call backs

[Jerry R]

Any builders out there with call back ittus? I have people calling me for gfi's and breakers needing switched, light bulbs out, bicycles in the way so the garage door opener won't close, etc. etc. No one seems to take care of their own stuff anymore. I have had a hair on glass, so they called to say the glass was cracked. I had someone back in to the garage door from the inside and want it covered under warrenty. Yesterday the cordless phone didn't work. (it was plugged in to a switched outlet). I swear these new breed of buyers are laim! Thanks to TDR, I have a place to vent.

 

[TowPro]

This is nothing new, this is why my dad got out of building in the 80's. I can remember calls in the middle of the night like "the power went out in a storm, but now my neighbors lights are on but mine are not" turns out the owner turned off the main breaker.





I remember one guy had a leak in his basement, so he figured he would knock a hole in the floor to let it drain, imagine the look on his face when the water started to come out of the hole! of course it was Dads fault.



Plus he was doing the work from design to building. All these homes were peoples "dream homes" and they were going to take the builder for everything they could. Plus banks not paying on time, etc, etc. I worked for him for many summers, but the first time it got cold after I gradated from high school (77) I decided I wanted to be an auto mechanic.



Back in the mid 80's I went back into building (for a year) at a large condo project. Same thing, owners wanting marks THEY put in the drywall fixed for free. Washers overflowing causing damage because they were to cheep to buy the tray to catch the water, concrete floors cracking, etc, etc.

 

[Rman]

funny you guys mention this today. I closed on my new house loan last friday. Life has been busy as hell and we're still not moved in but have some stuff there.



Well I went through to "test" and inspect everything. It was ridiculous how much stuff was not working. My wife is an agent for the builder who builds their houses, so we got a good deal (really good deal) and luckily they have no problems coming out to fix stuff.



As far as I'm concerned unless drywall starts falling off or anything I'll take it from here. I installed my garage door openers last night, that was fun.



p. s. The touch up painter was HORRIBLE, we called and had them send another guy.

 

[JPope]

Having been in the business for 30 years, all commercial, and mostly the big projects, it is not just in residential. It's the new 'ME' generation.

Had an owner not close on a project, kept finding things wrong, so he did not have to pay the contractor, cause he was waiting to get a better deal on his permanent financing. Held several $million of the contractors money for over 6 months!!!

Of course after he went through certain legal proceedings, the owner ended up paying the contractor interest on the money he held, call back costs, plus other additional fees etc. as well as to others involved in the project.

 

[Jerry R]

Rman, I'm definately not talking about legitimate call backs. I'm fed up with meaningless call backs that are from that ME generation JPope was talking about. If you lose your keys, don't call the builder. If you run out of propane, don't call the builder. If your cell phone doesn't work, etc . I have gotten all of these this year. I can't believe how many people do not try and fix something, or even investigate what's wrong. They just pick up that phone. I find myself needing caller ID now.

 

[Rman]

Originally posted by Jerry R

Rman, I'm definately not talking about legitimate call backs. I'm fed up with meaningless call backs that are from that ME generation JPope was talking about. If you lose your keys, don't call the builder. If you run out of propane, don't call the builder. If your cell phone doesn't work, etc . I have gotten all of these this year. I can't believe how many people do not try and fix something, or even investigate what's wrong. They just pick up that phone. I find myself needing caller ID now.

Oh yeah I understand, I was just commenting that I've gone through the call back process too. You guys have it rough man. My 'builder' does about 20 projects at a time. That guy is busy and very hard to get a hold of. Builds pretty nice houses though.



This falls in that accountability problem america has. No one is willing to admit their own faults. Truly a shame.

 

[JConley]

Its just as bad (or even worse) with computers. I stopped making computers because I adopted the people that bought them, and became the software support line.

 

[JPope]

Jerry R, just a suggestion, from something we are trying to do in projects I am on:



When you close on a project, try educating the client beforehand, with this/that is your responsibility (give a list). If you want me to do it for you, then I will charge this for "handling", including telephone time, and the work will be billed at this rate + whatever a subcontractor may charge (also suggest that they can do many things themselves for less cost). If it is a legitimate warranty issue, there will be no charge, but you will sent a bill for non-warranty related issues, and make sure they understand mechanics liens, and other legalities if they don't pay. Maybe even have alist of people who do small things for less cost and then they will call them directly.

Maybe they will think before calling you, but as with any service industry and the public, you are fighting an uphill battle.



Good Luck and keep your sanity/cool!!!!!!

 

[Bill Lins]

Originally posted by JConley

Its just as bad (or even worse) with computers. I stopped making computers because I adopted the people that bought them, and became the software support line.

Does this mean you don't love us any more?? :{

 

[Doc Tinker]

My son is great at brick paving. When he was learning the brick paving business, he was often required to completely tear up a perfect patio job because the homeowner changed his mind on the location of the plumbed in natural gas grill. With almost every job, the homeowner decided that something wasn't what they visioned and wouldn't pay up unless the crew made the corrections. On top of that, some of the clients never seemed to have any money when it came time to pay the final bill.



Every time I suggest that my son start a business, with my offer to buy the equipment and help him out, he makes the points mentioned above and says no.



Doc