Hello All
I was just informed today by my wife who works a local lumber yard that the garage I was asked to build (and later told that the homeowner was going to wait until spring ) is now being constructed by someone else! I believe that his motivation is money and wants to squeeze every penny he can. I had already poured the concrete walls and floors (41 1/2 yards to be exact)and was informed that the entire job would be mine… But that is not the case and something like this really ticks me off. Does this ever happen to any of you… and how do you keep yourselves from coming unglued?
Replies
Have a signed contract up front.
A contract can get you paid for damages when something like this happens. It can even stop it from happening because it outlines methods for breaking the contract by either party, along with the consequences for breaking it, if any.
BTW, a verbal argreement is still a contract, but it is hard to prove in court. A job this size is probably not worth it. At least you know not to deal with this person again! And you can take comfort in knowing that justice happens.
Excellence is its own reward!
Thanks guys
I was a little frustrated when I posted the Thread. I did have a contract for the concrete work which was completed, but was late in the year (Finished pouring in December) and homeowner said he was going to wait so held off on writing contract to construct the actual building. Even did the leg work to get him a good deal on materials and such. Three estimates for materials all were about the same price. I guess I can chalk one up for good old frugality. (cheap Bast#$d!)
while he paid you for you crete work, sounds like he didnt pay you for the legwork you did and he didnt honor your verbal contract for the whole job
all so he could hire some cutrate guy to save a few shekels probably, if that is the case i hope he gets what he pays for, shoddy work that wont stand up to time and will be a headache for him, sounds like he deserves it!
blow it off, smart pros deserve good customers, put your energy in finding them!
Personally, the attitude I take on stuff like this is based on long expereience. When I lose one, it means that God has a better one lined up for me right around the corner and is just clearing the decks so I'm not too busy to see it.
It helps keep me mellow..
Excellence is its own reward!
Amen. Things happen for a reason, and it all becomes clear later on. Sappy? Works for me.
Greetings from Planet Ork...Jen 8)
jack... deposits confirm intentions.... after you finished the concrete.... should have asked for a deposit on the framing..
"yust to hold a place on the schedule for spring"..
....... ya no wat i mean.?
.. hell , your doctor is booking appointments 3 months out ... y ain't you ?
give 'em the call.. i agree.... never hurts... it'll steel your nerve for the next bastid.. and don't forget.... make sure he's smilin when you hang up... he probably won't be when he's done with the other guy who took your job.... but he'll still have fond memories of you... it's a great game if you don't weakenMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
to take what Mike said a step farther....
if they other guy is a scam waiting to happen....and not just someone good with lower overhead......the call and making nice/nice might leave him with a positive opinion of you....
and if the cheap guy does cheap work.....he'll not be refering him any names....
so maybe....when everyone starts asking him who built the new garage.....he might just give them your number.
Being the bigger man might just get ya a few referals down the road. Ya never know...and aside from the phone call.....free to try.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
I really agree with Jeff and Mike. I mean, really when you think about it, it is a free country and they can spend their money where they want. Of course it is a slap in the face but I try to not let it bother me so they can call me again.
I had a lady about 90 years old call me and wanted a new roof. She didn't need one she just didn't like the stain from a now gone tree. She wanted white shingles, she wanted a lay over, and she wanted about 10 different vent systems she didn't need. I tried to reason with her on the vent systems and options but to no avail. I gave her a price. She said it was higher than she expected. I said well you could eliminate some of the options or check around and see if someone needs work and is cheaper. She said no, she would save her money and call me in the spring. I drove by the other day, new green roof, no new vents. When I see her again I will compliment the color and say I think it was smart not going with the vent systems. DanT
You could always ask him what's up. Maybe he had some free time, had a friend with freetime, who knows? Maybe he came here and found out how easy this stuff is to do and has always wanted to be a contractor.
I wouldn't feel bad about calling him, just say "hey, what is going on? I thought you wanted me to build that in the spring?" And you then say "Oh well, no hard feelings, I just wanted to know." <you dirty rotten ****>
Jack, I agree with QTRMEG.
Call him, if nothing else you might get some satisfaction out of making him feel uncomfortable and crawfish around your questions. Just don't waste too much time on it. If you believe in fate or serendipity or whatever, you might look at it as an opportunity to escape having to deal with a penny-pinching miser who will be wanting to buy a cadillac but pay for a geo.
Actually, I think both parties would feel better after the call. The Stinking Rotten Homeowner probably had to make a decision based on everyone's ever shrinking bottom line, and feels terrible about blowing JOAT off, (hmm, do we have 2 Joats here?), JOAT may feel bad, but knowing where the SRH was coming from might help get this behind him.
Knowing why may lead to another sign off like, " Good luck, and let me know if you need help".
Me? Ever hear the saying "I wish I had a ten clients like you, I have a hundred."? ;-)
Jack, one of the new posters was asking about this sort of thing just the other day. Seemed he had some HVAC ducting done, but then got a better price from another party to finish it.
He was wanting to know if it was ok to do something that he knew was NOT ok, if he was gonna save some money by doing it. Takes all kinds, greed or hunger, who knows. Joe H
For one thing blow it off as quickly as you can and learn from it . You are in a boat with a LOT of people.
