Winning by intimidation is the name of the game, according to The Donald. You have to give him credit: He has people playing right into his scheme. All you need to do is tell people that "money is no object" and that you're willing to pay whatever it takes, and you'll have them salivating over how much they can take you for. The reality for Trump is that he has been very successful by creating that impression, when in fact he's just as practical and careful as the rest of us, with more commas and zeros after the subtotals. The lesson he teaches us is to really scrutinize before making a decision. It helps to have a TV show sponsoring the time it takes to interview and to put people through tests of capability before you hire someone, but you can do something similar. Beneath his tough exterior, Trump really is a charming and intelligent person with a creative sense of how to get results, which is what you need to be. Do your homework, ask questions of the references you should be getting from anyone you interview, and ask the contractor, architect or others their opinions of the jobs they did and the people they worked for. You learn a lot by asking tough questions. What are they? How long have you been in business, and have you ever been sued? Any complaints from Consumer Affairs, or any prosecutions? Will you stay on the project until the work is done, or are you all over the place? Are you insured, bonded, etc.? Can you get a bond for the job, even if it's paid for by the owner? If I check out your past jobs, will I find that they leaked or that you had callbacks? How about extras for work you didn't plan on? Can you work with the others I hire, like the architect, my plumber, electrician, etc.? (To give you an idea of what I mean, there are those I would never work with, and vice versa.) It's tough to work with poor communicators who try to muscle everyone else out of the picture, then pull them back in when it becomes obvious that the job can't be signed off on without everyone's participation and cooperation. Bill, the guy Trump finally hired, may have passed the test of management skills, and he may have a role in the biggest project on the Chicago skyline, but I'm sure he won't run it. Do your homework before you hire, and be prepared to ask tough questions. Pay the team players based on value, not on what you think the going rate should be according to friends who did work 10 years ago, and take a careful approach. Good luck.Readers are encouraged to send questions to: HERALD Homes, 379 Central Avenue, P.O. Box 220, Lawrence, N.Y. 11559-0220Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
