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Home > Archive > Home Repair forum > February 2008 > Dealing with contactors' honest mistakes
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Dealing with contactors' honest mistakes
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| Aaron Fude 2008-02-20, 3:25 am |
| Hi,
What's a good way to approach the situation where the contactor
overlooked something. I understand that a contractor cannot foresee
everything and that some unfortunate things will happen.
In my situation, the contractor put an outlet where it will become
inaccessible after a wall heating unit is mounted. The contractor was
familiar with the unit before the job was started. The wall is now
finished and painted and the whole thing just looks wrong.
It hard for me to imagine that the contractor would be willing to open
a small section the wall up, remove the electrical box and put in
another in a more appropriate place, retape and repaint. What can I do
here? Insist that he does it?
Also, in a situation like this, can the contractor say "well, you
didn't notice it either and you even told me you liked it's location".
Many thanks in advance!
Aaron
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| Tony Hwang 2008-02-20, 3:25 am |
| Aaron Fude wrote:
> Hi,
>
> What's a good way to approach the situation where the contactor
> overlooked something. I understand that a contractor cannot foresee
> everything and that some unfortunate things will happen.
>
> In my situation, the contractor put an outlet where it will become
> inaccessible after a wall heating unit is mounted. The contractor was
> familiar with the unit before the job was started. The wall is now
> finished and painted and the whole thing just looks wrong.
>
> It hard for me to imagine that the contractor would be willing to open
> a small section the wall up, remove the electrical box and put in
> another in a more appropriate place, retape and repaint. What can I do
> here? Insist that he does it?
>
> Also, in a situation like this, can the contractor say "well, you
> didn't notice it either and you even told me you liked it's location".
>
> Many thanks in advance!
>
> Aaron
Hi,
Did he know in advance about the location of heating unit? Or did you
give him blue print? If not, to me it's your mistake.
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| Aaron Fude 2008-02-20, 3:25 am |
| He knew the exact location of the heater
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"Aaron Fude" <aaronfude@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:5113b424-d9e2-4d01-b7c2-09307684c44c@64g2000hsw.googlegroups.com...
> Hi,
>
> What's a good way to approach the situation where the contactor
> overlooked something. I understand that a contractor cannot foresee
> everything and that some unfortunate things will happen.
>
> In my situation, the contractor put an outlet where it will become
> inaccessible after a wall heating unit is mounted. The contractor was
> familiar with the unit before the job was started. The wall is now
> finished and painted and the whole thing just looks wrong.
>
> It hard for me to imagine that the contractor would be willing to open
> a small section the wall up, remove the electrical box and put in
> another in a more appropriate place, retape and repaint. What can I do
> here? Insist that he does it?
>
> Also, in a situation like this, can the contractor say "well, you
> didn't notice it either and you even told me you liked it's location".
>
> Many thanks in advance!
>
> Aaron
If the location was chosen by verbal description, I'd just ask him to
relocate it and pay whatever he bills you. If it was chosen by markings on
an accurate blueprint, he should accept the cost of the mistake
If it was my job. I spend a lot of time understanding exactly what the
customer wants. Some customers are deliberately vague, and I wouldn't touch
those jobs, but an isolated mistake, I would just eat the cost without
question
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"Aaron Fude" <aaronfude@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:fdff90f5-6c62-4355-9072-ba90aeb16790@64g2000hsw.googlegroups.com...
> He knew the exact location of the heater
Did he know where the outlet needed to be located for "that" heater? Did he
ask?, did you give him the specific information he needed?
| |
| hallerb@aol.com 2008-02-20, 9:26 am |
| why remove the existing one? if it wouldnt cause a problem forget
about it...........
just install a new outlet at the better location.
the cost of labor to recover a cheap outlet just isnt worth it.
I have my own office machine service business, wierd stuff comes up.
its easiest to just eat the cost and move on............
for me its a no brainer
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| Tucker 2008-02-20, 9:26 am |
| No problem... Just show him the blueprints and point out the error
the electrical contractor made.
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| trader4@optonline.net 2008-02-20, 9:26 am |
| On Feb 20, 7:28=A0am, "RBM" <r...@noemail.com> wrote:
> "Aaron Fude" <aaronf...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:5113b424-d9e2-4d01-b7c2-09307684c44c@64g2000hsw.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> If the location was chosen by verbal description, I'd just ask him to
> relocate it and pay whatever he bills you.
