Modern hiring platforms seem built around applicant volume, not actual skilled-trade verification.

There is a HUGE difference between:
someone willing to work
and
someone capable of independently diagnosing, repairing, documenting, and completing real-world service work efficiently.

Unfortunately, many hiring platforms do not seem to understand that distinction very well.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗘 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗

At The Maintenance Shop, we are not looking for someone to stand around holding a shovel while staring thoughtfully at a sprinkler system.

We need someone who can:

Diagnose irrigation problems quickly
Repair PVC and poly systems properly
Replace valves and manifolds
Troubleshoot timers and wiring
Work independently
Stay on schedule
Communicate with customers
Document jobs correctly
Finish repairs without turning a 1-hour job into an archaeological excavation project

This is not entry-level work.

This is technician-level field service work performed in real-world conditions:
heat
mud
buried valves
hidden wire breaks
unknown underground problems
customers waiting for answers

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗠 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗬𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠

I created detailed job listings with very specific requirements, including:

REAL irrigation repair experience
Valid driver’s license
Proof of insurance
Ability to work independently
Ability to efficiently complete service work

Yet Indeed still pushed through and charged for applicants who:

Clearly had little or no irrigation experience
Ignored listed qualifications
Mass-applied to everything
Never responded after applying
Exaggerated or misrepresented experience

Apparently, checking a box that says:
“2 years of irrigation experience.”
Is now enough to qualify someone as a technician?

Meanwhile, small businesses are left paying for leads that often never should have passed through the screening system in the first place.

𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧

This is where many large hiring platforms seem disconnected from reality.

There is a difference between:

• labor
• helper positions
• entry-level work

and

skilled diagnostic field service technicians.

A true technician is expected to:

• think independently
• solve problems quickly
• communicate professionally
• and produce results without constant supervision

Those people are becoming increasingly difficult to find.

Not because small businesses are unwilling to pay.

But because the supply of experienced skilled tradespeople has been shrinking for years while demand keeps growing.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟-𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗠

Most customers only see:
“someone fixing sprinklers.”

What they do not see is the amount of experience required to:

• diagnose hidden issues
• manage schedules
• avoid callbacks
• document work
• communicate professionally
• and still complete jobs efficiently enough to keep the business afloat.

That combination of:
skill
efficiency
communication
accountability
independence

is far rarer than many people realize.

𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘

To the plumbers, HVAC technicians, electricians, mechanics, irrigation technicians, and contractors still showing up every day and doing quality work:

Respect.

You are becoming harder and harder to find.

𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

Has anyone else had similar experiences with Indeed or other hiring platforms when trying to hire skilled tradespeople?

I’d honestly be curious to hear how other business owners are dealing with it.

— Steve
The Maintenance Shop

Over the years, I’ve learned something that probably matters more than almost anything else in business:

People are complicated.

When you work with the public for nearly 30 years, you meet people from every imaginable background. Different religions. Different political beliefs. Different cultures. Different lifestyles. Different economic situations. Different histories.

Some people had easy roads in life.
Others clearly didn’t.

Some people come across as polished and professional the moment you meet them. Others may have rough edges from difficult experiences, hard lessons, or mistakes they made years ago.

But one thing I’ve learned is this:

You cannot accurately judge a person’s quality by a label.

Over the years, some of the hardest-working, most dependable, and most respectful people I’ve met were individuals that other people had already written off.

At the same time, I’ve also met people with spotless appearances, impressive resumes, and perfect-looking lives who treated others terribly.

That reality changes the way you look at people.

At The Maintenance Shop, we try very hard to judge people by how they conduct themselves today—not solely by where they came from yesterday.

When hiring or working with people, we pay attention to things like:

• Work ethic
• Reliability
• Honesty
• Communication
• Accountability
• Respect for customers and coworkers

Those things matter.

Not race.
Not religion.
Not politics.
Not social status.
Not whether someone grew up differently than we did.

And yes, that includes people who may have made mistakes in life and are trying to rebuild themselves.

A person should not be permanently defined by the worst chapter of their life if they are genuinely trying to move forward.

That doesn’t mean ignoring accountability or pretending actions don’t have consequences. It simply means recognizing that human beings are capable of growth, change, maturity, and redemption.

Frankly, many people just want an honest opportunity to work, support themselves, and be treated with basic dignity and fairness.

That applies to customers, too.

We serve people from every background imaginable, and always will. We don’t expect every customer to believe the same things we believe, vote the same way, worship the same way, or live the same way.

What matters to us is simple:

Treat us fairly and respectfully, and we will do the same in return.

That philosophy has served this company well for nearly three decades, and we intend to continue it long into the future.

The world already has enough division.

We’d rather focus on treating people decently.

At The Maintenance Shop, we believe in making thoughtful, well-researched decisions.

