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GreatGazoo

(3,937 posts) Mon Jun 8, 2015, 12:24 PM Jun 2015

If Contractors Designed Your Home or Remodel...

(Mostly they don't design but they have the most influence on how the project turns out.)

1. There would be no trees, only stumps low enough for them to drive over. Landscaping would consist of curved 4x4 tire tracks across semi-barren dirt. "Yard" would be "mulched" with saw dust, cutoffs and cardboard hardware packaging.

2. Your lighting fixtures would all be ones that were leftover from the last job, or salvaged from the dumpster, or fixtures that a less attentive client bought but were never installed there. Same for counter tops and bathroom fixtures.

3. The job would cost all the money you have plus all you could borrow but would have unscheduled hiatuses for the contractor to go work on the job of whoever else could pay at any given time.

4. Hardwood floors would be "textured" and "antiqued" with boot prints, spilled paint and scratched from dragging chop saws across them.

5. Home would be budgeted at $140K and 3 months but then would cost $220K and take 9 months+ to build.

6. For remodels: things that were just fine and not part of the remodel would be broken during the remodel.

7. Contractor who designed it would leave all subcontractors out of the budget so there would be budget for drywall but no paint, toilets would not be attached to plumbing, etc.

4 replies

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If Contractors Designed Your Home or Remodel... (Original Post) GreatGazoo Jun 2015 OP

Sounds about right NV Whino Jun 2015 #1

Depends on whom you choose to do the work and the terms of the deal you make. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2015 #2

I am a huge fan of adding in 'liquidated damages' where the contractors and everyone else involved underahedgerow Jun 2015 #3

I've been a contractor for many years. panader0 Jun 2015 #4

NV Whino

(20,886 posts)

1. Sounds about right

Reply to GreatGazoo (Original post)

Mon Jun 8, 2015, 04:22 PM

Jun 2015

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,702 posts)

2. Depends on whom you choose to do the work and the terms of the deal you make.

Reply to GreatGazoo (Original post)

Mon Jun 8, 2015, 04:39 PM

Jun 2015

Recently I remodeled my kitchen (tore out the whole back side of the house and added a completely new kitchen) and had a powder room and a whole new bathroom put in. The contractor was recommended by the architect, and he was terrific. Everything was agreed to in writing; I got to choose all the lighting and plumbing fixtures, flooring, cabinets, etc. The final cost was very close to his original estimate, and all changes we agreed on were set out in writing and signed. I met directly with the subcontractors and got their recommendations for lighting and plumbing. It took awhile and it wasn't cheap, but I got what was promised. I was very satisfied.

When you hire a contractor you have to discuss and agree to (in writing) anything that has to be done done by subcontractors. Ask lots of questions. Insist on being involved in the process. Nothing gets installed without your OK. And be sure to get lien waivers.

underahedgerow

(1,232 posts)

3. I am a huge fan of adding in 'liquidated damages' where the contractors and everyone else involved

Reply to The Velveteen Ocelot (Reply #2)

Tue Jun 9, 2015, 03:05 AM

Jun 2015

get smacked with penalties for going over the completion dates.

I managed one job (multi-million bucks) where the contractor was fined 10,000 bucks a day over the completion date. He sure got it done in a hurry once that 10K started eating into his profits.

Oh oh, and lets add in those wonderful contractors who store their large equipment on the job site, i.e. in in your garden or driveway long after the completion. it's lovely!

I've done some great works on handshakes and some great works on hard core contracts. I've also mostly cleaned up the crappy jobs done by lousy contractors based on crappy contracts... that seems to be my stock in trade these days.

It's the content of the contract that seems to matter most.

panader0

(25,816 posts)

4. I've been a contractor for many years.

Reply to GreatGazoo (Original post)

Tue Jun 9, 2015, 05:34 PM

Jun 2015

When I write a contract proposal I make sure to itemize all inclusions and exclusions. I got most of work from word of mouth references and not advertising. At 64, I'm semi-retired, but I stay fairly busy. I'll be installing a couple of sliding glass doors tomorrow, a hand shake deal. After 40 years you can tell when you need a signed agreement.

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