Title: Keeping Subs on Track Without Losing Your Mind
Man, I feel you on this. I’ve had punch lists go missing, get rained on, or just plain disappear into someone’s truck cab, never to be seen again. The digital thing was a tough sell for some of my guys, too. One old-timer literally said, “If it ain’t in my back pocket, it ain’t real.” Hard to argue with that kind of logic.
What’s worked for me—sometimes, anyway—is a bit of compromise. I’ll print out the digital list and hand it to the folks who refuse to use the app. At the end of the day, I’ll ask them to snap a photo of the checked-off sheet and text it to me. Not perfect, but at least I’ve got a digital record. Some of them grumble, but it’s less intimidating than making them learn a new app on the spot.
For green specs and custom stuff, I try to make it as visual as possible. I’ll tape up color printouts or sketches right next to the work area, then reference those in the app list. That way, even if they’re not using the app directly, they’re at least following the right details. Sometimes I’ll even walk through the first few items with them—showing them how ticking off boxes in the app saves us all headaches later when the inspector comes around.
Honestly, I don’t think you’ll ever get 100% buy-in from everyone. Some folks just love their notebooks and pens. But if you can bridge the gap with a little flexibility and keep the records digital on your end, it saves a lot of pain down the road. And hey, at least coffee can’t wipe out a cloud backup...
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ll admit, I’m a bit more stubborn about pushing the digital side. Once you’ve had a $10M home delayed because someone’s handwritten note got lost in the mud, you start to see the value in cloud backups. Still, I respect the need for flexibility—some folks just aren’t going to change. Have you noticed any difference in accountability or quality when you switched to this hybrid method? Sometimes I wonder if making it too easy for subs to avoid tech just lets them off the hook...
Title: Keeping subs on track without losing your mind
I get the frustration with paper getting lost—been there, and it’s a nightmare. But I’ve actually noticed some subs step up when they’re given a bit of choice. Maybe it’s just my crew, but sometimes forcing tech too hard just leads to more “I didn’t see that” excuses... Ever tried tying accountability to something other than just the platform? Like, maybe regular walk-throughs or photo check-ins?
I get what you’re saying about giving subs some choice, but I’ve actually had the opposite happen a few times. When I let folks pick their own way to check in, it turned into a mess—one guy texted, another emailed, and a third just left sticky notes on my kitchen counter. It got confusing fast.
I’m curious, though—do regular walk-throughs really work for you? I tried that, but sometimes I’d show up and the sub was already gone, or they’d say they “forgot” to take photos. Maybe I’m just not persistent enough, but I feel like unless there’s one clear system, stuff slips through the cracks.
Have you ever tried something like a whiteboard on site? I’ve thought about it, but not sure if it’s just another thing to get erased or ignored. Just seems like every method has its own headaches...
Keeping Subs On Track Without Losing Your Mind
Sticky notes on the kitchen counter—yeah, that sounds about right. I’ve had subs leave me voicemails at 7am, then claim they “checked in” because they mentioned it to my neighbor. It’s wild how creative folks get when there’s wiggle room.
Walk-throughs are hit or miss for me too. Sometimes I’d drive over and the only sign anyone had been there was a pile of sawdust and maybe a half-empty coffee cup. I tried the whiteboard thing once—thought it’d be foolproof. By week two, someone had used it to draw a cartoon and then wiped off half the schedule by accident. After that, I just stuck with a cheap clipboard nailed to the wall near the entrance. Old school, but at least it doesn’t get erased, and everyone knows where to find it.
Honestly, I think you’re right—if there isn’t one clear system, stuff just falls through the cracks. I’ve learned to pick something simple and stick with it, even if it’s not perfect. Otherwise, you end up chasing your tail trying to keep up with everyone’s “preferred method.”
