a not hypothetical question about professionalism
Here's the situation: I am *this* close to signing a contract with a private individual to renovate his kitchen. Partner and I looked at this job some time ago. Partner was reluctant, but we made a bare-bones bid. "It won't be any cheaper than this, and is certain to go up" was the sub-text that I tried to communicate at the time. Client came back wanting more stuff (better quality materials, add this, add that, how about we do this over there, that kind of thing). Partner saw this and said that we should drop the job entirely rather than try to accomodate the new stuff. What he saw as an obstacle however, I saw as an opportunity, and I proceeded on my own. My final bid to the client is more than double the original (3K to 8K), and this price change is what I have been talking with the client about for most of the last week.
Here is the question: How much do I try and explain? I belive very firmly in being honest as much as I feel I can, to the point of volunteering things I shouldn't and otherwise making my life difficult. This urge is pushing me to try and lay out a number of things to the client, before there are any signatures or checks. The tradition between clients and contractors is antagonistic, and this is something that I can't stand and want to avoid. However, if this isn't something that the client cares about, then my trying to bring it up, and maybe clear the air a little, is only going to irritate him further. My social training says that the best approach is an open and straightforward one: "Mr. Client, I want us to get things going on an amicable note, so towards that end, here is my complete calculations that have lead me to make the price bid I have."
save me from my dithering!
(side notes that may be relevant: I missed something fairly large in my initial "for real" bid, so the price has gone up a little over $400 in the last week. I was very open why this happened. Also, the client has, for the last two weeks, been calling me with random questions apparently whenever the urge strikes him. Saturday morning, Sunday evening, etc.)
Here is the question: How much do I try and explain? I belive very firmly in being honest as much as I feel I can, to the point of volunteering things I shouldn't and otherwise making my life difficult. This urge is pushing me to try and lay out a number of things to the client, before there are any signatures or checks. The tradition between clients and contractors is antagonistic, and this is something that I can't stand and want to avoid. However, if this isn't something that the client cares about, then my trying to bring it up, and maybe clear the air a little, is only going to irritate him further. My social training says that the best approach is an open and straightforward one: "Mr. Client, I want us to get things going on an amicable note, so towards that end, here is my complete calculations that have lead me to make the price bid I have."
save me from my dithering!
(side notes that may be relevant: I missed something fairly large in my initial "for real" bid, so the price has gone up a little over $400 in the last week. I was very open why this happened. Also, the client has, for the last two weeks, been calling me with random questions apparently whenever the urge strikes him. Saturday morning, Sunday evening, etc.)