I was talking to one of my contractors this evening about a project that he is working on. He said that he was meeting with a lady for about 45 minutes at a project at her house. Discussing the project price, terms, timeline, etc. When he was getting ready to leave, she said to him that for next time please be aware that she is "Covid concerned".

He said OK and turned around and walked away. Got in his truck and left.

I told him that he is a better man than me because I would've told her to find somebody else to do the work.

It's an OUTSIDE deck.

But not to get into the whole Covid thing, I told him you better charge her accordingly to make working for her worth your time. Because if she'll believe the TV hype that much, she'll believe your price.

And he said oh I did, $1200 to stain a 10 x 10 deck.

Now, I'm not surprised he did this and I would do the same thing myself. As a matter of fact, in the past when I have done contracting, I have a charge people for how much of a pita they are.

So when you are hiring people, are you a pita and being overcharged or do you roll with the punches and work with them easily? Because if you are a pita, I guarantee you get overcharged.

I know from my day business the PITA charge is a VERY real thing...and it's significant.

That's why I bend over backwards to look for ways to make my rental rehab projects appealing to contractors:

Good, clean communication upfront.

I don't waste their time with too much chit-chat.

I try to keep my requests focused, and not too many change orders.

While I'm candid about needing a good price, I also let them know that I understand they need to make it worth their while.

Still learning, that's right. You have to be easy to work with. I know for a fact that 9 times out of 10 I could pull my normal go-to guys off a job like the lady's that I mentioned that day or have them push her off the next day if I need something. I'm easy for them to work with.

NE,

That guy is a j e rk and a rip off. He gives all contractors a bad name.

I would instantly remove him from my life. I would not want to be associated with him and would never trust him.

Her comment was fine. Get over it and serve your customers fella. His ego is getting in the way of feeding his family. Marketing experts tell us a disgruntled customer will tell 11 people about a bad contractor.

Treating an old lady like that! Sheesh! What an id i ot!

"Many owners will hold off on a repair, thinking it can be done another time. Instead as an add on to a current job incurring no travel time or emergency status. Then all of a sudden the owner wants it done later, they are shocked that a $50 add-on becomes a $200 charge."

If anything it would have made more business sense to give a discount.

If she is covid concerned. Then she will not want to be around others as much.

So she will not be out there on top of the job.

Will not be slowing down the job by getting in the way.

Or holding him up with a bunch of questions while working.

And wearing a mask she will most likely communicate less than more.

Most contractors would do the opposite and charge more for customers that would take up more of their time not less.

Since all my units are M2M from the beginning, I can add a PITA charge and up the rent any time. So yes I can expect the same from a contractor. I also understand if a contractor has a ton of work, doesn't want to do a job for any reason, or is an emergency, I will be charged more. So that is why I look for a couple of estimates on jobs.

However, I don't believe "Covid concerned" is a PITA. She may very well have underlying health issues she did not mention which should up her concern. It doesn't sound like she masked and gloved herself to talk to this guy, probably just kept her distance outside? Maybe this guy got a little closer than she was comfortable with so she mentioned it. It certainly sounds like she won't be in his face. But a contractor's can quote any price.

NE -- it just gets old all the C19 posts. You been harping on this for 5 months now.

Some people understand that due to their health and age--IT COULD BE A DEATH SENTENCE if they catch it. WHY do you continue to labast these people and their legitimate concerns?

Yea so overcharge the ol lady to teach her a lesson and then post here for a good laugh....

The issue, NE, is the only a handful of people like yourself see her as being a PITA at all. She didn't have any odd request during this time. Letting a contractor know before he starts a job that she is concerned about Covid -- during a global pandemic -- is not being a "PITA."

You say that you don't want to make this thread about Covid, but that is EXACTLY what this is. This is YOU thinking that anyone that is concerned about Covid is a "PITA."

Most of us do not think that. She was not being a PITA.

I actually AGREE with you that people who are a PITA will get overcharged or have more trouble than those who are not. But, this is simply not one of those cases. It is only so in your mind. Most people would not see that concern as being a PITA.

I also don't think you should speak for "your average pick up truck contractor." There are lots of contractors here that take it seriously. Or, at least, seriously enough that a client wouldn't have to say anything because they would have already been following proper safety procedures. This guy likely wasn't, so she let him know her concern. Again, that's not being a PITA.

I'm with Brad on this one -- she should just find another contractor because this CONTRACTOR is the PITA/jerk.

- John...

NE, good point. We have a friend that has made several misguided attempts to get their house remodeled, or get trees taken down in the yard. I place bets with my husband about how long it will be before they cancel the contract, the contractor quits, or just won’t take their calls. So far, I’ve been 3 for 3....

