Serious Question For The GC's

MMC73

Back ground info – I have worked with the GC on projects for 5-6 years or so, very close relationship outside of work also, used to date now merely close friends. At this point I do somewhere around 15-20 projects ayear for him.

I have been on a project for a few days; two bathrooms and a kitchen back splash and floor. I was approached by the home owner requesting info about what I charge etc. I stated that the contract I have is between myself and the GC and if she had any further questions to direct them to him. Homeowner went on to say that she had already talked to a couple of the other subs and they are willing to do additional work at a reduced rate etc. I very tactfully of course…… explained to her that aside from the ethical issues at hand she presented only one opportunity where as over the years and many more to come the GC is a steady source of income for my company. She was not pleased with the result of our conversation.

My issue is in the fact the plumber and HVAC guy’s are jumping ship . The plumber indicated he had seen the contract and the Home Owner was in his words…”getting robbed”. Personally I could care less what the project owners pay because I always get paid on time etc. by the GC. I may be a little old school at times but I do believe in loyalty. I work with the other subs on a regular basis and don’t want to stir up to much crap with them however feel that what they are doing is wrong. How do I present this to the GC, who once again is also a friend, a. without hurting his feelings(chick response I know) and b. without stirring up t my **** with the other subs? Philly is a small town and I don’t want any trouble with these guys.

Tscarborough

Just tell him and let him deal with it. I doubt he will mention your name, and you can certainly ask him not to.

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BMAN

tell him.

Double-A

I would try calling him and just explaining what she said. Don't explain it and don't embellish it. Just tell your friend what happened.

Let them explain. I wouldn't worry that you work with these guys. Your work will stand a little personal criticism or it won't. What these two have to say should be meaningless.

As a GC, if I had experienced you being bad mouthed by these two and I was interested in hiring you, I would just call you and get your side of the story. I'm not so wet behind the ears that job site scuttle butt sends me running like a school girl. Especially if it has nothing to do with your work ethic or craftsmanship.

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DavidC

Straight forward, short and to the point. "I have something to tell you that you may not like to hear......"

And good for you for caring. The plumber and HVAC should never had said any more than you did to the customer and doesn't deserve anything more than their walking papers. I'd worry more about offending your freinds than these guys.

OK, that was knee jerk. Here's my second thought.

Ask your GC what his thoughts are on the customer approaching you for other work. That conversation would naturally eventually include what you were told by the client. He still needs know what they're up to and that you act responsibly.

Good Luck
Dave

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CBG

Good for you MMC. Always keep it on the up and up. Subs who do that to their GC's soon find fewer GC's who will work for them. We have a non-disclosure clause addendum that becomes part of every Subs contract that specifically states that Subs are not permitted to discuss terms or details of the project they're currently working on, or negotiate side work during the course of current project with the HO. I won't work with subs that won't work with me.

GRR

This is an odd situation you are in.. what is the work the home owner is asking to have done? The only reason I ask is because if it's a faucett replacement in the future or say a furnace humidifier I doubt the GC would be interested in the work anyway. Still none the less I would ask him if he was... If he asks why you ask , tell the truth. There are some jobs that im not interested in when the lagre scale project is complete. I actually could care less if the subs did those jobs. I often do refer my home owners to them for such work. I just dont have time.

DavidC

Now suppose that while swapping out that faucet the plumber your sub normally) says to the customer, I'm glad you called me 'cause GRR would be robbing you blind with his pricing.

I agree with what you posted but the OP stated pretty much that scenario in her case. The plumber and HVAC are biting the hand that feeds them.

Good Luck
Dave

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MMC73

The gist of the conversation with the HO - she is trying to get the subs to complete the project she went to contract on with the GC at a lower rate. Her husband is an attorney and she stated that disolving the contract is not hard.
This reminds me why when I have had the chance to grow and become a larger company, I don't. You guys are masochists, I have no patience for this. I would hazard a guess to say that 65% of the work we do is sub-contract, the other 35% self generated. I detest dealing with the HO and other subs would drive me crazy. I don't do it if I can't do it in-house. It may sound a little narrow minded but the BS attached to GC'ing a project is ridiculous, I wouldn't do it. It is very possible to make a nice living subcontracting.

fairfaxgc

We typically charge attorney's 10% - 15% more as this type thing happens way too often.

