If you’ve ever spent time chasing landscape contractors for quotes, you will find the following post amusing.
… today I hit upon the perfect solution for getting the lowest bid for projects outside your home where you don’t need to be present for the estimate.
For her smart homeowner tip, read Goldilocks and the Three Contractors @ Broadsheet.
That’s right. You read correctly. Pamper your home improvement contractor. I’m not talking about giving him a pedicure and a massage (he he, he he he), just showing your appreciation in small ways throughout the course of the job. It’ll make a big difference in your relationship and the quality of workmanship you receive.
I enjoy visiting ContractorTalk.com and reading the threads there. As you have to be a professional contractor (in construction, remodeling or related trades) to participate and I am a homeowner with 2 left hands so to speak, I can only lurk and learn. But learn I do about how the “other half” feels and thinks ( we care about contractors here at RenoCheck / RenoWire 
).
One recent thread, “Good homeowner stories”, was especially insightful. I guess that means contractors might have “bad homeowner” stories too? Why yes they do, but they wanted to talk about something else for a change ha ha … So! What makes you a “good homeowner” in the mind of a contractor? What makes a difference? You would be surprised.
It’s home-made cookies or food to take home. Cold water or beverages on a “sweltering hot day”. Bonuses or tokens of appreciation (gift certificates for dinner) for a job well done. Referrals to friends and family. One contractor, “woodmagman” made a very interesting observation:
I don’t think most customers realize that we don’t hold back 10% of our service; they just get an additional 10% by being nice.
So smart homeowners: pamper your contractor. You’ll be glad you did. A little genuine thoughtfulness (good karma) goes a long way. It’s easy to just focus on how much you’re paying and wanting the job done yada yada … But contractors are people too. And when you make an extra effort on their behalf, they’ll go that extra mile in return. It’s the difference between someone just doing the job they were contracted to do and someone genuinely committed to the outcome of your home renovation or remodeling project. I know which I’d rather have …
Read the full thread Good homeowner stories and learn …
