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Why Are Contractors Such Flakes?

I know I’m not the only one this happens to, and it’s occurred over many years in different cities: I’d say over half the contractors I contact to come give estimates on a project, or follow up on that estimate, flake out and never get back to me. I’m pretty upfront that I am serious about having the work done, so why would they leave money on the table like that?

Does it just come with the territory? Or are they really that lazy? Can’t tell you how much time I’ve wasted on this.

by Anonymousreply 80July 19, 2019 10:54 AM

It's the kneepads you wear when meeting them, and the incessant chatter about oral agreements.

by Anonymousreply 1June 27, 2019 1:15 PM

I’m having this problem, OP. They don’t seem to need the work. I’ve been trying to get a metal roof put on a shed for a year now. They don’t want small jobs, and it’s hard to find a general handy man. .

by Anonymousreply 2June 27, 2019 1:36 PM

My ex housemate was a Contractor and if he got a hit on one of the sex sites he'd come home from a job and *ding-dong* he'd get a visitor, followed by moaning and groaning from his bedroom (and that was only if he 'hosted'; can't imagine the times he left to visit hook-ups at their place).

My parents would hire them and they would just leave mid-job and never come back, never return calls. Maybe get back in touch in month or so. Very passive-aggressive, shady types.

by Anonymousreply 3June 27, 2019 1:38 PM

One of the reasons I like Angie’s List.

Give them bad reviews and it actually means something.

by Anonymousreply 4June 27, 2019 1:41 PM

Most contractors skills end with their area of expertise. A good plumber, roofer or HVAC person often doesn't have the best organizational, customer service or planning talent. That's why large contracting companies with operators, schedulers and customer service departments are out there. And they are much more expensive than most individual contractors. But they know the limitations of the industry and are successful gouging consumers because they know that most of their competition has no follow through.

If you have one of those neighborhood chat sites where you live, go on and ask for recommendations for whatever it is you need. As those sites are maturing, that's what they're really about. I used to use Angie's List to do research, but it's become very unreliable. The last request i made through them turned up a bunch of losers.

by Anonymousreply 5June 27, 2019 1:47 PM

Employ Mexicans. They get the work done. Gringos are unreliable. I'm serious.

by Anonymousreply 6June 27, 2019 1:52 PM

Angie’s list is terrible. Tried to hire several people through them and they were all no call, no show. Then, Angie’s List didn’t publish my negative reviews.

by Anonymousreply 7June 27, 2019 2:02 PM

I have had such problems finding people to even give me estimates! Thankfully I finally got a great recommendation and he has been amazing— so communicative and reliable.

The year before the work was done, I went through person after person who would either not even return my calls or would come, look at the job, and then never send an estimate

My renovation ultimate cost $70K. I guess they have so much work, they don’t need the money. Looking forward to the next recession

by Anonymousreply 8June 27, 2019 2:34 PM

Yeh I’ve been lucky with an electrician I found — he does side jobs and at half the rate if I were to use the company he works for. He’s been a godsend as we had a lot of electrical work in the (old) house we bought.

This current project I’m trying to get done — filling in a swimming pool and turning that area into a hardscaped patio with outdoor kitchen, is at least a $30,000 job, and I’m eager to get it done, yet the last two contractors who came out to bid I never heard from again, even after I followed up with them myself.

If I had the know-how I’d just do it myself. It’s fucking maddening.

by Anonymousreply 9June 27, 2019 2:39 PM

my mother is having the same problem. She wants a she shed, but every time she wants to hire someone they don't give her a call back like the job is beneath them

by Anonymousreply 10June 27, 2019 2:41 PM

I wish I wasn’t an eldergay (49); I could switch careers and become a contractor and make a killing just by being responsive

by Anonymousreply 11June 27, 2019 2:43 PM

Like most industries workers are going to go where the money is. R10, you might encourage your mom to buy the she shed through Home Depot and pay for them to install. Path of least resistance.

