebies to customers who buy regularly and stay current on their accounts. The fastest way to increase your price and decrease your level of service is to demand something extra or free with no history.

Driftwood

Wonderful wisdom,doing it, right now ! Needed this, thank's

POOLMANinCT

if somebody is polite & respectful... the get some perks...
I won't call it freebies because free is the "f word" to me...

a good polite respectful customer may leave a message "we're having a party on sat...." ok ill send somebody by for a quick vac & check out get their heater going, whatever...

be polite & paid up, I treat it like my pool.


ray

__________________
......Less with the jaw & More with the paw.....

AtlanticWBConst

That's a very good rule of business to keep in mind.....

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- Build Well -