bay area contractors catering to millionaires only???

[mstnghu2]

Originally Posted by Perma Bear

Incidentally most homeowners in the Bay Area are millionaires.

Even if you're referring to home equity, that's not even close to being true.

[Chuck5000]

Housing shortage is part of this problem. If there were more lower cost housing nearby, you'd have more contractors at the lower end who would do small jobs like this. Right now subcontractors are driving in from insane distances. My cousin is a contractor in Marin, I hear these stories.

[simboticus]

You have to find a handyman to do jobs like that. They can be found for reasonable rates, but it's not easy. Contractors, even if they take the job, may bail half way through if they find something else that pays better.

[phantompilot]

Originally Posted by buenos

How do you get a contractor to install someting in your house for a reasonable price, and even get them to show up and call you back?
I am trying to get a patio cover instaleld. The responsive ones charge 4000-5000 for the same thing as the others charge $2000 for. The $2000 ones dont call me back. It looks like there is no unemployment in the bay area at all. Also most contractors if not all, only willing to do jobs where they become rich from a single half day project, or they make their monthly income from a few days of working. Or maybe they make 10x as much an hour/year as I do in my principal engineer job. There are a lot of people in the BA who would not mind paying $5000 or even $50k for that $2k patio cover.

I don't know how anyone can offer a $2K patio cover at all, really. What are the dimensions, materials, features?

I paid more than that just for an arbor to grow some vines on.

[buenos]

Originally Posted by phantompilot

I don't know how anyone can offer a $2K patio cover at all, really. What are the dimensions, materials, features?

I paid more than that just for an arbor to grow some vines on.

The material kit is $1500. Installation is $600.
With the other contractor they dont list the material separately, otherwise it would be seen that they charge more for the 3 hour installation than the material cost.

[abqcd]

Originally Posted by thetrb

Contractors also have to live here. I don't know how much work is involved to install your patio cover, but if they think it only makes financial sense to them at $5000, then that's just the reality of this high-cost area.

Agreed. It's just as expensive for them to live as for you. Remember, police officer in the bay area makes >$100K. Plus, there is a shortage of skilled labor like plumbers and electricians, because a generation of parents told their kids to go to college and get liberal arts degrees in basket weaving.