Need advice on gift for excellent contractor (PICS)

[mike malone]

[QUOTE=RichMagnone]In 2003, my wife and I purchased a "cottage" (read dump... in fact, in the words of one of the neighbors up there "the place was a dump 20 years ago") in Northern Wisconsin.

Hey Rich
"..have canoe, will travel"
nice job

mike

[Chad Pater]

Cash...here is another reason, any tools he buys for himself are tax deductable. The cash he can use on personal expense and buy his own tool and receive a deduction. Small point I suppose.
BTW I like the scrape book idea too.
Chad

[RichMagnone]

Cash it is.

I really like the idea of a scrap book - I have given him a key and told him that he can feel free to bring people over whenever he wants, as we keep the place at "show" quality when we leave (rule #1 of cabin: do not leave it dirty - more fun when you come back!) but I think a nice letter and pics (we have plenty) would be real good.

Thanks for the great idea.

By the way, I'll post a few close ups of some of the trim work - just a top notch job. When you use stained wood, you really need to be dead on because you can't fix it with caulk. The craftsmanship was flat out incredible.

[Richard Wolf]

Sorry to jump in so late. Don't give cash, I know its nice and I get alot of cash tips, but its not speacial, kind of lacks creativity. My best tips are a gift certificate to a nice resturant, I can share it with my wife. Second would be a gift certificate to Home Depot.
The gift certificate idea show that you made some effort on your part, not just reached a little deeper in your pocket. I have also gotten tickets to sports, but that kind of locks him into a date and time which may not work.

Richard

[Steve Ash]

What a nice idea that you have to show your appreciation. I got tickets to Lambeau field (48 yard line, home side, 8 rows up) from a guy I built a house for some years ago....it was the nicest thing any customer has ever done. Whatever you decide to do, your contractor will remember you for years to come.

[chris toomey]

how about letting he and his family use the place for a week or two ? assuming he ever can take a vacation.......

[Tim Brewers]

run an ad in the paper stating how well he did. We have had that happen to us a few times and it is always appreciated.

Brew

[Dale Thompson]

[QUOTE=RichMagnone]In 2003, my wife and I purchased a "cottage" (read dump... in fact, in the words of one of the neighbors up there "the place was a dump 20 years ago") in Northern Wisconsin.

Rich,
To begin with, there are no "dumps" in Northern Wisconsin! Only the very wealthy live in a place as large as your first picture. It's not a big problem, though. My cardboard shanty dries out after a couple of sunny days. In addition, the mosquitoes can usually be brought down by a small, lasar-guided nuclear warhead.

Rich, I vote for the cash option. If your contractor has a favorite local supper club, a gift certificate would also be very welcome. WELCOME TO THE NORTHWOODS OF WISCONSIN!!

Dale T.

[Mike Stanton]

He did a beautiful job and it looks great. Cash would be nice or a gift certificate to a great resturant also is nice or hd or lows. Mike

[Bruce Overholt]

Even though he is a contractor, and a tool would be the most likely gift, think about getting him a Nice Wrist Watch. For a Man, this is a great gift that can be given on any occasion and is usually well apprieciated.

Bruce

[Jim Andrew]

You guys are way off. What this guy needs is a week in Jamaica in February!

[Peter Mc Mahon]

A bottle of single malt Scotch. I will take one as well please. Peter