WORK For Dummies

Standstrong

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but I am.
I have a much better time working with people who are intellectually a bit smarter than the rest. Im by no means smart, but I've had an epiphany.

They usually have better jobs and are more likely to not haggle you down.
They usually have a great idea of time on job and expect to pay more when they add different services.
They know they can't do it all, and realize that people are professionals.
They realize that quality is a price, what get for your money and not a cost, how much you pay for something.
They REALLY tend to make better design and layout choices that they have thought about and will be happy with for a while. So they tend not to have a ton of c.o.'s, resulting in self inflicted resentment.
They don't hold out on pay because they have to switch money from 3 different accounts because they have funds available.

I'm an ass, but I'm right.
Plus, I think they appreciate a job well done a little more and tend to give you more referrals. Think about that...Someone who is successful and smart tells someone else about a great perceived experience. That referral knows that person is smart and successful. I think they take it more serious.

and they didn't spend all day in a coal mine for a buck. And I come from 3 generations of coal miners, I know the mentality.

davy crockett

After 20 years in this I'd say I'd rather work for a working man any day (waitress,teacher,mechanic,etc.) any day compared to doctor, lawyer, professor etc. I've NEVER been stiffed by a customer who hadn't had an epiphany or whatever it was you had,,,BTW what did you have,,,you sound mean,,,

Cole

I could not agree more!

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Tulsa's Leader in Outdoor Living Construction | Facebook | Tulsa Pergola Builder | Tulsa Outdoor Kitchens

Brock

Young white collar professional = great customer

Old white collar professional= trouble

Lower class blue collar= great customer and has been known to tip

Middle class blue collar= will have filthy house but expect your work to be impecable

Old single female homeowner= great customer and will tell 400 people that you are tops

BigLou

Professionals = have money, lack time, don't have experience to DIY

Blue collar = less money, experienced in DIY.

95% of our clients fall in the 1st category, because they have a NEED and we have a SOLUTION.

Flacan

Middle aged divorced women - run like the wind, boy

Women who wear large hats - run like the wind, boy

Women who have "cow" designs on mail boxes, etc - run like the wind, boy


The above are the only type of women customers I've ever had problems with.

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Raimo Kumpulainen
Those who don't remember the past, are condemned to repeat it.

mdshunk

My most enjoyable and most troublesome customers to work for are the richest folks. They mark both extremes for me. The middle is filled with all the regular people.

On a related note, many people report that they have some of the hardest times working for engineers. The feeling seems almost universal. Myself, on the other hand, I have no trouble working for engineers.

wizendwizard

High end customer worth 22.5 mil = downgraded from 6 bedroom home in very expensive island neighborhood, to living in a double wide mobile home on a riverbank. Owns his own backhoe business, paid on time everytime, loved the work, never questioned anything. calls me back 4 times a year with a new project.

Landscaping contractor owned rental property, no diy experiance.= Loved the work, expected me to work for pennies on the dollar, had to wait weeks for money.

Retail business owner, experianced diy'er owns 12 rental homes. = expected me to work for pennies on the dollar, nothing was good enough.

55 year old lady with a 26 year old son and 7 year old granddaughter living with her. Works 6 days a week as a special needs teacher= Paid cash up front and never questioned anything, Loves the work, refers me to anyone who will listen to her and has me coming back next week to install a $32,000 sunroom.

I think I'll keep her and forget everyone else.

These are some of my customers. I am not like most contractors though....I turn down no one that has a dollar to spend unless they dont have enough dollars to pay MY price.

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"If you start the grout process over, you too could use sparkly grout!"
There is no such thing as an illegal immigrant, they are either illegal or immigrants.
I'm Retired, or a student, don't really know anymore.

Cole

Isn't that how everyone feels though?

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Tulsa's Leader in Outdoor Living Construction | Facebook | Tulsa Pergola Builder | Tulsa Outdoor Kitchens

dkillianjr

Yup you got it right on the nose. I rather work for a blue collar anyday Its the ones who have the least who always give the most!



Dave

BMAN

I think I have found all types in all demographics. I think rental prop owners are the worst for wanting more and paying less. I always give them same price I would anyone else and they always call somone else. Good riddance.

wizendwizard

Cole, Have you read some of the post on here that specifically state.... "High End Customers Only"

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"If you start the grout process over, you too could use sparkly grout!"
There is no such thing as an illegal immigrant, they are either illegal or immigrants.
I'm Retired, or a student, don't really know anymore.

silvertree

For the last 10 years I have worked for a lot of professors from the University of Minnesota. Some live in garbage houses, so are neat freaks, all were pretty good customers. This past year I did 4 jobs for PHD people (Piled High and Deeper), they were referrals from one to another. I am a high school dropout, but it seems like most of my customers are highly educated and the communication has gone well enough. I politely refuse to go out on bids for Real Estate agents, rental property owners and anyone that asks if my estimates are free in the first question. The PHD's for the most part are clueless on how things work, but after explaining the process they are good customers. Blue collar people are pretty good, unless they are strong union people, the union people seem to think the lowest price is the only price and they complain about everything from price of materials to cost of labor. My two worst customers were union stewards, cheap and impossible to please.
I'm not knocking the union, that's just the way it shook out. But anyone who gives me respect regardless of social or economic status is a good customer.

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

Lumpy

Vertical, mouth breather with a check book is the absolute minimum standard for my clientel.

Other than that, it always come down to MONEY. No matter what societal group or level, there are hardasses in all of them.

I will say that it is AMAZING how somebody with a stock portfolio that rivals the GNP of half the third world nations, will sit there and question a $635.50 Labor charge that prolly still won't cover your expenses.

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Fran Yetso Construction
professional remodeling

britsteroni

I think most of you are forgetting that the professionals that hastle for money (rental property owners, business people, lawyers, etc.) got their money by being extremely tight.

They are educated and have saved, invested, etc. for their entire lives, what makes you think they are going to hand thousands of dollars over to people that they look down upon (not saying I think that is right to look down on anyone!)

Just my opinion coming from a white collar family

SelfContract

You guys are all correct. In summary, the "stingy" or "cheap" is in the blood, the heredity, the genes, the ethnics, etc. And it comes from all walks of society!

Furthermore, it does not "disciminate" everyone and it comes from the rich, the poor, the smart, the stupid, the beautiful, the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Heritage

Educated with a well paying job does not necessarily = Smart.

Anyone that disagrees is an idiot

But it does mean they have certain standards.

The Blue collar people usually have lower standards.

So you charge the White collar people more, take more care in the details.

You charge the blue collar people less, and give them a better price.

EVERYBODY HAPPY

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Toronto General Contractor-Renovation Blog-Contractor on Facebook-Renovation on twitter-Contractor Youtube

Teetorbilt

They ALL vary, there is no prototypical!

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

fourcornerhome

Question?How do you price a job to lower standards,and how do you adjust your work quality to lower standards?

Heritage

How does the same company that makes Hondas make Acuras?

How does the same company that makes Toyotas make Lexus'?

Why does one bathroom remodel cost 5k and another 50k?

Why do some walls get 3 coats and sand and others get 5, sand, primed, retouched?

Why do you feel comfortable allowing your $15/hr apprentice handle one job but wouldn't dream of allowing anyone but your $30/hr Foreman/P.M. to take care of another?

I could go on and on.

The key is letting the HO know what they are getting for their money. There is a big difference between true workmanship and quality vs "good enough". I offer both....I think most others do aswell.

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Toronto General Contractor-Renovation Blog-Contractor on Facebook-Renovation on twitter-Contractor Youtube