My dad was a contractor. Back then the laborers were guys that couldn't hold down more traditional jobs. Lots of addiction issues. I started working for my dad when I was 16. I picked up a lot of those guys when they were too drunk to drive and took them home. The fact that my dad had a 16 year old kid do that, in hindsight, tells you a lot about the industry, right?

by Anonymousreply 12June 27, 2019 2:45 PM

I wanted a glass window put in my indoor porch and the glass company that seemed the best told me that they would be there within a week's time to look at the window and measure it, then quote me a price. That was the beginning of last week and I haven't seen hide nor hair of them. Yesterday I had another glass company put the new window in, it looks great, and finally it's done!

by Anonymousreply 13June 27, 2019 2:59 PM

Speaking as a contractor myself, some of us aren’t “flakes.” We just like the freedom of picking and choosing the clients we work with. There’s a reason we don’t have a traditional 9-5 job. Sometimes the cash isn’t worth putting up with an asshole homeowner for several days or weeks. Having said that, I always send a text saying I don’t think this job is a good fit for either of us. Thank you for your consideration. Having 20 years in the biz, I can tell in the first ten minutes whether the client is gonna be a pain the ass or not.

by Anonymousreply 14June 27, 2019 3:24 PM

I went through 5 recommended roofers before I got one and it was 6 months before they actually did the work. I had a tarp on my roof. There is just more supply than demand.

by Anonymousreply 15June 27, 2019 3:25 PM

I agree with R5. I have a really good GC who subcontracts with various tradesmen (plumber, roofer, electrician, etc.) When there's a project which requires a number of various trades, it is hard to coordinate since so many of these tradespeople, besides working just for this GC, take on their own one-off projects. Due to the nature of the home repair / remodeling business, these GC's cannot keep everybody they might need on payroll and instead hire-as-needed. It makes scheduling really difficult. That's why some projects drag on because they are waiting for one guy to come back and finish, but he's off doing something else.

by Anonymousreply 16June 27, 2019 3:34 PM

All contractors work multiple jobs at the same time. That's why most people building a house get mad when they go to the site and there's no one there working that day. They're off working on one of the other jobs. If the job you have isn't big money few contractors are going to go out of their ways for you unless they don't have much work going on at the time. They figure for every job they lose there's 5 waiting in line.

by Anonymousreply 17June 27, 2019 3:39 PM

Call the Property Brothers. They get major renovations completed in under two months!

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 18June 27, 2019 3:44 PM

R18 - I’ll call the Property Brothers as long as they tag team fuck my hole!!

by Anonymousreply 19June 27, 2019 3:48 PM

R14 I can certainly appreciate the flexibility of picking which jobs to accept, but I’m the last person who would be considered difficult to work with; quite the contrary. I’m basically telling these guys I have an open budget and they’re the experts, tell me what needs done. I never have unrealistic expectations. I just wish if they didn’t want the job they’d tell me — like you say you do — instead of ghosting me and wasting my time

by Anonymousreply 20June 27, 2019 3:50 PM

I used a guy for years. He had tons of work. He was so good looking and civilised I think no one could believe their luck in finding him.

But after many years his work tailed off. Began to over-charge, was less polite. Always barking into his phone when he was here. It was a pain.

[quote] I just wish if they didn’t want the job they’d tell me — like you say you do — instead of ghosting me and wasting my time

Tell them that before they come round.

by Anonymousreply 21June 27, 2019 3:53 PM

[quote] I’m basically telling these guys I have an open budget and they’re the experts, tell me what needs done.

Maybe don't put yourself into their hands like that.

The more accurate you can be about exactly what you want and how much you expect to pay, the safer they will feel. They don't want to carry you.

by Anonymousreply 22June 27, 2019 3:56 PM

R20 - from your post I can deduce you’re my DREAM client! If you’re in Southern California I’d be happy to provide my services!

by Anonymousreply 23June 27, 2019 3:56 PM

I can tell the property brothers are in Nola. I need someone like them in DC.

by Anonymousreply 24June 27, 2019 4:01 PM

Angie's List was acquired by Home Advisor, which is why its processes have changed and why it's no longer reliable. Nobody liked Home Advisor, neither the contractors nor the homeowners. Angie's List was a pretty good alternative but with it now under the same management, it's just not the same.

by Anonymousreply 25June 27, 2019 4:38 PM

Here in the Seattle area, the biggest issue is just that there are so many people looking, the contractors can afford to be picky. I was replacing some windows, a job I estimated at about $1700, and couldn't even get anyone out to give me an estimate. They just weren't interested in any job under $10k.

