Help!! Contractor giving us hard time about glass vs screen
piedpipurr
12 years ago
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aidan_m
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agopiedpipurr
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Decision Time - Choosing the Contractor
Comments (11)Hi all - as always great comments from the GWers. Let me hash thru your feedback and see if that changes the "group think" at all. One thing to clarify, the KD is the middle bidder - we would hire him and he would essentially become the general contractor as well as sell us the cabinets. I do admit that the lack of detail from the low bidder is a bit disconcerting. I think, however, its just how they do things. Part of the price is because they are a small firm (2 partners + subs) that do NO advertising. All their work is word-of-mouth referrals and they are not hurting for work (they are currently already scheduling for this summer). They have given me referrals (I have not called any yet) and the architect says that their clients they've referred to these guys have all been thrilled. Since the plans show the two kitchen sinks, they have told me that they are included in the "plumbing to code" line of the bid. As for the second two, it is a a tough call, but $13k difference is nothing to sneeze at especially because the higher bid is higher still becauser we'd have to pay the KD for installation (and unfortunately we've never gotten a number for that, but I assume 10% of the cabinet cost). Our cabinet pricing is right around $30 and including all the trims, crown and end panels is around 72 individual items. Pllog, yes, this is the guy that came up with the piano shaped island (great memory). We ultimately changed the island shape again, but this is him. His experience shows - on Saturday we asked him about changing the doors for the cabinet over the oven since we've decided to put the kitchen TV there. He said, "just leave them off and we'll trim it out to finish it off. Keep the doors if you ever want to go back to a regular cabinet" Since our current TV is out all the time, that made perfect sense but never occurred to us. We were thinking pocket doors or a rollup door. As for the painting, the allowance in the highest bid was only for $2000. Not enough of a difference to matter given the overal scope of the project. Since we'll have time between finished drywall and cabinets, we might do the painting on our own anyway. If we had to choose, all other things being equal it would be to the middle or high bid mainly because of experience with the high bidder (whose contract is plenty detailed - about as detailed as the middle bid) and reputation and relationship with the middle bidder. Part of the appeal of the middle bid is that we think things will go more smoothly (coordination, etc) if one person (acting as GC) is responsible for the entire project. buehl brings up a good point about the relationship with the KD (middle bid). This guy accepts nothing less than perfection, so I don't think we'd have any issues about rocking the boat or making do if we run into problems. While he has known my in-laws for 30+ years its not the type of close relationship that would be damaged if our project were to have issues. My FIL has already offered to see if he could do better on the cabinet pricing saying that we can't really negotiate that with him, but he (FIL) could. As for my relationship with my wife, if anything she's the one that'll play hard ball not me, so no worries there. Ok, so there is more food for thought....how does that change our opinions??? Thanks again....See MoreReal time vs. 'contractor time'...
Comments (12)What is interesting to me is that no one twisted his arm on HIS estimate of the time it would take. He said 8 weeks and in my head I automatically adjusted and said "12". I expected to have delays, unforseen, unexpected. I did not expect 26+ weeks with no end in sight. He is clearly balancing too many jobs and we are suffering for it. Probably with a lot of his other clients. I just wish vendors and contractors would give HONEST estimates of the time involved, hell, even go on the outside with the longest estimate you think it MIGHT take you. Then when you come in under or at time estimated I am surprised and happy. Under promise and then you can easily over deliver. That would be a good motto for these folks to live by. I have been a business person. I estimated my time to the best of my ability and did everything necessary to come in under budget and under time. It's just good business practice. Why is that so hard for people to understand. As to some of the other comments, I understand that change orders would be a hold up but through the entire job we have had two changes, we added some electrical to our garage and we patterned and stamped the small slab of concrete outside our back door. These portions are already done and the subs are long gone. They are NOT the reason for delay in our particular case. Absence is the issue here. No contractor = no work done....See MoreGood Help: Contractors give their side
Comments (11)My complaint is that I have had too many instances of plumbers, painters, and handimen etc. who, for 2-3X per hour than I earn to keep people alive,(and I was gladly paying for "professional" work) do work that is of poorer quality than I could or would do myself--and I have no background in these areas--and/or have damaged walls, siding, trim, carpet etc in the process--and I have even had to go to Lowes to find out how to correct their damage myself (and done so) when according to them it will take a much more complicated and expensive fix on their part. I know that there are quality tradesmen out there--many of you post on GardenWeb--but you can be hard to find--so don't get resentful of the homeowners who are "burned more than once, and now really shy"! Assuming that people are getting what they deserve cos they hired the lowest price is, in my experience, way off base. I have a nice but modest home, I just want competent, finished work, not custom, top-of-the line, nor bargain basement. Interesting idea that giving estimates is considered a waste of time unless the job is awarded, or that all your time must be compensated. I have told people about companies who impressed me in the estimate process, even if I didn't choose them for one reason or another--so it wasn't wasted time. On the other hand, last fall I was getting estimates for a new roof--one fellow really impressed me: his price was a little more than everyone else but he was promising extra effort to solve a problem, and I was going to go with him--but he didn't give me anything in writing, and didn't mail it as promised,--so he didn't get the job. Also, I think that most businesses have to lay out money up front, not just time, to stock goods, advertise, etc with no guarantee that enough sales will follow. In my profession, I have to spend considerable time, and spend money too, to keep up with new developments and to keep my skills sharp --never compensated....See MoreHelp I am having a hard time on this site
Comments (32)Hi Christy203, Keep at it and don't give up. Searching can give you gray hairs but once you learn the system it will get easier. If there is something specific you want I can try to find it, my co-workers, family even a few on GW (gardenweb) joke that I have a nack for finding things. It could be the barbie doll shoe on the staircase, someone's cleats or the scissors and I know exactly where it was left. Finding info on the web is a little more tricky but I can do it to. If you are looking for a picture, article, previous post... I can do my best to help you out. Just tell me what you want and I will help you search and post it here. ~boxerpups (who should have been hound-pups) White marble countertops Gardenweb http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0221583628661.html How do you like your marble countertop? http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg021151228647.html Honed marble countertops 3 years later? Photos? Experience? http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0515282622706.html White Marble http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0215374910799.html Please talk me in off the ledge - white countertop w/marble tile http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg100317478150.html Calcutta / Carrera questions http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg061243052301.html Here is a link that might be useful: calling marble owners....See Moreaidan_m
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agojackieblue
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agojohn_hyatt
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoIsabel Alfonso
6 years agomillworkman
6 years ago
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