So when it came time to choose a spokesperson, we didn’t just pick the first critter that wandered onto the jobsite. No sir. We evaluated options carefully.

We considered several candidates. Some were rejected immediately (looking at you, squirrels… way too much chaos). Others showed promise but lacked real-world experience.

And then there was the gecko.

Now, to be fair, geckos have done quite well for themselves in certain industries. They’re polite. They’re well-spoken. They’ve got that calm, reassuring tone.

But when we asked the important question—

“Can you handle real work?”

Things got… quiet.

Let’s break it down.

Geckos:

• Stick to walls
• Make chirping sounds
• Are approximately the size of a socket wrench

All impressive in their own way.

But when it comes to:

• Diagnosing a problem
• Handling tools
• Getting into tight spaces
• Actually fixing something

We started to notice a gap in qualifications.

We even ran a field test.

We placed a gecko next to a piece of equipment and said,
“Go ahead—take a look.”

To his credit, he stayed calm.

He also stayed completely still.

For a long time.

Enter the Raccoon

Now let’s talk about raccoons.

Raccoons are:

• Resourceful
• Hands-on (literally)
• Naturally curious
• Known for figuring things out

They don’t wait for instructions. They don’t need a script.

They see a situation and think:
“Alright… let’s figure this out.”

Which, coincidentally, is exactly how we approach our work.

Built for the Job

A raccoon’s front paws are incredibly dexterous (hence the name Dexterity “Do-It-All” Raccoon).

They can:

• Grip
• Turn
• Pull
• Adjust

In other words…

They come pre-equipped for problem-solving.

We didn’t have to teach Dexter how to get into tight spaces or work through a challenge.

He already knew.

(We did, however, have a brief conversation about staying out of tool bags without permission.)

Real-World Experience

Let’s be honest.

If something goes wrong around the house, you don’t want:

• A spokesperson
• A mascot
• Or a well-dressed lizard giving commentary

You want someone who:

• Shows up
• Figures it out
• Gets it done right

That’s what Dexter represents.

No script. No gimmicks. No wall-climbing required.

Final Verdict

After careful consideration, extensive testing, and one mildly chaotic evening involving a trash can (which we’ve agreed not to discuss), the decision was clear:

Raccoon > Gecko (for actual work)

Now, if we ever need someone to:

• Deliver a perfectly timed one-liner
• Maintain eye contact during a commercial
• Or politely explain something in a British accent

We know who to call.

But when it comes to getting things done?

We’ll take Dexter every time.

Meet Dexter

Dexterity “Do-It-All” Raccoon
Proud representative of The Maintenance Shop

Resourceful. Hands-on. Gets it done.

Thanksgiving isn’t just about turkey, stuffing, or who falls asleep first after round two of pie.
It’s a day built on reflection — a moment to pause, breathe, and look around at the people and blessings we sometimes rush past during the year.

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲.

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆.
𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀.
𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.
𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 — 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂.

Every customer who trusted us with a fence repair, a broken sprinkler, a flooded valve box, a backflow test, or a midnight plumbing surprise — you’re the reason we get to do what we do.

When you choose a local business, you choose people, not corporations.
You help keep alive the heart of what Thanksgiving was built around — 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 — 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂.

May your home be warm, your table full, and your heart even fuller.
Happy Thanksgiving
— 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲 & 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺

Today marks our last mainstream day here in Sprinkler Blowout Land — the grand finale of the regular season. If everything goes smoothly (and nothing decides to explode, freeze, leak, or hiss at us), we should be able to finish off the current list by the end of the day.

But don’t let that fool you — we’re not disappearing.
We’ll still keep the doors open for new blowout requests all the way into mid-January, because every year there are those brave souls who wake up sometime around New Year’s, look at their yard, and say:

“…Hold up. Did we ever get the sprinklers blown out?”

No shame. Happens every season.
We’ve got you covered.

If you still need a sprinkler blowout, you can sign up here:
https://treasurevalleyrepairs.com/sprinkler-blowout-form.html?v=45

And now that the mad dash of blowout season is winding down, we can finally start tackling all the other repairs and projects everyone’s been waiting on — gutter cleaning, yard cleanup, cedar fence repairs, siding fixes, junk hauling, electrical, plumbing, you name it.
If it broke, sagged, clogged, leaked, or fell over while we were blasting air across the valley… we can fix it.

Thank you for sticking with us through another wild season — the weather swings, the dogs, the cats, the compressors, the chaos, and everything in between. Today might be the last big push, but we’re still here, still working, and still fueled by caffeine, elbow grease, and whatever mystery snacks get left in the truck.

Onward to the stragglers, the procrastinators, and all the repairs waiting patiently in the shadows.

Here is the route for today. Eddie will start at the top and work down, while Challis starts at the bottom and works up.

