Irritated with a hired contractor

[straightlinespeed]

So Im very irritated with a contractor that I hired to frame out for a 9' x 8' garage door. I have a 3rd stall and the siding needed to be removed, studs removed and reframed etc.. I didnt have the skills or the time to do this so I hired a contractor.

Had 4 contractors come by to bid it and for some reason only 1 of them got back to me with the actual bid, which was $2300, with half down as a deposit to hold the start date. Well looking to have it done sooner than later I went with him after I did some research online. I could only find nothing but good about him. Now Im starting to doubt some of this.

I had to have the signed contract back to them by 6/6 so they could schedule the start date on 6/23 and completed on 6/27 but due to it raining constantly, they pushed me back to start 6/30. That is fine I can deal with that and understand the circumstances. In the mean time we needed to custom order the garage door for it to match the other door currently installed. So we ordered that the week of 6/6 so it would be here by 6/27, They called me on 6/27 to let me know the door was in and wanted me to schedule a date for the install. I informed them that I had to contact the contractor doing the framing and I would get back to them.

So I proceeded to call the contractor and asked them if I could schedule the install for 7/3 since it was a short week. Next thing I know they tell me they are not starting until 7/8. At this point I tell them that to door is here and they need to install it. They told me that I would be safe to schedule the install on 7/10. Great fine, Im irritated that they keep pushing me back and I just want it all done. So tonight I get a call from the framing contractors secretary that he got sheet rock in his eye and he would not be able to start on 7/8 but someone will be here on 7/9 and we can still plan the door install on the 10th.

What is irritating the hell out of me now is at first they needed a week to get this done. Now they only need 1 day??? How the hell are they suppose to remove all the siding, get it framed, sheeted and ready for inspection before they reside? Which it has to be trimmed out for the garage door install??? Something is not clicking with this and now Im super leery...

Sorry just had to vent!

 

[67cudafb]

I don't deal with GC that want money up front. I tell them I will sign contract and pay in full when inspected and complete. I don't deal with anybody that does not have the funds to start project. I am willing to give them draws as work is complete but thats it.

 

[Oklacarcollecto]

I don't deal with GC that want money up front. I tell them I will sign contract and pay in full when inspected and complete. I don't deal with anybody that does not have the funds to start project. I am willing to give them draws as work is complete but thats it.

That is how I do things. Prepaying upfront generally gets you pushed to the back burner. The absolute best I will do is give them a small draw after the first days work is completed.

 

[straightlinespeed]

I wish that was the case here. Even when we were getting the concrete done. Everyone requires at least half down. The rest, when completed. Seems to be thats the only way to guarantee getting a contractor to do your job.

 

[Oklacarcollecto]

I usually buy my own materials and contract direct with the concrete company myself. Learned the hard way about contractors not paying their suppliers. Having the supplier come to me for the money and threatening to file a lien wasn't a pleasurable experience. I also get better lumber since I get to hand pick it and I can buy it just as cheap as they can.

 

[Bad Sport]

Wow, I'm stunned at the dollar amount. Exactly what are they doing? Removing siding, knocking out a wall, re studding and framing the hole for the door and putting the siding back on?

Does that include the garage door? The install?

 

[jimmer]

I'm a contractor I do remodels , decks , drywall , tile ect .
I have never asked for funds upfront .
I always supply the material myself unless the owner wants to handle the material .
However on two occasions I would have been wise to get a deposit upfront to protect myself!
I have often thought about getting a percentage upfront?

Got drywall in his eye ?
I started in the trades doing drywall .
That sounds like bs to me ?
Man he gives contractors a bad name !!

Sorry about your bad exp !!
Best of luck !!
Jim

 

[krazykuda]

Yeah, drywall in his eye??? He hasn't heard of SAFETY GLASSES...


If he won't take proper safety precautions for himself, how is he going to do a quality/safe job on your garage???


and yeah, the more money that you give them up front, the less they tend to follow through and finish the job quickly... It's all about the money....

 

[67 Power Wagon]

I'd go back to the place that was "paid" and request my money back and get it and go to someone else....Sadly enough you didn't pay in full, and by law they ought to be responsible for what you have!

Normally gets them moving pretty quick!

 

[Mad Dart]

Go get your $$ back have the garage door delivered to your house. Then hire a competent person to do the work. That job seriously should not take more than 2 days, garage door installed and done!

