Are all contractors like that ? What recourses do I have ?

 We hired someone to build a roughly 200 sq ft paved brick patio. In the
process of getting bids we went through the following:

Contractor #1 came over to do a free estimate very quickly. It took him
about two weeks to come up with a proposal but eventually he did. The
thing I didn't like about him was that he wasn't very diligent at
returning calls and I was getting the impression that he had bigger and
better paying projects to worry about. Moving on.

Contractor #2 came over for a free estimate. He returns calls and
emails back. He had good ideas and was very respectable. He claimed he
could build the patio within the next 10 days. We liked him, but just
to confirm we interviewed another one.

Contract #3 came over and appeared to be slimy lying sleazeball and we
didn't even want to see his estimate.

So we went with contractor #2. We made the deposit. Since then I was
calling him every day to find out when is he going to come build the
project. Last week his excuse was bad weather, which it was, so it was
legit. This week he says "Materials we orders but I am having some
allergic reaction that made me blind, someone is picking me up to go to
the hospital." Now that he has our deposit I feel like he is dragging
his feet. What else am I supposed to say to a guy who claims that he is
sick other than, all right feel better ?

Now, note that contractor #2 has pretty good reviews on
servicemagic.com . Contractor #1 didn't have any reviews other than
anecdotal evidence of him working for my neighbors. Contractor #3 had
poor reviews on servicemagic.com .

I don't have any choice anymore other than to nag him, but it bothers
me that he is making up excuses to not even start working on the patio.

Are all landscaping contractors like that ?

 

Your story is about par for the course with the ironically named
"service industry."  

The stereotype is that you're dealing with a bunch of unrecovered
alcoholics who work for themselves because no one else would employ
them, and enjoy being able to knock off to the bar at 4pm each day.

No, not all are like that certainly, but the stereotype exists for a
reason, and sadly it's really hard to find out who's reliable without
a personal recommendation from neighbors or friends on a given
contractor's responsiveness.  The folks who have any clue about
customer service tend to stay extremely busy, and are able to charge
more than you wanna pay.

--
Todd H.  
http://www.toddh.net/

 I would be weary of anyone whe required a deposit for anything other
than custom made items.

 
Todd H. wrote:


I agree with that.  I've given many contractors the chance to prove
that they are not like the stereotype, and they usually confirm that
the stereotype exists for a good reason.

Also, I find that those services that rate or refer contractors are
unreliable, just as are Better Business Bureaus and the like, for
choosing anyone.  If they show a company as being bad, thats useful
info, but when they say nothing or rate them good, it can be very
misleading.  I would only use those resources to eliminate the ones
with an actual bad rating, and keep researching to find out more about
the ones who weren't poorly rated there.  This unfortunately means you
have to spend a great deal of time asking around with co workers,
lumber yards, etc, until you get some names of people who might
actually be reliable.  Then you still have to check them out, P.I.
style, to see if they've been sued and all that.  Since most
contractors know that arbitraiton clauses keep their customers from
suing them, the court records do not help as much as you'd think.

It's entirely too easy to get into construction in most states.  Many
states don't require a license or any kind of qualifications.  Out of
thousands of contractors, usually with no comprehensive place to check
for complaints, consumers are supposed to find the needle in the
haystack, the prince among frogs.  It's ridiculous.

BTW, if your contractor takes your money and doesn't do the work, or
does it poorly, contact your state's attorney general's office.  Some
consider this fraud and will do something.  Also if your state does
license builders contact the licensing agency.  Some have rules about
how much deposit they can get, and more.  If he's unlicensed in a state
that requires it, things could get interesting.  DO tell us how it
worked out.

 
My favorite general contractor is like that.  Does outstanding work, though.
Many times, the delays have to do with his wanting to do the previous job right.
When he finally gets to me, he wants to do *my* job right.  Since he does a lot
of the work personally (partly because he can't stand that a sub might not do it
*right*), things like illnesses and family emergencies can mean more delay.
He's good, has a good rep, is a nice contientious guy, so he gets himself
overscheduled, too.

Since I'm not the type to be anxious for a job to finish for the anticipated
visit from the mother-in-law or backyard garden wedding some other damn thing, I
tolerate the delays.  Because, one way or another, they often have to do with
the very quality I put as top priority.

Several of my friends also have gone with him.  One friend, dismayed by the
delays, doesn't any longer.  I don't blame her one bit, but I still go with this
GC.  Apparently, so do a lot of other people...

YMMV (your mileage may vary).  And this may or may not apply to your contractor
#2.  But if  his refs are good and you had good rapport with him, I'd stick with
him at least for awhile longer.

Cheers,
Banty


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