When do you plan on starting your job? Do you have necessary permits? Is GC available? If you plan on starting within 30 days, have permits and want GC to do the job, I think major details need to be ironed out. It is hard to deal with the slow response and I would be careful to make sure any upcharges once you get started are agreed upon before the work is initiated so you don't get a big, unexpected bill at the end of the project. This has happened to me many times.

Only you know much lead way you are willing to give the GC. Maybe you could let him know that you have been patient and waiting over a month to iron out these details and see if he's willing to meet with you this week. Maybe he doesn't even realize so much time has past since he was away, had a death in the family, and maybe overwhelmed with other issues such as tax time.

Good Luck, make sure you are comfortable before you move ahead.

If you are having response issues getting him to take your money, what will happen when he has it? IMHO, I'd find a more responsive GC. Mine responds almost immediately and usually no more than an hour after I reach out to him.

Good luck!

The plan is to start in early June so coming up quick. We didn't get the permit yet because it needs the GC info and that isn't a done deal.

He claims that he is a working contractor but would think you need to balance the current job and future ones.

Relieved that I am not just being paranoid. I feel like I have cut him some slack but now just feeling like I am chasing him down to sign a contract.

Everybody gets busy, and everybody has issues in their private life from time to time. BUT...professionals also take the time to deal with those things that are important to us, our families, our businesses, etc. If he can't deal with your project now, what will change? Money does not typically change this issue (in employees or contractors).

Make sure that YOU are getting what you need. If it's like most kitchen projects, it could take a while. It helps to have a great working relationship with your contractor.

Excellent points and you would think getting a deposit would be an incentive. I was trying to be understanding about the death in the family but then he was going on vacation too so obviously it wasn't impacting his life that much. I have a better feeling about another contractor but he entered the picture too late. I was feeling like I was going to him to get answers to questions because the other one wasn't responsive and I do feel like I would have a good working relationship with the other one. Hopefully he will still available for June.

Marie,

Above all else, you have to have a good relationship and excellent communication with whomever you choose. We love our builder. I interviewed 10 before knowing for sure he was the one. We have had no regrets so far but we still have a long road to go as we are building a home.

Good luck and hope the other one is still available for you.

I'm going to be mean here. And yes, people die. But, people also lie. The guy who is in my house right now painting had to "go it alone" for 2 days last week because the first day his worker had a sick kid, 2nd day the kid was in the hospital with pneumonia, I was in the house yesterday and heard him on the phone with another guy.....turns out, kid was never sick, no pneumonia, no hospital....his worker was a flat out liar. The painter was telling the guy on the phone, "how do I know if he's lying about his hours?".....

I am in no way saying your guy is lying. It just seems that he is doing every thing he can to not come back and see you. I'd move on and find some other people who might want to do the job.

People will come up with all sorts of excuses. What I find amazing is how difficult it is to find people to hire. It's as if you have to beg for them to take your money. I thought the economy wasn't doing well. It doesn't seem to be a problem for a lot of people.

Bee

My GC is SUPER busy right now and our job is finished. I had a couple of small issues to address(mind you, we already paid the balance) and he still has gotten back to me within a day or so. He is currently carrying 13 kitchens right now with one main sub GC so he certainly could tell me he is too busy to address my small concerns.
I say ditch him- if you are uncomfortable now, I predict it will only get worse.

Our GC was also very busy with numerous projects going on simultaneously. From the very first meeting, he showed up on time (or called to let us know he was running behind)and was always prepared. We met with him several times before signing the contract and he was always patient, answered our questions....he courted our business! When work began, he was also very responsive to emails and calls and came over periodically to check on things....it's called good customer service and you shouldn't tolerate less.

If you like this GC and don't need to start in June, then think about checking to see when his schedule is less full. However, if speediness is a must, then I agree with the others that he's off to a bad start with you.