I have to disagree on this one. If it was clearly verbally
communicated and he put it in the wrong place, then the contractor
should correct it at his expense. That would be my opening postiion.
And I certainly wouldn't approach it by saying just do the re-work and
bill me whatever it costs. If you do have to pay for it, you want
the price set upfront. Don't make a second mistake.
Of course the problem is if it's not in writing, then it can be
difficult to prove who said what. Fortunately, what you're looking
at, adding another outlet, should be a relatively inexpensive fix.
If it was chosen by markings on
> an accurate blueprint, he should accept the cost of the mistake
> If it was my job. I spend a lot of time understanding exactly what the
> customer wants. Some customers are deliberately vague, and I wouldn't touc=
h
> those jobs, but an isolated mistake, I would just eat the cost without
> question- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
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| marson 2008-02-20, 9:26 am |
| On Feb 20, 7:20 am, trad...@optonline.net wrote:[color=darkred]
> On Feb 20, 7:28 am, "RBM" <r...@noemail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I have to disagree on this one. If it was clearly verbally
> communicated and he put it in the wrong place, then the contractor
> should correct it at his expense. That would be my opening postiion.
> And I certainly wouldn't approach it by saying just do the re-work and
> bill me whatever it costs. If you do have to pay for it, you want
> the price set upfront. Don't make a second mistake.
>
> Of course the problem is if it's not in writing, then it can be
> difficult to prove who said what. Fortunately, what you're looking
> at, adding another outlet, should be a relatively inexpensive fix.
>
> If it was chosen by markings on
>
>
If I was the contractor, I'd move it without question. Oops I'd say
and move on. Generally a new outlet can be set up with fairly minimal
disturbance to the sheetrock.
| |
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| In article <4aa83ad1-2b6c-41e8-829a-3259f3883661@28g2000hsw.googlegroups.com>,
hallerb@aol.com says...
>
>why remove the existing one? if it wouldnt cause a problem forget
>about it...........
>
>just install a new outlet at the better location.
>
>the cost of labor to recover a cheap outlet just isnt worth it.
>
>I have my own office machine service business, wierd stuff comes up.
>its easiest to just eat the cost and move on............
>
>for me its a no brainer
Yep. Just get a new outlet put in a better spot.
The contractor may offer to pay, or just not bill you. Or he may add.
But it's such a small thing, and something not from neglect or incompetence,
just not anticipating some specifics. I'd go with the flow on this one.
Banty
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| Aaron Fude 2008-02-20, 9:26 am |
| Hi,
OP here. It was a verbal communication. I asked for an outlet on that
side of the vanity. The exact location of the hydronic heater was
decided upon at the same time. What the contractor knew but didn't
acount for is the fact that the heater will project 4.5" from the
wall. By the way, here's the picture: http://freeboundaries.com/heater.jpg.
BTW, I totally agree with the poster who disagreed. A clear verbal
communication must be sufficient.
If you'd like to know how the story ended, when I pointed out what
happended to the contractor, he said: "Oh, how did we miss that. Let
me move it."
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| Marilyn & Bob 2008-02-20, 1:26 pm |
| <hallerb@aol.com> wrote in message
news:4aa83ad1-2b6c-41e8-829a-3259f3883661@28g2000hsw.googlegroups.com...
> why remove the existing one? if it wouldnt cause a problem forget
> about it...........
If the outlet will be inaccesable after the radiator is installed, wouldn't
leaving it live be a code violation?
--
Peace,
BobJ
>
> just install a new outlet at the better location.
>
> the cost of labor to recover a cheap outlet just isnt worth it.
>
> I have my own office machine service business, wierd stuff comes up.
> its easiest to just eat the cost and move on............
>
> for me its a no brainer
| |
| Harry K 2008-02-20, 1:26 pm |
| On Feb 20, 7:04=A0am, Aaron Fude <aaronf...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> OP here. It was a verbal communication. I asked for an outlet on that
> side of the vanity. The exact location of the hydronic heater was
> decided upon at the same time. What the contractor =A0knew but didn't
> acount for is the fact that the heater will project 4.5" from the
> wall. By the way, here's the picture:http://freeboundaries.com/heater.jpg.=
>
> BTW, I totally agree with the poster who disagreed. A clear verbal
> communication must be sufficient.
