it really sounds like you need a really good handyman, not a contractor. Our handyman does everything except electrical, and he comes over before work to discuss our projects.

I wouldn't hire a handyman to redo a shower, but the other things sound like handyman-type jobs. When you say "install built-in bookshelves" do you mean installing shelves or building/installing something custom? IMO, finding a good handyman is as difficult as finding a good contractor. I'd start with asking family, friends, and coworkers for a recommendation.

google, thumbtack ,home advisor, your local real paint store

Several of my friends are residential contractors and I am a commercial contractor. My plumber friend and sheetrock/spackler friend both told me this is the busiest they have ever been. Residential contractors can be extremely unreliable, as I have experienced in the past, but contractors in general are much more challenging when the industry is booming like now.

It's times like these that contractors increase their mark-ups and throw high numbers hoping for a "quick-hit" or losing a job they didn't really have time for anyway. Be patient, make sure you find a quality contractor and don't overpay too much.

I get references from other trades I've used. I need a framing carpenter for some relatively small jobs in the near future. So I texted the guy who did a really good job on some drywall for me and asked for a recommendation. Boom! He sent back a name he would use.

I found a potential remodeling plumber by asking my appliance repairman if he knew someone. I also have a name from the guy who serviced my water softener.

Yelp is also your friend if you read carefully between the lines. That's where I found the excellent drywall guy.

I network a lot just while shopping for things. Been looking for windows. Went to a company that doesn't install but will recommend. Was chatting with a guy and asked if he know someone who could frame out new windows, not simply replace. He gave me the name of someone who he says does excellent work but has basically retired but does take on some side work. Another name to add to my list. I will be buying from the window guy who recommended the guy because he was the only one who didn't try to upsell me or push a brand. He actually saved me $$$ by showing me what would fit my specific needs not what was popular or offering kickbacks.

I have called real estate agents for references.

I got 6 bids when I put in hardwood. Then my dad was like "call my guy" ----long story short, I used his guy and he was way cheaper and did excellent work. He later did my bathroom remodel. What's my point? Ask around (family, friends, neighbors) and try contacting someone who is referred. Like a college professor once said "it's not what you know, it's who you know"...

I have called real estate agents for references.

Real Estate agents in my area are notorious for trading references for reduced pricing on their own jobs.

" Had another who insisted I meet him at my home in the middle of the day."

Yeah, your lawyer and doctor and other professionals work after hours. What makes this professional think he's so special?

Every contractor we met with about our job met us on a weekend. And I'm available during the week as I work from home from time to time, but they chose the weekend.

In OPs case obviously it wasn't important enough of an opportunity for him to adjust his schedule to yours.

I'm Design Build, so while the first Design appointment will fit in with your schedule, after work or a weekend, the second, with the Build portion of the team, requires a M-F 9-5 appointment commitment from you. And a nominal monetary deposit. If you are serous, and are not just shopping around, you will commit to that.

No harm no foul if you don't want to proceed to that next step. But we won't work up a quote for you without that commitment. If 10M worth of insurance, 100% background checked employees (NOT subs) and a national reputation for customer satisfaction isn't enough for you to have some desire to move to the next step, then you just self selected into our "no" file.

I've had two prospects already this week come back to us because I took the time to explain to them our waterproofing process for showers (Kerdi) and why our quote would be more costly. We are never the cheap quote. And we don't seek the customer who wants the cheap job. We are who the customer calls after the cheapest contractor has walked off the job. Unfortunately, that is when they get to pay our higher price plus the cost of the cheap contractor.

Basically what I am saying is that those who budget shop in this increased scarcity induced premium pricing environment, are setting themselves up for being scammed by lowlifes. The good folks are all busy. Very busy. And not cheap.

We need Sophie's Good, Fast, or Cheap diagram now. You can Pick Two. You cannot have all three. I hope that you choose Good.

Thanks everyone for the comments. A few responses...

Bookshelves: I was hoping for something basic, but just what it means, built-in bookshelves. See below Houzz photo, only I wanted the shelves to go to the ceiling..

