Like us, you may have prior experience with subcontractors who pick up after themselves and leave things tidy at the completion of a job. And this is as it should be.

But beware: this practice is not universal. Only a few of our subcontractors here in East Tennessee have picked up after themselves, and they did it without prompting. They even brought their own brooms! Not only that, but they are a cut above average workers: they are more educated, they are employees of businesses who care about their customers' experiences with them, and they obviously take pride in what they do. We're talking quality people here with a solid work ethic. And they are also much more polite in general. They were raised to respect others, too.

Too many of our subcontractors have left an abysmal mess behind them – electricians, plumbers, HVAC guys, drywall guys, log home dry-in guys, concrete guys, tree guys, tile guys, carpenters, painters, stone masons...you name it.

After eight months of construction, with the end (almost) in sight, we can't wait to be rid of the irresponsible jerks who think it is beneath them to pick up after themselves.

What they don't understand is that it really [is] in their job description. Some of these goons have been such slobs that we will deduct as much as $500.00 from their final invoice for the woefully inappropriate wake of debris they left behind at the end of the job.

Now, this is not just WOMEN talking here, guys. This is a safety issue and also a productivity issue. Large messes slow down the work force. Tools get lost. Parts get lost. Things get broken. Quality lumber gets totally trashed. And the morale of tidier folks plummets.

Not only that but, for those subcontractors still to come, there is barely adequate room to work for all the construction debris they have to plow through.

The construction trades need to wake up. Telling us 'that's how they do it in [Tennesse]' is utter NONSENSE. Dr. Ellen says it's all about how they were raised, although that doesn't make it right. We can only pass on what we know, and she says there are pretty slim pickins hereabout.

NOTE: Get a superduper shop vac for your construction site, one with real suction strength. The dust problem alone is monumental!

We have single-handedly moved 4x8 ft sheets of 3/4 plywood, sheets of drywall, 10 ft long 8-inch square D logs left by the dry-in folks, countless pieces of discarded 2x8's used for scaffolding, concrete blocks, bags of cement mix, stones left behind by the stone mason and who know what else – all in the name of making our construction site safer for everyone. And this isn't even our job!

So don't be an absent homeowner. Come in your work clothes and be ready to roll up your sleeves! Oh, and don't forget your gloves! Leather is better.