upward and onward or is that reversed?

by Rain Trueax

The other physical frustration we had in April has been one for both of us--the carport construction. We'd had experience working with independent contractors but learned a few things on this one. 

The carport interfering with anything else began actually in January. We knew that the old one needed to be taken down based on termite and age damaged wood. Ranch Boss looked through Home Advisor and found someone who looked like he could do the job. The demolition required a city permit and since the man he'd chosen for the demolition did not have a city license, Ranch Boss had to do the contracting. The guy did a good job on the demolition and then on repairing a termite damaged patio beam. 

He was interested in building the new carport. We wondered if he had time between jobs. He claimed he did. Either way, there were delays, which had nothing to do with him. First, we needed someone who could repair the driveway, widen it, and bring in more gravel. When that was done, Ranch Boss began talking to the city about the drawings for the new structure. That was a learning experience all on its own; but finally, he got an approval. We opted to give the contract to the one who had already done the work here.

Then came April and waiting... waiting... waiting. He would say he'd be here and then call at the last minute or just not show. Mostly, he was here one day a week, when he did good work but he wasn't here enough to move the project very fast. Some of what had gone wrong might have been miscommunication. When setting up a job like this, a contract needs to spell out a lot of details. Ranch Boss had seen it as a small job, with out a lot of concern for details or even deadlines, which meant the contract had none of that. For almost one week, the guy didn't return calls. That led to an unpleasant dream for me.

I looked out the window and saw he had shown up. I tried to tell Ranch Boss but he was asleep. The guy propped some rifles against a post (one we don't have) and went to get his stuff. That was fine. Then I realized, when he drove off, that he'd picked up the rifles but also taken the structure he'd built as well as most of the new fence Ranch Boss had built. I woke Ranch Boss to tell him, but he had no answer for what we'd do.

Anyway, I guess the guy was busy (not in the dream). About the time we gave up and decided we'd have to find someone else and told him, he returned the call wanting to finish the work. That was the best end to the problem after a frustrating month. He did the last of the work May 2nd with one last approval due the next day. Ranch Boss paid him as he knew it'd pass and it did. 

His work looks very good and is sturdy. There are things to finish like painting. Also, in front of those trellises will be two passion fruit vines, For the painting, Ranch Boss has a spray gun from other projects. When it's totally done, I'll add a photo at the bottom here.

So what would we do differently if we came into this situation again.

1. Don't just trust those listed on Home Advisor or any online source for their credentials. Do some research and check references. Read all reviews. If they are good, it'll lead to confidence in the job even if there are delays.
2. Check to be sure the work they will do for you is the same as the references. 
3. Ideally, be sure they are licensed and bonded. I know that makes them more expensive. It also gives you more resources if work is not finished on the agreed time.
4. Don't pay a big chunk up front but piecemeal out the checks. It's necessary, of course, for the person to have money to cover supplies but be wary of too much. Home Advisor recommends 35-40%. 50%, which we gave, is evidently standard in Tucson, but it has its drawbacks in terms of incentive.
5. Be sure any contract has penalties that make it specific what is expected by whom and by when. With no penalties, there is no incentives. 
6. If you know of more, be sure to post them in the comments.

So that's about it for that. But, to add to my fun April, I dropped and broke my distance glasses. Those in the picture below were the computer glasses and from last week. Although I used to wear contacts most of the time, now I wear glasses more often and need to get myself into an optometrist to get new glass prescriptions. These are old.

The good part about April was, besides the cacti in amazing bloom, after the doves abruptly fled their nest, which had been depressing, they returned on the 19th and have set there every day since. Ranch Boss got one chance to peek into the nest and there were four eggs, which means she laid two new eggs. Did they leave because they knew the first two were not fertile? Will the next two be?

I care too much on how this works out as I watch them trade off on setting. We are still hopeful. I like seeing them on the nest, but I also worry they are due for disappointment-- as are we.