This morning I was involved in what had to be a lingering effect from the Full Moon.  I was asked to agent a remodel project for a client which included me interviewing General Contractors.  I had the appointments for each GC set up with the clear understanding that they had one hour to present me their required credentials I said they had to have, review plan, site and ask the preliminary questions..and that was it since I had other GC’s to interview.  It took me a week of calling over 15 General Contractors to get to the five I scheduled I scheduled for the day.  Following is what took place and has to be the biggest travesty for the industry EVER.

The morning stated out as I figured it would with an early morning call from the 2PM appointment to tell me he knew he was going to be late and wanted to know his options.  Fortunately, I anticipate this behavior since over 45% of today’s GC have no idea what Time Management is nor are willing to employee enough staff to keep them free to make appointments on time.  I told the 2PM thanks for calling and I would call back in one hour to let him know one way or the other if I can swap him.

So I calling the 4PM appointment to see if he would like to swap and he was excited to change times giving me the feeling that he knows how to deal with adjustments on ‘bidding day’ which excited me that he possibly was one of the GC who does know how to manage time.  So I called the 2PM back and made the swap..all seem to be in order for now.

CONTRACTOR #1 -Straight Out of Hell

After getting that crisis out of the way it was time for the first appointment..8AM sharp..8:15Am a guy pulled up in the construction company’s truck in such rundown shape that I have no idea how it was kept running.  It was so filthy that even a rubdown car wash would have to run it thru four times to get the first coat of dirt off.  When it came rolling to a slow stop this long legged elderly (very rough looking) gentleman got out and almost fell to the ground.  He could hardly stand up he was so drunk. 

I caught up with him at the curb and asked if I could call him a cab which started the argument that he was not drunk.  I pulled out my cellphone to call his office to get someone out to my location to drive him home but before I could get it dialed I quickly redialed 911 since the guy was coming after me with a board he had in the back of his truck.  Fortunately he was so drunk that he didn’t have the strength to swing it once he took it back and my foreman disarmed him and held him on the ground until the police came.  There I found that the gentle was wanted on two warrants.

I was really disturbed about this incident since it took place in a residential neighborhood at the time everyone residing in the community was going to work.  I am sure my client is going to be dealing with their neighbors for awhile explaining what took place.  This was a very unfortunate event for a GC that came highly recommended from three referrals. 

However, this is what could have taken place in this industry and homeowners need to be prepared for this type of incidents to take place.  Plus, is a reason to hire a remodel consultant to handle this part of the project.

CONTRACTOR #2 – Get-a-Way With It

Once things got settle down the 9:30AM appointment came in.  The incident that resulted in me asking the contractor to leave took a little longer to develop.

As we got the pleasantries out of the way I started in asking for the credentials..i.e. Licenses of mechanic subs, insurance and so forth.  I was handed a large brown envelope and the GC immediately started directing the conversation to things he was seeing wrong with the house.  This obviously was a ploy to divert my attention away from just being handed an envelope that did not have his credentials in it.  Just a few flyers and pitch sheet for his company.  I naturally directed the conversation back to what he just handed me and asked for an explanation.  His quick remark of..

OH, I told my assistant to put them in that envelop.  I’ll have to get on her for that.  You really don’t need it until we sign a contract.

Again, being a seasoned veteran at being BS’d I explained to him that his assumption of was not needed was not the case and is how I do business.  I also advised him that his intentional attempt to by pass required protocols for being awarded the contract for the project was a waste of my and my client’s time.   I told the GC I was not able to to go through the bidding process only to find that he was not insured or who he used for mechanic subs that were licensed or insured. 

After his short dissertation on the irrelevance of having insurance papers for bidding a job, he angrily headed to his vehicle while giving me permission to develop a romantic relationship with his backside just before he slammed his door and drove off.

Too many times GC’s will not get the proper insurance coverage or attempt to work with no coverage at all in hopes to save a few bucks.  This is TOO risky of a way to do business and should be caught before wasting time reviewing the General Contractor’s bid.  Plus, erratic abnormal behavior, deception tactics and dishonest intentions are signs of possible problems that could develop later and need to be discovered during the interview process.

CONTRACTOR #3 Two Faced

When my 11AM appointment came around I was starting to fill the strain of dealing with fast paced diversity..but that is what I am getting paid to do for my clients.  My hopes for a pleasant experience were lifted when the next appointment was with women.  I support the women in business so I was excited that the construction firm I made the appointment with is hiring the women of construction to take a management position.

Our visit started off with her providing a wonderful booklet with all her paperwork in it.  It included very organized copies of all her mechanical subs along with security ID photos of each of them.  She sat very patiently making every effort to no seem inpatient while I examined the booklet’s content.

However, once I closed the booklet and told her everything seemed to be in order and advised her that all of her credentials will be validated by their sources she quickly bust in a very sarcastic parity of being excited and appreciative.  At this point my instincts kicked in since her burst of pseudo excitement was not one of the first reactions I would expect from someone that should be use to this type of protocol.  It was during the personal chat as we made the walk down the driveway I picked up on what eventually turned into the problem that cut her opportunities for the job short.

As we passed by the front of the house she noticed that my foreman was draping the shrubbery in preparation for the small repair project I had been hired to do outside of the major add-on.   She was not aware he was part of my staff.  As we walked she made a comment under her breath that was rather discriminatory towards his race.  Giving her the benefit of the doubt that I may have not heard her correctly I passed on commenting and made a note of the remark.

When we got to where the add-on was to be constructed and started the review of the architect drawings she made a clear point during her explanation of how she would construct the vaulted ceilings shown on the plans by say that they..

‘Would not be (N Word)-rigged’..

I naturally begged her pardon and quickly let it known that her language and remark is not acceptable on my jobs and would  not appreciated at anytime. 

Normally, an apology for the remark would have been the normal reaction to my firm handling of what was clear bigotry on her part, but instead it was laughed off with..

Oh you know what I mean!

After asking her direct questions associated to who she hired and if they were minorities the pure discriminating hiring practice of her company surfaced.

I generally do not address hiring practices as part of the interviewing process of the project bidding.  I, like so many others, assume that professional business people are law abiding.  This truly was not the case with this individual.

She seemed to be rather upset when I advised her that the interview was over due to my company not being interested in delivering a bid for client review from someone who reports they are breaking the law.  Her parting remark was predictable with her saying..

“Find someone in this business who is not breaking some law..”

Rough Day at the Office

As you can see, these incidences I experiences in a short four hour period of time where extreme and hopefully will not happen again.  However they did highlight why homeowners have such a low point of view of remodeling contractors.    On this day I have to ask…

Where do these guys and gals come from?

I will be back with more articles and blogs on what homeowners need to watch out for when dealing with General Contractors.  Not all GC’s are bad, but the ones that are bad have learned to play a good game of ‘Mr or Mrs Nice Guy’ to get the work.  Homeowners need to know what to look out for.