North Trail Creek Lane
Winged Foot Place
North Mountain View Drive
N Mountain View Dr
S Swallowtail Ln
East Rivernest Drive
South Shadywood Way
East Midsummer Street
East Grand Prairie Drive
South Honeylocust Place
South Silverwood Place
Ormond Street
West Victory Road
West Jayton Drive
West Sedgewick Drive
North Amberwood Avenue
E Dripping Springs Dr
Bay Meadows Drive
East Vera Cruz Street
East Perjue Basin Drive
Vista Drive
13th Avenue South
West Owyhee Avenue
Bainbridge Street

About fifteen years ago, back when this blog had about 200 readers and half of them were probably accidental clicks, I had a guy — we’ll call him Ernest — tell me something I will never forget. And yes, when I say Ernest, I absolutely mean Ernest P. Worrell energy: “Hey Vern! You’re not gonna believe this, knowhutImean?” Now picture that voice, that face, that wide-eyed expression, because this is EXACTLY how it felt when this man told me: “Blogs are stupid. They’re for women who sit on their butts all day watching soap operas, reading Dear Abby, and wasting time.” I half-expected him to follow it with, “Right, Vern? KnowhutImean?”

According to Ernest, women sat around watching General Hospital with Dear Abby as their emotional support hotline, while men were too rugged to read anything that didn’t have grease on it. In reality, the women reading the blog were running businesses, running households, running kids everywhere, running their lives, and running circles around men like Ernest. Yep… just “sitting on their butts.”

Back then, admitting you read a blog was — for a certain type of man — as dangerous as admitting you enjoyed music that wasn’t written by Lynyrd Skynyrd. It was the exact same energy as those guys in the 80s who loudly called a Whitney Houston album a “Whitney Frisbee,” while secretly doing full-body choreography to I Wanna Dance With Somebody. And let’s be honest: lots of men liked Whitney, just like lots of men liked Barry Manilow, but they acted like saying it out loud would make their camo truck break down. Reading a blog fell into that same “forbidden pleasures” category.

But then something funny happened: men started reading the blog anyway. At first, it was sneaky—like squirrels stealing birdseed. Some guy would say he “accidentally” read the blog because his wife left it open, and the next thing you know, men were quoting the blog like Ernest quoting his own catchphrases. “Hey Vern, Steve just posted some cool tricks to protect our sprinkler system if a sneaky cold snap hits — knowhutImean?”

Fifteen years later, we get about 20,000 views every month, and a huge percentage of readers are men. Zero soap operas involved, no Dear Abby columns consulted, and zero sitting around doing nothing. Nationally, 77% of all internet users read blogs, and men are one of the fastest-growing reader groups. The old idea that “blogs are for women with nothing to do” has been buried next to dial-up modems, 8-track tapes, and Blockbuster cards. Turns out men WILL read a blog — especially when their home or sprinkler system depends on it.

KnowhutImean?

Here are the routes for today:

Ben with “Leroy” in Boise 83709

West Donnybrook Drive
West Cameron Street
South Linda Vista Avenue
W Baserri Dr
S McCormick Place
West Macumbo Court
W Billabong St
W Silverspring St
S Whitmore Way
West Tevoit Street
South Moonfire Way
South Raptor Lane
W Rustica Dr
West Rustica Drive
West Rustica Drive
West Rustica Drive
West Lillywood Drive
West Idlewood Drive
West Trestlewood Drive
West Lillywood Drive
West Tilmont Street

Challis with “Orange Julius” in Boise 83713

West Tahiti Court
North Brookmeadow Way
North Heathrow Court
N Stafford Pl
West Barclay Street
North Bennington Way
North Sparkford Way
West Chatsworth Court
North Forbes Avenue
West Kettle Creek Drive

Eddie with “Purple Rain” in Meridian

North Rutledge Avenue
North Tina Marie Avenue
West Thorn Creek Court
West Cherrytree Court
West Blue Creek Street
West Gillette Street
North Lambert Way
Hearst Drive West
South Echo Canyon Avenue
North Watersong Way
West Boulder Bar Drive
West Lost Rapids Drive
West Apple Pine Street
West Cedar Grove Street
North Glennfield Place

We’ll be crawling out of bed at the crack of yuck to get her checked in. The last time she had back surgery, it was during the Covid restrictions, and all I could do was drop her off at the door, wave, and pretend I wasn’t stressed out of my mind. This time, at least, I’m allowed to stay at the hospital — a luxury that somehow feels like winning the lottery.

The surgery is expected to take 5–7 hours, and Sheila will likely be in the hospital for 3–4 days afterward. While she’s in the operating room, I’ll be setting up my portable office and doing my best to keep working from whatever tiny table, chair, or windowsill the hospital offers. At this point in life, I can work from pretty much anywhere as long as I have caffeine, Wi-Fi, and something vaguely resembling a flat surface.

