Something's going on with contractors

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
I've contacted 4 roofers in the last 3 weeks. Two came and said they would get back to me in a few days with an estimate, two I left a message on their answering devices. So far none have come forward with any quotes or indications they were interested in the job.

Also, as I mentioned in a previous post, I emailed an exterior painting contractor who painted my next-door neighbors trim last year. I know he did it, because I got the company name off of the van and used that to look up the company. This was his reply:
Unfortunately I’ve never done any work for a gentleman you named and I also have stopped doing residential projects. I’m moving to TN soon.

A Facebook friend replied to my inquiry about masonry contractors in the area with a recommendation. I am still waiting to hear back from him.

Being in the boondocks makes it a small pool of local contractors from which to select.

My house is falling apart and it isn't because I haven't tried to get someone.

Admittedly I've had problems with almost everyone I've hired - they either get part way done and stop, or don't do what thay promised. I've taklen one to court who painted my front porch and after a few months the paint came off in sheets. I won the case, but winning and collecting are two different thinngs. Does that put me I on a contractor's blacklist or something?
 

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Perhaps they don't want to spend money on petrol to get to your place and back home, and traveling time - if you're that far out in the boonies?
 
Considering what you describe now & in previous posts, have you considered selling & using the profit to rent an apartment & storage space for your collectibles?
No mowing, no questionable neighbors, no trash on your sidewalk & the other problems you experience.
 

Knight said:
Considering what you describe now & in previous posts, have you considered selling & using the profit to rent an apartment & storage space for your collectibles?
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Every day. I probably couldn't get very much for my house in its current condition (you've seen the photos of it I'm sure) I did look into senior housing 2 years ago and I fell right in the crack between subsidized housing for which I am financially over-qualified and expensive places I can't afford.
 
debodun said:
Every day. I probably couldn't get very much for my house in its current condition (you've seen the photos of it I'm sure) I did look into senior housing 2 years ago and I fell right in the crack between subsidized housing for which I am financially over-qualified and expensive places I can't afford.
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Is moving to a location you could afford out of the question? We moved 2400 miles to live where we could enjoy life. Some thing like this
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Johnstown_PA
 
As much as I hate to say it, Deb, if you are somewhat out of the way of a majority of contractors, sweetening the pot may be your only option.

I do find it troubling that in a day and age when so many are hungry, there seems to me a limited number of people interested in doing the kind of work that needs doing in and around your home.

I would keep phoning around until you land someone who is qualified, able, willing, not afraid to work, and has quality references backing the jobs they have done. No references, no hire, that would be my adage, and NEVER pay upfront before work is started or completed.
 
debodun said:
Try to find somebody that doesn't want to be paid upfront. Most want at least 50% before they start.
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10% down is the usual request. Anyone who wants more is probably trying to rip you off. Once they get 50%, they'll put you on the back burner when they get a bigger job. You also should put in the contract: "Time is of the essence" with an approximate completion date.
 
Aunt Marg said:
Unless they had squeaky clean and top-notch references, I'd tell them to stuff it.
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Well, I'm not THAT rude ;) , I just don't hire those people, but like I said, there's not a huge base of handymen around here. Last year I even contacted Busy Bees about yard work - they wanted $3000 to cut weeds around the house foundation.
 
win231 said:
10% down is the usual request. Anyone who wants more is probably trying to rip you off. Once they get 50%, they'll put you on the back burner when they get a bigger job. You also should put in the contract: "Time is of the essence" with an approximate completion date.
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Agreeing with what he ^ said. You don't want to pay an individual, and he vanishes without doing the job.
 
debodun said:
Well, I'm not THAT rude ;) , I just don't hire those people, but like I said, there's not a huge base of handymen around here. Last year I even contacted Busy Bees about yard work - they wanted $3000 to cut weeds around the house foundation.
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It has nothing to do with being rude, it's about standing up for yourself and protecting what's yours. Handing money over to an otherwise perfect stranger to run off with, no one should ever buy into that, and those who seek to gouge people in the manner that you describe, I have no problem being rude with, because they have no problem being rude and running off with your money, leaving you high and dry, never to be seen or heard from again, or as Win, says, putting you on an extended waiting list while they enjoy spending your money.
 
debodun said:
Yeah, try to pin one down on materials, workmanship and time frame. The contract I received from the handyman that painted the porch was "PAINT FRONT PORCH".
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Prior to work commencing, you have the person you've hired write you out an itemized work-list, with an attached itemized cost for services list.
 
One thing dear husband and I learned a long time ago, you get what you pay for, and when it comes to any and all things construction related, paying for a qualified individual or outfit to do work for you is money well spent.

Hiring a weekend warrior, chances are good, that's the quality of work you'll receive, a slap-happy job with problems in the future.
 
debodun said:
They probably don't want a paper trail. A few I've dealt with won't put anything on paper. You can use it against them in court. I learned that lesson with the porch painter.
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The ones who refuse to commit to a paper trail, aren't worthy of your time. Refuse to hire them, because chances are good, they're not qualified anyhow.
 

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