Contractor hell? Do I have a 'F#$k with me' sign

[mrreindeer]

Thanks guys, in the process of getting a simple agreement signed after the guy threatened to walk off the job. We just need this done ASAP because the baby is coming.

[Brendo87]

Originally Posted by CAJoe

If you think dealing with contractors to fix your house is bad try selling to them. I sell pipe/fittings and basically anything for storm/sewer/fire/water. It can get bad sometimes and I get so pissed. There are some that are good and easy to deal with. Always have a contract made up with a liquidated damages clause where it says that if they are not done by this date they will be accessed a penalty of so much per day after that. Any contractor that is worth his salt and is confident of his work will sign it and they will make sure they get the job done so they won't lose any money.

Hey a fellow plumbing supplies merchant, greetings from Oz !

[pitbulljimmy]

As a carpenter, I can say 100 % absolutely, there is no more pride in workmanship these days. It's all about putting it up as fast as possible and quality be damned. HOWEVER there are still a few of us good ones around who were brought up to be a little more "Old Skool" when it comes to quality! Good luck to you, but I'd stop paying that contractor and get someone in who knows what he's doing. If he's that bad, why let him stay?

[mrreindeer]

Sad to hear that Jim but I appreciate the honesty.......eh, we're just so damn close we may as well just finish it up...as long as the guy doesn't walk...and so far, he hasn't. We just don't have the time right now...baby due in a little over 3 weeks and if we want it done beforehand, he's unfortunately our only option.

Although we just found out that the lighting order was messed up so that's going to add a helluva delay in there. We got 'some' of the lights but not all. How does this stuff keep happening??

[Yellowfever]

I have NEVER had a contractor do what he was suppose to do when he was suppose to do it. They either don't show up when they say they will or when they do they show up for a few hours then take off.

The last guy we had was so bad that when he left all his tools at my house I stuck them in the middle of the backyard where my 2 Rottweilers and Chow Chow slept... He had to come to the door to talk to me instead of sneaking off before the job was done.

[Stinkdyr]

Luckily, my wife's father is a Danish craftsman. He redefines your idea of perfection. He is retired but in constant demand. Let's just say there is an ohhhhhhhhh so slight difference in quality between what he has done around our house and what the usual gringo contractors have done to it!!

Too bad he is in Denmark...rather hard to get him here to do anything!
(otoh, his perfectionism did rub off on his daughter...my wife. she rebuilt our roofdeck herself rather than let any of the usual hack contractors in Boston touch it)

And she doesn't weigh a pound more than when I married her....you could say my wife rocks!!!

[mrreindeer]

Originally Posted by Yellowfever

The last guy we had was so bad that when he left all his tools at my house I stuck them in the middle of the backyard where my 2 Rottweilers and Chow Chow slept... He had to come to the door to talk to me instead of sneaking off before the job was done.

I love it. A couple weeks ago, our guy left a letter with my father-in-law in the kitchen and didn't come down to give it to me in person. Inside, the letter informed us that payment was required in full (the job was not completed and we had already paid him the lionshare of it) or he would walk. Oh, and 2/3 into the job already, he wanted us to sign a contract that mostly protected him. I sure wish he had told me to my face at which time I would have told him to take a hike and just try to get the rest of the dough from me. (The guy is a very good friend's family friend so we merely had a verbal agreement.....bad idea.)

After cooling off and talking to my attorney (my Dad who is a corporate litigator), we offered the guy two choices. One was to complete the job & get paid and we'd prefer just to get this thing done. The second would be more complicated and could cost him his license and a whole lot more. I didn't even get to tell him about Option #2 when it dawned on him how close we were treading to getting him into a ton of hot water.

Originally Posted by Stinkdyr

Luckily, my wife's father is a Danish craftsman. He redefines your idea of perfection. He is retired but in constant demand. Let's just say there is an ohhhhhhhhh so slight difference in quality between what he has done around our house and what the usual gringo contractors have done to it!!

Too bad he is in Denmark...rather hard to get him here to do anything!
(otoh, his perfectionism did rub off on his daughter...my wife. she rebuilt our roofdeck herself rather than let any of the usual hack contractors in Boston touch it)

Nice! Next time he comes for a visit, hook us up!

Oh, and the project to remodel 4 rooms (Dining, Living, Den & Nursery) which started at the beginning of June is still ongoing.

[Stinkdyr]

[QUOTE
After cooling off and talking to my attorney (my Dad who is a corporate litigator), we offered the guy two choices. One was to complete the job & get paid and we'd prefer just to get this thing done. The second would be more complicated and could cost him his license and a whole lot more. I didn't even get to tell him about Option #2 when it dawned on him how close we were treading to getting him into a ton of hot water. ]

I recently had to take a car repair monkey to Small Claims Court. He repaid me every penny. Waste of a day........oh wait. Almost a waste of a day....now that I recall, it was gorgeous weather, the court case wrapped up by 10am, a buddy and I hit a local golf course for 18 holes, lunch and cigar!

[bilingue23]

I work as an insurance claims adjuster. I HATE some contractors, especially hail chasers...

[mrreindeer]

Originally Posted by Stinkdyr

I recently had to take a car repair monkey to Small Claims Court. He repaid me every penny. Waste of a day........oh wait. Almost a waste of a day....now that I recall, it was gorgeous weather, the court case wrapped up by 10am, a buddy and I hit a local golf course for 18 holes, lunch and cigar!

Nice!