AsktheBuilder.com Issue #1223 (I think)

March 5, 2023

Dear ,

You might be a new subscriber. 

You're a hot mess because you've been abused by a builder or remodeler. Bad advice from countless hobby blogger wanna-be home improvement sites has cost you thousands of dollars. Your search for trustworthy human knowledge that can save you time and money has left you helplessly hoping. 

Fortunately, days ago, you found me.

Put on your safety glasses and grab your hat. We're going on a journey.

Our next stop...  

the Ask the Builder Home Improvement Zone

Click HERE for the full experience. Thanks, Rod!

I only live for the day but I'm one day behind.

Let's get started.

Cheryl's ?

Early last week Cheryl reached out to me. My guess is you will find yourself in days, weeks, or months in the SAME SITUATION. Here's what Cheryl asked:

"I'm about to enter into a contract with a construction company for a fairly large single home renovation.  Wanted to see if you consulted to review contracts with an eye to keep liability low for the client."

Why of course I offer this consult service! I just do a poor job of letting you know about it. I do bid review from small jobs like exterior or interior painting all the way up to reviewing bids for your new home.

GO HERE to start the process.

Are You an Architect?

If you're an architect that creates residential or light-commercial plans, can you reach out to me? I've got a burning question.

Ice Storage in the HOT Desert

How smart were people thousands of years ago? Smarter than you might ever imagine. What is this?

Go HERE and relive some of your days in high school.

Marvin

Two days ago I had the most delightful video phone consult call. Just after 3 PM my phone notified me that Marvin was calling. I swiped up to answer and there was Marvin's happy face! The day before we had been texting back and forth to set up the call.

Marvin's a contractor down South and needed help solving a water-infiltration issue at a dentist's office he's remodeling. Within three minutes I solved the issue. He was beyond overjoyed!

I need to tell you that within SECONDS of the call starting I had this powerful vibe about Marvin. My radar told me he was a special person. My many trips around the sun have allowed me to trust these strong emotions. I wasn't to be disappointed.

After making sure he understood how to stop the water, Marvin took me on a video tour of this dentist office. All of the mechanicals were in. Just days before all the inspections had passed and it was time for drywall. His workmanship was superb.

I then started to ask questions about his business, what he did, his past, how he got to be where he is, etc. and we both discovered that we were two peas in a pod. He said, "I went onto YouTube to see about this water issue and your video was the first one I watched. Within ten seconds I knew spiritually we were connected and that I HAD TO TALK with you. I decided to do a transcribed video call because I didn't want to forget anything you said."

After disconnecting from the call, I was aglow. My takeaway was that there are still contractors out there that CARE. Marvin treats his job as a vocation. He's fourth generation as his great-grandfather was a contractor!

At the end of the call Marvin said, "What kind of food do you like? I want to send you a gift certificate so you can take your wife out to dinner."

I believe I mentioned I'm a big fan of halibut and thanked him. That said, I declined and requested that he take the money and treat HIS WIFE to dinner. I said, "I want you to send me a photo of you two at dinner." He laughed and said he'd do that.

Do you dream about contractors like Marvin working for you? Do you want to SLEEP at night and avoid stress?

I have FOUR VIDEOS where I get in my old Ford Explorer and I SHOW YOU HOW TO FIND THE BEST CONTRACTOR in MINUTES. Yes, I pretty much keep my eyes on the road.

Go here and have a small bowl of popcorn handy. Not too much salt, please.

If anything in this newsletter helps save you time, money, or makes you feel warm and fuzzy, maybe you want to reciprocate and buy me a popover & a cup of coffee? That would be appreciated!

Or, you could buy me a raffle ticket and come join me for a week of ham radio in the Caribbean! If you don't want to do radio, you can just go to the beach. Go here to purchase the raffle ticket.

Rainwater Removal

After each of my consult calls there's a good chance I provide  you with one or two links or photos that provide more information about what we talked about. Here's an example: 

What's going on in that photo? Is that SPECIAL pipe? I sent this to Marvin.

Go here to discover why this column is important.

The Atom Bomb

A little over twenty years ago I met Lou Katz. He, I, and two other people got elected to our town council. All of a sudden we freshly minted politicians had a majority. We ran because of a polarizing issue where the old council was trying to bamboozle all of us residents.

Bamboozling seems to happen all the time with those in power. But I digress.

Lou was a prominent attorney in Cincinnati. One day after a committee meeting he and I were talking. He proceeded to give a master class on negotiating. His law practice involved lots of negotiating.

"Tim, when you're deep into a negotiation, you need to get into your plane. You fly over your opponent and you open the bomb bay doors. You SHOW them that you have the atom bomb. It's the report or facts that demonstrate you'll win should you go to trial."

Lou went on to say, "But NEVER EVER push the button that drops the atom bomb. When you drop the atom bomb, all you get is complete and utter destruction and negotiations are over."

This past Wednesday I dropped an atom bomb on you with my request that you watch an informative video. That's all I asked you to do.

I suggest you go read all of the FALLOUT that resulted from me dropping the bomb.

If you're a new subscriber, the atom-bomb email I sent out to everyone is at the BOTTOM of the page. It will provide you with the needed context as to why I was turning the knobs on my Norden bombsight.

When you spend time on this page you'll either have a huge smile on your face or your blood pressure will spike.

As Queen Cersei said, "...there is no middle ground."

That's enough for a Sunday.

If you need to talk with me you have two choices:

Try 603-867-5309. If you get a funky message then go here to set up the call.

Tim Carter

Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

APRS Man - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. 

I can fix lots of things but not broken hearts or shattered egos.