Didn't someone on the forum have a GC whose grandmother died like 4 times during their reno? I mean really, if the GC says a family member or friend died who is going to pressure them for anything after a death? This GC may or may not be fibbing about a death in the family--I can't say for sure. But it's not a very good way to start out, that's for sure. You have not given him the deposit, no contract has been signed and no work has begun so you are NOT obligated to use him. If you have a better gut feeling about the other GC, his pricing works for you, you've checked his references, seen his work first-hand, and he can get you on the schedule then I say sign with him and get the ball rolling.

I'd take it as a HUGE warning sign and find a new GC. This type of problem communication indicates an unprofessional approach to business.

Our cabinet builder was very quick to drive the 90 mins. to meet with us a few times before he got our check. He also returned calls in a very timely fashion early on. I like him a lot, but he has caused us so much stress because after we signed on, it became next to impossible to get him to return calls or emails. At one point, we were convinced he'd taken our deposit and left the country because he didn't get back to us!

He said email was better because he doesn't always hear the phone, but I'll ask him a few questions via email and after waiting a couple days, I may get an answer to just one of the questions! Frustrating.

Bottom line....Accessibility is important, and if your guy isn't responsive before he gets the job, I'd be concerned that things could get extra stressfull after he has a contract. I'd wait for the guy you like and have good "chemistry" with. It could make a big difference!

Here's my two cents:

I've worked with a GC on several jobs. I must admit that he's terrible with calling me back when he's not working on a job for me. He's exceptional when he is working for me.

The last time he did a job for me (a small one) I had to beg him to come and get his payment.

My GC does a lot of out of town work. He's not the cheapest guy. But I'm always pleased at the end of a job.

I had a nightmare experience with my former GC whom eventually fired. He was a total liar and a crook. And we are still trying to fix all of his mistakes. Not to scare you, but the excuses your GC made to you sound eerily familiar.. Whenever I questioned my ex-GC's unresponsiveness, he would make excuses like he had to take his son to the ER, then his wife had to go to the ER, then he was in a meeting all day, then son went to ER again for broken arm (a few days later, saw him and his son at the grocery store wearing no cast in sight) , then he lost his phone, then he had to have an operation, though he was fine and working the next day, etc., etc. Even if all excuses were true, it is indicative of someone who is not very "together", totally unprofessional and would have trouble managing a project anyway-- For my personal situation, I totally regret not firing him sooner when i saw the warning signs early on.
FWIW, just wanted to say to you, to be very careful.
Good luck to you!!!

Run. Like. Hell.

Some of my contractors had more deaths in their families than Holocaust survivors. Their kids were always in the hospital. Wives miscarried on a weekly basis. Except when you asked someone like a sub, who just laughed. Or you asked them a few weeks later, when they forgot about their excuse, and they tell you how much fun they had at Universal Studios. Or in Paris.

Automatically assume that anytime a contractor tells you somebody died, he's lying. Period. Full stop. Maybe he isn't, but I wouldn't put my money on a one in a trillion bet.

Thanks for all the comments. I was concerned that I was overly sensitive to the past situation. This guy had rave reviews on Angie's list. He is a working contractor doing usually just one job at a time so IMO evenings would be calls and emails for future business. The family death was 2 weeks after we discussed revising the contract and that led into a vacation.

I am going with my gut and called the other contractor last night. He is excited and coming over Thursday to sign the contract and review everything. I feel better already!

I've got to agree with those who say run away and run away fast! I've had some HORRID experiences with contractors and this is a BIG red flag IMHO. This is the honeymoon phase of your project. This is the point where your contractor is still selling himself to you and wooing you and being super responsive. Once they have your money and the contract is signed, then they can afford to put you off and be unresponsive. If this kind of thing is happening NOW, imagine what it will be like once that contract is signed and he has your money. There are too many good contractors out there to waste time with someone who won't take good care of you. Take your time to fine one. Even if your start date ends up being delayed, you'll probably finish faster than you would be going with a GC who can't be bothered to return a phone call. Glad to hear you've already called someone else. That's the first step!

Good luck!