The HVAC contractors won't like this advice, but you should most definitely check the prices of equipment with a wholesale supplier, the mark up some of these people add to the bill can be ridiculous. A customer of mine priced out a large exhaust fan through a general contractor & their HVAC contractor, they wanted $12,000 to provide and install the fan. Fan was a Greenheck belt driven 60" diameter. I checked the supply house and could set up an account, and buy direct. The fan actually cost $3,000 without accessories needed, and I could install it in 2 days, so that leaves quite a bit on the table, several thousand dollars, same was true when I priced heating equipment through a contractor, so we bought direct from a supplier, just need someone with an account or meet their requirments to buy from them and set up a cash account at minimum. Although I'm not in the HVAC business, I've had no trouble buying from these wholesalers under my company name. These suppliers are afraid of lawsuits stemming from selling items to unqualified people who improperly install said items like gas fired equipment, same reason they want you to provide qualifications of your company to buy from them, which is not that difficult, then have one of the HVAC mechanics do the work as a side job etc. I'd look into some means to buy direct from a supply house and have someone you know install the equipment as a side job, or negotiate with the contractor with the up front knowledge on the equipment costs.
Another supply house for example:
http://www.buckleyonline.com/
R.E. Michel has some locations down your way.
Those ATV and tresspassers, read up on the various laws, keep a good repoire with the local law enforcement if you can, around here I believe technically you can detain them until the law arrives, according to NYS law I've read, because they have committed a crime by tresspassing in your presence and are trying to escape in your presence. I have a copy of that law, but still take it with grain of salt and really do not want to escalate a situation into something that could be dangerous, but after speaking with the NYS troopers, alerting them to the situation and let them know that if in fact the situation becomes unmanagable I'd call them, with the intent to help them get these people positively identified and prosecuted. I had a real problem this spring with this, verbally directed or requested about 15 people to leave the property, most were kids. Kids were just out buzzin around, or trying to pass through on the power lines, I explained to them why I cannot allow them to ride here, and they were good about understanding, no attitude or remarks, seemed like decent kids, one said you are the nicest person who ever tossed him off a property, I laughed, but I have my reasons. The adults were actually the smart@ss jerks questioning me. No trouble since, new gates are up, and I did not have to call the NYS police for any assistence. I hate having to even confront these people, but if I hustle, I always catch em, so they know the place is watched tightly now, usually keep a sidearm hidden and take a nice walking stick with a large sharp nail attached, to pop a tire if need be. I also make note of spark plug wires hanging out, another quick way to disable an atv, carry a pair of snips, be nice while talking to them and get close enough, snip ! Then let the law do their thing. The ATV's are a real pain sometimes and I'm glad I've never had to go any further than I have, been nice about it for the most part, but won't hesitate if they try and test me, it takes a strong presence and lots of persistence to make these people go away, if they are fooling with equipment and things, they have to go, you have to increase the pressure on them somehow, with some kind of tact that will be effective. Problem is retalliation, especially on a larger piece of property, they know you can't be everywhere at once, so sometimes I have let em pass, but caught them on the return trip. Remote surveillance, if there is a way to photograph or record their presence, best thing is to set up an area where you can slow em down to remove obstacles and get a good photo or recording while they move barriers or cut fence, would be my next move, let them help you catch themselves.
R.E. Michel
