It’s Impossible to Hire Contractors

[Jules]

There’s so much demand for all types of contractors, you’re lucky if they will even reply. Friends who live in the city limits got a reply that the company wasn’t even interested in considering their project. They can do the big jobs which aren’t so fiddly.

For four years, we had one family company clean the exterior, windows and gutters. They were efficient and could do a house in less than two hours. They moved and a new fellow took over his business. The work was barely passable. This year the rates being quoted are 3 to 4 times to what we paid previously and one company can’t give a quote until July.

 

[win231]

And when you do hire a contractor, you have to be very careful to spell every detail out in writing on the contract.
I just had to jobs - a new roof & new rain gutters & downspouts.
The roofer exaggerated how much wood was replaced to inflate the cost.
But the company that did the gutters & downspouts was honest.
They both got reviews they earned.

 

[Bellbird]

It seems to be a problem everywhere. I have been trying to get a plumber to fix a water pump for 3 months, I'm still waiting and he is the only one prepared to do the job, I don't think the job is big enough for most.

 

[Alligatorob]

I try to only hire people I know and trust. No contract and I pay in cash, but almost never up front. It helps, but still hard to find people right now.

This only works in a small town where you know a lot of people, I am new here but I can still do it by networking the acquaintances I have. When I lived in Florida I knew all the local contractors, that made it easy, was in a rural area there too. Probably won't work in a big city.