Problems With The Builders Paying.

stonemason

I have been haveing problems with the builder contradicting the actual footage of the stone with what the print says. Then he cuts a check with the amount of stone that the print has allowed with one of those disclosers on it stating that if I cash the check,that I'm accepting the payment in full for the job. He has done this once before,shorted me 500 big ones and I tried to get them to met me so I could measure the footage out in front of them.Never happened.I really too small of a comapany to wait on the check but this builder also provides me with over 70% of my work.This time they are trying to take me for almost a $1000.00.Any ideas from anyone?Please help!!!

Greg Di

Uhh...if you always work for him and you know this is his gimmick, why don't you just raise your lineal foot price to cover the aggravation.

No charge for that suggestion.

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stonemason

We have a set price with the builder. They also provide us with over 70% of my income,so I don't really want to rock the boat, but I also can't let them think they can screw me every time they make a mistake on the prints vs. the actual job.Really not to sure how to approach the issue with them without losing them as a client.

genecarp

70% or not, this guy is a scumba#, start looking to replace him, the last thing you want to do is work for a guy who is a dishonest swindler. my relations with my subs is about everyone making a profit, over the years if my subs underestimated a job, i would try to find them extra $. if i ,as the contractor got jammed up on pricing, they would step up and help me, thats the way it should be.

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Leo G

Two can play that game. Start laying your stone just like the print. Order what the print says. When your done and he says something. Just tell him you went exactly by the print and you expect to get paid by what the print says. Just because you have an agreement with him doesn't mean prices don't go up. Apparently they go down according to him. As he seems to think there is 0% waste when laying stone.

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stonemason

easier said than done with the building market down in the midwest. I have been trying to replace him for 2 years now just because he is the lowest paying builder that I have.would you cash the check and just eat it,put a lein on the house,it is sold, or some other suggestion that might keep me from loseing them,they are the only way I stay above water rigt now.

Tscarborough

Quit working by the SqFt. Bid it by the job.

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genecarp

alright stone, sounds like your options are limited, if you cant lose him, you have to keep taking his shi#. if you lein the house, he will still get pissed off. you have no leverage unless you can dump his as#.

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Brock

he's gottcha by the short and curlys

stonemason

I bid it by the sqaure foot because that how I figure the material to use and the time used to do the job in ,so many square foot = # of tons of stone needed to do the job, # of tons of sand ,and # of bags of cement .I take the average cost of materials for this perticular builder + the amount per square foot I need to make off of the job to cover the overhead and my labor.It seems easier for the builder to understand what they are paying for.

Leo G

Calculate it as a sq ft job, because that is how you are familiar with your bidding and then just price it as the job price. That way he can't say there is less square footage, because the "job" cost this much to do, and sq ftg has nothing to do with it.

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artisanstone

Do you have a contract? Mine basically states that the installed square footage overrules the footage calculated by drawings. Plans rarely show the correct grade elevations so things change. Bottom line is that you must be paid for work completed, otherwise, the builder would be getting a call from my lawyer. (and yes, I unfortunately do have a lawyer retained) I'd personally rather sit at home and make no money than go out on a job and lose money.

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stonemason

would you happen to have a copy of the contract you use.I really don't have anything set in stone with this builder and would like to have a reference for this in the future. That is really the case in my situation is that the plans dot exactly match the actual house that was built.

Greg Di

There's two reasons he's throwing you all this stone work:

1) You are really good
2) You are really dumb and the only guy in town letting him pull that crap

It's a tough situation, but don't be a pussy. March in and tell him "Look, I bid this by the lineal foot on plans YOU supplied. The plans say xx lineal feet, but the job required xx feet. Your plans are not accurate. We can go out and field measure the last job and you'll see what I mean, or the next job I do for you I am stopping when I hit the lineal feet spec'd on the plans. Your choice."

You have to be ballsy sometimes.

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stonemason

thanks I really needed that.I'm new in the buisness part of masonry and I find that I really don't know how to approach these builders with issues like this and others,not too sure when to be an aggressive dick and to not,and it really varies with clients that you deal with,butt i've tried all the nice guy stuff with this guy and there is really nothing left to do but stand my ground and see where it goes after that.

MALCO.New.York

Sounds to me like he knows where he has you. That is YOUR fault for allowing him to know. I would venture to bargain that you have never said no to him.

This is a road on which you can NOT turn back on. The course has been set. All you CAN do is get off that road and find another one.

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MALCO.New.York

Aggressive and dick are not always mutually related. Buck up and get some cajones.

__________________
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Ultimate Wisdom---------
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Tscarborough

The idea is to reduce variables on the builders end. Do your calculations, but offer a job price only, then there is no negotiating to it. You bid this he pays this, and if you bid it right you win. Of course if you bid it wrong, you lose, not him, but this is the only option you have.

I have dealt with assholes like this, and trust, me the only way it will work for you is job pricing.

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stonemason

I beleive i'll try this thanks !!!!!

stonemason

My typing sucks