Honest Contractors Are Scary
I've been working in the construction business for a long
time and when I tell someone that I am a contractor, they often get a
look on their face that tells me I'm not in a good business. Some people
are a little more polite than others, but I often run into people who
have hired contractors, only to find themselves amidst plenty of
problems that they never even thought of or imagined were going to
happen.
Often people don't associate the word honest with contractor, used car
salesman, lawyer or real estate professional. Anyone who makes money,
providing a service for an individual that isn't entirely satisfied,
will often pass judgment in a negative way. These are the people who
create problems for people like me.
When I was starting out as a young contractor, I was reading and
gathering as much information about construction, sales and marketing to
make my business grow and myself successful. I read one sentence and
have followed that policy my entire career. Honesty is the best policy.
It doesn't get any simpler than that and if you are looking forward to a
successful career as a contractor in the construction business, I
suggest that you memorize the statement.
There are plenty of contractors out there who are honest and there are
some who aren't. I don't know what motivates someone to lie or cheat,
but things like this happen and it's not just in the construction
business either.
My honesty has actually caused homeowners to distrust me and I have lost
plenty of jobs, simply because I haven't made decisions for the people
who were planning on hiring me. I have been asked questions and
responded with honesty only to upset my potential customers who went
with someone else, that convinced them to use a different product or do
something else that often cost them more money.
I have to admit, I do intimidate and scare a lot of homeowners, simply
because of my knowledge about home construction. I think that some
people believe I'm making things up and this gives the impression that
I'm lying to them.
It's weird, to think that there are actually honest people out there
trying to make a living in a business filled with dishonorable
reputations and it doesn't seem to be getting any better.
The next time you're thinking about hiring a contractor, make sure that
they're honest and good characters or don't even bother hiring him.