Fortunately, the guy who did my wood floors begged his father, a window contractor, to take my job, which he subsequently did, but with pretty poor grace, making it clear that he was doing me a favor. The work was good even if the attitude wasn't, so I came out ahead.

by Anonymousreply 26June 27, 2019 4:42 PM

Ah, R25! That’s it. I used Angie’s List recently and you’re right. The responses I got were from Trip Advisor. And the process sucked. After 4 calls from contractors who weren’t in any way a fit, I got a call from Angie’s list cheerily asking how everything was going. I told them not well.

by Anonymousreply 27June 27, 2019 4:50 PM

Going into the trades is a good idea if you’re not the sort that wants to work in an office. We need talent in this area.

by Anonymousreply 28June 27, 2019 4:57 PM

I've found quite good people writing down the phone numbers on the side of vans I see parked in my neighborhood.

I saw one last week. "The Very Good Painter".

[quote]Going into the trades is a good idea if you’re not the sort that wants to work in an office. We need talent in this area.

Yes, maybe learning to be a house painter would be good. You even have men doing it well into old age...with an assistant.

by Anonymousreply 29June 27, 2019 5:29 PM

My cousin is a general contractor and he says there's so much money out there and so much demand for renos that he won't take any job under $40k. He said if someone contacts him with a small job he won't bother to contact them because even a phone call is a waste of his time.

He's booking contracts for big jobs into 2020.

I remember when he used to go around knocking on doors looking for work. I remember when he pleaded with me to let him put in a screen for $300 because he needed the work so badly.

We need another recession to teach these pricks a lesson that they forgot after the last recession.

by Anonymousreply 30June 27, 2019 5:38 PM

^^^Screen door for $300

by Anonymousreply 31June 27, 2019 5:39 PM

R30 what is his quality of life like? Nice house, investments, etc? Or pissing the money away as soon as he gets it?

by Anonymousreply 32June 27, 2019 5:54 PM

[quote]Call the Property Brothers. They get major renovations completed in under two months!

Two months?! They get it done in an hour. I’ve seen the show.

by Anonymousreply 33June 27, 2019 5:55 PM

R32 he owns a boat, four vehicles not including his work truck, two motorcycles, has a condo in Florida, matching Rolex watches for him and his wife. They bought a 5000 sq.ft. house on 1.5 acres of land last year.

Basically, working to spend.

by Anonymousreply 34June 27, 2019 5:58 PM

Ugh boats and motorcycles....such a white trash expenditure. These people sound like what’s wrong with America today.

by Anonymousreply 35June 27, 2019 6:16 PM

There was a guy here in town who didn't know which end of the hammer you hit the nail with, but he was clean cut, polite, and when he set an appointment for 11AM he was knocking on the door at 10:55. He would listen closely to the potential customers, write copious notes on his clipboard, and then give them an estimate that was inflated by at least 50%, often more. The customers (mostly old people) loved him.

As soon as he got the job he would go down to the local alcoholic bar and recruit whoever he could find. If he was pouring a driveway and they knew anything about concrete that was a plus, but if they didn't it really didn't matter. His work was absolute crap, but again, he held the customer's hand and made them feel good about it, so they very seldom complained. He made a fortune at it, and finally moved on to a larger city with more opportunities.

by Anonymousreply 36June 27, 2019 6:31 PM

As someone said upthread, we need a 2009 style recession. These guys will not only be begging you for work, they'll throw in a free blow job just for calling them.

