Two weeks ago this coming Monday my work day started with a phone call from a rather frantic property owner. One of her rental houses had caught fire. She had immediately called a friend of hers who maintains an inactive contractor’s license. He referred her to me.
So in the last two weeks, with the understanding that I had a “99% chance of getting the contract” (to repair the house) I’ve secured the house, dealt with the insurance company, engaged trade contractors to get bids on various portions of the work and suppliers for needed materials, and have been working feverishly in good faith to fit everything this woman wants into her insurance settlement. The job has to be done for the insurance money. There is no other money available. So the margin for error is zero!
And then . . . Just a few minutes ago, as I was putting a wrap on my estimate for her (working a Saturday to do it, no less!), I get a call from her:
She’d put the job out for bid and took the first low-ball estimate that came back, promising her the moon for her money. The irony is: My figures showed I could have done what she wanted done too — but I couldn’t have promised her the moon along with it.
And in point of fact, I fully expect this contractor she’s hired is going to start adding money to the pot as he goes along, until he burns up all the money and leaves her with an unfinished house, or she’s forced to put a mortgage on her personal house in order to pay for the repairs.
Sometimes, being fair and honest doesn’t pay.
Or does it?
