Us, Self-Conscious!?
You'd think that two people who broadcast their trial-and-error home improvement stories over the Internet for thousands of people to read would have pretty thick skin. Of course, you'd be wrong.
Bring just one contractor into our house and suddenly I'm tripping over myself apologizing for past mistakes. Bring a whole crew in and it's enough to send me into hiding.
"Oh, that strange sistered wall? Yeah, um, I'm not really sure how it ended up that way. It seemed like the best alternative at the time."
Paying people for guilt like this seems like some sort of cruel, backward therapy where I make them feel more competent and they know I'm even more likely to believe I'm getting my money's worth from them.
Oh the twisted world of the do-it-yourselfer...
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Comments
Here’s the thing about contractors. We’re also do-it-your-selfers. The difference is that we’ve gotten paid to learn -- on other people’s houses. I think you should lose the guilt.
Posted by: Marty | February 20, 2005 8:54 PM
Marty's SO right. I've worked with a range of contractors from the sublime to the ridiculous. Contractors need no professional qualification other than being able to stay financially afloat, and many of them are bouyed (sp?) a lot more by charisma, crookedness, and/or a gift for expediency than by any particular wisdom or skill. I'm NOT tarring all contractors, just saying that I've paid some gooood money to people not nearly as qualified as J&A &Co.
Posted by: Nathan | February 21, 2005 8:01 AM
Marty -- thanks for the perspective! I, too, get super self-concious when the pros come by.
Posted by: John | February 21, 2005 8:24 AM
Same goes for some inspectors. They make you feel like they are an angry parent and you have been very very naughty!
Posted by: Jane | February 21, 2005 6:54 PM
NORM!
Posted by: Saple | February 25, 2005 8:39 AM