Last summer, I contracted with a tree trimmer to pare back a tree in my back yard. The morning I was told the work was going to be done, I was on my way to work noticed the trimmer was in another part of my development. I stopped and asked him if my job was scheduled today. He said yes and I told him that even though the back gate was shut, it was not locked and he could go into the yard and trim the tree. When I got home, the tree was done, so I called they office. Woman answering phone said she didn't know what happened. Tree was finally trimmed about 3 weeks later when guy showed up unannounced.

by Anonymousreply 37June 27, 2019 7:00 PM

^^That should be "tree was NOT done."

by Anonymousreply 38June 27, 2019 7:01 PM

I dated a contractor for a few years. Good looking, boring in the sack. He hated all of his customers.

by Anonymousreply 39June 27, 2019 7:11 PM

Some contractors go to the 7-11 and hire undocumented workers. So who knows if they’re even getting paid minimum wage.

by Anonymousreply 40June 27, 2019 7:18 PM

My neighbor was a contractor and used to get his roofing crew from Home Depot. They were eager to work for pennies on the dollar cash money and he didn’t have to provide workers comp insurance. He would even throw in a bag of 99 cent hamburgers at lunch if they did a good job. He says they’re better than most white guys, who are either crack heads or drunks.

by Anonymousreply 41June 27, 2019 7:24 PM

If you want cheap and shoddy work, hire cheap and shoddy contractors.

If you want good work, pay through the nose, hire big, serious companies, don't give them any shit.

Do you want to vent your spleen and save a small amount of money or do you want the work done and done right the first time?

by Anonymousreply 42June 27, 2019 7:27 PM

The contractor who built my house several years ago was completely amazing. He graduated with an MBA from Wharton at U Penn. I didn't believe him at first and actually checked him out, only to discover that he was telling the truth.

He did a spectacular job.

Expensive as shit but totally worth it. Really nice guy too. Handsome as hell and an Obama Democrat.

by Anonymousreply 43June 27, 2019 7:34 PM

I wanted to put a bunch of skylights so I called the roofing company that many people in my town recommended. A Rep came over. Then he sent his engineer guy to make sure everything was fine to get started. He said there were no problems.

Then radio silence. I called the office twice--each time the secretary promising I was next on the callback list. Nothing.

So 6 months later, I found a contractor who did a fantastic job. I spent $20K for a ton of skylights and then another $40k for other things I felt would make the place look better. Now, I want to send the invoice to the original company that ignored me and let them know they lost this job just but not responding

by Anonymousreply 44June 27, 2019 7:42 PM

OP is correct in that a lot of these guys are flakes. They don't work any other jobs and just basically work when they feel like it. They usually have a wife at home who has a real job with a paycheck every week so if on Tuesday they don't feel like working, they don't. If on Wednesday they remember Jo Blow wanted a gate on their fence and the contractor needs money, they'll show up unannounced and tell you they're starting work and need 25% up front. Then you don't see him again for three weeks until he's broke again.

by Anonymousreply 45June 27, 2019 8:23 PM

[quote]Do you want to vent your spleen and save a small amount of money or do you want the work done and done right the first time?

I want the work done, period. Fucking show up and earn your money and you won't get any shit.

by Anonymousreply 46June 27, 2019 8:26 PM

Most of them are really just subcontractors with way too many jobs for them to supervise adequately. Most projects will require specialized and basic skills. For the specialized work (say, plumbing in a bathroom remodeling), they hire (or subcontract) a specialist. For the basic work, they send someone out early in the morning to a place where illegal immigrants hang out (like Home Depot) and hire the number of workers they need for that day. So not only is the contractor rarely there (or available to take your calls), the people on your work crew are different every day.

by Anonymousreply 47June 27, 2019 8:36 PM

"He graduated with an MBA from Wharton at U Penn."

So did DJT, so that's hardly a ringing endorsement of Wharton.

by Anonymousreply 48June 27, 2019 8:39 PM

^^Donald’s alma mater!

by Anonymousreply 49June 27, 2019 8:52 PM

Yeah, Wharton's name is basically Mud U. now because of the orange traitor. He's dumber than dirt, the whole world knows it and he never stops talking about his school so...

by Anonymousreply 50June 27, 2019 10:09 PM

r37 is right. Contractors have more work than they know what to do with now that we are in boom times. Ten years ago you could get shit done so cheap. Everyone who comes out to give me quote says they won't even do a job unless it meets their minimum fee, which is usually way too much for the job they're doing. At that point they get radio silence, FROM ME. But I can't say I blame them, they have to save up for next time the economy tanks.

