Frustration with contractors

DH and I are doing a bit of work on our new house--and we have gotten estimates from some contractors. This is where the problems begin. While all of them came on time to the house to give us the estimates, we never heard back from half of them ever again (I guess they decided they did not want the work), and then the rest of them took weeks to get us the estimates, even though they said it would arrive the next day.

Then the ones we ultimately decided to hire are being very flaky with returning calls/emails. We have left messages and emails for these contractors in order to schedule their work dates and also with a question or two, and they just don't return calls. I don't know how we're ever going to get in touch with them! Right now we've notified them that we want to hire them but they won't return calls so we haven't scheduled some of them. Interestingly, these contractors had excellent references and several were recommendations from our realtor, who we trust very much. We interviewed a number of contractors for each type of work.

DH and I are very frustrated. We've chosen the contractors who we think will do the best job, and now they won't even get back to us (to schedule the work and to answer questions). Now we're even wondering if they're going to show up on the day we agree upon to start the work. I don't understand how people can run a business like this. I am so glad we're not doing anything like a kitchen renovation--we're just doing simple things (carpentry work, tile work, etc.)

Anyone else experience this?

[Ladybug]

From what I hear it's not uncommon. Although I haven't called him yet, I got the name of a contractor through my super-star real estate agent. She's worked with him a long time and can vouch for his professionalism.

[houseelf]

Don't even get me started on my feelings about contractors. Seriously.

This type of flakiness is not out of the ordinary. If you find a reliable one, however, they are worth every penny.

[spotty_dog]

We called around to find someone for a couple of small jobs recently. The folks whose advertising brochure we received, didn't call us back. The son of an acquaintance who passed his name along, said he was too busy and hung up. Finally DH treated a guy in the ED who gave us his business card; he turned out to be extremely reliable, showing up right when he said he would, and doing a great job at a reasonable price! Bonus, he was SO patient with a certain three year old who talked his ear off.

Don't even get me started on my feelings about contractors. Seriously.

This type of flakiness is not out of the ordinary. If you find a reliable one, however, they are worth every penny.

I know, it's so frustrating! I just don't understand how anyone can run a business this way. Do you think it's worth it to join Angie's List in terms of maybe finding more reliable contractors?

[Ladybug]

Definitely. If it's already a headache now imagine once the project gets started and stalled. Do you know anyone who can make a personal recommnedation, had work done or even a good realtor that's worked with a contractor over the years to get houses ready and on the market. Ask around and find someone that you can rely on. Don't start a project with a flake and there are a lot of them out there. I've heard that contract work picks up a lot of people with shady histories too because they can get work without having a background check run. Be very careful.

Definitely. If it's already a headache now imagine once the project gets started and stalled. Do you know anyone who can make a personal recommnedation, had work done or even a good realtor that's worked with a contractor over the years to get houses ready and on the market. Ask around and find someone that you can rely on. Don't start a project with a flake and there are a lot of them out there. I've heard that contract work picks up a lot of people with shady histories too because they can get work without having a background check run. Be very careful.

Actually, everyone we are using is a personal recommendation. Either our realtor's recommendation (who does lots of house renovations and uses these individuals regularly), or a colleague's. Additionally, I called lots of references for each contractor. That's why I'm kind of bummed at how this is turning out already, before the work has even started! You're right, this is already a pain in the butt!!!! I cannot imagine doing a kitchen renovation or other large project. Another house we were looking at would have required a kitchen renovation, finishing the basement, and remodeling the bathrooms. I don't know what we were thinking to even consider that house.

I've found it helps to say "So-and-so gave me your name." especially if it's someone they get a lot of work though. We just used a contractor that was AWESOME. He did my friend's basement, so I already knew the quality of his work. The friends got him from their financial advisor -- just the kind of person the contractors NEED to have in their good graces. Our guy did a bathroom floor tile, sheetrocked over a former built-in shelf kind of area in our basement, wired for and mounted the huge TV AND built/installed a custom cabinet to go under said TV (in the indent area below the sheetrock work), all for $1010.00

Our builder quoted me $1400 just for the bathroom.

[Ladybug]

Whaaaaa? I need his number. I'll pay for his flight and room. That's a basement bargin!!!

Start with a small project, low expectations and just see how it goes. Maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised once things get rolling. If not at least you aren't overly invested.

I've found it helps to say "So-and-so gave me your name." especially if it's someone they get a lot of work though.

Yes, I have definitely been doing that. I mention it in each email and phone message. And I've let my realtor know that her recommended people are being flaky.

Each project by itself is small, but we're having multiple projects with multiple contractors at the same time, so it increases the annoyance factor. For instance, we're re-tiling a bathroom floor and that's it for the tile project.

[Ladybug]

Well, cross your fingers and jump in. What else can you do? I don't think it's an uncommon frustration in this line of work. They seem to operate in a parallel universe.

[Sheherezade]

I am waiting for a bunch of estimates right now as well. It is frustrating. I made follow up calls today to see if that would hurry things along. I partially wonder if it isn't because we are doing the general contracting work ourselves - because the workers don't have to fear losing future business from us. Our neighbor used a lot of the same workers and she didn't have problems with them getting back to her! (She did have a general contractor though and he dealt with everything.)

[Ladybug]

Interesting, Angie. How much does a general contractor charge? Is it a % ?

[Sheherezade]

Oh - if your project is through a general contractor, they usually make about 10-20% of the total job costs. We are trying to save that by doing all the co-ordination ourselves. We are using a lot of the contractors that the GC used for my neighbor (she gave me names) but she never dealt with the companies - only with the GC.

Whaaaaa? I need his number. I'll pay for his flight and room. That's a basement bargin!!!

Let me be clear - my basement was already finished. When the original owners did it, they followed the foundation line, including the chimney. We'd originally installed shelves, and had a small TV there, but when dh got his bigger-than-reasonable TV and we were going to mount it, we needed to sheet rock that space, etc. But yes, still quite the bargain. He did my friend's basement for around $22K, including a gorgeous built in cabinet around/under their huge TV, custom cabinets for their bar, and quality work all around.