About two years ago ( maybe longer, I have no sense of time,) this couple finally decided, well, if Busy can do all of this stuff, then the wife in that couple could too. Phrased it exactly that, she was going to quit her job and do what Busy does- be a landlord. The group of friends sputtered at that proclamation, until we sussed out that what was meant was the wife was going to do the remodeling on their house. That being a landlord is more than remodeling seemed to escape them. After all, you-all know landlording is just sitting back and collecting checks, right? ;-)

Well, she actually did quite a bit of good demo work, but another couple out of our group of friends pretty much supervised and/ or did the rebuilding part. I wasn’t going to get sucked in.

NE, good point. We have a friend that has made several misguided attempts to get their house remodeled, or get trees taken down in the yard. I place bets with my husband about how long it will be before they cancel the contract, the contractor quits, or just won’t take their calls. So far, I’ve been 3 for 3....

About two years ago ( maybe longer, I have no sense of time,) this couple finally decided, well, if Busy can do all of this stuff, then the wife in that couple could too. Phrased it exactly that, she was going to quit her job and do what Busy does- be a landlord. The group of friends sputtered at that proclamation, until we sussed out that what was meant was the wife was going to do the remodeling on their house. That being a landlord is more than remodeling seemed to escape them. After all, you-all know landlording is just sitting back and collecting checks, right? ;-)

Well, she actually did quite a bit of good demo work, but another couple out of our group of friends pretty much supervised and/ or did the rebuilding part. I wasn’t going to get sucked in.

I just wish contractors would communicate.

"hey this job is going to be a PITA so Im going to have to charge extra" "I really don't want to do this job so I am giving you my call someone else price"

"Im booked solid for the next 2 months, do you want me to put you on my waiting list? "

"Hey we are running behind, just wanted you to know I haven't forgotten about you and we will be there on xyz date"

All are completely acceptable communications but it seems like few contractors can be bothered.

Hammer, I agree. I think a good number of people go into ‘working for themselves’ because they don’t like dealing with bosses. Hahahahaha!!!!!

We don't know exactly what happened here. For the homeowner to say they are "covid concerned" is kind of lame. Why not spell out exactly what was desired?

I do agree with NE that if the lady actually asked for him to wear a mask while he was doing work outside, then she is a crackpot.

Was this lady talking to him for 45 minutes and social distancing and wearing a mask making it clear she was Covid-concerned? In-other-words was she trying to make an obvious point which he ignored so she had to resort to saying something?

No doubt you shoot yourself in the foot by being a PITA customer but you do the same by being an inconsiderate contractor.

Now if she chatted away unprotected and unconcerned for 45 minutes only to say that at the end I can see why it may have made him feel like she expected him to be a mind reader but he should still take the high ground. Like say, “I’m so sorry ma’am, I wish you had said something sooner, I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”

And if the work is outside and it would make him uncomfortable to have to wear a mask then he should express this, “It is hard to work outside in the heat wearing a mask, is that something you wanted me to do while doing the work or can you stay inside while I’m working?”

Covid was the circumstance in this situation regarding PITA. Pita is a pita.

You can swap that out with "order changer", "job hoverer", "nagger", indecisive, paint color changer, etc.

Just realize, the more you suck, the more your price goes up with a contractor.

Hammer, high bids are how they communicate. If they are slammed or an owner is a pita, (regardless of the reason) the price is guaranteed to go up. It is truly an "I don't want the job" price.

There was a guy that came to look at my property in the country that I have for sale and he put on a mask when he got out of his truck. I was there working on the property and went up to see who he was and talk to him. I did not have a mask on and didn't even think too as I am not concerned with it. When I should him the old house I saw him adjust his mask and it hit me. I asked him if he wanted me to put a mask on as I have one in my truck and he said no that he was not going to bother me with that. When we went back outside to look over the rest of the property I went to my truck and put my mask on. I didn't do it for me because I am not concerned but out of respect for him.

6x6, A surcharge for PPE is not the point I'm making here. The point that I am making here is, PITA homeowners get charged more. I've seen it quite a few times.

The contractor is not going to think "OK, I will just add $15 to the bid for a pair gloves and a mask." They are going to think I'm going add 40% or $300 to this bill. If I get it, awesome! If I don't, I don't care. The big boys may build that cost right into the bid, but you were already over paying from the start when you use the big boys.

With your average contractor, that is how their brains work.

I think we get it NE and agree, being a pain cost you more whether you are hiring a contractor or you are a needy, demanding tenant.

NE: You seemed to ignore most of our comments about this. You still haven't explained why her mentioning Covid was her being a PITA.

I agree with the rest of these that you mentioned being a PITA: "order changer", "job hoverer", "nagger", indecisive, paint color changer, etc.

But I fail to see how mentioning Covid concerns makes her a PITA. Several of us have pointed this out -- and you just keep double-down on your statement that "Covid was the circumstance in this situation regarding PITA. Pita is a pita."

