-- Edited by John D on Friday 5th of March 2021 07:16:37 PM
dashboard said
Mar 6, 2021
So very very true..
Lost in the 60s said
Mar 6, 2021
more ambition than brains said
Mar 6, 2021
As I have stated before to skilled tradesman: "That is why you do what you do and I do what I do"
ORRRR: to my staff: That is why you are a (Body man, Painter, Technician, etc.) and I am a BS-er.
My younger Brother (great guy) is a do-it yourselfer and always takes the low bid if he does pay someone else to do something. If we were to score his "low bid" success it comes close to 0 for his lifetime. He is in a constant learning, re-learning cycle to try and save money. He and his wife generally place little value on other peoples skills, most everything is too expensive.
Had a recent project at home. My regular contractor did Demo, Hardwood floor patch and repair and re-trim. Regular Painter did all wall repairs, taping and refinishing. Took thee skim coats, prime, 4 costs of color to correct previous wall treatment. Regular Electrician dropped and wired some outlets. Regular Plumber did removal of stools and reset new ones. Wood floor specialist did hardwood sand and re-poly. Have used before. New carpet by local high quality company. First time with them, will use again. Ordered special Vanity from local Cabinet Shop, still 4 weeks out.
I saved for this project for several years, wanted it done in timely manner. My contribution was to tear up old carpet, remove and replace one 12 foot section of sheet rock, and coordinate all vendors. Project is done within anticipated timeframe. My major screw up was not looking at Vanities sooner. I assumed i could find one "off the shelf" I would be happy with. Spending WAAAAAY more than i anticipated or want to on Vanity, however veryy excited to see it delivered and installed. Yup, even the vanity is being installed by the Vendor.
My older Brother is a retired contractor, he could do most all of this in his sleep. He is getting all the old Cabinetry and most fixtures to use in his Daughters house north of Pine City. A used house that he had moved on the property and has done much of the Carpentry and Project Management. While has the knowledge, he still subbed much of the plumbing, hvac, some electrical, in the interest of time and quality.
Jay nailed it, as usual. We all need to appreciate the skills of others. Sometimes we try doing stuff for the experience and challenge. Sometimes we do it because we DO have the skills. It can help us stretch our resources. Sometimes, just for the fun of it.
It is all good!
Karl
John D said
Mar 6, 2021
This is why I spent a trailer rental, 6 tanks of fuel, a hotel stay, and 3-days off work to schlepp my Roadster 600+ miles to Indiana... to have an acknowledged professional/specialist to "do" my car.
I'm quite sure I could have found a shop in the area (probably a place that does 'Vette's/fiberglass) that would have yielded good results... but they would have a "learning curve" of dozens of hours getting the body & panels to fit correctly. All on my dime. (Plus, they probably wouldn't have dis-assembled the car and done a body-off paint job.)
Enter Jeff Kleiner. Under his tutelage, I did the very initial rough fit of the panels, and left it alone. Enjoyed driving it for 6 months. He's thanked me numerous times over the last few months for "Not making extra work" for him.
I'm not discouraging anyone from learning & doing a new skill. But I know my limitations... and producing a show-stopper paint job on a Cobra replica isn't one of them.
Know your limitations, your tool-kit's limitations, and adjust the plan accordingly!
BLyke said
Mar 6, 2021
Good article by Jay! Especially the last paragraph.
Derek69SS said
Mar 8, 2021
I'm guilty of this... I spend money like a fool when it comes to parts, but I get "cheap" real quick when it comes to labor. Being too cheap to pay a professional has taught me some skills, but it has also cost me a lot in mistakes, and lost time (car off the road for 8 years for something that should have been done in 1 year)
As I advance in my professional career, I find that I'm valuing everybody's time more, including my own. I'm more willing to pay for quality work, which lets me do the things I enjoy more.
Appreciation for Hard Work
-- Edited by John D on Friday 5th of March 2021 07:16:37 PM
As I have stated before to skilled tradesman: "That is why you do what you do and I do what I do"
ORRRR: to my staff: That is why you are a (Body man, Painter, Technician, etc.) and I am a BS-er.
My younger Brother (great guy) is a do-it yourselfer and always takes the low bid if he does pay someone else to do something.
If we were to score his "low bid" success it comes close to 0 for his lifetime.
He is in a constant learning, re-learning cycle to try and save money.
He and his wife generally place little value on other peoples skills, most everything is too expensive.
Had a recent project at home.
My regular contractor did Demo, Hardwood floor patch and repair and re-trim.
Regular Painter did all wall repairs, taping and refinishing. Took thee skim coats, prime, 4 costs of color to correct previous wall treatment.
Regular Electrician dropped and wired some outlets.
Regular Plumber did removal of stools and reset new ones.
Wood floor specialist did hardwood sand and re-poly. Have used before.
New carpet by local high quality company. First time with them, will use again.
Ordered special Vanity from local Cabinet Shop, still 4 weeks out.
I saved for this project for several years, wanted it done in timely manner.
My contribution was to tear up old carpet, remove and replace one 12 foot section of sheet rock, and coordinate all vendors.
Project is done within anticipated timeframe.
My major screw up was not looking at Vanities sooner.
I assumed i could find one "off the shelf" I would be happy with.
Spending WAAAAAY more than i anticipated or want to on Vanity, however veryy excited to see it delivered and installed.
Yup, even the vanity is being installed by the Vendor.
My older Brother is a retired contractor, he could do most all of this in his sleep.
He is getting all the old Cabinetry and most fixtures to use in his Daughters house north of Pine City.
A used house that he had moved on the property and has done much of the Carpentry and Project Management.
While has the knowledge, he still subbed much of the plumbing, hvac, some electrical, in the interest of time and quality.
Jay nailed it, as usual.
We all need to appreciate the skills of others.
Sometimes we try doing stuff for the experience and challenge.
Sometimes we do it because we DO have the skills.
It can help us stretch our resources.
Sometimes, just for the fun of it.
It is all good!
Karl
I'm quite sure I could have found a shop in the area (probably a place that does 'Vette's/fiberglass) that would have yielded good results... but they would have a "learning curve" of dozens of hours getting the body & panels to fit correctly. All on my dime. (Plus, they probably wouldn't have dis-assembled the car and done a body-off paint job.)
Enter Jeff Kleiner. Under his tutelage, I did the very initial rough fit of the panels, and left it alone. Enjoyed driving it for 6 months. He's thanked me numerous times over the last few months for "Not making extra work" for him.
I'm not discouraging anyone from learning & doing a new skill. But I know my limitations... and producing a show-stopper paint job on a Cobra replica isn't one of them.
Know your limitations, your tool-kit's limitations, and adjust the plan accordingly!
As I advance in my professional career, I find that I'm valuing everybody's time more, including my own. I'm more willing to pay for quality work, which lets me do the things I enjoy more.