Networking: My friends and family have all had iffy experiences, so I'm pretty much on my own - trailblazing.

Agreed about high prices. Just talked to a guy who quoted me $8500. Ridiculous.

We had a much easier time with hardwood. Took a few bids, took the medium priced guy who had his stuff together and no problem when I asked about insurance. This was important as we had a plumber doing work upstairs, broke a line, water on raw oak floor - insurance covered the whole incident.

Look, I'm just asking for someone to stop by for initial appointment on my schedule, after 5PM or on weekends. I don't think that's asking too much. I would then expect to move to their schedule, like our hardwoods, they were in every day at 8, gone around 5. But if I can't even get you to stop by for the initial...then you must not want to work anyhow.

Live_Wire: I'm not sure if you are saying that we are budget shopping or what, but at this point, we are just trying to get one darn quote! This isn't a budget issue...

Simple, would be better if they went to the ceiling. · More Info

P.S. - Seems like since everyone's busy they get to choose how to treat potential customers. I'll remember that when things are not so hopping.

Any ''contractor'' who has less than a month or two waiting list right now is not someone that will pass a background check to get hired by the good busy guys. Larger contractors are desperate for good help right now and are paying out the nose for skilled workers who can show up and work well in a team. Yes, that has translated into higher labor prices and the instant ability to weed out dreamers with marginal projects.

The initial appointment is just a screening tool, designed to weed out potential tire kickers. $8500 for your list of items is about 1/3 of the budget that you need. Couple that inadequate budget with the initial inflexibility, and yeah, you are sending off signals that you aren't a client who is serious, or who would be easy to work with. They move on to the folks who have the budget and the personal flexibility.

Signs · More Info

Sophie - I don't think I was clear. $8500 for simple bookshelves, that price is not reflective of my other projects. Seems a bit high, don't you think?? Your image doesn't really make sense to me, sorry.

Heck, I paid less than half that to have solid hardwood installed on my entire main floor. Do you take into consideration my market, location? Don't you think a Los Angeles, CA location is priced differently than Mississippi? I certainly do. In any case, my thread wasn't about arguing cost, it was about how to find a contractor. Thanks.

$8500 for those bookcases, to the ceiling, custom made, is about average. And that would be for here, which has a lower COL than LA.

"How'' is directly related to givingoff the correct vibes. Start by making an appointment during the day. Mention a realistic budget. There you go.

Wow, thanks, so helpful. I'm done here.

It is like wanting to date the hot football star. He is in demand. He has his pick. What are you bringing to the table to entice?

I see someone who thinks her time matters and his doesn't. Strike One. I see someone who doesn't understand the she needs them to take the job, they do not need her work. Strike Two. I see someone with an insufficient budget for the project. Strike Three and Out.

I'd advise you to learn to DIY.

The only contractor that you will get who is available right NOW won't be safe to let into your home.

I don't have to play. I don't have to give my money to anyone. See, I can just wait, or decide to pay the person I want to pay. I don't NEED anyone to take the job. I desire that, but given the headache involved by a bunch of what sounds to me like entitled folks. No one is owed anything in this world. Sadly some don't see it that way.

Of course other's time matters. But this is how the world works, you work, I pay. If you don't want to work I pay someone else. I never mentioned my budget, yet you assume.

Wow this thread started out helpful (thanks to the first posters for some actual constructive advice) and ended with a pointless argument. Also amusing at the "pros" commenting who have ZERO reviews. RIDICULOUS.

Not enough folks have been entering into the trades. Kids parents all sent them to college, not a construction site. The skilled trades labor shortage is only going to get worse. Which means that the costs will continue to rise, and contractors can be increasingly pickier about the jobs that they DO take. The use of the word entitled above is being done with the full sense of the ironic, right? Since you cannot get anyone to do what you want on YOUR terms? LOL!

You can live without your bookcases and remodeled bathroom, sure. Live. And learn. If you won't learn that you are not superior to the people that you actually DO need to do work for you, then you aren't likely to get anyone to work for you. And yeah, a skilled cabinet maker will be making more than a neurosurgeon before long. It is supply and demand. People who know how to use a screwdriver and a hammer are in high demand. And have their pick of jobs. And customers.

