Look, i get it, the bigger the client the better the treatment as in all fields but the small portfolio holder shouldn't feel like there on back burner especially when calls aren't returned in a timely manner because i'm questioning a $400 charge for a $200 job. 

However, my husband and i have been on a FAT version for a while; i guess without having a name to call it.

@Michael King use the burner app.. it’s only like $4.99/month for one line with unlimited call/texts or $14.99 for 3 lines with unlimited talk/texts.

Pencil in some guesstimates if it makes you feel better, but it should be a nice fat margin where you can afford to spend a couple hundred more in one month or another without feeling a pinch.

@Marcus Auerbach @Jeff Cichocki  Those are definitely good points, and after doing more reading since my original post I've decided to put note holding on the back burner for now. 

In the old days we would call long-term employment or a fat savings account a “compensating factor“.

Although there is still some significant fat left in the deal, and we underwrote for a 1 year timeline, there have been many hiccups along the way.

Ethical contractors will keep yours on the front burner, but he says there are some real jerks out there that will abandon you when a sweeter deal comes along.I guess it's probably the same problem if you pay market price or even above market and there's an uptick in work..the key would be finding someone ethical.

I offered to run the whole job from beginning to end and they just had to sit back and collect a fat check for 50% of the profit. 

This is what one company's tune up entails:Spring AC tune up:Indoor Unit*Blower Motor *Amp Draw *Bearings *Blower Wheel Balanced *Control Board *Operating Properly *Incoming Voltage*Connections *Low Voltage *Electrical Connections *Change/Clean Filter *Capacitor *Thermostat *Check Operations *Outdoor Unit*Compressor*Amp Draw*Condenser Fan Motor*Amp Draw*Bearings*Capacitor*Electrical Connections*Clean Condenser Coil(water)*Check Refrigerant Levels*Check Contactor *Relays Operation*Check Operations*Clear Condensation Lines*Furnace:Fall Maintenance Checklist*Replace Filter*Electrical Connections*Check Thermostat*Verify Blower Condition*Check Control Operations*Check Control Board*Check Capacitor(s)*Amps of motor operations* Check Relays*Heat Exchanger Condition*Burner Condition* Remove and clean flame sensor* Inspect Blower Wheel*Inspect and check ignition operations* Check ALL safety operations* Verify a good clean burning flame*Are these pretty standard work supposed to happen for tune ups?