Involve the Client..?

[picframer]

I did a drain job this week by myself as we are short staff, it was one of the worst yet as the clay content was, well like cement. I had the rock dumped in the clients driveway while I transported it with the tractor, the client didn't have access to their front stairs for a while but Linda wanted to get some coffee, I gave her a ride up to the back of the house as it was raining and the front bank is very steep, she loved it This is one of those jobs that could have gone south fast, due to it being so wet and the heavy clay, it made a major mess of their side and back yard, I involved them as much as possible and evenerything worked out and they understood, staff finished sodding yesterday and they wrote saying they are very happy, have to drop down today for payment and see the job.

Attached Images

sept16 002 (2).jpg (93.3 KB, 18 views)

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Andy
Halifax, Nova Scotia

[lawncrafter56]

Very nice pic and post Andy. Does your Drain go from the gutter down spouts to the curb? or is it for surface run-off? How deep was this one? Oh yes thanks so much for answering the simple green question. I think you are the best...

[picframer]

Originally Posted by lawncrafter56

Very nice pic and post Andy. Does your Drain go from the gutter down spouts to the curb? or is it for surface run-off? How deep was this one? Oh yes thanks so much for answering the simple green question. I think you are the best...

Thanks for the kind words.

We always tie gutters into our drains, if it is possible which it was in the case.

What is happening is a few things, clay in the soil getting into drains not built properly and plugging, tree clearing increasing the water flow (trees being cleared due to storms) then new development with zero thought by the developers on where water will come from and where it should go.

I still have 9 drains to do this season which is nuts as it's the middle of September and at least three requests a week for quotes, I started Monday telling people we are now booked for this year, if we are lucky we will get everything done.

It was a day off for me but....one trailer had a flat on the highway so I had to go fix that, then the guys couldn't get a saw running, they are going again, I am finally back home and going to bring in some firewood with a new tractor I picked up yesterday.

[Steve]

Andy,

That is fantastic! LOL My first question is who was taking the picture? They really thought of this as a fun opportunity and I agree!

How do you think involving the client like this changed her attitude of interacting with you and your work?

[picframer]

Originally Posted by Steve

Andy,

That is fantastic! LOL My first question is who was taking the picture? They really thought of this as a fun opportunity and I agree!

How do you think involving the client like this changed her attitude of interacting with you and your work?

Her busband was setting on the front deck, he is a retrired Vet with really bad knees, anyhow I was coming down front and she was trying to climb up the lawn and he was laughing, I yelled grab a camera Ron and I will give her a ride, I told her to get on when I was down on the pavement and she jumped at the chance, which surprised me.

How did this change the client's attitude? This was morning two, the back yard was a mess and she has quite a temper and use of the english language, I dunno, it seemed after this she was really cool and even came out to help, I found things that I could get her to do and praised her work, in the end everyone was happy.

I went by today for payment and they offered me to stay for lunch which I did, everyone is pleased with the results.

[Steve]

--> Thats great!

Some of us can really reach out and find a way to communicate with others. It seems if you can get a bond with them, everything after that comes easier.

If you can't, then communication between us and them can be very difficult.