The Home Improvement Thread

[Taco Loco]

More experiences with contractors who won't show up. Wife and I have been wanting a pool for a while. Backyard is big enough, want something not too big (16x32) with a spa area, water feature, tanning ledge, and a freeform shape. Out of the 3 pool builders I've contacted and had setup to come give an estimate/design plan. ONE has shown up. 33% success rate. I have one more guy coming out next Friday morning. So we'll see. About the two who no-showed... I called and texted both. Not being a dick more of like "hey maybe I got the date and time wrong but I thought we had planned to meet today at 4:00.. let me know if I'm off or you can't make it so we can reschedule. Thanks" Crickets.

A No show is a no go, and bad review

 

[Silverback]

yep!!!

 

[Anathollo]

More experiences with contractors who won't show up. Wife and I have been wanting a pool for a while. Backyard is big enough, want something not too big (16x32) with a spa area, water feature, tanning ledge, and a freeform shape. Out of the 3 pool builders I've contacted and had setup to come give an estimate/design plan. ONE has shown up. 33% success rate. I have one more guy coming out next Friday morning. So we'll see. About the two who no-showed... I called and texted both. Not being a dick more of like "hey maybe I got the date and time wrong but I thought we had planned to meet today at 4:00.. let me know if I'm off or you can't make it so we can reschedule. Thanks" Crickets.

bleah...pool contractors... bottom of the barrel workers.

We got my mom's pool refinished and ran new plumbing to all the fixtures. The guy bailed at the 85% mark and we never saw him again (thankfully we never paid him in full). My stepdad ended up finishing the pool remodel.

 

[Oswego]

More experiences with contractors who won't show up. Wife and I have been wanting a pool for a while. Backyard is big enough, want something not too big (16x32) with a spa area, water feature, tanning ledge, and a freeform shape. Out of the 3 pool builders I've contacted and had setup to come give an estimate/design plan. ONE has shown up. 33% success rate. I have one more guy coming out next Friday morning. So we'll see. About the two who no-showed... I called and texted both. Not being a dick more of like "hey maybe I got the date and time wrong but I thought we had planned to meet today at 4:00.. let me know if I'm off or you can't make it so we can reschedule. Thanks" Crickets.

Tis not the season for that stuff. Would be like trying to call me about a small glass construction job right now when I'm drowning in massive projects I have been working on for years in advance.

I'd say "Ill get back to you in winter when we are done on the massive jobs and if your still looking we can help you out". I'd at least be upfront about it and communicate.....then again I'm full of BS ........there are a few people a week I totally blow off and never respond to. At least I'd never set an appointment I never planned on following through with

 

[Silverback]

Well the guy that was to be here yesterday got in touch with me today. Very apologetic and told me what I feel was the truth.. he said he totally dropped the ball and neglected to write it down and forgot. So he will be back today at 3:00.. or so he says.

But the one pool guy who did show came through! He sent me this video he made, its basically my backyard (minus a few trees out near the fence line. Giving me a feel for what it would be like. I like.

 

[tx_shooter]

Video needs more naked women.

 

[Silverback]

Agreed!

 

[tx_shooter]

At least a few topless out sun bathing to help sell it.

 

[Anathollo]

Well the guy that was to be here yesterday got in touch with me today. Very apologetic and told me what I feel was the truth.. he said he totally dropped the ball and neglected to write it down and forgot. So he will be back today at 3:00.. or so he says.

But the one pool guy who did show came through! He sent me this video he made, its basically my backyard (minus a few trees out near the fence line. Giving me a feel for what it would be like. I like.

Looks good! Also, make sure you go with a Saltwater pool. Easier to maintain and gentler on your skin & eyes. The upfront costs are more to go to Saltwater but the long term consumables (salt, chlorine tablets) are much cheaper than chlorine (speaking from years of experience here).

 

[Oswego]

Looks good! Also, make sure you go with a Saltwater pool. Easier to maintain and gentler on your skin & eyes. The upfront costs are more to go to Saltwater but the long term consumables (salt, chlorine tablets) are much cheaper than chlorine (speaking from years of experience here).

I second that. Chlorine sucks.

 

[Silverback]

Yeah, planning on saline.

 

[Silverback]

so the guy showed up.. nice guy. He built a pool for a friend of a friend (met them a few times). Anyhow, he was straight forward and probably a bit more realistic in pricing (IMO). That being said it was more $$. Now the other guy (guy who made the video) might just being pulling me in at a lower price and then add more cost as we go. Its close in price. Neither one has given me a final pricing, so we'll see.

 

[Taco Loco]

Yeah, planning on saline.

 

[Silverback]

 

[Oswego]

so the guy showed up.. nice guy. He built a pool for a friend of a friend (met them a few times). Anyhow, he was straight forward and probably a bit more realistic in pricing (IMO). That being said it was more $$. Now the other guy (guy who made the video) might just being pulling me in at a lower price and then add more cost as we go. Its close in price. Neither one has given me a final pricing, so we'll see.

Ah...the old bid it at cost and make profits on change orders and "surprises" compared to the everything's included thorough price.

Hardest part with those is comparing apples to apples. Makes it impossible if they are proposing different ideas.

 

[Taco Loco]

AC went out, I think one of the two capacitors is bad, it's a balmy 85 inside the house.

Gonna camp in the shop and sleep out in the RV tonight with cold AC.

 

[Silverback]

I miss having that as a backup. At least its a cheap fix and get to go camping.

 

[Taco Loco]

I miss having that as a backup. At least its a cheap fix and get to go camping.

Yes sir, 1 hour total in the service call and $100 later, were back to being cool again, well, we were always cool before, just trying to stay cool


I'm just glad my AC guy charges the same wether he just fixed an AC on a mobile home or a nice house, some of those companys/service guys upcharge thier service soon as they drive into a nicer neighborhood.

 

[Silverback]

One of my wife's functions at work is also to be in charge of facilities, which she laughs at because she doesn't really know shit about them. Anyhow maybe 7 years ago in the old house, hot July day, AC goes out ( I was working from home).. she gives me the AC guy they use number. I call him up and he drops everything to come fix it, I'd say it was maybe 2 hours after I called him. $20 in parts.. done! He didn't charge for the labor.. guess its good to know people sometimes. I tried to pay him but he insisted I didn't. Ok..

 

[Oswego]

One of my wife's functions at work is also to be in charge of facilities, which she laughs at because she doesn't really know shit about them. Anyhow maybe 7 years ago in the old house, hot July day, AC goes out ( I was working from home).. she gives me the AC guy they use number. I call him up and he drops everything to come fix it, I'd say it was maybe 2 hours after I called him. $20 in parts.. done! He didn't charge for the labor.. guess its good to know people sometimes. I tried to pay him but he insisted I didn't. Ok..

Luckily I was taught early on to never burn a bridge. Thats not all that common these days though.

Ill never understand the customers who treat me like I'm their indentured servant just because I got an order form them. They apparently have no idea that I control their pricing, lead times, and know each bidder for any project thus have a ton of power over who gets jobs. I shake my head on a daily basis. Good customers get taken care of ~ bad customers also get taken care of