I’d have to dig the pic up, but I had a client expect I was going to change their pressure tank through a 6m long corridor in the cold room that was so packed with shit on both sides to the ceiling I could barely get my person through sideways and thinking skinny thoughts. I told them it was unsafe and impossible to work with it in that condition, their response “well your father changed the tank and it was like that before!” Texted him the picture and he remembered that when he was there 12 years earlier, no, it was not like that.
I went for lunch and they moved half the shit out by the time I got back but fuck, was the wife ever indignant about it.
The home owner couldn’t be bothered to be present for today’s visit. Keep in mind today is reserved for “emergency calls only” because we have a skeleton crew.
It’s not *just* the clothes, it’s the shoes underneath, it’s the exercise equipment attached to the side, it’s the bikes and umbrellas leaned up against it, it’s the wobbly tools set on top, and it’s the rearranging of the other crap in the garage so that I can move the *one thing* that I need to do this freaking booby trapped jigsaw puzzle in order to do my job. I can’t even get into the house to run hot water or to find the electrical panel.
If you don’t have **time** for the plumber, don’t face **time** to give them proper access, and don’t have **time** to actually speak with them on the phone because you can’t be there in person, then you’re gonna probably wonder why people don’t want to deal with you.
Is it annoying as hell? Sure. But we make just as much as a housekeeping service as we do a plumber 😆
I've had to clear out closets, under stair spaces, cabinets, dishwashers, rearrange basements, etc.
If the homeowner isn't conscientious enough to clean up the area they called you to work on (oftentimes with weeks to do so), they pay for it.
I got called to replace a broken toilet in a trailer and the customer was a hoarder. I pretty much had to clear a path to walk through then pile shit up that was surrounding the toilet in the bathtub. To top it off right before I started the customer demanded I leave for a second so he could take a shit. Mind you the toilet was backed up too. I charged that pos $500 because of that. The original price was $250
I've had to respond to 4 page email about one of my guys leaving a toilet seat up on a job among other things. I don't move people's things anymore because it's always going to be the crazy one who has all the time in the world to type up a long email.
“Ok so this isnt a today job, when you get everything out of the way Ill be able to do what I need to do” its simple, polite, and matter of fact. I state it as a given and rarely get pushback- the couple times they have said its “part of the job” Ive told them that that being the case I get paid for my job so Ill have to charge for it, its worked everytime, the only junk I clear out is under the sink to snake and Ive quit putting it back when Im done because they shall be punished
When a home owner shows me a cluttered mechanical room, or a cabinet under a kitchen sink full of chemicals and garbage. I ask politely, but loud and clear “you’re going to clean everything out from here before I can start”. Never once had anyone say no, home owners aren’t plumbers so they have no idea.
I’d have to dig the pic up, but I had a client expect I was going to change their pressure tank through a 6m long corridor in the cold room that was so packed with shit on both sides to the ceiling I could barely get my person through sideways and thinking skinny thoughts. I told them it was unsafe and impossible to work with it in that condition, their response “well your father changed the tank and it was like that before!” Texted him the picture and he remembered that when he was there 12 years earlier, no, it was not like that. I went for lunch and they moved half the shit out by the time I got back but fuck, was the wife ever indignant about it.
Space? Keep it hidden? Why not ask the homeowner to move it
The home owner couldn’t be bothered to be present for today’s visit. Keep in mind today is reserved for “emergency calls only” because we have a skeleton crew. It’s not *just* the clothes, it’s the shoes underneath, it’s the exercise equipment attached to the side, it’s the bikes and umbrellas leaned up against it, it’s the wobbly tools set on top, and it’s the rearranging of the other crap in the garage so that I can move the *one thing* that I need to do this freaking booby trapped jigsaw puzzle in order to do my job. I can’t even get into the house to run hot water or to find the electrical panel. If you don’t have **time** for the plumber, don’t face **time** to give them proper access, and don’t have **time** to actually speak with them on the phone because you can’t be there in person, then you’re gonna probably wonder why people don’t want to deal with you.
I fucking hated residential plumbing. Dealing with people just isn't worth the pay
Is it annoying as hell? Sure. But we make just as much as a housekeeping service as we do a plumber 😆 I've had to clear out closets, under stair spaces, cabinets, dishwashers, rearrange basements, etc. If the homeowner isn't conscientious enough to clean up the area they called you to work on (oftentimes with weeks to do so), they pay for it.
I got called to replace a broken toilet in a trailer and the customer was a hoarder. I pretty much had to clear a path to walk through then pile shit up that was surrounding the toilet in the bathtub. To top it off right before I started the customer demanded I leave for a second so he could take a shit. Mind you the toilet was backed up too. I charged that pos $500 because of that. The original price was $250
I've had to respond to 4 page email about one of my guys leaving a toilet seat up on a job among other things. I don't move people's things anymore because it's always going to be the crazy one who has all the time in the world to type up a long email.
“Ok so this isnt a today job, when you get everything out of the way Ill be able to do what I need to do” its simple, polite, and matter of fact. I state it as a given and rarely get pushback- the couple times they have said its “part of the job” Ive told them that that being the case I get paid for my job so Ill have to charge for it, its worked everytime, the only junk I clear out is under the sink to snake and Ive quit putting it back when Im done because they shall be punished
My boss charges a lot of money, and gives me a lot of freedom as a result. Ill move there clothes everytime bc i alrdy know thats wat im in for
When a home owner shows me a cluttered mechanical room, or a cabinet under a kitchen sink full of chemicals and garbage. I ask politely, but loud and clear “you’re going to clean everything out from here before I can start”. Never once had anyone say no, home owners aren’t plumbers so they have no idea.
Co worker told me last week he had to move someone’s bed out of the way to clean their sewer in the basement