The End of an Exhausting Era

Photo of 8 apartments was taken 4 years ago by Google. Notice crooked mailbox stand was the same, more cement stairs have been replaced with sagging Trex (with no support). From this photo it appears there have been a few changes — more weeds and more abandoned vehicles.

On July first, Noell began managing 16 apartments in Blackfoot. The job typically wouldn’t be too bad, but the apartments have many years of deferred maintenance. They had left four of the units vacant, so that they could be completely overhauled. 

Last week, on Monday I began my workweek at the office. At some point, I was asked to leave my job go over to one of the apartments to check on the work of our “handyman”. We planned to not look at his work on this project, until it was all done, but he requested we stop by. Around two hours later, I’d purchased some tools to help him lay the luxury vinyl planking on the floor and had informed him that he needed to basically start over. He’d been working on a the small kitchen for nearly a week. 

On Tuesday he had me stop in again because he felt the floor was too grooved from walking in the high-traffic area. He felt in order to continue he’d need to tear up the floorboards and add shims—or some other drastic measure to install the flooring. I told him to check with professionals and see what they would suggest. On my way home from work, I talked with the professional at a flooring company. I told him the amount of drop in the flooring that our “handyman” had encountered (1/4 inch over a 4 foot distance) and he said that it was minimal wear and it wouldn’t be a problem for a professional. 

The renter called Noell and informed her that she’d talked to her sons that told her he should put a foam under the luxury vinyl planking to level it. The renter’s sons weren’t professionals. The “handyman” told us the same thing. 

On Wednesday morning the “handyman” texted, insisting that he needed the foam. I asked him to tell me which professionals he’d talked to. He was slow in replying then gave me a couple names. After the names, he started to say that he needed something better than foam. He needed a leveling compound. He’d never done it (although he hinted that he had... and I’d seen it done). 

We finally reached the point that we felt it was time to let him go. I met him and let him know he was done. Around four hours later, he’d gather his tools from all apartments, turned in his key, and had a check to help him feel better about working for us. It’s not an easy task to ask a worker to leave. 

On Thursday, I spent several hours working with our new handyman named Bill (notice I’m not using quotes on handyman). Bill is an actual contractor, who has just moved into the area and needs to establish himself in the community. He bid the job very low, to get his foot in the door. As we talked, there was plenty of evidence that he understood the correct ways to do the work. I spent some time showing him the work we needed done at the apartment that our other worker had just left. 

When Friday came along, Bill began the new flooring in the apartment the “handyman” had been asked to leave. He finished on Saturday. Bill had installed new snap-together vinyl planking in the kitchen and dining room with new vinyl flooring in the bathroom including a new toilet, and vanity. 

The work from our “handyman” (over the last two months) added a lot of time and stress, for Noell and I. She had to take numerous phone calls, texts, and behind the scenes work. This week she had to go to Pocatello to choose and purchase vinyl flooring, a toilet, and a bathroom vanity. All this work was done as she took the twins and adjusted to their sleep and eating schedule. What an incredible woman! 

As I think about the stress, emotional energy, and time that we’ve spent the last 2 months and (especially this week), I realize this has been a very intense and difficult time for Noell and I— it’s also affected others around us. 

While it’s been a difficult situation, we’ve felt the Lord’s hand. Wednesday morning, as I took the steps to tell our “handyman” that he was finished working for us, I prayed hard to know how to do it in a way that would help him feel our love for him as he was being let go. 

Now, it may help to understand that numerous times we paid him for work before we’d inspected it, later discovering that he’d not completed the job, or that the job was done incorrectly and needed to be re-done. Because of that, when he began this flooring job we told him to focus 100% of his time and effort on it and he would be paid when the job was completely finished. He was certain it would be completed in 2-3 days and over a week later, he’d only completed a 3 1/2 foot by 6 foot section. 

Sample of unfinished work that we paid for. 

"Handyman" sent a photo to show completion, but 

his photo was at an angle that didn't show the unfinished work.

My heart was turned to the Lord in prayer, as I drove to inform the “handyman” that he was being let go. I felt an impression that I should pay him $200 of his $500 bid. When I saw his work and his plans to fix it, I pulled him aside from the renter and let told him he was done. As I did that, an additional distinct impression came to invite him to earn additional money (as his rent was due) by cleaning up around the buildings. He approved of the idea and I paid him an additional $100. But knowing how way leads onto way, I doubted that he would ever come back... (and a week and a half later, he’s not done that job that he said he would do that day). 

While I knew he may not do the extra $100 of work, I felt that if I paid him for it, I could have a clear conscience around him forever. Although, the clear conscience is based upon keeping proper Christ-like thoughts about him. 

As I struggled through this, two impressions came to me: 

1. We are often required to do difficult things that, if attempted alone, would be overwhelming and maybe impossible. As we accept the Savior’s invitation to “come unto me,” He will provide the support, comfort, and peace that are necessary, just as He did for Nephi and Joseph. Even in our deepest trials, we can feel the warm embrace of His love as we trust Him and accept His will. 
2. T. Harv Eker teaches that we must consider problems on a scale of 1 to 10. If you’re capable of handling a level 2 problem and you face a level 5 problem, it may seem impossible. If you can handle a level 8 problem and you face a level 5 problem, it’s not even a problem. You just solve it. He then encourages us to look forward to problems because they will make us a better person.
   
   

Stairs have been professionally repaired by David & David Tanner. 

We're looking forward to having them re-painted.