As a contractor I like to work for other landlords. They know what they want and expect out of a contractor and know when they are quoted a good price.

Well I did the dumbest thing, working for an attorney/landlord with a perfect memory. So when his tenant refused me her parking spot and wouldn't acknowledge I was doing her a favor, I walked off the job.

The owner/attorney said I was wrong and that he had always paid any invoice I presented. The last invoice I gave him was for materials only, no labor. The labor would come at the end of the project -- at another property.

He would not admit to a bad memory or of our terms. So I told him to ask his wife what she remembers, and no not prompt her. Ask his parents and pull up the payment check and invoice that I had given him.

He called me back and now understood why I also walked off that job too. My invoice included a purchase from a pool supplier that had the tools and materials to fix a cracked pool leaking water. I got $2,400 worth of stuff for a wholesale price of $1,300. He said that he paid my $700 to complete the job and I walked off it so he paid another contractor $8,000 to complete the job.

But the invoice showed I charged he the cost of materials only. That my labor would come to around $2,000 at the end. Doing everything but painting or smoothing the pool surface. I tried to save him between $6,000 and $10,000. He then apologized and asked why I didn't get a written contract between us. You are an attorney that I've known since you were in diapers. You told me we didn't need a contract, we are long term friends, and family.

If it aint written down and signed,

Glad to hear this worked out.

RJ,

And from an ATTORNEY no less! I would think he's at least have notes from his phone calls.

I often hear "I don't need to sign anything - my word is my bond." Run!

I told a contractor "The contract is so my wife knows to pay you in case I die."