 

[Frankie]

So Im very irritated with a contractor that I hired to frame out for a 9' x 8' garage door. I have a 3rd stall and the siding needed to be removed, studs removed and reframed etc.. I didnt have the skills or the time to do this so I hired a contractor.

Had 4 contractors come by to bid it and for some reason only 1 of them got back to me with the actual bid, which was $2300, with half down as a deposit to hold the start date. Well looking to have it done sooner than later I went with him after I did some research online. I could only find nothing but good about him. Now Im starting to doubt some of this.

I had to have the signed contract back to them by 6/6 so they could schedule the start date on 6/23 and completed on 6/27 but due to it raining constantly, they pushed me back to start 6/30. That is fine I can deal with that and understand the circumstances. In the mean time we needed to custom order the garage door for it to match the other door currently installed. So we ordered that the week of 6/6 so it would be here by 6/27, They called me on 6/27 to let me know the door was in and wanted me to schedule a date for the install. I informed them that I had to contact the contractor doing the framing and I would get back to them.

So I proceeded to call the contractor and asked them if I could schedule the install for 7/3 since it was a short week. Next thing I know they tell me they are not starting until 7/8. At this point I tell them that to door is here and they need to install it. They told me that I would be safe to schedule the install on 7/10. Great fine, Im irritated that they keep pushing me back and I just want it all done. So tonight I get a call from the framing contractors secretary that he got sheet rock in his eye and he would not be able to start on 7/8 but someone will be here on 7/9 and we can still plan the door install on the 10th.

What is irritating the hell out of me now is at first they needed a week to get this done. Now they only need 1 day??? How the hell are they suppose to remove all the siding, get it framed, sheeted and ready for inspection before they reside? Which it has to be trimmed out for the garage door install??? Something is not clicking with this and now Im super leery...

Sorry just had to vent!

"1 of them got back to me with the actual bid, which was $2300, with half down as a deposit to hold the start date".

I was a contractor (2nd Career, now retired) for the last 20 years: Never pay for ANYTHING in advance. Even if the job takes longer than intended, you ONLY pay for the completed work. Unless you are supplying the materials for the job, there is no cost to you until the job is completed, or, until the time of a Previously agree to "Draw", and then you only pay for the portion of work that has been completed.

IF YOU ARE SUPPLYING THE MATERIALS: Don't fall for the BS line that the contractor is going to get the materials cheaper than you are.
First, He's going to up charge the materials to you ANYWAY, so you might as well buy them, yourself, YES, YOU WILL SAVE A FEW BUCKS.
Second, the contractor is going to buy the cheapest (builder's grade) materials he can find, that will meet code, and spec ( if there is a spec).
Since you have to live with the there is a much better chance that you're going to purchase a better grade of materials, especially finish materials, and the cost difference will be minimal for a better finished product.


ANY contractor that tell you they need a deposit is BS'ing you. PERIOD.

 

[GaryS]

We built a new house 8 years ago. We designed it, I drew up the plans on AutoCAD, and acted as the general contractor since I had worked construction for several years. None of the subs were paid in advance, but keeping things moving was like herding cats. Besides legitimate reasons like weather, I heard every excuse ever created by man why something couldn't get done on schedule. I saved $25k, but I earned it.

Two years ago, we moved and again built a new house, but I'm getting old and decided I didn't want the headaches again, so after sketching the plans, I hired a draftsman/architect and a general contractor. Big mistake.

I have never seen such a cluster coitus as that bunch managed to create! The draftsman made errors that required lots of rework, the site manager ordered wrong materials including inferior windows that had to be replaced. The framers couldn't read the plans and their quality sucked, mostly because none of them could speak English. The electrician made so many mistakes I had to hire another company to come in and fix things. The same for the plumber. The site manager had the insulation company insulate the wrong walls in the garage/workshop and sheetrocked them before I caught the error.
A year after completion I still have things that weren't fixed and I had to pay two subs to clear liens because the general contractor didn't pay them. I'm battling to get my money back and have only got about 10%, as his sob stories continue. If I get a lawyer, he will probably declare bankruptcy and I'll lose even more.

Good luck getting your door installed, and watch them like a hawk since there is no pride in workmanship left in this country.

