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I've heard so many LI contractor horror stories that I'm glad my soon-to-be-closing house was already gut renovated in 2009 so its move in ready. The only thing I need done is to put pvc fencing in the backyard, but I'm assuming that will be a straightfoward job.
Hey, nothing wrong with making a lot of money... I could use a little more!
Contractors are notoriously bad businessmen. It's so easy here on Long Island to get a license and hang out your shingle, so every skilled worker thinks they're better off working for themselves. Unfortunately, the lack of business knowledge gives us all a bad reputation.
I do have to agree with LIHR however, there are some folks I just dont want to work for. People tend to get upset when you tell them that you'd rather not quote their project though.
I share the same sentiment, though my job was more for handiwork not a $100k addition.
I wanted new gutters installed on my house. Had 3 companies come over and gave me a one line quote that pretty much read "Install 160' gutter, $xxxx"
I revised it for all three quotes I got, really to CMA on standard stuff (specify brand/material, install to local codes, debris removal) you know, stuff that's assumed more than anything else, and asked them to resubmit. No response from a SINGLE ONE.
Yeah, I'd rather have the things I want in writing instead of arguing over standard practice things that I would assume are included as part of the job. If you don't care to rewrite a simple quote, you can't communicate. I don't care to hire you for work.
Maybe I need to stay away from the referral and go with the bigger companies that have a dedicated sales team.
I would. I've spoken to them and it felt so impersonal. Even making an appointment seemed like a business process. And just imagine how much of that extra cost goes into all the overhead.
If the contractor lived in Manhattan would we say on Manhattan too?
Geographical boundary (on) versus man-made defined boundary (in.)
The contractor could live ON Manhattan Island or IN the Manhattan borough limits.
Live IN a house
that's ON a street
that's IN a hamlet/village/CDP
that's IN a county
that's ON an island
that's IN a state
that's IN a country
which is ON a continent
which is ON a planet
which is IN a solar system
which is IN a galaxy
which is IN the universe.
I would. I've spoken to them and it felt so impersonal. Even making an appointment seemed like a business process. And just imagine how much of that extra cost goes into all the overhead.
remember most people do not want to be contractors. Usually they did not go to college or are a college drop out. It is something you kinda fall into as it pays well and not much experience needed. It is not a passion for most. A job.
However, folks doing the remodeling watch too much HGTV and think the 50 year old guy installing a toliet for the 1,000 time is as excited as they are
Thus my original post/vent. Making too much money. So they just don't care anymore. Maybe I need to stay away from the referral and go with the bigger companies that have a dedicated sales team.
Echoing what LIHR wrote, just like you want to pick and choose your contractor, a contractor will be selective about for whom he will work. If the personalities didn't mesh well from the start and they're going to back away from a job, at least have the courtesy to contact you saying, "Thank you, but...."
remember most people do not want to be contractors. Usually they did not go to college or are a college drop out. It is something you kinda fall into as it pays well and not much experience needed. It is not a passion for most. A job.
However, folks doing the remodeling watch too much HGTV and think the 50 year old guy installing a toliet for the 1,000 time is as excited as they are
Hmmm.. This may have been true before the whole education boom but it isn't anymore.
There are more educated people in the construction workforce now than there has ever been. Many young students go to school for construction management, architecture, construction technology, interior design, engineering and building science who all work in the construction industry. Many of them have trade school certificates, associates, bachelors and some even have their Masters..
You might not see them as much because they are all young. Many of them are still in management and foreman roles but give it 10 years and you will see that many of these educated men will end up owning their own construction companies.
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