hard time getting bids

[TT4]

Hey guys, just curious to know if anybody else in here had a hard time getting a contractor to call them back? I've been talking to two different guys and one of them I haven't heard from in about 2 weeks now. I talked to him about what all I wanted done and he gave me some ideas & opinions and asked for my address and said he would give me a call about meeting him at my house..........I still have yet to hear back from him. The other was supposed to meet me at my house this past Saturday to look at what all I want done. I've been talking with him since late last year and had told him that it would be a while before I was able to get started so I contacted him a week or so ago & told him that I'm coming up close to being able to get the plans started just as soon as the weather cooperates. I understand that these guys have other projects going on but honestly is it that hard to pick up the phone & make a simple call or even send a text? Both these guys are friends with my family so I was thinking that it wouldn't be that hard for them to keep in touch. I don't feel it necessary for me to have to keep calling them and leaving voicemails as I want to give one of them a rather large chunk of change to build me a shop. Oh well, it looks like I may have to start searching for a couple more contractors to get some bids.

 

[HOTFR8]

After the 3rd call I'd start looking for another to do the work.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Careful working with "friends and family".

 

[BillK]

TT,
I had the same problem when I was trying to find someone to do the roof on my detached garage about a year ago.

What puzzles me is that almost everyone I talk to who is a contractor of some type is always crying that they don't have any work ????? Well ..... duh .... you need to call prospective customers if you want to get jobs

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

If it's that hard to get in touch with him before you even get a bid how hard will be to when problems arise?

 

[rockwithjason]

they aren't calling you because they don't want the work. unfortunately, residential is the dregs of the construction industry. a good portion of the guys who work in it are there because they can't make it in commercial or industrial. that is not to say that there aren't good tradesman in residential, they are just harder to find and the same goes for contractors. time to move on

 

[scarney1988]

Maybe someone on here is local to him and can recommend someone ????

Search angies list?

Flag a neighbor down who has had work recently and ask them if they would recommend anyone?

I agree with others, time to look else where. Any sole proprietor/contractor who wanted your business would make a phone call after hours to let you know they have not forgotten you.

Good luck.

 

[volleyball]

Are you getting a good deal on price? Are you not firm on what you want and when?
I have gotten good price because I was willing to be filler work. Do it when they don't have a better paying gig. So you wait.
If I want it done very soon and willing to pay, I get estimates from different people and as well as price, I ask when it can be done.
You usually get bypassed if you are not as desirable job.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Welcome to GJ. So far, the above members have given you some sound advice.

Family/friends, that can be the greastest advantage or end ruining friendships or cause hurt feeling at family get togethers for years to come.

If they aren't calling you back, leave them a polite message. "Hello, Bob the Builder, this is TT4. I'm at the point I'd like to get some plans and the bid started for my garage that we had talked about a short time ago. If I don't hear back from you in the next couple of days, I'll assume that you are busy and already scheduled up for this Spring/Summer and I'll look for another contractor." Give them 48 hours to return the call, if they don't move on.

Edit your profile and put in a general location where you live. It may help you find a new builder but it also will help other members give you better advice in the future.

 

[Diesel Dan]

I had issues with several contractors not calling me back as well or even some that said they would call back and never did. The ones I give credit too are those that were busy and told me so up front but were still willing to come out and give me an estimate but would not be able to start until ** date which was usually months away. In some cases their wife/secretary would call back and explain the time frame.

If you are going to have a company # with a recorder, return the calls even if you have someone else do it.

 

[Angelfire]

Contractors not calling you back when you are offering them work is a sure sign you will have a helluva time with them once they are actually awarded the work. I found that many contractors have a memory of about 2-3 days. If you've waited two weeks to hear back from one about getting a price, forget it and move on. Many times they are paying lip service until you actually show them a set of prints and they actually believe you'll be breaking ground soon.

