Hi all,
Quick rundown on this job that went bad on me today. I bid a job for a bath remodal, including gutting, adding space taken from the bedroom, custom 5×4 tile shower area, and new vanity and fixtures. Customers own a hardware store and wanted to supply materials themselves. Normally i say no to that but they were referred to me by another customer that has always been great. My bid was for labor only and they were responsible for buying, delivering, picking out all materials. Needless to say they got sick of running for parts, and felt it was my fault they forgot things, such as additive for the thinset, etc. We agreed to disagree on what is a material and what is labor, example: Tile they bought at loew’s has no bullnose to trim out walls, i said i could do it, if they want to pay for the buffing wheels to finish the edge of the marble wall tiles. No way they’re paying for that they say, it should be included. I said no way, that’s a material, I then offered to pay for half the cost of the buffing wheels and throw in the extra labor, again no. All this after making a trip or two for materials myself, and supplying several fittings, pounds of nails, screws etc. I did agree to provide a materials list as the job went, which i did. Today the job went bad, and i have a trailer full of debis in they’re driveway still. I am to go tomorrow and discuss it further with the customer. But, even if they give(which i doubt) i will not finish. I got a funny feeling about this job several days ago, but shrugged it off. The job is complete except for tile, fixtures,trim. I figure about 80% of total job is done. I am going to just ask for half, and be thankful if i ever see that. I do have a signed proposel spelling out the job, and i did give an hourly breakdown for each portion of the job, which went much faster because i brought in a couple of extra subs.(i know, i know) I would rather just chalk it up to experience and move on if i get the money( half the total price) But if i don’t get paid for the work done, i want to make life rough (legally) for these customers that want something for nothing, or had a prior agenda to get the work done that the husband couldn’t do and then screw the contractor and finish it themselves. Do i got a leg to stand on? I think so, and welcome your thoughts on this….
thanks, Redo-it……
Replies
Man that hurt my eyes............how about including some paragraph breaks in 'dem essays!
lol, well you got the story while it was fresh in my head, and i was worried more about content than proper form. So now how about some "constructive" critism?
Thanks in advance to any with ideas,
Redo-it
Re-do,
You can hit your edit button on your first post and then break that paragraph up to smaller ones.
Hope you do it before Theo sees it and gets ahold of ya:O)Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
The other...proper application of risk.
redo.. my wife works as a travel agent .. she is not the boss.. she has to take her customers as they come..
she makes a game out of getting the bad ones on her side ..
i've learned a lot from her about business..
see if you can have the last laugh and they'll never even know what jerks they were
You stated you have a signed proposal, but not a signed contract. A proposal to me is an abridged version of an actually contract. Your problem has occurred because your policy for owner supplied materials were not spelled out in your signed "Proposal". I believe that was your biggest mistake. You knew from the start that it was against your normal policy not to take on jobs with owner supplied material, but you went against your better judgment and decided to do it because you felt obligated due to a former good customers referral. That was your second mistake. Never feel you are obligated because of a referral. It's your business and you alone must make your own decisions, and if you make a mistake it is you alone to blame.
I agree with the gents above to complete the job and fall back to the wording of your proposal. Don't make it any worse then it may seem to be. Approach them professionally and be tactful. Then put it all behind you.
The overall majority of material for my jobs are supplied by my company, but when a customer supplies material, whether a faucet or all the lumber, we add an entire page to our contract explaining in detail our policy concerning customer supplied material. Each paragraph must be initialed and the page signed.
Just take this as a lesson learned and move on. Hope this was helpful.
"Don't take life too seriously, you are not getting out of it alive"
Thank you all for the info, but i settled this morning for half plus cost of debris removal. Let them find somebody on short notice to complete the remodal of the only bath in the house... lol. I prefer to separate myself from these types of customers a.s.a.p. But i did learn some mighty expensive lessons from them, and rest assured that the same mistake will NOT be made by me again.
My only mis-giving is that i may lose some customers due to the fact that my process will be tighter than a pickle barrel after this and i will not alter it for anyone. I know that this happens from time to time, but it sure alters your thinking and shakes your faith in people and makes it hard to take them at face value.
My buisness is fairly new being only one year old, but i have done side work for about 15 yrs. prior to striking out on my own. I don't have the client base knocking down my doors that some have, because i advertise by word of mouth and referals only. So every job i get is super important and counted on. This won't break my buisness by a long shot, but it's a punch in the arm for a one man operation with a family of four. Before this i have had only one customer be less than thrilled over my work and that was the same thing, there trying to get something not agreed upon for free.
I may not be the brightest bulb in the pack, but i do good work and hope to build my buisness in the future. Also not looking to get rich, just to provide a decent income, just like the rest of u guys and gals out there.
Oh well, onto the next job on my list. Thanks for the help all...
Redo-it
you'll only lose the customers you don't want in the first place.
after reading your description.....I was thinking....it's already started...almost finished.....suck it up and finish with your mouth shut..and move on.
But.....I ain't there! And I wouldn't be the one to have to shut my mouth and finish the work.
Good to hear you got out. Sounded fairly painless. Maybe they realised what they did ....and this provided an escape route for all.
I recently cancelled a contract for the first time. I would have also advised myself to follow thru......if looking in from the outside. Mine went away quietly also. Think the same here...they too...realised they were wrong....and I provided a face saving way out.
I try to remember this phrase when meeting a customer the first time....some times it even works......as dear old Dad'll say....
"Ya never LOSE money on the job you didn't take".
I look at it this way...even if I don't fill the time....I'd rather stay home and not get paid than work for free.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
How did the meeting with the daughter go on Saturday?View Image
went well...and I got a good price from my plumber......
so well see after I add it all up.
But she didn't throw anything at me....I took that as a good sign!
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
Just remember, daughter usually turn into their mothers so thread lightly :)
Good LuckView Image
redo
Been there before...once recently. I settled for half but I fought the prix to death in court. Went back three times. Thought I won the first time but he sent in a letter saying he had throat surgery and couldnt show....letter from a sugeon yet he owns apt buildings with doctors offices on the entire first floor....
a-duh..lyin prix.
Dude was richer than The Donald but didnt phase me.Was under three grand so I did court.....
He brought a lawyer and some jive azz contractor that I know worked in his apt buildings for years....I settled in mediation but I did get half and never again....
Fight the prix in court
PS.I wont say what nationality my customer was.
Be non predjudice
Namaste <--------<Hint>
Andy
"Attachment is the strongest block to realization"
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Edited 2/8/2003 6:51:41 PM ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)
you're compounding your error..
#1: you have a written contract.. comply with it..
#2: if they are causing extra costs. execute a Change Order
#3: if you are at 80%, and are going to settle for half.. don't..
finish the remaining 20% and bill for all, including the Change Orders..
document everything.. 'cause if you end up in court, you're going to need the paper trail.
you have to ask yourself.. how would a businessman handle this ?
that's what you are.. you are a contractor.. you write and execute contracts... do it
I agree with Mike. Keep your cool and finish out - follow through. document and be patient and you can be the flusher instead of the flushee. It's going to pot but doesn't need to go down the pot..
Excellence is its own reward!