"Leave modesty at the doorstep" is a basic rule of selling. The idea is that the confident, if not the outright boastful, will get the sale in a competitive situation. "Topquality," "fine craftsmanship," or even "plumb, strum, straight, and true" (as one Texas framer calls his work) are all stock phrases in the sales lingo of builders and remodelers. Words sell, and the marketing-savvy contractor knows how to put a verbal shine on his work. However, sales talk can get you into trouble if you promise too much. The more specific the sales pitch regarding the quality of your work, the more likely a court will see it as a contractual obligation. Offer your work as "high-quality" or "first-rate," and you'll