For many, it's about getting the next job, and not managing the ones they have. They jump from one to the next as they have to make enough $$ to survive. Inevitably it ends up the guy who is a once off job, gets the shaft. So find a contractor that gives a good price, is willing to put up with your needs, and then work with them on an agreed upon timeframe for the work to take place. I really don't recommend doing business with a friend of the family as I've heard just too many horror stories.

Another option is to act as your own General....but beware that the above statement about them not getting the job done since you're a once off, is 10 times as true!
cc

 

[nsnrider]

.. I've been talking with him since late last year and had told him that it would be a while before I was able to get started so...

telling a contractor it is going to be a while, he hears two things:

1. you don't have the money for the project

2. you might never get to the point of actually building something and this is a waste of his time.

Also, since he is a friend/family, they probably know more about you than their average customer and maybe they know something they think might hinder their chances of having a successful build or simply they are hesitant dealing with family/friends for the same reasons you should be hesitant, that is not to destroy the relationship you have now. Not to say it will get destroyed but it take a lot more patients and delicate touch when doing business with family/friends. I do a lot of business (automotive) with family/friends, and it is a whole different set of rules with them. Not saying better or worse, just different and "delicate".

 

[TT4]

Thanks guys for the advise..............I'm definitely worried that if they won't return my phone calls or meet with me when they say they will is a sign of what may be to follow during the actual build. One of them told me he was blessed & has been really busy & I respect & understand that but if you are going to say you will meet me, then show up. I guess it's time to start searching for new contractors.

 

[finn]

You can't wait till the weather clears before you finalize your plans and start talking seriously with a contractor. A good contractor will be busy already by that time.

Conversely, in my opinion it is still too easy for someone to get a license and hang a shingle calling one's self a contractor. It seems that there are many skilled tradesmen out there that lack the business skills, financing acumen, and scheduling talents to be real contractors and run a successful business. The follow I work with is like this and, frankly, it is difficult to work with him because, although he is a nice guy and does good work, he really has no business skills or for that matter, communication skills you would expect from someone running a business.

A lot of these contractors hang their own shingle because they can't function in a normal employer-employee relationship.

 

[Orange65]

If they don't have time to give you a price, they don't have the time for the work. I would find someone that wants the work and is willing to talk to you- friend or not. The friend thing can be a bigger issue than it is worth when there is a problem.

 

[12ozd]

Careful working with "friends and family".

If it's that hard to get in touch with him before you even get a bid how hard will be to when problems arise?

Contractors not calling you back when you are offering them work is a sure sign you will have a helluva time with them once they are actually awarded the work.

If they don't have time to give you a price, they don't have the time for the work. I would find someone that wants the work and is willing to talk to you- friend or not. The friend thing can be a bigger issue than it is worth when there is a problem.

Now I don't have to say it.

 

[sammerdog]

...I've been talking with him since late last year and had told him that it would be a while before I was able to get started... ...told him that I'm coming up close to being able to get the plans started just as soon as the weather cooperates...

In your statement above, before you can even begin plans (let alone building anything) you have two maybes; "you're coming up close to being able to" and "if the weather cooperates".

With all due respect sir, contractors typically won't spend much time with you until these two conditions are met:

1) you have money
2) you are ready to pull the trigger

 

[John in OH]

Hey guys, just curious to know if anybody else in here had a hard time getting a contractor to call them back? .......

I can assure you that you are not alone!! This issue has been raised here before on GJ by guys (myself included) that struggled to get contractors to return their calls. I sat here with money in the bank, permit in hand, and plans printed out, and I still couldn't get some of these guys to return my calls.

If they did call back, they would make an appointment and then just not show up!! Like you say, how hard is it to pick up the phone and make a 30 sec. call to tell you they got ******* on another job and can't make the appointment?? Really pi--ed me off!

Or, the ones that did show up, would promise to get a bid back in a few days and I never heard from them again! There again, if they don't want the job or think I'll be too much of PITA to work with, then be courteous enough to give me a quick call and say they changed their mind and won't bid for whatever reason. Don't leave me hanging for weeks with no communication!

