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Found a raccoon family living in a flue on a job in Olympia last Tuesday
I was up on the roof getting ready to drop my brush down a chimney for a standard cleaning. I always shine my light down first, and this time I saw four little faces looking back at me. A whole raccoon family had made a nest right on the smoke shelf. The homeowner had no idea, they just said the fireplace was drafting poorly. I had to tell them we couldn't proceed until wildlife control cleared them out, which meant rescheduling the whole job. It took the animal guys about three hours to safely remove them and put a proper cap on. Has anyone else had a big delay because of animals, and how do you handle telling the client?
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ray_burns601mo ago
Robin896 is right about showing pictures, it really helps the client understand the delay.
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abby_fisher2d ago
Yeah, showing pictures is key... it turns a weird delay into a story they'll tell their friends. I always explain that the animal guys have to come first because if we just scare them out, they'll find a way back in or get hurt. It's a whole process to seal it up right after. That three hour wait you had is pretty standard, honestly.
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robin8961mo ago
Oh man, that's a classic one. Always gotta check first, you did the right thing. I tell the client straight up, it's a safety issue for us and the animals, so the job is on hold. Give them the number for a good wildlife removal service and explain it's the only legal way forward. Most people get it, especially when you show them a picture of the babies.
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