So…..I design a house. The HO is the GC and inexperienced. Hires a contractor for part of the house. Contractor has about 4 workers with varying experience, but none prepared to be a lead. Contractor is often off site or out of town. When something goes astray–twice in 3 weeks so far–I get a call from the HO/GC venting about how the crew of 4 is confused and can’t reach their boss, yet he’s the one who’d know how to do this task but is out of town, and so they ask the HO/GC about the directions they got that didn’t make sense, but ask him not to tell their boss they called the HO/GC, be/c their boss will yell at them for circumventing him and calling the client. When contractor get in town, he yells at the crew be/c they didn’t follow his directions, etc.
So, I get asked what to do. First time, I suggested GC/HO calm down and let the contractor handle it the way he wanted, be/c it’s his contract to fulfill. Also described how I built something similar once, so they at least knew one way that worked. Contractor called later to thank me for helping out.
First time is an anomaly; second time’s the start of a pattern. So, this time, I told HO I wasn’t gonna take sides or tell contractor how to run his business, but rather, I was gonna focus on the designer’s (my) intent, and describe the results I expected for that section of the building. That should give both the HO and contractor the goal to aim for, without me having to get between them.
My question is…is there anything else to do? And, what’s your reaction in any of the three roles: HO/GC, contractor, crew? HO wants the job to run smoothly and with proper quality. Contractor certainly doesn’t want his crew calling the GC. Crew is in a bit over their heads (or with bad instructions) and wants to make progress. I wanna keep my hands clean, but also want to see a successful job. I have no const management role…design only, and that part’s done.
So, who should do what differently?
Replies
First thing would be to put yourself in their shoes. You've design ... what, about a dozen or so domes? And this is their first? So are you maybe expecting them to have the same in-depth knowledge that you do?
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
HO's first, of course. Not contractor's first. But his crew's first or second. Contractor understands the prints and process, be/c we've met and discussed it. The crew's questions had to do with things like some missing materials and what to do instead. Should the crew be calling the GC? Should the contractor be leaving the crew alone? Should the HO be calling me when the crew calls him? (Three "no's" is my answer.) What would you do as a GC if a contractor's crew repeatedly called you with questions about what they should do. be/c they couldn't reach the boss and didn't know how to proceed.
In principle, I'm happy to answer any question asked of me if I have an answer. But it seems like it'd be easy here to step on someone's toes. Or worse.
I was just trying to cover the very basic, maybe overlooked, items. It's unfortunate thast the HO is trying to be his own GC, but other posters are right ... you want the HO to rave about you when the last coat of paint is dry. Time to lean heavily on the contractor. Doesn't he, and the crew, have a cell phone? I like the idea of charging him whenever you have to do his job ... but how could you enforce that?
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
You enforce it by refusing to do his work for him until the HOs agree to pay for your time to do his work. That way you are being responsible and pointing out who is not.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I assume that given the nature of your designs that you consider it part of the work to follow up with help and advice after the design is complete. Is this arrangement formalized in your contract or are you just being a nice guy? It is jobs like this which call for some more formal arrangement, such as three free consults and then $110/hr.
I can think of many reasons why the contractor is unable to devote his full attention to the job and while these reasons don't excuse it, they just may not go away. Aside from the questions that you have had to field, how is their work? Are they progressing at a reasonable pace? If this is ok, maybe you all can muddle through this. I can think of a lot of times when I have had questions about the design and not been able to get a timely response from the architect. I came up with my own best solution which may not have been perfect but which worked in the end. That's the business.
I think you have a handle on it. I do answer the phone whenever it rings and do answer whatever question is asked. That's not formalized in the contract, and this is the first time it risks being an issue. Won't add to the contract unless it happens more often on more jobs. A lot here is HO inexperience and anal-retentiveness. Maybe a little obsessive-compulsiveness thrown in for good measure. Of course, it's his life savings being invested, so I can understand. Still... I'm trying to educate him a little on how to set expectations for the contractor and how to not be so obsessive--relax and enjoy a little. Also got to speak to the contractor. There was a detail that he had never done before. He was asking about how to explain it to his crew so they'd do it right be/c he had other things to take care of. I suggested that perhaps HE needed to handle it and SHOW them how to do it, rather than TELL them and then leave.
I think if it were me I'd call the contractor (not the HO/GC) and shake him up. You have a client in common, and you personally have a lot to lose even though you were the designer and apparently are not formally involved now. Presumably you want the HO to be raving about you and about the house, and if the contractor blows it that will not happen. I'd take your colleague politely aside and tell him to stay in town and focus on the job.
I think that I will second the previous post, and add that if you have to continue to run his crew for them, you will expect to be compensated as a consultant or supervisor, your choice. If the Contractor had questions regarding plans or specs, then you would have to help as much as possible, but it seems that your role has expanded without benefit of contract or compensation. Wow, that sounded official, better remember the one time I gave good advice.
Dan
Jim... it's very, very basic.....
this is a failure to supervise... the Contractor is not fulfilling his obligationMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Make them follow the money.
Compose a polite letter informing the HO that they NEED to have a Knowledgeable supervisor on site to control this situation. That this is normally the GC's job. That since they appear to be unable to step up to that task, and the "contractor" they hired is AWOL, that you are only willing to perfoprm that function as a consultant, with FEEs attached for each visit or call. The calls are likely to stop when they realize they have to pay you for what they are already paying the "contractor" for. they really should make hiom do what he is getting paid for.
Remember that responsibility and liability follows the money, so if you get the consultant gig, charge high enough to be worthwhile.
I never worry about stepping on the toes of slackers.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
I get paid by the inspection. Trouble dont pay and Im learning to avoid it . I dont design anymore and if they dont agree with me , they should proove it. Not me . But of course thats the way I dream it should always be .
Tim Mooney