by Anonymousreply 51June 27, 2019 11:51 PM

Yes, OP, to answer your question, they ARE all flakes. Every last one of them. Even the ones who appear to be professional (UofP grads not withstanding----LOL, R43, you got soaked). We buy, rehab and sell approx 20 houses per year in the NE and we have hired lots of GC's. We vet them carefully and they agree to a detailed SOW before the work begins. Most are great....for a while. But just when you think you have a good partnership with someone and can guarantee them steady work (in vacant houses no less---no kids, dogs or annoying homeowners underfoot), they flake out.

It's always about the third house when things go south. First house---we are in the honeymoon phase. Good work, finished in a reasonable amount of time, etc. Second house there are some issues, but we work through them, but the project always takes far longer to complete than promised. By the third house, they go missing for days, make a million excuses (really, dude? How many sick grandmothers do you have?). And ultimately they don't even finish the project and we have to GC all the finish work ourselves. It's happened more times than I can count.

We are good customers--pay on time (1/3...1/3...1/3), reasonable about change orders, etc. It's not us (or you, OP).....it's them. They really do suck.

Also, to the poster upthread who said there are a lot of mental health issues and addictions among this group of people is spot on. They would be doing something different if they were reliable, trustworthy and professional.

by Anonymousreply 52June 28, 2019 12:55 AM

I don't think I have ever had a good contractor experience. But I really do get enraged when they either don't call you back or show up when they say they will. It's not that fucking hard. That's why I never get mad when some refuse a job saying it is too small or they quote outrageous prices. At least they fucking showed up.

by Anonymousreply 53June 28, 2019 6:00 PM

My favorite contractor story was when my housemate had her upstairs bathroom redone. My work schedule varied throughout the week, so sometimes I left for work at noon and came home at seven, other days I left at eight and came home at three. The contractors would show up at the house a little before noon and sit down for lunch. And, on days I came home at three, they were already gone. So they'd put in, at most, three hours of work per day. I guess they might have been working on another project in the morning, but, considering how many other stories I've heard about slacker contractors, it wouldn't surprise me if that was their only job for the day. I don't really get it. If I were that lazy, I'd want to work full days getting that project done quickly and then use the time I saved to chill out at home.

by Anonymousreply 54June 28, 2019 6:57 PM

I did have a great-ish contractor experience a couple of years ago. The boss was an odd one: he would come by to check on the carpenters by driving up then sitting in his truck in the driveway petting his poodle. And a bit of a scammer: "You never know what you'll find behind the walls" (code for "This'll cost extra") but, as I suspected, they didn't find many problems behind the walls at all and stayed close to the $40K price for cedar siding along with some repairs and replacing most of the trim around the windows and doors.

But the carpenters: two hunky hunks in their 20's. The musclebound blond was obviously - based on appearances - on steroids and when he was at our place, he was in the manic phase: going a mile a minute. His partner with the table saw was dark and lean, Hispanic, I think, and really laid back with a nice, tight, and much more natural body. Both, presumably, were straight as a die. Since it was 90 out every day, they were always shirtless. When quitting time came at 5 or so, they asked if they could hose off on the patio and my husband, naturally, said "Of course" and promptly ran back upstairs to peek through the blinds in the living room window, thinking they'd just spray each other with the hose to cool off before driving home. What he didn't expect was that they'd both strip naked to do it, leaving their shorts to dry on the patio furniture as they lathered up to get clean before spraying the hose on each other. The shower show (like at a strip club: no sex; unlike at a strip club, no nothin' - nothing even suggestive - just a naked shower outdoors in broad daylight in a crowded neighborhood) lasted about 10 minutes and my man was both enchanted and a bit worried about what the neighbors might say if they got a glimpse. After the first night he called and told me to come home early because I had to see it to believe it. So I did, every day I could for the next two weeks.

