I Lost Big On The One That I Was Counting One

Grumpy

That's what I was thinking. Usually engineers oversee these things.

mattp

We don't have any city or county inspector. The inspector for this job is the housing's head of maintenance man. He reports back to the architect.

robert

We recently bid some goverment housing reroofs, 25 year shingles, strip to the deck, all new vents it went for about 175 a square to a local company.I couldnt figure why even bother they must of had cheap sobs working for them.

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commercial,residential and industrial roofers, southern louisiana.

MEL

I have had some experience with these types of jobs.

Sometimes the jobs get let out at a decent price. I have customer that I’ve done about 12 complexes for. Most were not prevailing wage, but they were government funded. I know the owner personally.

Everybody that lives there is on womb to the tomb welfare.

Last year when things got slow around here a lot of roofers cut there price to the bone.

They told me what the price was and I didn’t want to go that low, so I let it pass.

It’s humiliating that they expect roofers to work their but off and be worse off financially than the occupants that are on welfare.

They called me a couple months ago about a prevailing wage job and I didn’t bid on it. Even if I got the job it wouldn’t be worth it if there is nothing left over after I pay the bills. Plus I would have to do extra paperwork to document the prevailing wages.

The prevailing wage for a roofer around here is $40 per hour. When I add on for taxes and insurance that would come to around $60 per hour. Do you think the guy that gets the job will be paying the same cost?

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MEL

MEL

If I were you I would let the owner know. You could do it anonymously by phone or mail. Send some pictures.

Throw a wrench into the works so that the low ball hack doesn’t get paid.

You can find out who the owner is from the city hall or county court house.

It may be available online or they may have a computer in the lobby, its public information. Just go to the tax assessors department.

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MEL

concretemasonry

MEL -

The real world is not Detroit and government give-aways now. The problems with the miss-managed and bailed out GMs and Chrysler/Fiat is just a thing of the past. The international financial process will affect all businesses and the local economy.

That means you will have different comptitors as you dig out of the local business and competitive stuation. - I lived in Michigan for about 7 years and lefta few years later. - Fortunately, I lived far from Detroit and only had to pass through the airport.

I appreciate your problem of being between the unions and unorganzed non-unin labor situation, but it is certainly a challenge in an ustable labor market.

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Dick

Engineer, designer and consultant recently active domestically and internationally on construction and design in about 35 countries.

buildpinnacle

Douger,

If you're handling the claim and dealing with the ins company on a shingle job of this size to make sure the Owners get fair market value for the loss. Do NOT do so without an Authorization of Insured form. Don't mistake this for a 'blank price contingency contract'. It's what we use on all large commercial roofing projects, fire restos, hurricane restos, tree, water, ice, etc. You don't waste your time settling the claim for them to lowball and give it to someone else. The biggest selling point to get someone to sign up is that they are only entitled to what they spend, not what is allowed by the claim settlement. Therefore, it behooves them to hire a company they trust and get along with because they aren't entitled to any excess 'low bid' monies anyway if depreciation is involved. I also am very quick to let them know that if they get $170K and get the work done for $90K and they have to bill for recoverables and attempt to get the balance of the $170K they will do so only by committing fraud which at that level is a state jail felony. I let them know there is no way around this as insurance companies audit large loss claims for this purpose and will generally require all receipts, invoices, and copies of cancelled checks to verify those funds were actually spent. I tell them I like them, but won't share a cell with them. We can help them, but it has to be about the work only, and not trying to get enough to buy a new lexus to boot.

Now, does all that happen. On paper, yes. In the real world, no. Most contractors and owners get away with it every day and never get caught. Regardless, it is fraudulent nonetheless and it is always a part of my pitch to get my Authorization signed so I can go to work.

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twill59

I wish they would do that here Pinnacle. Most contractors verywhere would prolly agree.

They are so blinded by greed they can't see that they don't have to settle for a poor settlement. By that I mean rot gut roofing job

mattsk8

Based on what I'm reading here I know I dont do things on the same level as you guys (I'm not even a roofer) but I struggle w/ the same thing. I completely agree that it's the costomer trying to get something for nothing most of the time. I've run into this soooooo much lately that I can almost read it in them (potential costomers) while they're talking and sometimes I'll just blow em off. I get sooo incredibly SICK of competing w/ hacks for jobs. It is fun however to lose a bid and watch it miserably fail for the HO. I bid a house 2 years ago and had the job when at the last minute someone came in 10,000$ less than me and I lost it- when I say last minute I mean last minute. I found out it took that builder 1 1/2 years to do the house, the roof leaked and there was nothing but problems- alot of the stuff that was supposed to get done didnt. But, that dutch cheap turd home owner got what he paid for. Way to save 10,000$ idiot!!! I'm especially pissed right now cuz I just lost framing my parents house (no joke) to a guy over 1900$. They say to me if he can do it that cheap I dont see why you cant!!! This is the world we live in. I couldnt even fathom doing that to one of my kids (I have 4 and times are obviously tough). It sucks and as much as I prolly shouldn't say it I hope the thing is crooked as a snake and falls apart before they even start w/ the interior work... What are they doing even getting a bid from someone else? I also know they're expecting to use my subs at my rates for it still to finish it. I want to give them (my subs, plumbing, roofing, drywall) the work cuz every one is starving but MAN!! You know what I mean? Talk about a day, week, year wrecker!!!

J F

now that's cold

BamBamm5144

Matt, I feel your pain buddy. Before my ladys parents even got an estimate from me, the signed a contract with a way over priced company for a window install. Seven windows all 24x36 for $7300! They told me that number and I wanted to punch them. Then they said they got a good deal because he gave them 40% off. I told them you shouldve held out because that company allows up to 50% off because thats how their sales program works. As in, once they get up to that 50% off the company makes enough money for a little bit of profit, anything less than 50% is pure profit for them.

Anyways I told them they shouldve waited, I couldve put in better windows at nearly half the cost.

However, losing a job to someone else on your own parents house must be painful. Now ask them for money for xmas time!

mattsk8

I know how they do that too. One of my best friends is a carpet installer and Lowes has all but put him out of business w/ their install pricing. I try to get him work but my customers bring that up (Lowes install price verses his). Do the math people, if you shop around you'll get better carpet and a better install for about the same price. People just dont have any community faithfulness anymore at all. We live in a wallmart society. Who cares if little kids are making the stuff in swet shops, I saved 5$!! The other thing is, if we continue to operate this way, all the little guys (you and me) are going to be working for peanuts for these big box stores and customers wont have options any more. The way I see it, the death star is nearing completion!!!