And when I say “portable office,” I’m talking about the full-blown Maintenance Shop Portable Office — my laptop, my fold-up dual monitor attachment (so yes, I can absolutely run a three-monitor command center from a hospital waiting room), my phone buzzing nonstop, hospital Wi-Fi running at classic dial-up nostalgia speeds, and a six-pack of Coke Zero to keep the whole circus operational. If the hospital gives me even a sliver of table space, it’ll look like the TMS Command Center got air-dropped straight into the orthopedic wing.

We’re also not totally sure how we’re going to pay for this surgery. Even with insurance, it feels like the hospital billing department is sponsored by NASA. So we’ll gladly take prayers, divine intervention, miracles, spare change, and maybe even a GoFundMe if it comes to that.

I’ll keep everyone updated as I’m able, but Tuesday will definitely be one of those long, heavy, slow-moving days — the kind where you’re grateful for any text, message, or tiny distraction to help pass the hours. Sheila’s a tough one, and she’ll get through this, but all good thoughts and prayers are appreciated.

Here are the routes for today:

Ben with “Leroy” in Meridian 83642

South Loftus Way
East Victory Road
East Cullen Street
South Stockenham Place
South Courvoisier Place
East Murchison Street
S Pioneer Trail Way
East Valensole Street
East Phenomenal Street
S Hope Ave
South Cadence Avenue
South Overhill Way
South Marsala Avenue
West Forecast Street
W Sheryl St
N Haven Cove Ave

Challis with “Orange Julius” in Meridian 83642

S Cooper Flats Ave
South Buffalo Creek Lane
S Sushana River Ave
West Bass River Drive
West Pack River Drive
West Epona Street
South Binky Avenue
South Memory Avenue
South Memory Place
South Bozeman Trail Avenue
South Slope Top Avenue
South Triple Crown Avenue
South Arcaro Avenue
W Contender Drive
West Tall Prairie Drive
West Karluk River Drive

Eddie with “Purple Rain” in Meridian 83642

South Pelican Ave
West Christopher Street
West Davenport Street
North Linder Road
West Idaho Avenue
West Washington Street
West Camellia Avenue
Northwest 1st Street
East Fairview Avenue
North Penrith Place
North Stonehenge Way
East Knobcone Drive
North Webb Way
East Fairview Avenue
East Congressional Drive
East English Drive
East Driftwood Drive

I actually had something extremely important I was going to talk about today — a genuinely useful, insightful topic that would have made me look organized and professional. Unfortunately, the moment this head cold kicked in, it must have dropped that thought off at the lost-and-found and never came back for it. So until that memory decides to respawn, here’s what I can remember:

We’re officially entering the final stretch of sprinkler blowout season. Looks like we’ve got about 4–6 days left for everyone who signed up on time, plus the usual handful of “Oops… I forgot to blow out my system” messages that always roll in around this point. No judgment — know we’re nearing the point where the calendar starts giving us side-eye. We’ll stay open into January for the folks who forget — because nothing says “holiday spirit” like a last-minute panic text and a frozen manifold.

The crews are still hammering away out there while I sit here sounding like a congested goose and trying to keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Tomorrow is going to be a long day — Sheila has her next back surgery first thing in the morning — so I’m trying to tie up what I can today before we head into that.

So if this post reads like it was written by someone who sneezed out half their brain cells… well, that’s pretty accurate. But hey, it’s Monday, we’re still moving forward, and we’re closing in on the end of another wild season in Sprinkler Blowout Land.

Thanks for sticking with us — and if anyone happens to find the critical thing I meant to say, please return it to me immediately. I’m sure it was great.

Here are the routes for today:

Ben with “Leroy” in Meridian 83646

E Meadowcreek Drive
East Trail Blazer Drive
E Sidewinder Drive
North Stampede Way
North Dixie Place
East Willowbrook Drive
West Ashton Drive
North Anfield Avenue
West Apple Pine Street
North Bryce Canyon Place
Storey Avenue
West Sugar Creek Drive
West Quaker Ridge Drive
N Golfview Way

Challis with “Orange Julius” in Meridian 83646

W Everest St
North Silver Elm Way
West Lost Rapids Drive
West Cedar Grove Street
North Station Place
N Annata Avenue
W Tenuta St
Root Creek Street West
West Cedar Grove Street
North Cougar Flat Place
W Deercrest Dr Meridian, ID
West Deer Crest Drive
West Tida Street
West Ramsbrook Street
North Bryce Canyon Avenue
East Havasu Falls Court

Eddie with “Purple Rain” in Meridian 83646

N Oakstone Ave
W Thornapple Dr
W Durango Dr
North Maplestone Avenue
West Pinestone Street
W Niemann St
West Stanwich Drive
West White Birch Drive
West Crowley Drive
N Tessa Ave
W Riva Capri Street
West Milano Drive
West Plateau Creek Drive
North Crystal Cove Avenue