Check twice, paint once
From BlackWhite magazine - issue 10, covered
A cautionary tale from Jesse points out why it’s always worth double-checking your job instructions before getting stuck in.
Our team in the Hawke’s Bay region was attending an exterior paint job of a local farm property. Our guys turned up to the farm’s address, but on that property, there happened to be three or four small houses plus a few sheds grouped close together. The painting foreman had been told we were to paint ‘the one on the right’. Little did we know, the buildings were all to the right of the shared gravel driveway.
One week later, we had almost finished painting the entire exterior of a little cottage when a farmer pulled up. We had not seen anyone the whole week. He says, “absolute brilliant job, the cottage looks awesome, it has totally been brought back to life.”
Then, the farmer started laughing. The painter chuckled awkwardly and asked, “why is it so funny?”
The farmer replied, “mate, it was the house next to this one that your crew was supposed to paint, but I’m absolutely chuffed you painted mine instead of the neighbour’s. Suppose you better get started on their house now, you’re a week behind schedule.”
