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05-21-2006, 03:13 PM
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#1
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Pro
Trade:
contractor
Join Date: May 2006
Location: east
Posts: 3,314
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Asking the Homeowners for 3 References
Has anyone ever asked the HO/prospect for a list of references (from other contractors that have performed work at their residence)
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The thought, i'll admit, entered my mind --- but i just kinda laughed it off.
anyone do it??
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05-21-2006, 03:26 PM
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#2
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Class A Contractor "BLD"
Trade:
Remodeling and home improvements
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Virginia Beach, Va.
Posts: 1,288
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by dirt diggler
Has anyone ever asked the HO/prospect for a list of references (from other contractors that have performed work at their residence)
??
The thought, i'll admit, entered my mind --- but i just kinda laughed it off.
anyone do it??
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No, but I will ask them if they have been through the remodeling process before to get their take on likes and dis-likes. Usually if they had a problem I will delve in to see what the "real reason" could be.
__________________
Looks like some pros were here.
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05-21-2006, 05:06 PM
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#3
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Pro
Trade:
Remodeling
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 456
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Nope, but in my opinion, it's a dang good idea. They get references from us, I see no reason why we shouldn't get references on them.
__________________
Kristina
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kristina
Dancing naked on a table in a bar is a "provocative act". Shooting a missile is liable to get your ass served.
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05-21-2006, 05:25 PM
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#4
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Pro
Trade:
Granite & Marble Sales & Installation
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Chicagoland (Illinois)
Posts: 1,086
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Something tells me that a request like that might seem a bit odd!
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05-21-2006, 06:36 PM
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#5
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Vagitarian
Trade:
site and utility contractor
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Dallas, PA
Posts: 2,547
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Kristina
Nope, but in my opinion, it's a dang good idea. They get references from us, I see no reason why we shouldn't get references on them.

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Same here. It never occured to me, but it might not seem like a bad idea
__________________
Life is hard. It is harder when you are stupid
Uncle Sam wants YOU....to speak ENGLISH
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05-21-2006, 06:36 PM
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#6
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Pro
Trade:
contractor
Join Date: May 2006
Location: east
Posts: 3,314
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oh its certainly a radical, extreme concept Patty --- and most homeowners would prolly get all stuffy and offended ...
but...
when you need a loan/mortgage --- they want references
when you apply to a job --- they want references
when you want to rent an apartment -- they want references
when you apply to a school --- they want references
when you adopt rare dogs & cats --- they want references
when you ... they want references
why shouldn't you, as a professional (the "they"), not be entitled to asking for references??
HO's do this to weed out the bad contractors ... what's to weed out the bad HO's
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05-21-2006, 06:38 PM
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#7
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Home Improvement Guy
Trade:
Renovations contractor
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: toronto,Canada
Posts: 1,473
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Great idea...I'd like to see pictures as well
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05-21-2006, 07:02 PM
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#8
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Pro
Trade:
contractor
Join Date: May 2006
Location: east
Posts: 3,314
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yeah pictures --- and they have to be licensed & insured
oh --- and bonded too!!!
and they must state a completion date
(alright, that last one was getting out of hand)
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05-21-2006, 09:14 PM
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#9
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Pro
Trade:
Granite & Marble Sales & Installation
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Chicagoland (Illinois)
Posts: 1,086
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I'm trying to understand this one. Help me out, somebody.
What would obtaining these three references provide a contractor with? What's the purpose of the references?
Am I the only one who isn't 'getting it'?
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05-21-2006, 10:09 PM
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#10
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Pro
Trade:
Shell building contractor
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Va. Beach, Va.
Posts: 103
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If you are setting your draw schedule up so you are lending them money then i would ask for refernces otherwise set your draw scedule up so they would be the ones asking for refernces, know what I mean?
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05-21-2006, 10:36 PM
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#11
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...jammin
Trade:
Rock Disciple
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Posts: 5,235
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Huh....
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05-21-2006, 10:38 PM
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#12
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...jammin
Trade:
Rock Disciple
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Posts: 5,235
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Patty
I
What would obtaining these three references provide a contractor with? What's the purpose of the references?
