Looking behind the curtain... today's "a day in the life".

Random thoughts for today combined with our behind the curtain view on our day.

1) The customer is not always right.

Case in point. Last month our siding crew was working on a job and discovered some compromised plywood on a wall. The brought it to the attention of the homeowner so he could see the damage and approve the time and materials change order to replace it.

The homeowner refused. He said its fine. It isn’t causing any problems just forget it. The siders did just that. Two weeks later the homeowner sold the home . I bet you can guess what happened next. Yup. Concerns about water from the siding in a space under the deck. Huh. Sure enough. Rotted plywood with new housewrap and siding over it. Not cool. The siders share the story with Steve. After the conversation they didn’t feel they could go against the homeowner. This has led to 2 actions. First, a reminder to the siders that they are the experts and they know what theve’e right thing to do is. Second, we coordinated the repair to take place this morning.

2) We are not sure how we feel about shows re-starting.

We have a show today. Seriously. One of 3 City shows we have committed to going forward is today in Apple Valley.. It’s outside in the high school parking lot and it goes from 9 until 3. It’s a long one. At least the outside shows are easy set up do the show tear down in one day situations and everything fits in the back of Steve’s van. And it is close so if there isn’t a good lunch option available T and I can zoom over to take care of him. But is now the time we want Steve to be standing in a parking lot all day? Nope. Are there other things I would like him to be doing? Yup.

All of this lead to the following Friday night conversation. 7:30m confirmation that the siders are in a place where today works. 7:45 confirmation that the homeowners are aware that the siding crew will be on property. 8:00 review of set up for the show. Huh. Set up is from 7-8:45am and we are dropping off materials for the siders at 8:30. Both locations are 20 miles apart. So we divide and conquer.

Steve leaves at 6am with his van to buy the materials for the siding job. He drives the truck home for me. Then he takes my car to the office so he can finish loading his van and leave for the show. We both greet Tessie as she sleepily comes up the stairs briefly before we take off at 7:45. She chose not to ride with me in favor of staying home alone and eating cereal in front of the TV. (And then texting me fun facts about space in my absence.) My sider shows up at 8:25 on the money with a huge smile, I give him what he needs and I head home. But not before stopping at a gas station, enjoying some lovely banter with a war vet selling poppies and ultimately handing him a business cared. I get home and check in with Steve and he is all set up. 9am on the money. Free smiles all day to everyone who wants one.

We aren’t uninvolved owners. We are owner operators who are in with both feet in. We are involved with everything that happens on a daily basis. Our names are on this business. We don’t check out just because it is Saturday and we don’t stop caring just so we can relax.

So what happens next? Steve works the show and enjoys conversations with vendors and customers he knows. I am back home whipping the house into shape and working on a project I’ve committed to for Tessie’s class. And Tessie is working on her research project until lunch. Oh… and fajitas for dinner. MMM