Just say No

[imagineero]

Just wanted to give everyone a reminder that its ok to walk away from a job - even if there's no good reason.

How many times has something gone wrong in your life and after it you told everyone "I shouldn't have done it, I kind of felt like something was wrong" but you did it anyway, maybe even had to talk yourself into it against your better judgement. Trust your judgement!

I went out to a job last week, looked at it... Seemed like easy money but from the moment I got there it just didnt feel right. It was almost like the scene out of a movie. It was just a trim, had a cal from a guy who said he'd had a quote to do the job which sounded really high ($800 for a 4 branches) and I said I'd come take a look and if it was small, do it on the day. Got there and immediately felt weird for no real reason.

The guy said he'd be happy to pay $400 and keep the wood and it looked like about a half hours work to me. The guys mother was screaming at him out the window in Lebanese or something, and the dog was in the laundry going absolutely crazy. Then there was this kid in the next yard just continuously saying "don't do it, don't do it, don't do it". I had a peek over the fence and she was bouncing on a trampoline and just repeating that for no reason I could understand.

Looked at the job for longer than I've looked at a job in some time. Kept going 'yeah, looks like I can just get right up there and do it" but then I'd spot something I didnt like. Nothing major, just looking at the tiles on the roof and they look very brittle. Looked like a hard shot to get a nice tie in. The TIP was really pretty far away from where I needed to be. The neighbour didnt want me accessing the tree from her side of the yard etc. None of the factors were that major, but sure felt like I shouldnt do it.

In the end I just said no and walked away, but felt a little silly for declining the job for no real reason. The guy was a bit miffed, I kind of was at myself too. I've done much harder jobs for less money.

Went by today, and the tile roof was caved in. Some other tree company parked out the front, hard to tell what happened from the front yard, but looks like he dropped something pretty big onto that roof. Felt sorry for the guy, and heard some loud yelling and arguing going on, dog barking, mother screaming. Glad it wasnt me though

Shaun

 

[sgreanbeans]

I have one right now, I really wish I didn't take on. My old next door neighbors, known them for years. They are having a rough time, so I thought I would help them out. Made them the deal of the century, as I felt pretty bad for them. Now, it has been storming every couple of days, knocking a lot stuff around, I am not even caught up on storm stuff and they keep calling me about when. Its is a big tree in a bad spot, keep telling them that I am not doing it until this weather chills out, going to have to rig out every bit and go small, so wind is not an option. You would think that they would be glad I have agreed to take it on for so little, they are broke so I did it for expenses, trying to help a friend out, nope. It is as if the dynamic has changed from friend to contractor. The guy told me he would kick in labor, the one day I tried (started getting 30-40mph gust) I stopped, told her that we REALLY need to wait until this weather system is outa here. I have a very small LZ, so the wind is real pain. He never showed, stayed in the house. I am real close to tell them to bite me. If they want to pay me full price, then I will be there. If I am doing it for peanuts, then it will be on my terms. Why do I do this to myself. Try and be a good guy and it bites me every time. Just say no! New tree guy saying

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I had one for a realty company that feeds me leads, tight budget with big silver maple lead over house. I told them a grand at my convenience, as soon as I said it both sides of the deal start calling me and badgering me to get it done right now. I had way too much on my plate and told them to take the next guy. The buyer tells me he is big in real estate, and could make me a lot of money....If i got one job for every time I heard that line....."run away!"

 

[Pelorus]

Client called for a hydro disconnect while undertaking extensive renovation of newly purchased cottage.
Hydo tells him to get necessary 1.5 meter clearance done on both sides of badly overgrown line before they will re-connect him.
Line runs along part of the property line dividing neighbour A from neighbour B.
Bush lots; long gravel driveways, zero landscaping, no lawns.

So I mentioned to A that that B would need to be notified before I could proceed.
We (the client & I) subsequently discussed the matter of the nebulous basswood saplings.

Neighbour informed us that he hated to see a tree cut down; "could you just cut the top of some of them?"

(do you get a sense of where this is heading?)

Anyway, the work was completed, hydro got re-connected, life is good. Right?
Cut very low stumps and fed them stupid suckers through the chipper.

I have driven (40 minute round trip) now three times to that site. Once for the "free" estimate/consultation.
Second time (with two slaves) to do the six hour job which included brush chipping and some additional work.
Third time to drop off invoice and collect cheque for completed $900.00 job.

Alas, the chequebook somehow failed to make the trip up to the cottage.
Even though I talked to him on the phone before undertaking trip #3.
I have yet to receive the cheque in the mail.
And according to a recent phone call from A, apparently B is extremely upset that some of his "trees" were removed.