I understand that not every contractor wants every job or may not want to work for a one-off customer; I've go no problem with that, but just tell me so I can move on!!

Bottom line is these guys could have a lot more work, or be a lot more successful in the building business, if they would just pick up the phone and communicate.

I finally did hook up with an excellent contractor that did a super job on my shop and I'd recommend him to anyone. So, the good guys are out there, but it sure is a pain finding them!

 

[rburke65]

This does no help your situation, but we, as a consumer group, have to get the word out on the bad contractors and, more importantly, promote and recommend the good guys.

 

[nolimits76]

This does no help your situation, but we, as a consumer group, have to get the word out on the bad contractors and, more importantly, promote and recommend the good guys.

Overall, I agree. But to a certain degree, you have to take it with a grain of salt. Each owner has a different set of expectations, level of communication, ability to respond promptly, etc.

It's very possible for two different owners to report two different stories of the same contractor based on a plethora of facts. And yes, there are quite a few crappy contractors -- I'm not defending them. However, let's not forget that some owners are less than great to work with and deal with as well and complicates/slows down a job.

If you need proof, just watch some of those HGTV remodel shows. Owners doing stupid things to sacrifice schedule and budget all the time, and then have the balls to wonder why the contractor screwed them. Also, there are those inspection shows where contractors clearly performed crappy work and left the homeowner with a mess. It goes both ways for sure, but the review we get is generally one-sided.

My advise to anyone working with a contractor is to sit down with them and thoroughly communicate your needs and desires as clearly as possible so all parties are of sound understanding. Use drawings, spreadsheets, meeting notes, etc to keep all parties on the same page. I work in construction management and do this professionally, and also in my personal endeavors (built 2 homes previously).

Like all relationships, communication is vital for success. Sounds like the OP is having a hard time starting the communication process, so I can only imagine the potential mess that is awaiting using those contractors. There is some truth to contractors blowing off people when they are wish-washy. If I were the OP I would clearly communicate you have funds, and are ready to move forward. Provide a time/date for the contractor to call you back to discuss and if he fails to do so let him know he will be eliminated from your short list of potential bidders. If he doesn't call, strike him off and move on.

Mixing business and friends or family is a horrible idea. They may know this already and be part of the reason they aren't calling you back. If you decide to work with either of them, I would advise you to make it clear up front that you value the friendship, etc but the work is all business and you will treat them just like any other business during the process. If you can't or have a hard time separating friendship and business, don't even try to work with them.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Some people act like they've got all the work in the world and don't need yours. I've found that with all trades, not just construction. I found my builder after asking him offhandedly about my garage, while he was doing some HI on my brother's house, and after not being able to come to terms with my original builder. He's now my builder and the first one I call for just about anything. I'll give him the work first-if he can't handle it he'll sub it out, but seems to always get me good people. And he always calls me back within an hour or so. These are the kind of guys that seem to be hard to find, but once found, you don't want to let him go.

 

[Zeke]

Yep, everyone is super busy nowadays. I'm even getting the old 'you get the materials and give me a call' routine. By the time I get the materials, I'm doing the job myself.

 

[LB-1911]

Hey guys, just curious to know if anybody else in here had a hard time getting a contractor to call them back? I've been talking to two different guys and one of them I haven't heard from in about 2 weeks now. I talked to him about what all I wanted done and he gave me some ideas & opinions and asked for my address and said he would give me a call about meeting him at my house..........I still have yet to hear back from him. The other was supposed to meet me at my house this past Saturday to look at what all I want done. I've been talking with him since late last year and had told him that it would be a while before I was able to get started so I contacted him a week or so ago & told him that I'm coming up close to being able to get the plans started just as soon as the weather cooperates. I understand that these guys have other projects going on but honestly is it that hard to pick up the phone & make a simple call or even send a text? Both these guys are friends with my family so I was thinking that it wouldn't be that hard for them to keep in touch. I don't feel it necessary for me to have to keep calling them and leaving voicemails as I want to give one of them a rather large chunk of change to build me a shop. Oh well, it looks like I may have to start searching for a couple more contractors to get some bids.