>
> If you'd like to know how the story ended, when I pointed out what
> happended to the contractor, he said: "Oh, how did we miss that. Let
> me move it."
So why did you post about it? Per the times on the posts, your
original was long after normal business hours and this one is probably
prior to opening.
Harry K
| |
| SteveB 2008-02-20, 1:26 pm |
|
"Aaron Fude" <aaronfude@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:5113b424-d9e2-4d01-b7c2-09307684c44c@64g2000hsw.googlegroups.com...
> Hi,
>
> What's a good way to approach the situation where the contactor
> overlooked something. I understand that a contractor cannot foresee
> everything and that some unfortunate things will happen.
>
> In my situation, the contractor put an outlet where it will become
> inaccessible after a wall heating unit is mounted. The contractor was
> familiar with the unit before the job was started. The wall is now
> finished and painted and the whole thing just looks wrong.
>
> It hard for me to imagine that the contractor would be willing to open
> a small section the wall up, remove the electrical box and put in
> another in a more appropriate place, retape and repaint. What can I do
> here? Insist that he does it?
>
> Also, in a situation like this, can the contractor say "well, you
> didn't notice it either and you even told me you liked it's location".
>
> Many thanks in advance!
>
> Aaron
Have you tried talking to him? My hvac guy didn't connect the uptube from
the dryer to the rain cap that went through the roof. The roof was nearly
flat, so the only way to fix it was to open up the sheetrock on the ceiling.
I told him that I'd have the drywall guy do it on his pickup list. He said,
no, he screwed up, and he'd fix it. Opened it up, put in the pipe, fixed
the drywall, and painted it. No extra charge. I live in a part of the
country in a rural area where this is common to get and keep business. It
may be different where you are. But talking is the first step. Moving a
box is really no big deal.
Steve
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| Aaron Fude 2008-02-20, 1:26 pm |
| Harry, perhaps google tags it with the Pacific time zone. I posted it
at about 10am. So there.
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| SteveB 2008-02-20, 5:25 pm |
|
"Aaron Fude" <aaronfude@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:394e84dd-3bb9-4648-8c64-a6459d3fd1da@e10g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> Harry, perhaps google tags it with the Pacific time zone. I posted it
> at about 10am. So there.
I live in extreme SW Utah. For some reason, it posts me at the wrong time.
Do I care?
Others seem to, and I just tell them to go back to the doctor until they get
some medicine that works.
Steve
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| hallerb@aol.com 2008-02-20, 8:25 pm |
| On Feb 20, 12:42=EF=BF=BDpm, "SteveB" <morpho...@gotcha.com> wrote:
> "Aaron Fude" <aaronf...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:5113b424-d9e2-4d01-b7c2-09307684c44c@64g2000hsw.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Have you tried talking to him? =EF=BF=BDMy hvac guy didn't connect the upt=
ube from
> the dryer to the rain cap that went through the roof. =EF=BF=BDThe roof wa=
s nearly
> flat, so the only way to fix it was to open up the sheetrock on the ceilin=
g.
> I told him that I'd have the drywall guy do it on his pickup list. =EF=BF=
=BDHe said,
> no, he screwed up, and he'd fix it. =EF=BF=BDOpened it up, put in the pipe=
, fixed
> the drywall, and painted it. =EF=BF=BDNo extra charge. =EF=BF=BDI live in =
a part of the
> country in a rural area where this is common to get and keep business. =EF=
=BF=BDIt
> may be different where you are. =EF=BF=BDBut talking is the first step. =
=EF=BF=BDMoving a
> box is really no big deal.
>
> Steve- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
when you have a business fixing the wierd stuff that happens is a part
of doing business.
for minor costs it just easier, and helps your reputation and referal
business
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| Harry K 2008-02-20, 9:26 pm |
| On Feb 20, 3:50=A0pm, "SteveB" <morpho...@gotcha.com> wrote:
> "Aaron Fude" <aaronf...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:394e84dd-3bb9-4648-8c64-a6459d3fd1da@e10g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
>
> I live in extreme SW Utah. =A0For some reason, it posts me at the wrong ti=
me.
> Do I care?
>
> Others seem to, and I just tell them to go back to the doctor until they g=
et
> some medicine that works.
>
> Steve
Odd. Google shows it as 9:50 pm. Of course I jsut got a new 'puter
with 'Vista' on it so nothing surprises me...ooops I take that back.
It surprises me that it works at all.
Harry K
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