Tell the GC

dirt diggler

Give me your number ... just between your sense of loyalty and the apparent "benefits" that you seem to offer - I would be very interested in discussing any upcoming projects with you


As a GC, other than completely f**king up a job (which would require total incompetence), I can't think of anything worse that this. If I didn't have such a fear of God and possess the moral compass that I do, his balls would be hanging from his rear view mirror. Same goes for the HVAC guys.



Now, how would I present it? ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS remember ... business is business. The moment you involve your "heart" in a decision that you should make with your head, that is when the trouble starts. This isn't "Save the World" and you're not a superhero. This is your business and you must operate with your head, not heart. Hard to do, but once you are capable of this, life gets eas(ier)

Either way, good job on your part

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Meetre

you are dealing with a lawyer and his wife, who are willing to "get out" of thier contract to get the work done cheaper. Do you really believe that they are telling you the "whole truth". I find with lawyers, unless it is written down on paper and signed, they like to....supliment the truth to get what they want. Maybe they are lieing to you about the other subs? To make you think, it's ok, everyone is doing it. just a thought.

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joasis

You have an ethical obligation to tell the GC about the contact with the HO.....I would not venture further by informing about the other subs, since you only have "hearsay" that they agreed to work for the HO.

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GRR

WOW ..This lady is off her rocker! Yeah tell the GC , get the job done and head for the hills...Some people

Brickie

Tell the GC exactly what the crazy broad said, nothing more, nothing less. Let the GC handle the rest, its his gig that's why he gets paid the big dough for

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will575

You did the right thing, yes tell the GC, you want to keep getting his work. WOW, loyalty, what a concept. Who does that? (nowdays)

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AtlanticWBConst

I agree. I have established relationships with my subs. I would feel bound not by ethics alone, but also by the "trust" we have between eachother.

The HO is being unethical, the right thing is to bring it to the GC's attention.

I've had my own workers in the past be approached by HO's the same way. They have told me, and it gives me a heads up on "who" or "what", I am dealing with.

If the OP tells the GC about being approached by the HO, and leaves it at that (while saying nothing about the other alleged subs), then he (the GC) will most likely go to them anyways, on his own, and ask if they have also been approached also by the HO....at that point, the subs are in the hot seat, and will have to answer to him....

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world llc

this crap happens all the time. the bottom line is the GC is getting paid and so is everyone else. the client wants more work done for less and just so happens to have the oppritunity to with you there and all. whether you do or don't doesn't matter... they will search til they get what they want. people are people and i would rather deal with that then some of the scum bag client that i have... walk in the park!

D.A.S.Anthony

CBG, us GC's in Conn. must think alike. I love that you put this in your contract to subs.

OP, tell the GC immidietely. Do not even think twice about it. We have been through this way to many times. He will not be offended. Simply put this HVAC and plumbing contractor need to learn ETHICS. Karma will come back to get them when they need another job. The GC will also know what to do about the HO.

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Anthony
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www.dasassociates.com Building from Greenwich to Fairfield and Westchester Counties.

D.A.S.Anthony

GRR, Why are you going to open them up at all. A faucet, a sink, what's next? As long as the GC that contracted you is doing work on that house you have an obligation to go back to them and tell them the HO wants more work done. You are working for the GC not the HO! If the GC decides that he will let you install a faucet and stay out of the contract that is his business, and a favor to you! This is his client not yours. Remember that. Without the GC you would not be there. If you are not there, the HO could never even ask you for work. Downright bad business.

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Anthony
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www.dasassociates.com Building from Greenwich to Fairfield and Westchester Counties.