Outrageous Contractor Stories

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Guy whose wife is constantly talking him up on a local listserv. They go on and on about being family owned, honest, etc.

After a bad ice/snowstorm a couple of years ago when DH had just had surgery, I got desperate about getting extra snow off the roof. He and his buddy charged me $250 for whaat was literally 15 minutes' work. I always felt like a chump but it was a hard time and i didn't argue with them. I figure they made thousands that day, taking advantage of people in our neighborhood. Every time I see his wife post on the listserv I feel irritated.

Builder here - different locale...same coin - different side. I have had folks ask me to come shovel their roofs because they have leaks - send licensed roofing crews - not laborers so if they fall the homeowner will not be losing his house. Ensure we protect foundation plantings and dig them out afterward. Charged good money but look at my business risk - folks fall off roofs all the times - and it is years of litigation - well you have to hedge that risk and its called price. Sure you could do it yourself - just like a friend of mine did in NJ last year - only problem is that he is now dead - he fell. Everyone wants you to stop the leaks - you would be surprised how tight they get when you have to chase the money. I just sent two my guys to put a 20x20 tarp on a roof, got the call the day before 18 inches of snow, got it done. I have a bill for 558.00 for the client, called her about it and I cannot get a phone call back about my bill. Should have charged her double for that risk.

And by the way - fifteen minutes of work - how did he get to your house ? Who pays for that ? And do you think you were the only freaked out housewife - no - so how does he know which housewife to service ? When demand exceeds price, price increases. You had a two guys come to your house, climb up on a roof after a bad ice storm, and your pissed he charged you 250.00 dollars. How much does your purse cost - or your nice boots ? But you want some poor bastard to risk his life climbing up on a icy roof to fix your house. Sounds like you should have said thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Guy whose wife is constantly talking him up on a local listserv. They go on and on about being family owned, honest, etc.

After a bad ice/snowstorm a couple of years ago when DH had just had surgery, I got desperate about getting extra snow off the roof. He and his buddy charged me $250 for whaat was literally 15 minutes' work. I always felt like a chump but it was a hard time and i didn't argue with them. I figure they made thousands that day, taking advantage of people in our neighborhood. Every time I see his wife post on the listserv I feel irritated.

Builder here - different locale...same coin - different side. I have had folks ask me to come shovel their roofs because they have leaks - send licensed roofing crews - not laborers so if they fall the homeowner will not be losing his house. Ensure we protect foundation plantings and dig them out afterward. Charged good money but look at my business risk - folks fall off roofs all the times - and it is years of litigation - well you have to hedge that risk and its called price. Sure you could do it yourself - just like a friend of mine did in NJ last year - only problem is that he is now dead - he fell. Everyone wants you to stop the leaks - you would be surprised how tight they get when you have to chase the money. I just sent two my guys to put a 20x20 tarp on a roof, got the call the day before 18 inches of snow, got it done. I have a bill for 558.00 for the client, called her about it and I cannot get a phone call back about my bill. Should have charged her double for that risk.

And by the way - fifteen minutes of work - how did he get to your house ? Who pays for that ? And do you think you were the only freaked out housewife - no - so how does he know which housewife to service ? When demand exceeds price, price increases. You had a two guys come to your house, climb up on a roof after a bad ice storm, and your pissed he charged you 250.00 dollars. How much does your purse cost - or your nice boots ? But you want some poor bastard to risk his life climbing up on a icy roof to fix your house. Sounds like you should have said thanks.

[Anonymous]

It would be far cheaper to fly in and board very skilled licensed and insured workers from other parts of the country. Better work done much, much quicker for a fraction of the cost. I'm down overpaying the local prices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most contractors are outrages on estimates. Regardless they want to get your money, and especially they take forever to get the job finish

Contractor here - sounds like you have hired the wrong contractors...and while I have some good and some not so good customers I can tell you not one of them has a decent understanding of the time frames to complete different jobs, how to tell good work from bad, what to worry about and what not to - good work isn't cheap and cheap work isn't good. My personal favorite is when the want me to rush my finish crews - I am like ok, you want me to rush installing my millwork and finishing/painting it ? Complete opposite of common sense...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I asked a quote from a small contractor to install two exhaust bathroom fans in my attached rowhouse. They wanted to charge me 100+ by the hour. I asked "give me a fixed amount". The came back with a quote of... $4,500.