Again, I don't think most agree with you on that. If she was mentioning that she wanted certain colors for stain, that would just be a normal statement and not a PITA. If she told the contractor to be careful not to drive any heavy equipment on the east side of the house because the septic field is there, that is just a normal statement and not being a PITA. If she told the contractor that there is a local noise ordinance so they can't work before 8am or after 8pm, then that is just a normal statement and not her being a PITA. And, finally, if she expects him to wear appropriate PPE during a global pandemic and therefore tells the contractor that they are concerned about Covid, then that is just a normal statement in these times and not a PITA.

- John...

John, I don't need to explain it, because it does make her one. It obviously annoyed him, most likely due to it being an outside job. He charged her more to either make her not take his bid or to cover the hassle factor. She took the bid he's coming out way ahead of the game.

I already stated that you could switch out the Covid concern for any other subject to be put into its place.

But it doesn’t make her one because he was annoyed. It makes him unprofessional to be annoyed and to not ask for clarification or communicate his needs but instead to take offense when none was intended.

He has no idea if her or a family member is in a high risk group so is she expected to risk her health so as not to “offend” this so-called professional? She doesn’t know who he has been in contact with day to day.

Perhaps if she was really concerned she should have mentioned it to him when she contacted him to get the estimate. But very many service providers have been donning masks since this began out of courtesy to their customers or because it has been mandated. So maybe she expected he would have followed the protocols in place. Sounds to me like she was very tactful in expressing her needs. Your contractor is immature.

Moody Blues - Nights in White Satin

Thank you sir .Your voice is aprreciated,

Well said, LisaFL!

And also: Good point, Small potatoes!

Sorry, but this contractor is a jerk. And NE wants to say this isn't about his personal views on Covid, but it is.

Again, as I said (in one of the OTHER posts about this same exact thing), NE is right about PITAs paying more. But this wasn't an example of that. This was an example of an advantage-taking contractor and a Covid-denier.

And when he gets called out for that, he accuses people of being "butt hurt" instead of actually having a discussion.

These sorts of posts ruin this site. It's not creating good discussion -- and now it's 3-threads long. Sheesh.

- John...

John, I feel bad for you and others who are still so fearful of covid after so many months. It's sad.

So what parts of the article regarding being a PITA homeowner are you guilty of? I'm guilty of #4, no doubt.

I don't want contractors pulling a permit on ANYTHING unless there is no way around it. Most of the ones I use understand that as this point.

I'm also guilty of the dollar chasing on bids. I have one contractor who will give me a bid and right after that he tells me that he knows I'm going to cry so go ahead and beat it up. Which I do and he comes WAY DOWN. 30/40% sometimes. Though he always seems high anyway even when I talk to other people who use him.

Maybe I'll do a part 4.

NE, your post wasn’t about Covid it was about the consequences of being a PITA customer.

You used it to turn it into a post to express your contempt towards those who are fearful of COVID.

Pretty much everyone has disagreed with you that this customer stating they were “COVID Concerned” makes her a PITA customer.

No need to feel sorry or bad for us. I am not in any way fearful of a COVID and her I still vehemently disagree that this lady qualifies as a PITA customer. It has nothing to do with COVID. It has to do with respecting the customer’s needs and concerns. If you aren’t capable of doing that, don’t take the job,

Just like your little list suggests a potential PITA customer is one who bad mouths former contractors....so is a contractor who badmouths former customers a potential PITA contractor.

This thread is proving that customer may just be a pita. The ‘Covid concerned was saved until the end of her interaction with this contractor, when, she could have addressed that at the get-go. For instance, a neighbor stopped to chat ( and scritch the dogs’ ears) while we were on our daily walks. I backed up to the end of the leashes and briefly explained, ‘ sore throat this morning, headache. Probably just my allergies, but, I am going to give you space. There. Done. Covid concerns dealt with. ( dogs ears were properly scratched. Dog leashes, if leather, start out at six feet long, and if your dogs pull, get stretched to beyond six foot. So, we KNEW we had six foot spacing!)

Or, as 6X6 said, ask ask the beginning of the interaction out of respect. In this case, the customer could have simply said, ‘ I’m going to keep the six foot spacing. Bit of a health concern. ‘. Nothing further needed, no explanation needed. Anytime the contractor edged closer, customer would have simply backed up. Wouldn’t need to explain further. Unless the customer plans on hanging in the contractor’s face during the work, there would be not a single concern over his outdoor COVID protections.

That this woman ‘buried the lead’ on her Covid concerns, says, she is taking a stand for Covid Justice Warriors. Ok, as is her right. But, just as it’s her right to ‘take a stand’, to my way of thinking, he was justified in adding a premium onto the charges, not for costs of the measly ppe, but because, BY BURYING her Covid concerns till the end, she is declaring she will be watching for compliance to the latest trends/ declarations/ demands, and should any new, more rigorous demands be issued by the powers that be, she will be discussing, talking, yammering, time-wasting, when he could have gotten the deck done already!