November 3, 2019 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Welcome if this is your first issue! It's great to have you here.

You may have been here for a while. This could be your second or 1,015th issue! I think that's about how many I've sent out. I should have kept track!

Getting Great Bids From Contractors

I was doing lots of driving in the past thirty days. I love to do long-distance driving with no music or any other distractions. I find I can do some deep thinking away from the normal office routine.

I was thinking about you and how hard a time you might have COMPARING bids on any type of project. More importantly, you may want the job done RIGHT, but have no clue how it SHOULD BE DONE.

My very good friend Dan, who lives in Colorado, came to mind while I was driving along I-95.

He reached out to me in the summer asking for tips on replacing some concrete steps and sidewalk leading up to his house from the street. I decided the best thing to do is create a fast color drawing by hand of how I would install the concrete so it would last for 50, or more, years AND BE SAFE. I did the drawing freehand knowing that Dan could figure it out.

Here's what I sent him:

Here's my question:

Would you be interested in higher-quality hand-drawn color drawings like this along with one page of some simple written specifications to help you:

• understand a great way to do the job
• get bids on the same materials and processes
• give you confidence to meet and talk with the contractors

Here's the dilemma you face:

Something needs to be replaced at your house and you have NO IDEA what might be the best way to do it. It could be a concrete sidewalk like Dan's, it might be your asphalt shingle roof, it could be a brick or stone chimney crown repair, it could be a blacktop driveway replacement.

I could go on and on with jobs like this.

You call in three contractors and each one tells you a different product or method he's going to use. It now becomes almost impossible to compare bids. Think about it, who do you believe? What is the best bid? What's the best method?

But imagine if you had a CLEAR simple drawing(s) similar to what you see above and a one-page sheet of simple specifications. You hand, text, or email them to the three contractors and say, "Please base your bid doing the job this way."

Do you think these would help you get the job done right and give you peace of mind?

If you answered YES to that question, please CLICK or TAP HERE and fill out the SHORT survey.

If you fill out the survey, I'm going to give you the first one I create for FREE.

Helping Emma

About seven years ago, I used Kickstarter.com to produce a huge series of videos to show you how to build a very nice shed. My project is still on Kickstarter but you can no longer contribute to it. CLICK or TAP HERE to see it.

If you want access to my Shed Building videos, CLICK or TAP HERE.

An Internet entrepreneur friend of mine, Scott, reached out to me this past week to share that his stepdaughter Emma just launched a project on Kickstarter. Emma's just nine-years-old. GO Emma!

Emma has invented Zero the Dream Hero. Here he is with Emma's sister Olivia. Olivia is the inspiration for Zero.

I URGE you to go watch Emma in her video and read all about Zero. It's probably going to bring a tear to your eye, maybe ten tears.

This is absolutely a worthwhile cause and if you have a child or grandchild who needs a cool stuffed toy, Zero the Dream Hero could be just the ticket.

Realize if you make a pledge and Emma's goal is NOT MET, you get all your money back. You risking NOTHING by helping Emma hit, or exceed, her goal.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see why Emma's created Zero to help her sister Olivia. Please try to help Emma reach her goal.

FEEL FREE to share that link with all your friends, co-workers, relatives, etc. - anyone you think that might want a Zero the Dream Hero stuffed toy.

Gasoline Explosion HAZARD

Many people get seriously burned by gasoline. Some die.

I BEG YOU to CLICK or TAP HERE to watch a few videos to see how DANGEROUS gasoline is to use for starting outdoor fires.

On that page I share a gasoline story that happened to me. I'm very lucky I don't have skin grafts.

It's also a BAD IDEA to use gasoline to get rid of ants or other animals that build tunnels underground. WAIT UNTIL you see what happens in the one video!

DIY Electrical Wiring

Look at this photo:

What you see is the largest switch box at my daughter's new home. Each one happens to be a 3-way switch.

Have you ever thought about doing electrical wiring but are TERRIFIED by it?

I wrote a column for you to show you how you might be able to accomplish the task and not get killed.

CLICK or TAP HERE and I guarantee you'll discover something you didn't know.

That's quite enough for a Sunday.

Soon you're going to see another video about a wonderful Noritz combi boiler that's going to keep my new granddaughter toasty warm as well as create endless hot water for baths and showers.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see the boiler I'm using on the job.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Certified Organic MAGIC Cleaner - www.StainSolver.com
Flinger of Invisible Waves - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!