Clothes Make The Man!

silvertree

Clothes make the man!

I don't believe this is entirely true. But I posted back in early December that I got outfitted with new dress clothes. All of them the best. I believe that showing up looking like a page from Esquire helps with the price issue. You look like a million bucks and people know you ain't gonna be the cheapest guy.
On top of that, on my DIY website page I offer remodel consulting for $125.00 an hour. I don't expect that to be my bread and butter, but once again I am not selling myself cheap. I understand that consulting carries some risk so I have a disclaimer, I will help HO's find a solution to a snag in the process, but I will not offer advice on how to do the job, I will inform and steer people to finding the solution, including referring a plumber lets say.
Anyone done this, or thinking of something similar.
Orson, Rory, or any of the other seekers of truth?

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Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

neolitic

Tinner does.
That has long been an idea
I've mulled over, but never could
figure a good model for it.
Sure have given the service
away for long enough.

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Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

Tom Struble

they do it already on diy talk

tinner666

http://www.rentaroofer.com/

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Frank Slate Roof Repairs, Richmond, Va.

silvertree

So Tinner, works for you. I'm sure it will work for me too. And I'll bet the people that pay are better to work for.

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Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

tinner666

They are. I turn many down. Depends on level of skill/apptitude and ability to listen being displayed.

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Frank Slate Roof Repairs, Richmond, Va.

rbsremodeling

I think I would fail miserably at trying to help out homeowners like that. I'd probably snap and bury them in the back yard.

I give you an A for having that kind of patience.

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silvertree

Stuck on your remodel?
We will consult in your home and find a solution for your problem.
The cost to you is $125.00 per hour. You'll get a best next move answer from a contractor with 35 years experience. Call



Need someone to guide you for a day?
We will come to your home, with our tools and work for a half day, or longer if needed. Your price is $250.00 for the trip and the first 2 hours. and $90.00 an hour after that. Minimum is 4 hours. I am certified in remodeling, have been licensed since the early 80's. I have 35 years in construction as a remodeler and project manager. Call 612


What do I have to lose by trying this?

__________________
Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

rbsremodeling

Your Sanity

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silvertree

If I had that, I wouldn't be doing this in the first place.

__________________
Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

tinner666

You have to pick and choose. http://rcs.si-sv2628.com/photo_album_list.asp?u=30 Under 'Select Album' go to 'Sweat Equity'. Tell me what you see,

Ad looks good Silvertree

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Frank Slate Roof Repairs, Richmond, Va.

Mike Finley

Screw that sh*t. Here is the solution for a homeowner DIYer - do it yourself and reap what you are able to bring to the table. If you aren't capable of performing the work a professional contractor can perform you at least saved your money, wasn't that your motivation in the first place?

Why the hell would a professional contractor go out and whore themselves out to a homeowner who's #1 motivation was to save money? The solution for a homeowner who wants it done right is to hire a professional to do the job, the solution for a homeowner who wants to save money is to do it themselves.

You live with the baggage that comes along with doing it yourself, that's life. No way in hell would I consult a homeowner on it. No thanks, that isn't how it works. Mr. Homeowner go back to work and make money doing what you have devoted your life to whatever field that is. Make money, spend your weekends with the kids at their foot ball game and pay a professional to fix whatever is broken or whatever needs to be renovated.

I won't come to your work place and try to do your job, you don't need to try to do mine. If you do want to try to do mine, go to Home Depot and take the class taught by the guy who couldn't make it as a contractor. He will teach you all you need to know in 2 hours.

PS - you know why plumbers and electricians are the highest income earners in construction? Think about it. Then when you know the answer you'll know why there is no need to whore out your professional knowledge to people who are too cheap to pay for your services.

neolitic

One of my stock replies,
"If I wer smart,
I wouldn't be here."

__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

tinner666

I understand you Mike. Me, I do my own plumbing, wiring, etc. Some of these DIY'ers are qualified in some of those fields. We end up trading 'favors' and the referrals, for real contracting work, seem endless.

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Frank Slate Roof Repairs, Richmond, Va.

Bodger

And, if we just can't help you because you are a pathetic DIY who should never have attempted his own project in the first place, and you piss us off completely, we will gladly have our talented staff bury you in your own back yard for no extra cost.

Sorry Silver, I couldn't resist.

rbsremodeling

After we get the check of course and make it out to jose so we can cash it at the liquor store. Sorry I could not resist

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silvertree

Looks like a homeowner loading shingles.

Mike, I understand where your coming from. But I am not taking this personally, I think a few of these people will just end up paying for the whole thing. As it stands they are nobody's customer. I think this is going to work as a lead getter. No way do I want to spend my time doing hourly. But I can get a guy to do this for me and in the long run I think it will work. Or, it doesn't and I stop doing it.
Your right about plumbers and electricians not having this problem, but after years of unqualified people working as contractors the public sees remodeling as well within their skill set. I hate the fact that many people think were like trained monkees. Look at the average contractor website, especially franchises and you'll see the words "Factory Trained". That hardly makes me want to hire someone, we are our worst enemy. So I disagree with taking the hard line on this.

__________________
Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

Bodger

Yes, all payments must be made in full before this free offer is valid.

Silver might be on to something though.
If it gets so bad that consulting with homeowners on their DIY projects was the only work I could find, I'd have to hold my nose and do it!

But I would damn sure check into the liability issues first, and run it by my GL carrier.
I wouldn't want to get paid two hundred bucks giving pointers, and find out I inadvertently had made myself the GC of record on a bunch of sh!tty DIY work.

So let us know how this goes Silvertree.

tinner666

"Mike, I understand where you're coming from. But I am not taking this personally, I think a few of these people will just end up paying for the whole thing. As it stands they are nobody's customer. I think this is going to work as a lead getter."

Silver, you hit it on the head. Many pay me $125. to come out and talk to them. When they realize how involved it's gonna get, I, the understanding contractor, get the complete job. A great lead-getter.
The ones I do, are done on my time. Usually on the way home, or an off day of just doing bids, etc. It fills otherwise empty time and pays too!

No offense taken Mike.

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Frank Slate Roof Repairs, Richmond, Va.

Mike Finley

Okay, now that I like!

Just don't go a man-whoring yourselves or I'm gonna have to hunt you down.