Not in your area - builder here - just did this for a client plus re-sheetrocked one of the ceilings and painted them both for 3400.00. I thought I priced it too low...sometimes pricing works both ways - some you win and some you lose...

I then asked for a quote from another small contractor who did it for $300 and the fans have been working great.

did that include the fans and are they remote inline ? I'm the PP Builder who put in two inline remote fans and exhausted them through the attic to the sidewalls of the house. Sounds like you found a good guy - just make sure you double check that he vented them to the outside and not to the attic/basement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guy whose wife is constantly talking him up on a local listserv. They go on and on about being family owned, honest, etc.

After a bad ice/snowstorm a couple of years ago when DH had just had surgery, I got desperate about getting extra snow off the roof. He and his buddy charged me $250 for whaat was literally 15 minutes' work. I always felt like a chump but it was a hard time and i didn't argue with them. I figure they made thousands that day, taking advantage of people in our neighborhood. Every time I see his wife post on the listserv I feel irritated.

Builder here - different locale...same coin - different side. I have had folks ask me to come shovel their roofs because they have leaks - send licensed roofing crews - not laborers so if they fall the homeowner will not be losing his house. Ensure we protect foundation plantings and dig them out afterward. Charged good money but look at my business risk - folks fall off roofs all the times - and it is years of litigation - well you have to hedge that risk and its called price. Sure you could do it yourself - just like a friend of mine did in NJ last year - only problem is that he is now dead - he fell. Everyone wants you to stop the leaks - you would be surprised how tight they get when you have to chase the money. I just sent two my guys to put a 20x20 tarp on a roof, got the call the day before 18 inches of snow, got it done. I have a bill for 558.00 for the client, called her about it and I cannot get a phone call back about my bill. Should have charged her double for that risk.

And by the way - fifteen minutes of work - how did he get to your house ? Who pays for that ? And do you think you were the only freaked out housewife - no - so how does he know which housewife to service ? When demand exceeds price, price increases. You had a two guys come to your house, climb up on a roof after a bad ice storm, and your pissed he charged you 250.00 dollars. How much does your purse cost - or your nice boots ? But you want some poor bastard to risk his life climbing up on a icy roof to fix your house. Sounds like you should have said thanks.

I have to agree with this. I'm not a contractor but I'm in an industry that functions in a very similar way. People have absolutely no idea what's involved in most jobs. Not that there aren't dishonest contractors but $250 sounds very justified. Most people do not understand what goes into each job and they want everything for free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be far cheaper to fly in and board very skilled licensed and insured workers from other parts of the country. Better work done much, much quicker for a fraction of the cost. I'm down overpaying the local prices.

No it wouldn't

[Anonymous]

This guy wanted to apply sealer to my narrow brick townhouse claiming (incorrectly) that it would make it waterproof. He wanted $2500. I declined. He did it to a neighbor. I happened to be at home. He used a spray and took about 1 hour of work.

[Anonymous]

Got estimates ranging from $3500-$7,000 to replace French doors going out to my deck. Decided to get one more estimate and it was over $21,000. I laughed and told the guy to leave. That was West Shore Door. I saw similar stories online so I wonder who hires them. Clearly people who didn't et other estimates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guy whose wife is constantly talking him up on a local listserv. They go on and on about being family owned, honest, etc.

After a bad ice/snowstorm a couple of years ago when DH had just had surgery, I got desperate about getting extra snow off the roof. He and his buddy charged me $250 for whaat was literally 15 minutes' work. I always felt like a chump but it was a hard time and i didn't argue with them. I figure they made thousands that day, taking advantage of people in our neighborhood. Every time I see his wife post on the listserv I feel irritated.

Builder here - different locale...same coin - different side. I have had folks ask me to come shovel their roofs because they have leaks - send licensed roofing crews - not laborers so if they fall the homeowner will not be losing his house. Ensure we protect foundation plantings and dig them out afterward. Charged good money but look at my business risk - folks fall off roofs all the times - and it is years of litigation - well you have to hedge that risk and its called price. Sure you could do it yourself - just like a friend of mine did in NJ last year - only problem is that he is now dead - he fell. Everyone wants you to stop the leaks - you would be surprised how tight they get when you have to chase the money. I just sent two my guys to put a 20x20 tarp on a roof, got the call the day before 18 inches of snow, got it done. I have a bill for 558.00 for the client, called her about it and I cannot get a phone call back about my bill. Should have charged her double for that risk.

