H.O. wont leave me ALONE!!

Tell him you need to get to work. He'll get the point.

Politely ask him to move a few times. This has worked for me.

"Excuse me."


"Excuse me."


"Excuse me."





"Excuse me."




"Excuse me."
"Excuse me."



"Excuse me."








"Excuse me."


"Excuse me."







"Excuse me."








"Excuse me."

Nail his foot to the floor.

He'll never bother you again.

when you get there Monday, kiss him ... hopefully he'll stay away ... if he doesn't, then you'll understand why

Throw a little grout (or paint) under his foot so he tracks it everywhere. he might get the hint to stay away. Especially when you have to charge extra to clean it up.

Does my head in when im trying to work and customer wont stop talking. Bet he wouldnt be talking to you if you was chargeing him day rate.

Pinch him on the ass and tell him "Lookin good today, muffin" .
That should do it.

I had an uncle that was driving me crazy, so I removed a bunch of wall tile that was already installed, and put them in my bucket, I told him I messed up because I was not concentrating, and asked him to clean them up because we will need them.

A couple hours later he returned with the cleaned tiles, and started in again, then I just told him that I could not do a very good at this if i am not giving it my full attention, and that although I appreciated his company, i needed to pay attention.

I agree with Mellison, politely ask them to leave. I usually tell them that I really need to concentrate on the job at hand and that they are a distraction and are preventing me from doing my best work for them. Most will comply.....

......Others, well. When you know they are right behind you, do a quick about face and run into them, smack them with a board, etc.

There are some that still don't get it. On some jobs (1-2 days or more) where "visitors" are a problem I partition off the area I am working in from the rest of the house so they can't even get in the work area. I tell them it is to keep dust, odors, noise, etc. out of the rest of the house. I use some ZipWall poles and a paint tarp(s) or 6 mil plastic and it generally keeps them out, especially if you don't have a readily accessible access opening/door in the temp wall.

One MP3 player. One radio with input jack. One adapter cable.Volume Setting:80. Playlist: Nine Inch Nails -Head Like A Hole//Alice in Chains-Them Bones//Tool-Aenima// if he's not gone by then at least he rocks:thumbsup:.

If asking a HO several times to let me thru with a sheet doesn't work I usually take my belt off and grab my coffee thermos and take 5. Last civil attempt is to mention that my Liability Insurance doesn't cover spectator events.

All aggravation aside think of what will happen if someone gets injured in any way. It isn't worth making a new temporary friend if they can't bother to think of thier own safety. It's REALLY bad when they bring the kids and the dog to a new construction site! Basements,additions,etc you just have to hope they aren't the stalker type.

I usually tell them in a joking fashion that I will have to re-do my contract because I didnt figure in "supervisory" help. Sometimes it works. Others I just have to tell that I need to stay on schedule.

People who watch and talk the most usually tip the best. Tell him that.

Tell him your rate is figured on say $50/hr. If he wants to watch, $75/hr and if he wants to talk to you all day, $100/hr.

After the fact, I realized I was doing it myself...dish guy came and I shot the ***** with him the whole time, following him around etc...

I hate people looking over my shoulder...I coulda started this thread, but I'm guilty!


Sorry, dish dude!

At some point mid-morning steer the conversation in the direction where you tell him the story about that time you were trying to work and this customer stood over you the whole time talking and distracting you and you accidentally nailed his cat to the floor. The customer got pissed about his cat so you nailed him to the floor also.:thumbsup:

For years when I wore a tool belt and that crap happened I would drop my tool belt around my ankles where I stood fold my arms and continue talking never moving from that spot. They catch on after a time.

Try this, as historically it works:
"You know, it's pretty tight quarters in here and one of us IS going to get hurt and I know it isn't going to be me."
Or since it's a bid situation, when he begins to interrupt your work, say the following: "Hold on a second" Then look at your watch and write down the time. When he asks why you are writing down the time, reply" Well, this is a bid job and the way I see it, the time spent talking, away from performing my list of tasks, is outside the scope of work...so are you paying cash or check for this extra time?" Schedule meetings either at the beginning or end of the day to discuss whatever he wants-within reason of course!

WNYcarpenter said:

After the fact, I realized I was doing it myself...dish guy came and I shot the ***** with him the whole time, following him around etc...

I hate people looking over my shoulder...I coulda started this thread, but I'm guilty!


Sorry, dish dude!

Click to expand...

I too am guilty as charged. I have always been patient when dealing with home owners who seem to talk/nag but i have aslo found myself doing the same when i have work done around the my home.