Being honest, transparent and easily (readily) available.
Do not assume, do not assume the homeowner understands the consequences of their requests. As an air-conditioning contractor doing repairs on older equipment this is a dilemma I face often especially with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) phase out protocol. Doing any repairs on these R 22 systems is balancing act with several considerations to take into account the posable efficacy improvement of the new systems, the ever increasing cost to maintain the old system, (DOE phasing out all R 22 production by 01/01/2020) the greater likelihood of repairs requiring the removal of all of the high price refrigerant. This includes several late stage repairs such as some systems have two TXV’s, reversing valve, or the compressor then there is the possibility of repeated leaks developing fr om the design of the bimetal coils that cause corrosion.
Then there is cost the compressor and any two of these repairs will be very near the cost of a complete new system. Then add to that the regular repairs like motors, contactors and capacitors. Then there is the cost of inaction that older system may be a 6 or 8 seer system compared to a minimum 14 seer system for a new system there is an emendate savings that will offset the cost of a new system. All of this is the balancing act that has to balance with the customer’s budget. So you can’t assume that the customer understands that replacing a motor something that they have been through before may not be a simple decision this time.
As a General Contractor for almost 18 years, our ethical responsibilities are simple. Be honest, Keep your word and do the best work you can. Always be available and listen to the customer.
Be honest. Maintain an open line of communication and be willing to be listen. And, if your client wants you to do something you know or believe is not in their best interest, TELL them so and explain the reason.
Ensuring that construction is performed in a safe, competent, and professional manner
As a professional we are exposed to more options and information than a client. We need to help them understand the options available and what would work best for their project, keeping budget and quality of construction in mind.
Professional, honest, communicative and flexible.