And by the way - fifteen minutes of work - how did he get to your house ? Who pays for that ? And do you think you were the only freaked out housewife - no - so how does he know which housewife to service ? When demand exceeds price, price increases. You had a two guys come to your house, climb up on a roof after a bad ice storm, and your pissed he charged you 250.00 dollars. How much does your purse cost - or your nice boots ? But you want some poor bastard to risk his life climbing up on a icy roof to fix your house. Sounds like you should have said thanks.

Not only you contractors charge way too much, but never get the job done right or close to on time. We have everything sign by contract, but still the contractor had delayed like 3 months, sure we should have sue them, but it will only bring us hassles and I know that damn contractors know how to play the game better and the consumers are suffering. Whatever you try to cover up, contractors are nightmares to deal with 99% of the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Got estimates ranging from $3500-$7,000 to replace French doors going out to my deck. Decided to get one more estimate and it was over $21,000. I laughed and told the guy to leave. That was West Shore Door. I saw similar stories online so I wonder who hires them. Clearly people who didn't et other estimates.

I think I had the similar story, I want to get an estimate on installing a $800 lowes entrance door and the estimate was like a $1000 labor. Then I hired a handyman, $300 boom knock it out. After watching him doing it, I was confident that I know how to do it as well. Same thing for windows, people just pay outrages money to have them installed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This guy wanted to apply sealer to my narrow brick townhouse claiming (incorrectly) that it would make it waterproof. He wanted $2500. I declined. He did it to a neighbor. I happened to be at home. He used a spray and took about 1 hour of work.

And the sealer is from hd for less than a $100 bucks, how do these people believe them? I mean, I was victimized so I know I have learned and became smarter, damn ckntractors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guy whose wife is constantly talking him up on a local listserv. They go on and on about being family owned, honest, etc.

After a bad ice/snowstorm a couple of years ago when DH had just had surgery, I got desperate about getting extra snow off the roof. He and his buddy charged me $250 for whaat was literally 15 minutes' work. I always felt like a chump but it was a hard time and i didn't argue with them. I figure they made thousands that day, taking advantage of people in our neighborhood. Every time I see his wife post on the listserv I feel irritated.

Builder here - different locale...same coin - different side. I have had folks ask me to come shovel their roofs because they have leaks - send licensed roofing crews - not laborers so if they fall the homeowner will not be losing his house. Ensure we protect foundation plantings and dig them out afterward. Charged good money but look at my business risk - folks fall off roofs all the times - and it is years of litigation - well you have to hedge that risk and its called price. Sure you could do it yourself - just like a friend of mine did in NJ last year - only problem is that he is now dead - he fell. Everyone wants you to stop the leaks - you would be surprised how tight they get when you have to chase the money. I just sent two my guys to put a 20x20 tarp on a roof, got the call the day before 18 inches of snow, got it done. I have a bill for 558.00 for the client, called her about it and I cannot get a phone call back about my bill. Should have charged her double for that risk.

And by the way - fifteen minutes of work - how did he get to your house ? Who pays for that ? And do you think you were the only freaked out housewife - no - so how does he know which housewife to service ? When demand exceeds price, price increases. You had a two guys come to your house, climb up on a roof after a bad ice storm, and your pissed he charged you 250.00 dollars. How much does your purse cost - or your nice boots ? But you want some poor bastard to risk his life climbing up on a icy roof to fix your house. Sounds like you should have said thanks.

Using a ladder to get on a roof and a shovel WTF. Spare us the pitty party! And if your worker fell off the roof you guys would be the ones to sue not the laborers.

I don't hire manual labor people who charge more per an hour then me and I have multiple degrees w/ almost $100 hour rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be far cheaper to fly in and board very skilled licensed and insured workers from other parts of the country. Better work done much, much quicker for a fraction of the cost. I'm down overpaying the local prices.

Don't worry you don't have to. They have flown or walked across the river themselves and eagerly await you in front of home depot and u-haul.

[Anonymous]

Got estimates of 3000 to paint the exterior of my house's wood paneling. Found some craigslist painters and they did it for 800.