Oy Cr*p!

Teetorbilt

Stuffed again!

The HO was great! Offered draws before they were due, money was no object...........until the final payment. Now I'm hanging in the breeze and having to deal with the ins. co. for the balance due.

I don't care how old you get, you always overlook something.

I can hear what's coming and I'm agile on all fronts. I really don't need this NOW.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

ABLE1

Sorry to hear. That really bites.

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ABLE1

ruger9

I want to understand...

The HO told you that HE is waiting for the ins co. to pay HIM so that he can pay YOU, right? (I'm new at this, and have never heard of the contractor dealing directly with the HO's ins co. before)

If I have that right, a question: so far he's been great. Is there any indication he's not trustworthy? Can you usually tell in your experience if a HO is going to stiff you (or just be an A-hole)?

And if so, do you turn the jobs down, or bid high?

Gordo

I cannot speak for Teetor about the ins. thing because I am a little confused myself.

As far as the other questions, your gut will let you know. The gut feeling cannot be explained.....but you will feel it. It usually comes on when the potential client (not existing client) starts to use certain verbage like "free estimate, can you line item(break it down) my free estimate".......here is another one..."can you come do this job it should only take 2 hours" .

If you already have an existing client base you take good care of them with these questions... they usually ask them in this manner...... " can you put me on your list or can you give me a ballpark figure so I can get my money in order? How much do you need to get started?"

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Looks like some pros were here.

Teetorbilt

Everything went fine, as stated. Too fine, the HO was throwing money at me. Sounds really good, right? Up until the final payment. This is where my profit/income is. There are some laws here that govern our use of payments.

In answer to your question, I never saw it coming. I had no idea that they were working the ins. co. To me it was just a regular remod. with lots of spare change on hand.

There seem to many laws out there to protect consumers. What about us? We're businessmen and supposedly making money hand over fist. Who's assesment was that?

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

ruger9

So are YOU dealing w/the ins co? Or is the HO?

And if you are waiting on the HO, is court the only option you have?

ruger9

I've been told the exact same thing by my contractor friends.

Ha! Already happened to me. I was digging a sump for this guy (installing a sump pit & pump... I'll do almost any work since I'm just starting), and the HO says "here is what I think is a fair price, I mean all you have to do is bust up the concrete, dig down a few feet, and put in the pump. Like 3 hours." I finished 8 hours later, which is exactly what I thought it would take. He left out the most time-consuming (and back-breaking)part: hauling all the debris up & out of the basement. Lucky for him his "fair price" was more than enough for a day's work (for me). IF I ever do another one (I'd really rather not!), my price WILL be going up.

maj

Gordo..... That has to qualify as "post of the day"

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The views expressed in this post are merely opinions of named poster and in no way shall be deemed meaningful by members of the herd. By no means does anything posted by named poster mean a damn thing for anyone else partaking in this thread.

Gordo

You just got schooled at hard knocks university. The key verbage from you client started with "All you have to do is......" . That is another phrase to watch out for.Your gut told you 8 hrs. and your mind over-rode your gut. You seem to have a good understanding of business in your early stage of business so do not give up. Follow your gut!

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Looks like some pros were here.

Tom R

Here's another one, Gordo, - - "every contactor I've ever used has ripped me off" . . .

Gordo

Yeah Tom, last time I heard that one the client stiffed me for three grand. BTW she had burned out two prior contractors and I was the third trying to save the day. It will not happen again.

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Looks like some pros were here.

DaveH

TIME TO LIEN, TIME TO LAWYER UP!!! Kick em where it hurts...

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A buck a foot is not an estimate! It's a crap shoot!

A+Carpenter

Yea that is a big red flag for me Teetor.

I never take money from a homeowner unless its on paper and signed for every time. WITH BALANCE DUE

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A+Carpenter

Yea heres another one. I have had 6 other contractors look at this and 2 more comeing.

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Crawdad

If he left out the debris part, why did you do it?


Next time someone says that, you can ask them if they'll do the bull-work, hauling off debris.
I'll bet you have a dumping fee now, too.