Why I DREAD home improvement projects - Page 3

ID2 · ‎06-25-2012

Thank goodness my dh is VERY handy. We do just about everything ourselves! Then we are always sure its done right.

"Pure Michigan"

gardenman · ‎03-09-2010

In mild defense of contractors, offering a bid on a project is often a bit of a challenge. There are typically many ways to achieve the same end result with wildly varying costs. If the homeowner isn't very specific about what they want done and how they want it done, a contractor may overbid or underbid on the project and be left in a bind.

Where you live also can be a factor. Some building inspectors/local officials like to shake down contractors and if the contractor knows he'll have to shell out a few thousand to the building inspector to get a permit or timely inspections then he's likely to just pass on any jobs in that area. Building inspectors tend to favor the contractors who are willing to reward them and punish those who won't.

The new rules on lead paint have made getting accurate bids enormously challenging for contractors. If there's lead paint detected the price of a project can more than double and the timeline for completion can be shot. They have to deal with more paperwork, and more inspections/officials many of whom are looking for a large amount of cash to flow their way.

And even local regulations may just make it impossible for them to take a job in your neighborhood. HOA's may impose limits on the number of vehicles on the street, the size/type/location of a dumpster during a project, working hours, amount of noise, etc..

It's not like most contractor just have to show up and do the job. There's typically tons of other issues they have to deal with that just make some jobs better to avoid. We live in a very regulated world these days where it's often easier for a contractor to just ignore a job than have to deal with all of the nonsense.

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

I came from a family of skilled do-it-yourselfers, so for many years we enjoyed having an elite workforce that was always ready to tackle another project. Unfortunately, several of the most skilled have passed away, and the ones who are left are physically disabled, and cannot handle the demands of the work that needs to be done. We still have close connections to our floor guy, and our sheetrock guy, but I am still trying to find someone to handle my kitchen update.

deb5555 · ‎03-21-2010

Look into Nari (National Association of Remodeling industry) to get a recommendation.

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

On 4/26/2014 expatgal said:
I have been putting off having a backsplash installed in my kitchen for 2 years!!!! Like you said, it isn't the $$$ at all. For me personally, I hate the mess and the intrusion on my privacy. Guess I'll just have hubby put the 356th coat of paint over the stains!

When we hired a man to paint the kitchen, he swore the paint he used would wear well and that was the absolute truth. I've washed stains and grease off with no problem so I just kept putting off the backsplash because I dread finding a handyman to do it.

Cyndog · ‎10-08-2010

We have a hard time getting people to our house to work around here. Like the OP said, after a couple unreturned calls, we move on. Why should WE have to chase people to give THEM money?

Allegheny · ‎03-19-2010

I think many of them (the smaller operations) are not good at being their own boss, have problems scheduling jobs and have labor issues as many of their workers are on call. When we had our kitchen remodeled, that went like clockwork. The guy had been in business for years, was very organized and had his own full time employees.

The problem we have is with vendors for smaller jobs. A lot of them are not interested in taking on these jobs, even if is a only a day job. Hey, that's up to them. Just please have the courtesy to call us back. Businesses are only as good as their customer service. Someone can be a master in their trade, but has to take care of the business housekeeping end, like returning calls from potential customers.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

On 4/27/2014 ID2 said:
Thank goodness my dh is VERY handy. We do just about everything ourselves! Then we are always sure its done right. ${#emotions_dlg.thumbup}$

Don't be too smug. I had a husband, father and a son who could do anything. Now all three are gone and I'm alone. Things change.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

Kathy19078 · ‎07-30-2010

I highly recommend Angies List. I am in the middle of remodeling my bathroom right now. They basically gutted it and started over. My bathroom was a total mess as the floor tile was coming up and the finish was coming off the tub. It was the original bathroom and my house is about 60 years old. Also have a hole in my kitchen ceiling because it fell down from a leak last year. I got about 5 different estimates, and every person I called did respond in a timely manner and came and gave me a price. Then I had my plumber here for a leak. He is very good and I trust him that he would not tell me to fix something if it was not necessary. This leak was from a cracked pipe under my bathroom floor. He could see it because of the hole in my kitchen ceiling. He fixed it temporarily. Then he told me he worked for a contractor and did all their plumbing work. So I had the contractor he works for give me an estimate. Then I checked him out on Angies List and he got good reviews, and the price was right and my plumber worked for him so I knew the plumbing would be done right. So I hired him and they started my bathroom on 4/21/14. I am very pleased with the work they have done so far. I had purchased a cast iron bathtub (it was Kohler) from Home Depot and when my contractor went to pick it up it was very dirty and dusty. He told them to get him a clean one and they said they are all like that so he refused to pick it up. Then he called me and told me what happened and that my plumber that works for him could get me the tub at the same price so I told him to go ahead and get it. I went to Home Depot and got my money back. The plumbing is done and was inspected and the electric was done and inspected. The inspections are done by my township. The tub is now in. They have the exhaust fan in and the walls up. They will be painting tomorrow and then they will be doing the tile. So it is coming along nicely.