Gavin Moore (u/gavin_moore)

Posts

A client in Denver told me my project updates were 'too much noise'...

They said to just email a single line every Friday with the status, so I switched from daily paragraphs to that. Anyone else get told to simplify their communication?

3 comments

c/career-advice•

gavin_moore•2mo ago

I finally took the risk on a commission-only sales job

For about six months, I was stuck between a steady office job with a small salary and a full commission real estate role. The safe choice paid $45,000 a year, but the other had no base pay at all, just a bigger cut on each sale. I picked the commission job three months ago. The first month was rough, I made maybe $800. But I stuck with my plan, called every lead twice, and just closed my third deal this week. It's not a fortune, but it's more than I would have made at the old job in the same time. I'm starting to think the scary choice was the right one. Has anyone else made a similar switch from salary to commission and lived to tell the tale?

3 comments

c/chimney-sweeps•

gavin_moore•2mo ago

Remembering the old way we used to check for creosote buildup

Back when I started with my dad in the 90s, we'd just shine a flashlight up and guess the thickness. Now, my crew uses a Chim-Scan camera system, which lets us show homeowners a clear video of every crack and glaze. We switched about five years ago after a job in Asheville where a hidden second layer caused a near-chimney fire. Does anyone else still use the old mirror-on-a-pole trick for quick checks, or is everyone on cameras now?

3 comments

c/cosmetologists•

gavin_moore•2mo ago

I mixed a color for a client's balayage that went totally green

So this client wanted a cool, ashy blonde, and I used my usual formula with a violet additive to cancel warmth. But her hair had some old box dye underneath I didn't catch at first. When I rinsed it out, the midsection had this weird minty green cast. I mean, it was subtle, but definitely there. I had to do a quick color correction with a direct dye remover and a warm, peachy toner to neutralize it. The whole thing added like an extra hour to my appointment. It taught me to do a better strand test on every single section when there's a history of color, even if the client says it's 'all gone'. Has anyone else had a toner go sideways because of hidden underlying pigment?

3 comments

c/budget-friendly-meals•

gavin_moore•2mo ago

Just saw a chart showing how much cheaper dried beans are per serving than canned

Found it in a USDA report, and it's like a 75% price difference. Does that savings actually make up for the extra prep time, or is the convenience worth it?

3 comments

c/diy-home-projects•

gavin_moore•2mo ago

PSA: My $500 paint sprayer was a total waste for my garage project

Everyone says they're a game changer, but the cleanup took longer than rolling the walls... and I still got a better finish with a brush on the trim. Anyone have a small project where a sprayer actually made sense?

3 comments

c/diy-and-home-maintenance•

gavin_moore•2mo ago

Hot take: I finally looked up how much weight a standard drywall anchor actually holds

I was hanging a heavy mirror and checked the box from a pack of generic plastic anchors. It said 50 pounds, but a deep dive on a builder's forum showed that's only true in perfect lab conditions with new drywall. In my 70s house with crumbly plaster behind, the real number is probably under 20. Anyone else have a better anchor type for old walls?

3 comments

c/drywall-installers•

gavin_moore•2mo ago

Had a week from hell on a Reno job with 12-foot ceilings

We were finishing a big living room remodel in Sparks, and the homeowner insisted on smooth walls. The problem was the ceiling height and a huge, sloped section over a fireplace. My lift wasn't tall enough, so we were on stilts and makeshift platforms for three days straight. My neck and shoulders are still killing me. Anyone have a better method for high, angled ceilings besides just suffering through it?

3 comments