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To find out if the Homeowner was a good customer, or a PITA or Deadbeat
__________________
Signature Quote
Quote:
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Originally Posted by ModernStyle
I have never used this crap before and I pray to the paint gods that I never have to use it again, I would rather use Behr
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05-21-2006, 11:41 PM
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#13
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Pro
Trade:
Remodeling
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 456
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by slickshift
To find out if the Homeowner was a good customer, or a PITA or Deadbeat
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Yeah that.
__________________
Kristina
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kristina
Dancing naked on a table in a bar is a "provocative act". Shooting a missile is liable to get your ass served.
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05-22-2006, 08:53 AM
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#14
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Pro
Trade:
vinyl decking railing fenceing siding windows
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 513
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i live in small town and asked someone about every customer before i do work for them, if i know they are deadbeats or hassled other contractors then i will asked them for references. why not i don't want to be the next crooney to get ripped off or end up in court. its great to watch the reaction from these type of people. still i see the next guy go in and lowball the job get ripped and "there goes another contractor down the tube"
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05-22-2006, 09:47 AM
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#15
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Pro
Trade:
Licensed Colorado electrician, licensed B-1 GC
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Colorado Front Range
Posts: 2,580
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A reporting system similar to the Better Business Bureau or maybe part of the BBB where you could report customers that are unreasonable, or are law suit happy. Generally you find out later that other contractors have had problems with these types but it would be nice to find out before.
We took on a large house contract one time knowing the other contractor quit these people after about 3 weeks into the project. What the  were we thinking??? The people were impossible. Nearly sent us under and pretty much took the wind out of our sails.
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05-22-2006, 09:50 AM
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#16
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Pro
Trade:
Granite & Marble Sales & Installation
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Chicagoland (Illinois)
Posts: 1,086
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I could understand doing this if the builder offers financing. That makes total business sense. Their creditworthiness is a valid issue, here.
But, you are asking for character references from someone who is potentially opening their doors to you and giving YOU money.
Hmmm....might sound like an appealing concept, in theory, but hardly professional in the real world.
Back to the FINANCIAL ASPECTS of a large job, I could see wanting a bank line of credit that substantiates, or backs, a contract signed by a homeowner. I could go with that....
Ok, so maybe I'm 'old school', I don't know....
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05-22-2006, 09:55 AM
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#17
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Business Operations
Trade:
General Contracting / Electrical Contracting
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 936
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Patty
Hmmm....might sound like an appealing concept, in theory, but hardly professional in the real world.
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As much as it would be useful information... I gotta agree with Patty on this one.. far too unprofessional to directly ask for references. There are other ways to find out things.
__________________
Woman in a Man's World.
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05-22-2006, 10:03 AM
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#18
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Pro
Trade:
painter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 192
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Have heard talk before about having something like the BBB for deadbeat customers and I can kind of see it. However I have usually seen the contractor with the contract that says the breakdown of the payments and how and what work is to be done. If the contractor is loaning the money then they can get the references also if the are talking to the HO they probably get a feeling for how the people would be to do work for. Generally they would get the alarm going off that tells them to either walk or be very carefull and cover your bases.
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05-22-2006, 10:08 AM
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#19
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Pro
Trade:
Siding, Windows, Roofing, Weatherization
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NH
Posts: 477
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I don't ask for references but I do ask them if they have ever hired a contractor to do work for them. If the answer is yes I then ask them how it worked out for them. If they tell me it went bad I will ask them for specifics. If they tell me in went well I will ask them what they liked about this contractor. Good or bad I will then add this to my presentation. For example if they told me that they liked how the contractor cleaned up daily then guess what.....I make a big deal about how we clean up on a daily basis and that the area will be cleaner after we left than before we started. If they tell me that the guy showed up 1 day and disapeared for 2 days then guess waht......I make a big deal about how we start a job and stay there every day until it's finished...............These are all HOT buttons for these people and you need every advantage that you can get.
ASK QUESTION and the customer will tell you how to sell them.
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05-22-2006, 02:11 PM
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#20
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Painter
Trade:
Painter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Toledo,Ohio
Posts: 677
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I can see asking for references. I wish I would have on a job I did a year ago. As many have said here contracts don't really mean crap. I did win the case, But they only have to pay me 40 dollars a month on a 2,000 dollar project. So in about 4 1/2 years I'll see my 2,000 dollars unless they decide to sell before then.
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SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.
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