The hub was still concerned their end-of-day ritual might be an issue for some of the local fraus, especially those with kids. Not at all, it seems, after one of 'em asked how long they'd be working at our place while she was outside hanging clothes on the line. That afternoon and every afternoon after that until the job was done every deck and window with a view of the patio had one or more of the neighborhood fraus attempting to discreetly observe the cool-down, clean-up period. My guy thought they were calling their friends or selling tickets because he saw frau faces he didn't know. The boys had to know they were the objects of a lot of attention but never said a word, just smiled as the cleaned up.

Great job on the repairs and the re-siding, btw, as it should have been given the price. With the shower show thrown in as an added bonus.

by Anonymousreply 55June 28, 2019 7:05 PM

I worked in the industry for ten years and married a contractor. As one architect put it to me when we were “auditioning” for his company, “contractors are modern day cowboys. They are in this industry because they have problems with authority and therefore can’t work for someone else.” I’ll never forget that, it was quite astute.

by Anonymousreply 56June 28, 2019 7:31 PM

People become contractors because they're too lazy to work a scheduled job. The idea of showing up at the same time, working and leaving when the work is done is foreign to them. They love being contracts because they work when they feel like it and don't show up when they don't feel like working. Working for these guys is a fucking pain in the ass because you can go for days without work until they get their shit together and call you.

by Anonymousreply 57June 28, 2019 8:18 PM

They also have the attention span of five year olds. They get bored with a job easily and have to move onto something else to keep themselves interested, so they're always going back and forth between different projects.

by Anonymousreply 58June 28, 2019 8:20 PM

R58, I also have a theory that many of them, in addition to being predisposed toward addictions, are also suffering from untreated learning disabilities. I shit you not.

by Anonymousreply 59June 28, 2019 9:18 PM

R55, I wonder if Poodle Boss encouraged the nude hosedowns.

by Anonymousreply 60June 28, 2019 9:45 PM

Wow R55. Surprised you didn't keep the work going on other projects as long as possible. In a big, old house you could keep them there for years.

by Anonymousreply 61June 28, 2019 9:51 PM

My realtor warned me that it would be hard to get contractors to phone me back - and she was right!

I’m thankful that I’ve had the same handyman and the same lesbian woodworker/painter for years. They are saving me as I get my old house ready to go on the market.

My realtor lays much of the blame for the current situation on the disappearance of training for the trades in high school.

by Anonymousreply 62June 28, 2019 9:56 PM

R58 and R59 I think you're right.

R60: Of course. We wondered that too, and if it happened on all the jobs or maybe what went on after work?

R61: We tried. They were booked into the next year and then they (see R58 and R59) disappeared.

No special connection - we got them out of the phone book and their's was the best bid of four. Poodle Boss did the deal (and he wasn't Poodle Boss then) and we didn't meet the boys until the work started.

by Anonymousreply 63June 28, 2019 11:56 PM

I've employed the same contractors for years and they are always dependable.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 64June 29, 2019 12:01 AM

There is a lot of cocaine in the business. The gringos get hooked up by the Mexicans and Central Americans that work for them. The Latinos always have a good coke connection.

Cokeheads love the type of job where there's no office boss to report to and no set work hours.

How else could someone do that type of work year in year out?

by Anonymousreply 65June 29, 2019 12:19 AM

[R65] that explains the loud obstreperous personalities of the contractors at six AM, on the days they choose to appear.

by Anonymousreply 66June 29, 2019 12:34 AM

I'm a roofer in Miami. I show up to jobs even when I'm sick. I'm a little cranky but I'm reliable, honest and get the job done.

And I may be a little uncouth but I know a few things about art. One time I did a new roof for four old ladies and they paid me with a DeKimmel.

by Anonymousreply 67June 29, 2019 1:52 AM

italic]“I got up in the middle of the night and there was a puddle in my bed. You don’t know how relieved I was to find out the roof was leaking.”

-Sophia[/italic]

Sydney LeBasse Roofing, LLC - Miami

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 68June 29, 2019 2:20 AM

[quote]One time I did a new roof for four old ladies and they paid me with a DeKimmel.

