I worked as a plumber for over 10 years. The company I was with got acquired by a larger one, and after a few years, they shut down the entire plumbing department, laying off around 10 workers, including me. I was faced with the choice of either finding a new job in a small(ish) town, competing with 10 other plumbers for the same position, or finally doing what I’d been thinking about for years: starting my own business.
I didn’t want to focus solely on plumbing, so now I’m essentially what you’d call a handyman. I take on a variety of home improvement projects according to my skills, and I absolutely love it. Not only is there no one telling me what to do, but the variety of jobs I get to do is immense. No two days are ever the same.
On top of that, I actually receive gratitude for the work I do. Practically all of my customers so far have been visibly satisfied with the quality of work and service they’ve received, which makes my job extremely fulfilling. I actually feel like a useful member of society now. To be honest, I’m quite surprised by the amount of positive feedback I’ve gotten. I’ve always known that I have extremely high standards for the quality of my work, but I never considered myself a particularly likable person. I might need to reconsider that as the evidence to the contrary keeps piling up.
Of course, there are downsides. I took a significant pay cut, and the long-term success of my business remains to be seen. But so far, things look promising. I’m not looking to get rich, grow my company, or hire employees, but if I can maintain my current standard of living and never have to go back to working for someone else, I can safely say this has been one of the best decisions of my life.
If you haven't already, get it in writing that the customer was informed about the possibility, or at least that you did it "per customer decision" or something like that.
I hope he takes your advice, but he might have to learn the hard way to CYA. He might live in an area where the people are so desperate for good work that they don't act like that too.
Yes it can be hard to learn that nice people can be talked by friends into suing over the consequences of their own choices. I fear confrontation so I'd just quietly add a few words to the final invoice, in the description of the work, so they will have signed off on it.
Although even emails or texts would cover it as well.
It wouldn't really matter. If I knowingly install something "wrong" it's on me even if it's how the customer wanted it. I wouldn't agree to something like this if I was worried about it causing issues in the future. After 2 years it's no longer on my responsibility.
For my fellow Americans confused by this, OP mentioned that he lives "on the opposite side of the planet" from Texas, in a country that apparently actually has real consumer protection laws.
This is also true in the US, at least where I live.