 

[doogievlg]

I deal with contractors on a daily basis. It's really hit and miss. We use the good ones over and over but most of the time we have to tell them to get lost before the job gets done. I know it's tough when dealing with contractors building barns and such but it helps to go with a bigger company. Also bug the crap out of them. I'm sure the contractor on this thread is going to hate hearing this but a lot of times we will call every day if somethig isn't being done.

We are having four units rehabbed at a apartment complex. The project began in April and we now have cabinets and countertops taking up three shops after going through 3 contractors who screwed us around.

It takes time to find them but there are a few good ones out there

 

[straightlinespeed]

Thanks everyone for your input and experiences. Here is a update, I called the contractor this morning and of course only spoke to the secretary. Im honestly thinking that a lot of my worries are with her communication. This morning while speaking to her I get the full story not her shortened voice mail message that is misleading.

After speaking with her she told me that they would be starting as planned this morning, just that the foreman would not be on site because of his eye, but he had another person lined up to start. Well I get a knock on the door about 9am. Here is the foreman and 2 other guys that work for him. He unloads all of his supplies and introduced me to the guy that would be onsite all day. He also informed me that he would be onsite tomorrow to help him finish it up. To my surprise, the framing is all done with the exception of some small pieces, wall is opened up and they are going to start trimming it out tomorrow and will be finished by the end of the day.

Only thing I have a complaint on is that they said they were going to remove the siding and then reinstall it. Well not even close. I even made a point to ask the guy that was here doing the work that it must had been nice not to have to remove the siding and his response was, "ya, that would not had gone well if I had to and it was not necessary". They just cut right thru it so I will be asking for a deduct because that saved them almost a days worth of labor.

Like I said Im pretty sure my rant could had been avoided if it was not for the secretary and her vague info that she passes on.

 

[67cudafb]

Be sure to get a release of lien from this guy and all subs when you pay. Like Frankie said this can come back and bite you in the ***.

 

[66340SEDAN]

Thanks everyone for your input and experiences. Here is a update, I called the contractor this morning and of course only spoke to the secretary. Im honestly thinking that a lot of my worries are with her communication. This morning while speaking to her I get the full story not her shortened voice mail message that is misleading.

After speaking with her she told me that they would be starting as planned this morning, just that the foreman would not be on site because of his eye, but he had another person lined up to start. Well I get a knock on the door about 9am. Here is the foreman and 2 other guys that work for him. He unloads all of his supplies and introduced me to the guy that would be onsite all day. He also informed me that he would be onsite tomorrow to help him finish it up. To my surprise, the framing is all done with the exception of some small pieces, wall is opened up and they are going to start trimming it out tomorrow and will be finished by the end of the day.

Only thing I have a complaint on is that they said they were going to remove the siding and then reinstall it. Well not even close. I even made a point to ask the guy that was here doing the work that it must had been nice not to have to remove the siding and his response was, "ya, that would not had gone well if I had to and it was not necessary". They just cut right thru it so I will be asking for a deduct because that saved them almost a days worth of labor.

Like I said Im pretty sure my rant could had been avoided if it was not for the secretary and her vague info that she passes on.

Good news! When is the "garage warming" party? :happy1: :burnout:

 

[straightlinespeed]

Be sure to get a release of lien from this guy and all subs when you pay. Like Frankie said this can come back and bite you in the ***.

I will for sure get something in writing

Good news! When is the "garage warming" party? :happy1: :burnout:

Anytime!! That side is heated to so even in the dead of winter Im game!

 

[cannucky]

I've been a contractor in the US and Canada and have run jobs for the biggest own force's GC on this island and I have never stiffed a customer , the jobs I ran here all finished ahead of schedule and on budget so I have 30 years doing this and can tell you I have never met a reputable contractor who didn't take a deposit up front and schedule draws within the contract based on completion it's how the business works even on projects worth 10s of millions we get up front money placed in escrow , as you just stated the problem was a secretary not communicating and as I read your story you yourself requested some of the timing changes , scheduling is a nightmare for a busy independent and if they are not busy this time of year you should be running the other way . My industry is full of guys who learned to build at Home Depot and think they are contractors now that their primary career is gone , we call them Handjobs because they think handyman shows and Saturday mornings at Home Depot make them tradesmen , I'm glad you are happy with the work and I am sure they will treat you properly with regard to lesser labor cost ,professionals always do . Perhaps you could tell as many people how good they are as you have complained to when the communication was faulty .