Contractors in my area ohboy! - Lateral-g Forums

**waynieZ** · #1 08-16-2010, 04:39 PM

I sent plans out to 3 contractors, no replies from any of them ( almost 4 weeks). Then last week I get a call from one of them he says vacations sick guys, no problem atleast he called back says he will call me the next day. That was last Wednesday! Doesn't anybody need work. Time are suposed to be tuff out there. I guess not as bad as I thought. There are a few smaller contractor in the area I'm going to find one of them. I hope!!
If it was detached I would try it myself lame or not atleast I would show up for work every day. lol. Its un believeable

One good note I found a Clopay Premium 4300 insulated door for less than half price. I got the door , 16x8' with no windows, an extra panel with insulated windows with the inserts, a Liftmaster 3800 door opener with 2 remotes 1 keypad plus what comes with it,all tracks and hardware to install it, the seals for around the door. I need a wind rated door for 110mph the door is rated 90 mph so it needs extra struts for across the door where there aren't any. so I bought some from him. I needed 3 he gave me 4or 5 with all the hardware to install them, all for $962.00 Just the door not wind rated without windows is $1327.00 on their site. About time something worked out easy for this garage.

**GregWeld** · #2 08-16-2010, 08:59 PM

Contractors suck.

I've got a buddy that has been doing all my stuff for about 20 years now... he builds custom homes - in the millions per.... and doesn't do remodels etc - but he has "people".... and has them come over and do whatever I need. Otherwise I think I just wouldn't have anything done. You hear more horror stories about guys taking deposits and never showing up - or never finishing - or doing crap work.

Get references and when you talk to those references -- ask them how they got the guy - and if he worked for their friends - ask for their names etc and talk to them... 'cause the guy is only going to give you HAPPY customers ---- and you want to find ALL his customers to really check them out.

War · #3 08-16-2010, 09:17 PM

[QUOTE=GregWeld;301398]Contractors suck.

Normally, I would take offense to that generalization.

**GregWeld** · #4 08-17-2010, 07:08 AM

Jason --

I know it's a broad brush.... but there are so many lawyer jokes for a good reason... and the contractor brush is wide because there is good reason. The problem for joe public is finding a good one and if you don't, you're stuck. One of my brother in laws is a contractor. Not one single person in the family would use him - if he was free... We call him "20 minute job". Everything he looks at only takes 20 minutes. Unfortunately for him - it also looks like it.

There should be a contractors group where only the good contractors can get in -- so the public has a place to go to find good ones.

My neighbor found out about "bonding" when their contractor built their custom home... which turned out to be a complete disaster... as in - they had to re-do the siding - the windows - the roof and much of the electrical. The "bond" (which the contractors always point out in their advertising "we're bonded"!) is for a lousy 4 grand. When they sued for recovery - he just folded the business and started a new one under a different name. They also discovered that while they need "inspections" at each step along the way... they mean nothing and the inspectors have ZERO liability.

**waynieZ** · #5 08-17-2010, 07:25 AM

Its like the economy is running at full tilt. We know its not so why say your interested if your not? I got a guy to give me a price to do the foundation. These contractors said let me get my guy to give you a price, I said ok. Not one called to come see the job, but in the mean time I'm holding off getting it put in. Now who knows how long I'll have to wait for the guy that gave me the price to be freed up to do it. It just wears you down.

**GregWeld** · #6 08-17-2010, 09:13 AM

If a guy can't call you back - and be johnny on the spot - find someone else. Busy is busy... I don't mind waiting for a guy that is busy. Busy is good. But not calling back - not updating - not living up to what he said he'd do.... YOU'RE FIRED. No - let me rephrase that - you're not fired - because you're not going to be hired to start with.

NOVA · #7 09-12-2010, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynieZ

One good note I found a Clopay Premium 4300 insulated door for less than half price. I got the door , 16x8' with no windows, an extra panel with insulated windows with the inserts, a Liftmaster 3800 door opener with 2 remotes 1 keypad plus what comes with it,all tracks and hardware to install it, the seals for around the door. I need a wind rated door for 110mph the door is rated 90 mph so it needs extra struts for across the door where there aren't any. so I bought some from him. I needed 3 he gave me 4or 5 with all the hardware to install them, all for $962.00 Just the door not wind rated without windows is $1327.00 on their site. About time something worked out easy for this garage.

Thats a good price on the door, I have been quoted 700.00 installed for an UNinsulated door, no opener the one I have is new, so we are going to use that one.... anyways can you send that guy out here to the west coast! ... good luck with your house.

**waynieZ** · #8 09-12-2010, 05:01 PM

Thanks guys. This takes a lot of pressure off.

**Flash68** · #9 09-13-2010, 12:58 AM

what a pain in the arse... hope this guy does you good Wayne.

**waynieZ** · #10 09-13-2010, 02:05 PM

This is a good day.
First thing this morning I called "my contractor". Boy it feels good to be able to say that! I told him he had the job, so we will get together to finalize everything. He's ready to start right away and so am I.
I went down to get the permit and was expecting something to go wrong scense everything else went so smooth.

lol When I got to the building department there was one inspector, I hit the lottery, Nice guy. He looked over the application and helped me with some of the information I needed from there. Fifteen minutes later I was leaving with my permit.
It went so smooth I couldn't believe it. I can't wait to get started!