Arthouse
11-10-2008, 07:41 PM
11/7/2008
No matter how awesome my Zibra brushes and No Tape, Edge & Roll were, my nerdy friends and I were over our heads. Time to call in a pro!
Within three minutes of posting an online ad, I had five responses. That number grew past 100 within 48 hours, a portion offering estimates sight unseen.
I started with the early bird responders, and called the ones who said they had experience working on old homes. The first eight people who answered their phone, I had over to assess the work.
Estimates ranged from $100-$600. I decided to go with Some Dude who offered a project plan identical to one I had heard and liked from a remodeling company, but for $100 less. Times are tough, yo. I went with Some Dude.
Do not trust Some Dude, even if he does trust-building things.
After doing a fine job resurfacing the walls, Dude told me he'd be back to paint. I paid him for half the job, and he was off. Dude returned and did much of the painting, and again said he'd be back to do the finishing work and clean-up. So I paid him the rest, plus a tip thinking he'd proved himself an up-and-up guy. The project was moving along, and why would he want to sabotage our good working relationship by ditching me? But ditch he did. And although I stopped payment on the second check, he was still able to cash it at a Money Link Financial Center, that is now threatening to turn me over to the state attorney if I don't come pay off the check amount plus fees.
You get what you pay for.
I try to live by these words, but money struggles warped my mind to embrace the lowball estimate.
MORE AT:
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/110908/enc_353380399.shtml
No matter how awesome my Zibra brushes and No Tape, Edge & Roll were, my nerdy friends and I were over our heads. Time to call in a pro!
Within three minutes of posting an online ad, I had five responses. That number grew past 100 within 48 hours, a portion offering estimates sight unseen.
I started with the early bird responders, and called the ones who said they had experience working on old homes. The first eight people who answered their phone, I had over to assess the work.
Estimates ranged from $100-$600. I decided to go with Some Dude who offered a project plan identical to one I had heard and liked from a remodeling company, but for $100 less. Times are tough, yo. I went with Some Dude.
Do not trust Some Dude, even if he does trust-building things.
After doing a fine job resurfacing the walls, Dude told me he'd be back to paint. I paid him for half the job, and he was off. Dude returned and did much of the painting, and again said he'd be back to do the finishing work and clean-up. So I paid him the rest, plus a tip thinking he'd proved himself an up-and-up guy. The project was moving along, and why would he want to sabotage our good working relationship by ditching me? But ditch he did. And although I stopped payment on the second check, he was still able to cash it at a Money Link Financial Center, that is now threatening to turn me over to the state attorney if I don't come pay off the check amount plus fees.
You get what you pay for.
I try to live by these words, but money struggles warped my mind to embrace the lowball estimate.
MORE AT:
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/110908/enc_353380399.shtml