The homeowner called my house to complain that I didn't put the furniture back on the deck after we washed it. Staining was 3 days away. He started out saying he couldn't believe how clean we got the old gazebo and then the real nature of his call emerged. He informed me he thought we had finished early and that we should have put back his stuff. As things went it bacame apparent he was mad it didn't take all day for the price we charged. I took a looong pause before I spoke.... I don't remember bidding on a time frame for washing and staining . I recall you were fine with our price . I told him in 16 yrs of doing this I have never had a problem with a customer being mad about putting back their own furniture. In fact I have little old ladies who have the deck cleared when we get there. He then changed his tune somewhat after I told him I would get in my truck and come down there and put the stuff back if tht was such a deal breaker. This was a big job bid at a good price but I told him I would be glad to settle up with him for what we had done and he could find someone to stain the deck who takes longer. He took a moment of pause this time and started to give us accolades on how clean we got the deck. We showed up Sun. on time and he was a new man. Respectful and happy to se us. 4.5 hrs later we were done and check in hand. His wife was so happy she baked cookies for us and had agrin from ear to ear. As he wrote me the check for the balance he owed he couldn't resist a snidely little comment though. " you don't pay taxes on this I bet". "shure I do " was my comment. "I have insurance as well! He said he couldn't believe how great his deck looked and offered us some drinks for the ride home. I gracioulsy accepted and offered him a thanks and a handshake. I could see a new respect in his eyes for this business and the ability to get things done better and faster than thehomeowner. He still added up on me and hated that I didn' work for $10 an hour.
The homeowner called my house to complain that I didn't put the furniture back on the deck after we washed it. Staining was 3 days away. He started out saying he couldn't believe how clean we got the old gazebo and then the real nature of his call emerged. He informed me he thought we had finished early and that we should have put back his stuff. As things went it bacame apparent he was mad it didn't take all day for the price we charged. I took a looong pause before I spoke.... I don't remember bidding on a time frame for washing and staining . I recall you were fine with our price . I told him in 16 yrs of doing this I have never had a problem with a customer being mad about putting back their own furniture. In fact I have little old ladies who have the deck cleared when we get there. He then changed his tune somewhat after I told him I would get in my truck and come down there and put the stuff back if tht was such a deal breaker. This was a big job bid at a good price but I told him I would be glad to settle up with him for what we had done and he could find someone to stain the deck who takes longer. He took a moment of pause this time and started to give us accolades on how clean we got the deck. We showed up Sun. on time and he was a new man. Respectful and happy to se us. 4.5 hrs later we were done and check in hand. His wife was so happy she baked cookies for us and had agrin from ear to ear. As he wrote me the check for the balance he owed he couldn't resist a snidely little comment though. " you don't pay taxes on this I bet". "shure I do " was my comment. "I have insurance as well! He said he couldn't believe how great his deck looked and offered us some drinks for the ride home. I gracioulsy accepted and offered him a thanks and a handshake. I could see a new respect in his eyes for this business and the ability to get things done better and faster than thehomeowner. He still added up on me and hated that I didn' work for $10 an hour.
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