Tim Mooney
I've lost track of how many jobs get cancelled for one reason or another, often days before I was to start. Its frustrating, but it's part of the biz. It is fortunate that you have time to schedule something else.
"... and how do you keep yourselves from coming unglued?"
I don't even try, I figure I'm like a bad alarm clock, I never know when I am going to go off. The trick is to go off on those that deserve it.
My first thought in reading this was: "If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen". This kind of stuff happens to ALL of us.
But on second thought, maybe that's a bit harsh. But I do think it happens to virtually every contractor and supplier in the construction industry. (And other businesses, too)
One thing that I use is something one of my old bosses told me: Think of the bidding precess as a game. It is, really - We're playing around with people who want to low-ball us all the time. Thinking of it as a game helps keep me from taking it personal.
PETA: People Eating Tasty Animals.
i saw this once "why argue over the terms of the contract if you aren't going to abide by them anyway"
in business you can get... price, quality and service you just can't have all 3 you can usually get 2 but you have to toss one... I just ask people which one they want to toss...
Hey All,
Thanks for the input and suggestions. Its nice to know that there are objectives here and points of view from both sides both pro and con. I will have to meet with the homeowner at least one more time. At close of the concrete deal, he requested an outline of where the money went. As for the question of why he needs it is another story in itself. I can answer one question that was posted that yes this building required a permit which I paid for out of the initial down payment to begin construction. (Permit fee $25.00) This project has become a very valuable lesson for me and I have learned from it. If anything else crops up I'll keep you posted.
joat.... if the permit is in your name.... how can another contractor take over ?Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Here, the permit runs with the land and the only way a contractor can get one is with a POA from the owner, which I always get to keep me in control.
Jack of all...
But most places I have lived and worked, the permit is always pulled by the contractor. If this is being built by another person without having gotten another permit, it is on your liability and you have recourse to action.
Check that facts for there, and then pay him a visit, or have the inspector do it for you.
Could be fun...
But I'd rather take the high road and smile while rubbing his face in it..
Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin mentioned "justice will be done eventually...(or somethingto that effect)"
Reminded me of an old Italian guy named Mike. Mike went from hauling ice in the summer to hauling coal in the winter to later operating a cement hauling operation. (Mike died a millionaire several times over)
Anyway, ( this happened years ago) the local steel mill wanted to expand its operations and so a great many new buildings were planned to be constructed; all involving large quantities of foundation work...thus the need for large quantities of cement.
Mike was approached by a rep from the company and was asked if given the job, could he handle the volume. Mike replied "no sweat," and so a handshake sealed the deal. First thing Mike did was order several, new cement trucks at a considerable cost. When it came time to "break ground," the steel company "reneged" on its promise and instead hired an "out-of towner" to handle the concrete job.
Mike was at a loss. Not only was he paying on the trucks, he now was paying storage costs as well. Several months went buy and one day the steel rep showed up back at Mike's doorstep. Apparently, the other contractor was botching the whole job with lousy service and causing huge delays to the steel company.
Sooo the conversation went something like this: " REP: Hi Mikey! Got great news. Weve decided to let you come and handle the concrete job afterall. Mike: That is great news. Rep: See you at the jobsite on Monday; same price as we agreed upon before, OK? Mike: No, that not OK. All the while you been playing bigshot, I've been paying off loans on my new trucks that you suggested I buy. I've been paying storage costs too. Since they no see any use all these months, I've been making no money. Now you say you want me and my trucks, right? Well, you want my trucks, you gotta pay!"
In the end, the steel company wound up paying Mike the actual purchase price of the cement trucks, plus the storage costs before Mike ever made a delivery....and yeah...Mike's delivery costs went up too! Good ole Mike! He beat them at their own game. This was the beginnings of how Mike later wound up a millionaire plus.
Mike was a square shooter...you treat him fair, and he always did the same with the utmost politeness. You try to cheat him, and he would find a way to cheat you worse.
Davo
The topic of this forum should be Cheap Owners, not Cheap Contracting...he'll get what he pays for.
I like what Qrtrmeg said about letting it rip on those who caused the anger in the first place. They're the ones who deserve to carry it around, not you. If I don't let that stuff out it builds up and I get bitter towards other people, or find myself having a lot of negative thoughts about people I interact with in the future.
Yes, of course it's far more professional to take the high road. But it just might cause you to become jaded and lose interest in business in the long run. Besides, the guilt you feel afterwards helps keep you humble.
If this guy had an oral agreement with you to do the work, then backed out without telling you, he's a dirt bag. He knows it. You know it. He knows you know it. The only way he's ever gonna be able to look you in the eye again is if you call him on it.
A phone call is fine, but heck, I'd even consider stopping by "since you were in the neighborhood" and expressing surprise at seeing a garage already built. Tell him "no hard feelings" and not to hesitate to call for future projects (or to correct the problems the current framer may create).
Just curious, do you know whether or not the job is permitted?
Good Luck,
Steve Mohler
Edited 1/19/2003 12:50:39 PM ET by steve-o
jack of all trades,
You're better off working for someone else.
Be glad you don't have to deal with him, especially on something bigger later on.
Fonzie