Reply #8: I've never had problems [View All]

[notadmblnd]

Prior to my husbands death, we did most home improvements ourselves. I remember him getting so mad at me when he did the vinyl siding on the garage. It was his first time and he didn't read the book. He had gotten up early that morning and let me sleep in, when I got up he wanted me to see his work. So I go outside and look at the back side of the garage and he had the starter strip on upside down. He was about a third of the way through and had to tear it off, he accused me of just wanting to criticize his work. Now that he's gone, I've had to hire people to some jobs for me.

Maybe I'm just lucky to have grown up around a group of hard working class of laborers, auto mechanics, construction workers and the like. But I have found that getting to know them and giving them little perks gets them back to finish the job.

First I look for people who have the skills and really need the work. I go with them or meet them at the builders supply, choose the materials (with their advice) and make the purchase. I buy them lunch and provide a 12 pack of beer or pop at the end of the day. I give them half up front and when the job is done they get the rest.

The landscaping guy I hired to do some work down in the back yard last year now brings me ice remover for my driveway and will even put it down if I'm not home. I think I impressed the heck out of him when he got his bobcat stuck in the mud last spring. He was going to call a tow truck to pull him out but I took my husbands "come-along" attached it to his bobcat and the frame of our pickup and wenched him out inch by inch.

I guess just treating the people that work for you good is what has worked for me so far.