Telling someone they are about to make a mistake

junker1

Roundtable Host 2009
I stopped at a log home that if having a ton of work done to it. They are probably spending 20 30 grand on it. It seems they are doing everything except the exterior.

Right now as it sits there is probably only 50% of the stain left on it.

I spoke with the owner and e explained my services, log home restoration . He told me he had it washed and is going to put a cost of stain on it tomorrow. That is going to look horrible. I think it is my responsibility to tell him what is going to happen. Out should I even care?
 
Ha ha Doug I take your advice over my misses. ( no disrespect to her but she has no idea what to do in this situation ). I went ahead and told him the best way I could that he was making a mistake. I am serious when I say his house will look horrible.
 
If you tell him, and it looks horrible, it will establish your credibility with him when it does. That is an important sales step.
 
If you tell him, and it looks horrible, it will establish your credibility with him when it does. That is an important sales step.
Thanks to both of you, I value your opinions. I would not tell him if I did not think it was true. The place is not prepped for stain.
 
Just leave the guy alone. he might just think about knocking your block off for sticking your nose in. Some people don't want to be told. Slip you card into his mailbox and say nothing. He may come back to you when he see's what a mess he has on his hands. THEN YOU CHARGE HIM HEAPS TO FIX UP HIS COCK UP. My 2 cents.
 
Just leave the guy alone. he might just think about knocking your block off for sticking your nose in. Some people don't want to be told. Slip you card into his mailbox and say nothing. He may come back to you when he see's what a mess he has on his hands. THEN YOU CHARGE HIM HEAPS TO FIX UP HIS COCK UP. My 2 cents.
Is that what you would want, to be left alone? Let's pretend you know nothing about your motorbike engine. If you were about to put the wrong oil in your motorbike, an oil that is going to ruin your engine and cost you ten grand, would you rather just do it, or would you like to get an advanced warning? Just saying. I don't really care if he uses my services, I care that his house is going to look awful. in this situation i believe that educating the customer is my job.
 
Just saying. I don't really care if he uses my services, I care that his house is going to look awful. in this situation i believe that educating the customer is my job.

In the end, that's what's it all about. Agree 100%.
 
I think you are better off with a homeowner than a contractor. I have done this with homeowners who were receptive after a careful and friendly introduction. Builders who have built cabins are less likely to listen and will brush you off. Back in the day most contractors and everyone else said "you have to put CWF on your deck" now the same thing with many cabin builders who tell everyone "you have yo put Sikkens on the cabin." Homeowners are not as set in their ways. At least if nothing else you will have planted a seed that if he does do this and it doesn't turn out that he will then seek you out for the future.
 
In the end he may hire you and then brake you chops when its not perfect in his eyes. I would put a card in the mail box also and let things happen naturally

Or break your chops cause when he hires you he realizes you knew he was about to make a mistake, when you put your card in the box. And thinks your only trying to make more money by not telling him.

I couldn't in conscious NOT tell him before he started. If he doesn't want to listen, well thats on him.
 
I think Doug's advice is spot on! And what Ron said "Just tell them." I would like to think that we all would want to be told, but it doesn't look like that's the case. I know I would want to be told.
 
I couldn't in conscious NOT tell him before he started. If he doesn't want to listen, well thats on him

Thats how I feel. I know i would like to be told, there is no way that i feel i am above being told something

Sounds to me like you already talked to him when you stopped by the first time. leave him a card and leave the gc who is doing the work a card.

When i stopped by the mason was the only one there ( wow what a beautiful work of art this chimney ) he is the one that gave me the H/O number. I only spoke to him on the phone last night. He was telling me he was going to do it himself and i was like " good for you, hope everything works, if you have any questions give me a call " Then after a half hour or so it hit me what he said. I swear I was in full panic mode lol. In ended up texting him and as best i could explained the situation to him. Like Doug says, he either listens or he doesnt.
 
If it's worth your time, why don't you give him/her a risk free, Free demonstation of what you're talking about? If you can't show him the difference, offer him something ridiculous. (OBVIOUSLY, ONLY IF YOU CAN SHOW HIM A DIFFERENCE)

People can talk their talk ALL DAY LONG.

SHOW HIM!!
 
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