A couple weeks ago I decided to have a set of french doors installed in my home.
I called my good friend Jeff (who’s a top notch contractor) to see about getting a bid for the job. Unfortunately he was booked solid and couldn’t fit me in for more than a month.
This didn’t really surprise me, especially since I know how good his work is.
Because I didn’t want to wait that long, I picked up the phone book and began my search.
After making 11 calls, here’s what I ended up with.
2 – disconnected numbers
2 – “live” secretaries who couldn’t answer a single question for me
But since they actually picked up the phone, I scheduled these two contractors to come over last Wednesday morning and give me a bid for the job.
I scheduled 1 guy for 8AM and the other for 9AM (trying to make the best use of my already busy schedule).
You ain’t gonna believe what happened!
or…
Who knows, maybe you will.
The 8AM guy doesn’t show up until 8:47, almost an hour late, so right away I’m getting this bad feeling.
He never even gave me the courtesy of a phone call to say he was running late.
The guy takes a few measurements and says he’ll call me the next day with a price quote. Here it is almost a week later, and I still ain’t heard from him.
I guess he doesn’t really want my business.
But here’s the worst part: even if he did decide to get off his butt and follow through on the bid, there’s no way in God’s green earth I’d hire him.
For crying out loud, if he can’t even get me a bid like he promised, just think about what a nightmare it would be if I actually gave him the job.
He’d probably string it out and make my life miserable for weeks.
So needless to say, this guy ain’t getting my business.
And my 9AM appointment…
This guy never showed up at all!
No call, no nothing.
But get this.
He shows up the next morning at about 9:30.
The first words out of his mouth when I met him at the door were, “Sorry I couldn’t make it yesterday, but I had a break in my schedule today, so I thought I’d fit you in.”
You gotta be kidding me!
This guy’s got the nerve to show up a day late, and then give me an attitude to boot (acting like I inconvenienced him or something).
Wrong answer pal.
While I’m on a roll here, let me share one more story.
As you know, I recently moved my offices.
When I called the phone company to get the new phone service hooked up, they tell me that the technician will arrive sometime between 8AM and 6PM.
So basically I have to sit around cooling my heals all day, waiting on this guy to show up and turn on my new phone (like I have nothing better to do).
So, where am I going with all this?
The point I’m trying to make is that we’ve almost got conditioned to accepting lousy customer service. In fact, it’s gotten so bad that most of the time I just expect it, and I’m actually surprised when a company takes good care of me.
I mean really, doesn’t it make you just a little bit angry that the phone company (and the cable company) makes you take a whole day off work?
Personally, I think it’s B.S.
But the point is this…
When it comes to black mold, you can’t afford to deal with such nonsense. In order to get the job done right, you must work with a quality company, and avoid the “bad apple” companies at all costs.
And how do you do that?
For starters you need to ask three key questions when you’re interviewing any contractor.
Here they are:
2. If I hire you, will a certified technician be working on site, every day, until my job is completed?
3. Do you guarantee your work?
If the response you get to these questions makes you feel uncomfortable, turn and run!
DO NOT hire this company.
Keep looking until you find a company that you’re comfortable with.
I’ve been preaching for years, whether you’re doing the mold clean up yourself, or whether you’re hiring a contractor, you have to be an informed consumer.
Well my friend, that’s it for now.
Sincerely,
P.S. If you want to see “live” video footage of a mold clean-up job in progress and find out exactly how we handle these situations, here you go!
P.S.S. Just in case you’re wondering, I’ve decided to wait until my friend Jeff can install the french doors for me. I’d rather do that, than risk hiring someone I don’t trust.