Page 66 - The Homeowner's Handbook 2017

FROM THE TAILGATE

New Offerings for the Sustainable Minded By Ron Jones

Get It in Writing

HERE IS AN OLD ADAGE of cowboy
wisdom that says, “trust everybody in
the game, but always cut the cards.” It’s
another way of saying that while trust
T and communication are essential to a fair
game and a successful outcome, in the final analysis,
you have to watch out for your own interests, rather
than leaving them in the hands of others.
It’s a principle that surely applies when attempting
to achieve positive results in a construction project, no
matter how large or small it may be. Whether you’re
a building professional acting on behalf of a client, or
a consumer trying to manage a project of your own,
you always need to start with a basic level of trust, and
then do everything you can to reduce the chances of
miscommunication and potential conflict—but, most
importantly—you have to stick to your guns when
push comes to shove.
Years ago, I was asked by a favorite client to
oversee a paving project on the property where I
had built their custom home. They had taken their
time deciding what kind of driveway material they
wanted, and for a number of reasons, they selected
asphalt as their best option. They were not familiar
with the process, so they recruited me to arrange for
the contractor and oversee the job.
I knew from past experience that there were
a number of potential pitfalls waiting for the
unsuspecting or inattentive, so I had my regular
excavation contractor do all the prep work, and then
helped to select the paving contractor from a couple of bidders. I said, “fine, come back a year from now and if our customer can’t
When I signed the work order on behalf of the homeowners, I find the cold joint you can pick up your check”.
added a clause that no cold joints would be acceptable, and that He immediately got on his phone, called the dispatcher at the
the work had to be completed in one day. I made sure to point batching plant and ordered the material needed to finish the job. It
this out to the contractor, and got his signature on the agreement. was well toward nightfall when all was wrapped up but the job was
I also made sure I would be available to be onsite for the duration complete and the homeowner was delighted with the new driveway.
of the work. The easy thing would have been to go along with the contractor
Things went smoothly enough until late in the day. With about and avoid conflict but that is not what my customer trusted me to
90 percent of the paving completed, the contractor started making do. Would the homeowner have known what to say or do if he had
it obvious that he was going to wrap up for the day. He matter-of- been confronted by that uncomfortable situation? Would he have
factly informed me that he would bring his crew back the following been willing to enforce the clause in the contract? Maybe, maybe
day to complete the job. not. Professionals and consumers alike are often faced with people
I reminded him that our contract contained a prohibition on cold who are willing to ignore what they have agreed to.
joints, but he shrugged off the concern, saying it was no big deal and That’s why you should always cut the cards. By the way, that
that, “a year from now nobody will be able to tell the difference. “ contractor was not asked to bid any more of my projects. GB

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