Re: Have you ever FIRED a Contractor?

homedecor1 · ‎03-09-2010

I've referred him to over 16 jobs between last summer and now that once his company does the job we come up with more projects.

Case in point, my flooring was completed on late Tuesday. Today, he stopped by for me to pay him (he never takes any $$$ upfront) and while here we asked about a price to gut the master bath and make it the way I want. After the shock, we decided that is next years project which is good because his company is super busy.

His schedule is booked until June (he's doing 6 bathroom renos, 2 kitchen renos) in my neighborhood. My neighbor came over to see my floors and ended up asking him to come over to renovate her kitchen...

I'd love to give you him if your in FL I have no problem sharing contractors who are honest, reliable and dependable! Of course, the licensed, bonded and insured is my "key" to all renovation projects.

geezerette · ‎03-16-2010

@homedecor1 wrote:
@skatting44

I've referred him to over 16 jobs between last summer and now that once his company does the job we come up with more projects.

Case in point, my flooring was completed on late Tuesday. Today, he stopped by for me to pay him (he never takes any $$$ upfront) and while here we asked about a price to gut the master bath and make it the way I want. After the shock, we decided that is next years project which is good because his company is super busy.

His schedule is booked until June (he's doing 6 bathroom renos, 2 kitchen renos) in my neighborhood. My neighbor came over to see my floors and ended up asking him to come over to renovate her kitchen...

I'd love to give you him if your in FL I have no problem sharing contractors who are honest, reliable and dependable! Of course, the licensed, bonded and insured is my "key" to all renovation projects.

That is what to expect from any "good" and reliable contractor.

I have a close friend that is a contractor and has lately concentrated on remodels/renovations. He does good work, is licensed (in more than one state), and reliable. He's also so busy that his wife hasn't been able to get their own home reworked for years. He has more jobs than he can handle and gets them all by word of mouth from previous customers who praise his work.

Another problem that he has been having besides the lack of materials right now is finding good subs and workers. This is also a key. You might have the best contractor in the world, but one guy can't do everything by himself. Finding subcontractors to do competent work and show up to do so is very diffficult around here.

Even with the greatest contractor you'll end up with inevitable wait times and problems. A reliable contractor can give quotes that allow for a certain amount of time and material delays and price increases. But they can't foresee everything in advance.

And that is only if you know exactly what you want and are willing to accept substitutes if what you want isn't available. If you change your mind partway into the project, all bets are off.

skatting44 · ‎07-26-2019

@homedecor1 wrote:
@skatting44

I've referred him to over 16 jobs between last summer and now that once his company does the job we come up with more projects.

Case in point, my flooring was completed on late Tuesday. Today, he stopped by for me to pay him (he never takes any $$$ upfront) and while here we asked about a price to gut the master bath and make it the way I want. After the shock, we decided that is next years project which is good because his company is super busy.

His schedule is booked until June (he's doing 6 bathroom renos, 2 kitchen renos) in my neighborhood. My neighbor came over to see my floors and ended up asking him to come over to renovate her kitchen...

I'd love to give you him if your in FL I have no problem sharing contractors who are honest, reliable and dependable! Of course, the licensed, bonded and insured is my "key" to all renovation projects.

Thanks for your response. I have a 1st floor kitchen and master suite addition project that has been pending since last Nov. We were interviewing contractors and had received one bid . Then the Holidays and by Jan while we were still waiting on the 2nd contractors bid , we heard of covid and halted going forward. I'm in health care so we took the news of this new SARS type virus seriously very early on. I don't live in Fl, so will revisit this project again later in the summer.

World Traveler · ‎02-02-2015

No, I haven't. Love my contractor for my master bath remodel. He is very accommodating and has three brothers who also help, along with their dad. So if one of them is sick or has an emergency, the work has been still going on without a hiccup.

He is very accommodating and works extra hard to get everything exactly the way I want it.

agb80 · ‎10-16-2020

After you sign an agreement and paid 1/2 up front I have been very intimated and scared to fire a contractor...would never get that money back and the job would remain uncompleted. So, against by better judgement allowed dolts and idiots to continue their work while I watched like a hawk frequently asking questions and making sure they were answered to my satisfaction or they would get the proverbial whack on the wrist.....and I never left their side....hehehehe. payback is a beeeeeeeeep, that's for sure. I'm sure they would never agree to do work on our house again with me as their overseer. You got that right!

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

Can't say I ever fired anyone. I've been a little upset with some people who have done projects for us, but not to the point of having to ask them to leave. Happy to say we now have a handyman who is reliable.

RinaRina · ‎03-13-2010

@agb80 wrote:
After you sign an agreement and paid 1/2 up front I have been very intimated and scared to fire a contractor...would never get that money back and the job would remain uncompleted.

=============================

You are not going to believe what happened this afternoon.

When #2 (late, no-show, unreliable) finally arrived, I told him, "we have a communication problem."

He's done work for me for almost TWO years and every time he does work, it's always the same nonsense ... he's either late (i.e., arriving @ 2:30PM vs.10:30AM) or a no show. Today was the last straw.

So, I told him "we have a communication problem". "I sent you an email to cancel the job and XXX? (the store manager) is waiting at the store to refund your money."

He left with his gear and returned an hour later with a money order. He refunded my deposit.

An hour later contractors #1 (the bait & switch guys) show up - unannounced. They showed up last week (unannounced) too.

It's FUNNY to see the frustration their faces (on my security cam) when I don't answer the door.

I guess they keep coming back hoping for a reload.

These CROOKS pulled the shingles off my roof and then wanted to charge me $2600 to "fix" it.

I didn't know what had happened until my INSURANCE Adjuster came by with a roofing inspector and told me I did NOT have "wind or tree damage". The shingles and boards had been ripped off by hand. The repair estimate was between $600-900.

SMH ... unbelievalbe, eh?

At this point, I think, sometimes it's just better to "fire" than to "hire". Unfortunately, the work is not finished, so, I'll have to keep looking.

"The less you respond to negative people, the more peaceful your life will become."

Mj12 · ‎03-09-2010

He's done work for me for almost TWO years and every time he does work, it's always the same nonsense ... he's either late (i.e., arriving @ 2:30PM vs.10:30AM) or a no show. Today was the last straw.

Sorry you are dealing with this. Repairs alone are stressful enough. TBH I would have stopped using this person 2 years ago after the first hint of unreliability.

shoekitty · ‎03-10-2010

@silkyk wrote:
Yup....after his wife came by (with his baby girl) and asked for his paycheck because she was afraid he would not bring it home (aka drink it up).

shoekitty said, oh yes. Happened here. Onetime the wife just out of hospital, came to my house and waited until he finished and had me give check to her. The job was horrific. Wound up going to contractor board an dfiling complaint, and gotpartial refund to hire another contractor to fix his mess. That cntractor said one thing, and i quote, " if I had done this job, I wouldnt have been paid, period"

another time it took 6 weeks to do a one week job. It was awful,long story, but I didn't pay and the owner of company came to make amends. He said he was a pilot and had bought this painting business as an investment. The workers and manager totally ruined his business. The settlement was agreeable andI left it at that! i am so gun shy of contractors., I have money set aside for a new kitchen and another project, but too scared to hire anyone. The work ethic is suffering. There eare good people out there, but by the time I get tem they have aquired a drug habit, are getting a divorce, or have run into some issue that interferes with work sigh. The last time I had a contractor in, i had to drag him out of the Bachelors Club, an old bar in town to finish the job

“sometimes you have to bite your upper lip and put sunglasses on”….Bob Dylan