So, either learn honey. Or stick with the vinegar. It has worked so well so far, right?

Tricia, you may have better luck if you can wait. In my area, November through January have always been slower months for construction. I don't live in a cold climate so I'm guessing the holidays are a factor. I do think that you will need to be patient and persistent. Just a few years ago many contractors were struggling to get by so rising prices are to be expected now. IMO, prices still have a ways to rise before they even reach pre-recession levels.

jellytoast: My thoughts exactly. I may just buy Amish bookshelves, which I found to be high quality, and move on to another project worthy of a contractor. They are just too busy with high spenders and I don't think they are hungry for work. We found contractors easily early this year, so we will wait for winter when the work dies down. Thanks for the refreshingly helpful post!

Winter "Off season" in CA is like summer in Michigan weather wise. Who is gonna slow down when it's 50 outside instead of 70? And they still work in 0 weather in Michigan! No lack of demand! Just a lack of supply.

GD, I have no idea what it will be like this year, but in the past, November to January have been slower. Like I said, I think it has more to do with the holidays and people not wanting to have their homes torn up or have construction going on while they are entertaining. It's not that contractors want or need to slow down because of the weather, it is just that many people don't want to do construction during Thanksgiving and Christmas. I did not say there was NO work, only that things typically slow down somewhat.

jelly, totally agree with you. We had the same thing happen early this year. Lots of contractors to choose from, very competitive rates, quality work. No need to "fight" to pay someone.

Not sure why this went off the rails, as everyone has valid points. But I did want to say that a Built In bookcase, designed to fit the space properly, with the base molding and crown molding applied, just like the room, is Substantially more than freestanding units. You will not get the same look with freestanding. That is custom construction. The bookcase that you show, to the ceiling, built in, out if quality cabinet ply (Not MDF) would be 8-10K here, ballpark. Case goods construction is in demand, with no slowing down. All of a sudden, everyone wants to remodel!

I was on a contractor site the other day and a guy said that "he didn't GAS." I wondered what that meant, but then figured out that he didn't "give a $*!t." He's my age, I'll be 61 in November, and it doesn't surprise me how much I'm like him.

I do mostly repairs because there are lots of them, plenty of customers are "previously spanked", there is little competition, but mostly because I can charge a lot. Repairs pay double what new fabrication and installation do.

Occasionally I'll get someone wanting new work. I price it at repair rates. If I get it, great, if not, I don't GAS.

I've got a new solid surface job coming up in a waterfront foreclosure remodel. The DINK's read my reviews and based their decision to hire me on them and my ability to engineer their stone table top, not on price.

I found out this morning my price was too high on another solid surface job. Here in Florida it's common for the sink counter to travel under a sliding glass window and into a lanai. It's going to be a lot of work to make that happen right and I priced it accordingly. I've already done this repair on another job because the original contractor didn't charge enough.

Be wary of a contractor with too big a backlog; his rates may be too low. I never have one, but then I don't GAS.

If you have a Nextdoor-type neighborhood network, ask for references there. People are usually more than willing to advertise the good workers. If appointments during the workday are an issue, maybe ask for appointments at the beginning of their workday? I have gotten some 7:30 am appointments this way.

For the bookcases, if functionality is important, have you taken a look at IKEA? Far from the same thing, I know, but you can get a pretty seamless look for just a fraction of the price. I have a wall done like that and people are unreasonably impressed with it :)

Lys, I did look at Ikea which is why I started on this project. I did not like the quality of the shelving system, and want at least thick particle board if I have to have it. Seriously, the alternative is purchasing handmade Amish bookshelves, which can be made to my specifications, with solid wood, and for much less hassle. I know it won't be the same look, but I think the cost I'm paying in frustration is worth it. Who knows? Maybe I'll find a good contractor soon.

Interesting. That does look nice. Thanks so much!

We used Billy bookcases - you can trim them out to look more custom (crown molding above, trim to cover the seams between units).