DeerMadness
Long Time Member
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Flaky and can't finish a job, dont show up, tell you they have done something they haven't or say they will and don't?
Siding contractors seem the worst.
Siding contractors seem the worst.
You think its expensive hiring a good contractor ?
Try hiring a bad one......
This fix wouldn't be expensive.You think its expensive hiring a good contractor ?
Try hiring a bad one......
Yes a handshake and out the door and you know I will do a great job. Now give me 50% down and I'll disappear.What I think is that people who build things tend to be rather self sufficient and independent, frequently have poor people skills, and often end up working for themselves because they aren’t very good at working for others.
Kind of like the person behind the counter in your favorite gun shop.
That doesn’t make my fellow contractors bad. I do always get a kick out of a contractor who doesn’t think you need a contract.
There's no magic formula to solve this equation. Money is the motivator. Pay for the material when it hits the ground. Pay them for the labor when it's finished to your satisfaction. From a 30yr contractor.
working for themselves because they aren’t very good at working for others.
Similar experience to RELH we hired a guy to do a complete kitchen remodel after hearing very good recommendations. He was booked four months out. When he go to us, he worked non-stop. Showed up when he said he would and did excellent work at a fair price. We have sent several potential customers his way. I think he is now booked more than 6 months out. It pays to wait for a good contractor. Don't get in a hurry.
There are a few of those, and I know some. Something about seeing your name on the side of the truck appeals to a certain type of person.What about the ones who are really smart, ambitious, and don't have the time or patience to deal with a whiney boss/employer and their policies...?
Thanks, I had one big company tell me a price that was astronomical. Contractor # 2 made excuses and promises for 6 months. Contractor #3 bid the price quite higher than # 2 but prices had risen only 15%. I decided I wanted my home to get done and feel proud so I agreed. He showed up promptly and did it nice except for a couple trim spots that don't fit as nicely as the rest. He cries now that he has been sick from the 1st vaccine etc and said I was harassing him. I guess I have some choices to live with it or push hard.
What I think is that people who build things tend to be rather self sufficient and independent, frequently have poor people skills, and often end up working for themselves because they aren’t very good at working for others.
Kind of like the person behind the counter in your favorite gun shop.
That doesn’t make my fellow contractors bad. I do always get a kick out of a contractor who doesn’t think you need a contract.
Yes darn it.Have you paid him in full DM?
There is a flow. I'm always amazed at the "I just passed 4 way, I'm ready for sheetrock" calls. You could have been budded out and scheduled after rough framing, but you wait, then need it "next week" because carpet is coming end of the month.
Then they search until they find the guy that can be there tomorrow. During a building boom, guys that ain't booked out, it's for a reason.
My advice, call the SUPPLY YARD. Not Home Depot or Lowes. The supply yard knows the guys. The know who does the type of project your doing. AND MOST IMPORTANT, they know who PAYS THEIR BILL. Guys not paying supply yard, bring that lien to you.
Having said that, I never hire anyone that doesn't have their name as part of their buisness. In 09' I watched a bunch of crooks and thieves change names to some generic one, as they screwed supply yards, screwed their employees, and screwed their customers.
Good to hear that DW. I had a business years ago and always made sure I showed up on time and I was quick if anyone needed something looked at or had questions. I used a little more material on their property so it would definitely look good plus I never killed any plants, bushes or shrubs or trees. Happy customers spread the news.I fit part of that description, I'm self sufficient and independent. A contractor I sub from told me the other day almost every homeowner I work with makes a point to say good things about me to him. That "Minnesota nice" thing has stuck with me I guess, so I think my people skills are solid. I went on my own nearly 30yrs ago because the ceiling was too low working for somebody else, and I knew I could do it better than they were. I shed all my employees during the Obama crash due to lack of work at the time. I've been happier workin alone the past 13yrs not having to deal with that whole exercise in futility, the lack of dependability, the steady stream of broken or missing tools, the lack of work ethic. Maybe that makes me not good at working with others?? I know my ability to deal with stupid has rapidly diminished with age. The last time I signed a contract was 20yrs ago. The contractor proceeded to bounce a $30k check to me, twice! I generally drop my tools in a basement and ask for a check for the materials. I figure having my tools in their house gives them some piece of mind when they hand me a check. Then by days end the material is in their house as well, and I'll know quickly if their check is good, giving me piece of mind. It's sad we have to think that way on both sides of the deal, but it is what it is. I get the balance when I'm finished and generally factor in 1 comeback, be it something they changed, something I missed, something another sub did or changed, or a new inspector with a quirk. There aren't a lot of comebacks anymore, after 30yrs I can anticipate most of those things and save myself the trouble. I'm about as busy as I've ever been, and grateful for it.
Thanks for sharing your story, enjoyed the read and be safe out there.I got into contracting quite by accident. I was working for the Chart House Restaurants in management for 7 years, and was starting to get burned out working ungodly hours. I transferred to one of their restaurants in Redondo Beach, California. It wasn't long before a storm that generated some very high surf, coupled with a very high tide. It took out the lower section of the restaurant. We we still able to operate, but the lower section had to be rebuilt. I don't know how many of you guys have been to a Chart House Restaurant before, but they were built using a mixer of exotic woods and Redwood. The contractor they hired was from San Diego, and he and his crew did a good job. Eventually, I decided to go work for him. Soon, we were working on Chart Houses in Dana Point, La Jolla, Westwood, Malibu, Long Beach, and Marina Del Rey. It was a lot of fun, and learned a lot. After four years, I decided to go on my own, and got my California Contractor's License. For 37 years I have done mostly residential work, ranging from small bathrooms to a 10,000 square foot house. I can honestly say that the number of bad clients I have had, I can count them all on one hand, and only one of those did I have to go after.
I have been pretty fortunate to work in very wealthy areas like Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Bel-Air, Pacific Palisades, Hancock Park,
Santa Monica and so on. What is so nice about working in such areas is one, the clients are very well off, and two, they have high end taste and the designs can be very challenging. I have never advertised, nor have I knocked on architects doors. I have some of the same clients for over 30 years now. I have a lot of Industry clients, Doctors and Lawyers, so the money is never a problem.
My biggest problem used to be bidding against unlicensed contractors or licensed contractors who would not carry any insurance.
The hard part today is the physical part. I always used to participate in the demolition, forming the foundation, framing, finish work like hanging doors, trim work, etc. Two back surgeries, one neck surgery, four hand surgeries later, and a third back surgery this winter. It's getting harder for a 65 year old!
I have always been a stickler for showing up on time and treating the clients like I would like to be treated. It has served me well because all my work is word of mouth.
I hope work has been steady for everyone during the pandemic.
I am about to hit a busy period unlike any I've had in the last 12-15 years in sheer volume.
If your water is hot why do you need a heater?Been trying to get ours to install a Hot Water Heater for 3 weeks now.
He likes to disappear for long periods of time.
Looks like I'm gonna do it myself.
If you keep having contractor problems most likely the problem is you. Kinda like the saying “if you think everyone around you is an arsehole than you’re the arsehole”.EVILNR at least I'm not the only one. I had a contractor take months to start and finish countertops about 5 years ago. I fought Lowes until they dropped 1k off the price and 1k off the price of a Barn Shed I was buying.
But I wasn't an arsehole. I do know those people though. I treat contractors with respect unless they don't.If you keep having contractor problems most likely the problem is you. Kinda like the saying “if you think everyone around you is an arsehole than you’re the arsehole”.
Full disclosure I’m a general contractor. ?