You got screwed. DeKimmel is *whispers* gay.

by Anonymousreply 69June 29, 2019 2:19 PM

I’ve worked with lots of contractors over the years, from huge companies to mom and pop operations. The smaller contractors aren’t necessarily lazy, just not organized. They don’t always have a lady named Doreen in the office to make sure they get back to you. These aren’t type A corporate folks circling back around with a pencil in their ear.

I’ve noticed that white contractors tend to be old tired guys who probably have low testosterone, cranky attitudes and every job is the most difficult they’ve encountered. While the Hispanic ones are highly motivated, but barely know what email is so getting in touch with them is challenging. They give you confusing estimates with three lines with things like “drywall put up to ceiling”. All require 5 monsters and a bag of Cheetos to get through the day...it’s hard work.

by Anonymousreply 70June 29, 2019 2:46 PM

^So true about the Hispanic ones in my area too. They work hard, do good work and generally quote lower prices, but communication is tough. And they tend to be hot heads who explode if you don't come to the job site RIGHT NOW and pay them cash. "No, we don't work that way. You will get a check and it will come from our office via our bookkeeper---BTW, where is that W-9 you promised me. I can't pay you until you get it for me.?" LOL. They go nuclear.

They also don't like giving breakdowns in their estimates, preferring to just give you a total price (guestimate), which always causes a problem later. You end up having heated battles over what was discussed as included in the total they quoted. They keep things vague on purpose so they can later say...."I never told you that price included the paint". Uh....yes you did--here it is in my notes from the day we met to go over details of the project.

Ugh, I should start recording these conversations.

by Anonymousreply 71June 29, 2019 6:15 PM

[quote] Both, presumably, were straight as a die.

That's a new one.

by Anonymousreply 72June 29, 2019 7:13 PM

Bump. (I want to comment later. Or vent.)

by Anonymousreply 73June 30, 2019 12:09 AM

Getting a road built.

Guys FINALLY sends his machine and operator week before last; he works Tuesday to Friday pm, and I have not seen him this week. It's a 2 week job, but I guess he's got so much on that its 3 days here, 4 days there, etc....

I'm in UK. Seems to be a global thing with these wankers.

by Anonymousreply 74June 30, 2019 12:16 AM

Mostly they're just chasing bigger jobs and really bad at scheduling or understanding how to run a business.

So they're working on your $20K job and then someone comes along and offers them a $40K job and they drop you that day. And it never seems to dawn on them that rather than ghost you, they can just get someone else to finish the job for them, take a cut, and make even more money.

by Anonymousreply 75July 18, 2019 9:43 PM

R75, on paper your idea is of course logical. But the truth is that the trades are dying, so even actual tradesmen don’t have a rolodex filled with other guys to sub their jobs out to. A generation ago they did. If it were that easy, many of them would do precisely that.

by Anonymousreply 76July 18, 2019 10:44 PM

That very much depends where you are R76

In any place with a hot real estate market they are very much in demand and there are a lot of guys who go into it because it's good money and their regular jobs have dried up.

If there's anything to your comment, it's that it's likely that the older white tradesmen are often not familiar with the younger Latinx guys who are coming in now and so they can't recommend them.

by Anonymousreply 77July 18, 2019 11:30 PM

Point taken r77, and I happen to be white so I forget about ethnic and racial divisions within the trades sometimes, though I’ve worked with all types.

I actually used to own a remodeling company with my husband here in Chicago. We tapped into the Czech/Polish tradesmen because of a single Czech bilingual carpenter we hired full-time, but could never figure out a way to recruit Latinos, which is who we really wanted. Not so that we could take advantage of them with s low salary (I despise employers who do that to immigrants), but because they are renowned for their work ethic. We were a small outfit too, so I didn’t need a whole crew, just one or two guys at different times. But your point is indeed correct.

by Anonymousreply 78July 19, 2019 12:15 AM

Having to spend entire days working in the home of some impossible to please frau with her breathing down my neck every 15 minutes has got to be one of the most unpleasant jobs out there.

There isn't enough money in the world.

If anything, contractors are underpaid.

by Anonymousreply 79July 19, 2019 12:27 AM

[quote]not familiar with the younger Latinx guys

Eyeroll.

by Anonymousreply 80July 19, 2019 10:54 AM
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