As I’ve posted before, we’re in the midst of a remodel in our main living area. The entryway and great room are getting a removal (entry closet, lighting fixtures are gone) and a makeover (new electrical, new paint, new doors and new floors).
During the process (now painfully lingering on a full month longer than expected or planned), we’ve learned a new, much broader definition of the concept of “reliability.” For instance, “tomorrow” doesn’t necessarily mean Friday if today is Thursday. It can mean any random day in the future.
“We’ll get back to you with the cost on the changes,” has no discernable meaning. We’ve had at least a dozen total “no shows” (the guy just didn’t show up – no phone call, no nothing). We’ve had many “lates” (they eventually got there but not at the time they said).
Our contractor has a very fine overall reputation and comes well recommended. And they do wonderful work as it’s completed. When we asked why few workers show up either on time or at all, we were told “it’s typical of our industry”. Yikes.
The real problem, they explained, is that due to the housing slowdown, many more people are doing the same thing we are. Sub-contractors are therefore backed up and everything has a “ten-pin” effect. And of course that doesn’t even touch on the fact that these hard working guys (and gals) put in such long hours (when they work) that they often find creative ways to charge their batteries over the weekend.
Which adds to Monday no-shows, Tuesday back-ups and Wednesday frustration.
Today happens to be Friday and the floor guys are frantically trying to finish today so they won’t have to come back on the weekend.
We can only hope.
During the process (now painfully lingering on a full month longer than expected or planned), we’ve learned a new, much broader definition of the concept of “reliability.” For instance, “tomorrow” doesn’t necessarily mean Friday if today is Thursday. It can mean any random day in the future.
“We’ll get back to you with the cost on the changes,” has no discernable meaning. We’ve had at least a dozen total “no shows” (the guy just didn’t show up – no phone call, no nothing). We’ve had many “lates” (they eventually got there but not at the time they said).
Our contractor has a very fine overall reputation and comes well recommended. And they do wonderful work as it’s completed. When we asked why few workers show up either on time or at all, we were told “it’s typical of our industry”. Yikes.
The real problem, they explained, is that due to the housing slowdown, many more people are doing the same thing we are. Sub-contractors are therefore backed up and everything has a “ten-pin” effect. And of course that doesn’t even touch on the fact that these hard working guys (and gals) put in such long hours (when they work) that they often find creative ways to charge their batteries over the weekend.
Which adds to Monday no-shows, Tuesday back-ups and Wednesday frustration.
Today happens to be Friday and the floor guys are frantically trying to finish today so they won’t have to come back on the weekend.
We can only hope.
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