07/10/2024
I feel the need to share this only because we all tell the same stories regarding contractors that have no attachment to this area or it's clients. Not that they are all bad, but many are. They are here to make money which is definitely a good thing but there are always those guys that come with a "get rich quick" attitude that inevitably leave or friends and neighbors with unresolved problems.
I recently visited a client's house to discuss gutter and drainage questions. I have had correspondence with this couple a few times for different contracts for probably the last 14 years or so. They are a professional couple, very nice and always wanting as much information as they can take before they make any decisions on what they should do for the sake of good investing. I agree with that philosophy and we had a pretty good discussion on what we should do moving forward.
While I was walking around the house, which had been damaged from Ian, I took note of a new electrical service and meter that was oddly placed. I can tell that it was recently completed because Tracie and I have been through this a few times with properties in the past.
I didn't want to be rude, and I hope I didn't come off like a judgmental jerk, but I had asked them who it was that did this job. They said it was a company that was available at the time. I started talking about my electrician and how much I love he and his company. If anyone knows Jody, they know what I'm talking about. He has the codes to enter my house if he has to come when we aren't there. My dogs know him and are happy to see him and the crew. We caught his guys taking my dog out for a walk one day when they didn't know that we were going to be home soon. They are like family. I felt bad that this electrical job looked as bad as it did. But they said that they couldn't wait for their electrician. He was backed up for months and didn't know when he could be there. So, they went with this other company. They felt in their hearts that the work was "hurried" and they paid too much.
When I started telling them that I have been waiting for my electrician since November 2023, and I was in the same boat, we realized that we had Jody in common. He was their electrician for years. He was just not available.
I'm not sure what the moral of this story is but, I have many things that have to wait until Jody comes by to fix my electrical issues. I can honestly tell you that I really don't know if he is more expensive or less than anyone else. But I will wait if I can.
After a weather event like Irma or Ian, all of us become inundated with calls. We had way too many requests that we knew we couldn't get to many of our clients. I personally do not mind when contractors flock to this area to scoop up as much hurricane work as they can. I know that all of us cannot handle the amount of work that is laid out before us without help from the outside. I just always caution people to make sure you do your due diligence.
This electrical panel had to be done without a doubt but the way it is now is what my clients will see for the rest of the time that they own this house. It will not be fiscally sound to redo that part of the house remodel.
Jody has not responded to all of my texts and calls but I know he isn't sitting in a room full of money twisting his mustache and laughing at the people that desperately need his help.
We had so many calls within the first three weeks that we were booked out for nearly 27 months if all of the jobs were approved. We are still working on that list but many have hired another contractor because they can't wait. I have no hard feelings about that at all. We want everyone to be back to normal and believe it or not, hurricane work is not lucrative for all trades. You switch to service/repair orders that at best, 90% of these are minimum charges and it doesn't pay the bills or let us all drive home with Corvettes. Remember, that KBI doesn't advertise so all of the good companies in this town that do advertise had it probably 5 times worse than we did with calls.
I don't know how many times after the hurricane, that we saw a brand new box truck at the supply warehouse getting a brand new gutter machine on it. They were then asking the suppliers what they could charge for gutters. This is true, I know some won't believe this, but it is. And then after all of the easy work is done, they are now realizing that they are in over their heads and all that equipment now is for sale. This happens after every hurricane. All those companies are not coming back to do any kind of warranty work. I know this because we get the calls for that. "P**f" they are gone. I hate to say it but we know that many of these people are working unlicensed. I'll never stop or report someone that could be a Dad trying to feed his kids. But to those who know they are going to take the payment and be way far from here when you realized you messed up, I don't have any use for.
The answer is not what many think it is. How many of us hear "just hire more people"? That is a whole discussion to have for another day.
Stay safe all of you out there on roofs and in the heat. I know that no one asked for my opinion, however, I believe most of us agree to what I'm saying.
Stick with people that treat you like family if at all possible. Otherwise, you are just playing Roulette with your property.
Humbly,
Kevin-KBI
