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#1 |
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Pro
Trade: contractor
Join Date: May 2006
Location: east
Posts: 3,309
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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)
?? The thought, i'll admit, entered my mind --- but i just kinda laughed it off. anyone do it?? |
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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: 1,286
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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 ReferencesQuote:
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.
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#3 | |
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Pro
Trade: Remodeling
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 456
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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 References
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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#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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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 References
Something tells me that a request like that might seem a bit odd!
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#5 | |
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Vagitarian
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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 ReferencesQuote:
Same here. It never occured to me, but it might not seem like a bad idea
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Life is hard. It is harder when you are stupid Uncle Sam wants YOU....to speak ENGLISH |
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#6 |
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Pro
Trade: contractor
Join Date: May 2006
Location: east
Posts: 3,309
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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 References
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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#7 |
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Home Improvement Guy
Trade: Renovations contractor
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: toronto,Canada
Posts: 1,479
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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 References
Great idea...I'd like to see pictures as well
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#8 |
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Pro
Trade: contractor
Join Date: May 2006
Location: east
Posts: 3,309
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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 References
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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#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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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 References
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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#10 |
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Pro
Trade: Shell building contractor
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Va. Beach, Va.
Posts: 163
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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 References
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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#11 |
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...jammin
Trade: Rock Disciple
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Posts: 5,235
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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 References
Huh....
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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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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 ReferencesQuote:
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#13 | ||
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Pro
Trade: Remodeling
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 456
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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 ReferencesQuote:
Yeah that.
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Kristina Quote:
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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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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 References
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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#15 |
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Pro
Trade: Licensed Colorado electrician, licensed B-1 GC
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Colorado Front Range
Posts: 2,604
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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 References
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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#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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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 References
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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#17 | |
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Business Operations
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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 ReferencesQuote:
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Woman in a Man's World. |
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#18 |
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Pro
Trade: painter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 192
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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 References
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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#19 |
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Pro
Trade: Siding, Windows, Roofing, Weatherization
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NH
Posts: 481
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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 References
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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#20 |
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Painter
Trade: Painter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Toledo,Ohio
Posts: 779
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Re: Asking The Homeowners For 3 References
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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