Next message: Frank Timpano: "RE: lv-ab: Contracts and craftspeople"
wrote:
> Would a written contract have been of benefit, or is it more of a hopeful
> gesture when it comes to really having recourse for boat work gone wrong? I
As a plumber for the last dozen years or so, I've seen a lot of work
done many ways. The quality of the work and the satisfaction of all
parties relates only indirectly to the contract - but it's a very
important tool.
1) Writing down *anything*, and signing it acts as a heads-up for all
parties and sets off the alarm bells, encouraging everyone to take the
time and trouble to think a moment, delete some of the "sure, sure, no
problem..." responses, and actually plan a little.
2) Many major problems with projects result not from evil intent, but
from misunderstanding. Writing down the plan really helps to show where
people have got totally different ideas about the same thing. Being
detailed and specific helps, but 80% of the benefit accrues in the first
20% of the "write-it-down" effort.
3) It sets a certain "tone" to the proceedings: It's the "grown-up" way
of doing things, vis a vis our legal, financial, and social realities;
it establishes that even though everybody's cool and loves everybody
else, the real matter at hand is the satisfactory completion of some
work. It implies that all parties are *committed* and serious about a
job, each in their proper way.
I've done some work on just a hand shake, and it's worked well both on
large and small jobs. But I didn't do this the first 10 years I worked,
and I only do very small projects like this unless I have known the
people well and long. It's mostly a matter of tax and paperwork
convenience for both parties, and unless both parties are thoroughly.
Familiar with the whole thing, it's pretty risky.
Rufus
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