I've been a homeowner for a year and a half. DH & I have a few projects we'd like to hire people to do but I cannot get anyone to call me back. The people I'm calling are highly recommended, well reviewed, and work in the $/scope range that I'm looking for. Is there a code word I need to drop in the voicemail or is this just the way contractors are? Is it a gender thing? It is so frustrating to feel like you're begging people to take your money.
-
@Corduroy: it's just the way they are!! They also will say they will be at your house at a certain time and show up hours later. Ugh.
-
@HLK208: I HATE that. Or just not show up at all and then come the next day and not even mention anything about why they never bothered to show up. It's so weird! When we had our old home's exterior redone it took about 4 weeks for a project that should have taken about a week.
-
@HLK208: Thanks for the reassurance. I feel so incompetent because I'm on my 3rd project where I've decided to hire someone, researched (what sound like) quality people, mentally committed the money and then nothing happens.
-
@Corduroy: so frustrating! If it's a busy time of the year, I can understand but at least let the paying client know. I had one who gave me an estimate and I called probably 5 times afterward with no answer. We used him prior to that and he was great! No idea why he wouldn't call me back the second time. Contractors should be required to take communication skills to get a license.
Also, my parents had a kitchen reno that took 9 months from start to finish! The contractor would randomly take vacations once a month, then get caught up with another job, then show up randomly to their house when no one was home.
-
I've always gotten referrals from friends so name dropping probably helps! However, I've experienced the same as @HLK208: in that contractors aren't very good at managing expectations. They'll ignore you for a bit if they're busy and then call you when they finally have some free time. So you probably just have to be persistent if you really really really want to work with someone!
-
I so glad it's not just a me problem. We've had this problem for at least 2 years now. I'm still trying to get the same thing fixed! The one person who did give me a quote said he looked at the issue, but obviously didn't. I am so frustrated I could scream.
-
Woah, we have never had this problem with hiring contractors/trade guys... I actually don't remember my parents ever having a problem, either. It seems like we are in the minority! DH would just look for someone else, there is no way he would wait around for someone who doesn't seem to want our business.
-
I have been dealing with this for the last MONTH. My rental house has some major balcony issues and I have already been through 3-4 contractors. I'll finally get one on the phone, they'll come out to give me an estimate and then I'll call them back to schedule the work and I NEVER HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN.
It's ridiculous. Finally I got so fed up, I had a total meltdown and then my brother and my husband also jumped in and between the 3 of us (!) we contacted 8-9 more contractors, got 3 estimates and finally, one month later, we have a guy that started work yesterday.
It's a huge project and costing us $6000 (!!) for only 1-2 weeks of work, so I just can't figure out why these people aren't more responsive.
-
We're going through this right now, too, and my husband is getting so discouraged! Glad to know it's not just us and the contractors we're calling.
-
OMG yes!!!! I thought it was just us!
@HLK208: same thing happened with us - we had a guy that did our master bath and then we called him to replace the front door - never called us back - finally we decided to just go with the installers at Lowes - so frustrating!!!! -
Seriously, if some contractor set up shop and actually responded to people, they would make a killing! I tried for a year to get our fence replaced. I had maybe 7 companies come out (in a few different chunks), and ONE sent us a reasonable bid and responded after that. It just finished yesterday and the project has been such a mess. To the point where I'm refusing to pay until they fix something. ridiculous.
My best suggestion is to sign up for Angie's List. Still not perfect, but I've had better luck with companies I've contacted through there. I found some sort of deal where I paid like $6/year for access.
-
Leave a message saying you are considering getting other estimates/quotes!
-
Ugh, glad (and sad) to see its not jus us! Our new landscaper (highly recommended) was supposed to come Saturday - no show, we called, he said he forgot. Rescheduled to Monday - no show, again, apparently he "forgot" (the hell?).
What's worked for us is to make it clear if they do not do X by X date, they are fired. For this guy, we left a VM that if they work wasn't started by 9am Tuesday, the job and all future work was going to someone else. He remembered to show up Tuesday.
-
This has happened to us recently as well - I seriously don't get it! I usually try to leave a very direct message and don't sound wishy-washy (i.e. - we are ready to do the work asap and would like a quote) - also I will call back since I think a lot of contractors don't check their messages. SO frustrating!
-
The only thing I can think of is that they are busy. And not often near a means of communication - if you are talking to the boots, not the suits. I find that the only way I can get a response is if I pester. Squeaky wheel gets the oil! If I had a non-responsive contractor, I'd drop them in a heartbeat. Time is money.
-
All I can add is if possible use someone that has an office with staff you can contact, rather than someone working for himself/off the back of a truck. I've spent the last 10 years as the office lady, taking appointments for jobs, calling the customer 1/2 hour before we come out, and then calling them back with quotations/taking deposit/booking installation. its not *that* hard, but if the contractor doesn't have the back up of office staff, they can be pretty bad at organising their work.
-
Bigger company, bigger overhead, bigger cost. Small company, small overhead, cheap labor. All depends....do you go for the guy who gives you the cheapest quote and can pretty much ignore you until he's ready or go for the big contractor who charges you more money and if things aren't done right, you go and complain up the chain until you get it right. Saving money is great but paying more for a peace of mind is greater! I learn my lesson. If you call a contractor twice and they didn't follow up, time to find another one!
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
17 comments