Have you drawn up a rough plot plan yet?

Effective January 2, 2014 all Moore County Zoning, Building, and Environmental Health applications will be processed through the One Stop Permitting office at 1048 Carriage Oaks Drive.

Customer Service Counter:
The following functions and services are available through the Customer Service Counter at Moore County Planning and Community Development Department:

Questions about the permit process are answered
You can pick up application forms
Questions about residential construction are answered

Residential Permit Application Packet
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Moore County Planning and Community Development Department
https://www.moorecountync.gov/index.php/en/mnu-plan

 

[Casey69]

If it's that hard to get in touch with him before you even get a bid how hard will be to when problems arise?

i've had the same problems w/ contractors & try to do as much as i can on my own. i can do a half-@ssed job just as well as most of the "pros" can.

if i do have to call one, i check for references, the BBB, & a quick web search to try & make sure they'll be ok.

good luck!

 

[DirtRoad]

In your statement above, before you can even begin plans (let alone building anything) you have two maybes; "you're coming up close to being able to" and "if the weather cooperates".

With all due respect sir, contractors typically won't spend much time with you until these two conditions are met:

1) you have money
2) you are ready to pull the trigger

This^

I wouldnt call you back either, no time or money to waist on tire kickers

 

[TT4]

Okay, one of the contractors finally contacted me today that was supposed to meet me this past Saturday. Come to find out his father isn't doing well (ongoing health issues) and they were with him all day and he apologized for losing focus on what he had to do that day. I knew of his father's problems for a couple of weeks now so I told him no problem & I understand his situation. I'm not an a-hole and we all have parents that are getting older. He said he will most definitely get me some numbers together very soon & will meet with me in the near future when he does get something together. I told him that all I ask of him is to keep in touch.

There may have also been some confusion in my first post that a few may have misunderstood.........let me say that the money is in the bank & waiting to be spent, just have to pay some taxes on it but there will be plenty leftover to build my shop. Also, it was a very abnormally wet summer last year for NC & an even wetter winter with the snowfall that we've had this year. After attempting to do some work with my dad's Kubota tractor in my yard this past Monday afternoon I really don't foresee being able to start until possibly May or June due to how wet the ground is right now. I just wanted somebody to give me a price on what it will cost to do a stick built garage. I wouldn't even hold them to it as it will be a while before anything is done BUT I will at least have some numbers to go by. I'm not going to pull the trigger anyway with just one quote as I'll probably get 2 or 3 before it's said & done.......and that's if I can get some of the other contractors to call me back. I called a new contractor yesterday and I'm still waiting for his call as well. I will at least have one quote hopefully within the next few days though.

 

[volleyball]

Lumber yards usually have packages already planned. They can price that out for you. I would also check with a modular builder if one is local enough. They would build it now and be ready to go when you are.

 

[12ozd]

I would also check with a modular builder if one is local enough. They would build it now and be ready to go when you are.

Well worth spending a little time on this.
Good advice.

 

[Kevin54]

I make two calls only. One to talk on the phone about what I am needing done and set up an appointment. If they don't show when expected, and from time to tie things do crop up, if they don't call me, I give it a week from the appointment time and call one more time. If again, it's a no show, or no return call, I won't mess with them. My time is just as valuable as theirs. They knock off at 5:00, so there is no reason they can't stop after that time.

That's what is so bad in our town. You hear them all cry about wanting work, yet they are all out dicking around everyday. 9 times out of 10, I just call ones up in my hometown, and they'll be here the same evening.

 

[TT4]

I would also check with a modular builder if one is local enough. They would build it now and be ready to go when you are.

Believe it or not, the one contractor that finally got back with me is a modular builder. Hopefully he comes through for me.......of course the few guys I have talked to are local builders & all come highly recommended so I'm trying to be as patient as possible before I finally give up on them.