1.) Return calls...call the customer to let them know when you'll be coming.....call the customer if there's a problem....and above all PROMPTLY contact the customer if they have a complaint...in this day of everyone having a cell phone or smart phone, not returning calls in not a valid excuse for anything. There is simply no reason why a customer - or anyone else - should be left dangling in the wind.
2.) Show up......extra point for showing up before noon.....extra bonus points for showing up on time.
Hand in hand with this is to show up prepared to work. All too typical today is to show up at 10:30, make a run to "pick up supplies" (of course, the entire crew has to squeeze into the truck and go along), figure since it's so close to noon, you might as well eat lunch, lunch from about 12 until about 1:30, return to job site, unload supplies (takes about an hour), by that time it's time for that afternoon break, finally, begin the job at around 4:00. Work well into the evening and constantly whine about never being home....
3.) If you don't know - don't guess & above all - don't assume nobody will know the difference. Nothing irks me to the point of almost committing violence, worse than being lied to. With all the information at everyone's fingertips via the internet these days, the very least you can do is a tiny bit of research. If you've never attempted to do something before, we can discuss it before you start. This also applies to any past acts/jobs/dealings you've had. Your website might show all sorts of nice words of praise from people and real pretty pictures,,,,,,but,,,the online court records, where you've been sued, convicted of passing bad checks and all sorts of other nasty things -- - tell a whole different story.
4.) Clean up your mess. Please don't assume the "job site fairies" are going to come along, pick up the junk and haul it away.
5.) I am your customer, that means I am the "boss". I sign your "paycheck". I'll only tell you your job if it's obvious to everyone, you don't know what you're doing - or worse yet - you're doing something illegal. I don't like "Big Brother" anymore than anyone else. Matter of fact, if I ever come up with a single valid reason that government lettered agencies have it within their power to ruin people's lives,,,,,I'll be sure to let everyone know. In the meantime, as a contractor, you need insurance - you need certifications - and you (may) need permits.
Notice - I said nothing about price or quality. There's a very simple reason for that. Few and far between are the contractors that follow the first five rules. Most never get past #1. Honest to God, in my experience, the sheer number of contractors that either are no shows or never bother to return a call for an estimate is - - staggering.
Even right now, what sparked this little outburst, was a phone call from a tree company. We need some limbs trimmed at one of our rentals. We finally got someone to come out and look at the job - after about a half dozen tries.
They were supposed to show up on the 20th at 8:00am. Fine. We can arrange to be there. They just called to say they have to move the date to the 18th. A minor problem, but, nothing we can't do.
Then they tell us - - they'' be there in the afternoon. What time in the afternoon? They can't say. We explain it's a rental, no one will be there and we aren't about to hang around in the driveway from 12 to 5. Why can't they just call us when they are winding up the other jobs they have and we can meet them?
Ohhhhh nooooo....they can't possibly do THAT......
That is - flat out ridiculous. These days even 5 year olds have smart phones. You mean to tell me, that not a single person at that company has a cell phone? Ridiculous.....
Anyhow - - this is my observation of the world of contracting. There's a few real sterling professionals that are simply a pleasure to deal with. My hat is off to them.
(FWIW - I'm sorry to say that - I work a lot with and for a contractor that,,ahem,,,,falls short of all 5 of these. What can I say, he's a good friend & he nearly always does a great job.....)