She needs a new boyfriend??? :)

I guess I'd just ask the management company what they want you to do at this point. If it's reasonable, then do it. If it's not, have they paid their bill? Maybe they would be willing to negotiate the rate a bit so they can pay their handyman to put the trap back on and you don't have to schedule going back?

crl:

This is where it gets interesting. The management company can take the handyman/plumber's bill off my bill and it will be the last time I work for them. Or they can eat it, pick their tenants more carefully, and keep a good sub.

Treb, you know I love you. "The trap never got reinstalled in the rush." You forgot, then you were late. Is the tenant a pain, yes, but from her perspective, you are costing her time for a job you should have already finished - I mean completely finished - the first time. Hope this other perspective is helpful. I'm not trying to be mean.

I see both perspectives but homeowners need to make time if they want things fixed in a timely manner. If they are super busy and it takes several trips to fix the problem, then trip charges should be charged. Time is money for tradespeople. I think Joe should be paid for the work he's done to date. Joe send your bill with total amount due for the job including the trap and then show a deduction for the trap. Then tell the management company that they can choose to have him come back with a trip charge...or they can hire a local plumber.

Ps. I think the homeowners (ie boyfriend) were being a little difficult. If they don't trust tradespeople unattended, then they should make arrangements for a family member, friend or neighbor to be there with him. It's not that difficult. Many of my clients just give me a key but some aren't as trusting and that's OK....but they make an effort to make sure someone will be there to let us in.

From the tenant's point of view, the work ran over (inconvenient) and I accommodated that despite an agreed upon end time and then the work wasn't actually properly finished. So now I'd have to make time to be there again (super inconvenient). I would be pretty unhappy at this situation. My time counts too. And my schedule counts too.

The available after five but then not available at 6 is a little flaky. But I wasn't party to those conversations. So maybe she understood you were headed to her house when you left the other job right at 5, meaning you would get there around 5:15. But then you don't call until 6 and at that point she's thinking you won't get there until 6:20 and she's rushed home from work to be there for you and hasn't eaten dinner yet and . . . .

The boyfriend part is weird to me. My husband doesn't dictate my schedule like that.

As far as trusting people in my house when I'm not here, well I trust my GC for sure. But not necessarily someone I have met just once. When I rented, I was willing to allow the management company to let people in though.

It doesn't sound like Joe forgot to install the trap....that would be difficult to do with someone taking your tools out of the house. And after 5pm doesn't mean he was late at 6pm.

Maybe the boyfriend should learn to use a few tools? Then he could install the trap if he won't allow a professional into the apartment :)

eam - you didn't read close enpugh it seems.

Joe was neither late , nor forgot to install the trap. He was kicked out and then was not let back in during the next agreed upon timeframe.

Here's how I see the customer's perspective: She + He want a 6-8 hour job done in 1 to 2 hours and on a moments notice and not necessarily during regular business hours. Just not possible.

Joe is a lot nicer than we would be as we'd schedule an operation like that when the customer has a full day to be present.

I'm also not clear on why they need even be their in the first place if it's a rental. Mgmt. Co. can let you in any time with notice and sometimes not even that. Tenant could be present or not.

It appears to just not be important enough to them.

"The tenant said she would be available for repairs until 2:00 p.m. As the job went a bit longer she was able to let me stay until 3:30. She would have left me finish up alone, but "her boyfriend (who wasn't there) wouldn't stand for it." At 3:25, as I'm finishing the caulk, I had her start carrying my tools to the front porch. The job was finished and beautiful, but the trap never got reinstalled in the rush."

This quote from the original post reads to me as a job scheduled during regular business hours ran over the agreed-upon time. Customer helped carry tools out at Treb's request. The trap was forgotten in the rush.

Then tenant should not be dictating how long a repair takes based on their schedule. They can leave if they like. The trades person is working for the agent of the owner. And unless the trades person is willing to work over time, work is done during normal work hours unless it is an emergency. I have tenants tell me my crew can work on Sunday between 10-4 and I will ask them if they want to pay the over time and ask if they trades person is even willing. No one has agreed yet in 20+ years

Xedos, not only do I read well, I spell properly. Perhaps you should re-read treb's post. In it he says the original repair went long by an hour and a half, and he didn't replace the trap. Then he was available an hour later than agreed upon, at least based on her understanding. It is what it is. He has no problem saying it like it is, why is it so difficult for you?

Whoa...time to switch to decaf, everyone???

The latest:

"I have finally been able to get one of our guys to over and fix the trap. Please know that I have dealt with this tenant before and I know how difficult and demanding that she can be. I believe that you tried to accommodate her and she was not willing to bend at all. I’m sorry that she was such a pain. You did a beautiful job on the granite and we appreciate it."

eam44:

Thanks for the opinion and you are correct. I was forgetful in the rush. That's what makes this site great is that you may not get the feedback you wanted to hear. I hope others appreciate it as much as I do.

Hmmm. I doubt the boyfriend exists. She is just a controlling person and by golly things need to be done on her schedule. The fact that her schedule doesn't make sense is a separate issue and one she does not deal with....

Beautiful work and I'm glad it has all ended well.

Beautiful work Treb, and glad to see you don't have to re-attend to the damsel's distress.

Wow, beautiful work as always. I'm glad it all worked out.