GC dirty tricks

[kmc]

After reading about working for friends and family, I think I might like to hear some stories about unscrupulous general contractors. I am just starting out in business and starting to work with a few gc's and wouldn't mind learning a lesson or two the "easy way".

[Minuteman]

I was doing a remodel at a bank for a GC that had been using us for a short while. The GC took a vacation durring the project and left a guy in charge. At the rough inspection, the inspector said that we had to bring everything above the grid to current code - but the GC's scope did not include doing anything to the drop ceiling or above it. The guy in charge said just fix it and send a bill. It came to just over $3000. GC gets back and says, "No change order - not paying".

Always get it in writing!

I ended up settling for about half the money. :mad:

[Tori]

Just remember to be properly licencensed and insured and write every work request down and have the customer or GC sign it. many head aches saved this way

[celtic]

READ THE CONTRACT.
If you don't agree with ANY provision within it, have it changed or don't sign it.

If the GC doesn't have a contract - PROVIDE YOUR OWN CONTRACT.
Have it written up so one-sided that you always win ;) , let him be the one to challange it.

KEEP A LOG.
Write eveything down that you do ...6 months down the road, you will forget you were even at 123 Main Street when you recieve a call to trim out.
Organization is the key. Keep everything pertaining to a job together - scan everything into your computer if you have to....reciepts, time in/out, changes/adds/moves/extras SIGNED, etc.

[Paul B]

I always have my own contract and the GC signs it or no work. Don't rust the GC.

[cowboyjwc]

And never fall for the "give me a good price on this one and I have 4 more" trick.

Psssstttt, there's never 4 more.

[celtic]

Too true the above two...

I gave MY(CEC) contract to a GC..he calls me a week later and it like:
GC ~ "...I've never seen a contract like like this..."
CEC ~ "...we've never dealt with each other before..."
GC ~ "...can we work on the payout schedule..."
CEC ~ "Sure, just as long as I get my percentages as detailed..."

We'll have to see how this works out - either he can play banker and finance the job, or the HO can....no way I am.

Two summers ago, I went to look at a job for some no-name GC. He promises me there more work....
"...but you have to work on that number a bit."
No I don't - See ya! LOL

Remember:
YOU'RE THE BOSS

[brian john]

I seldom do work for GCs but do a fair amount of work for electrical contractors (I seldom if ever have problems with ECs).

I was on a big job (200 electricians) and had to attend a meeting with the EC and GC, these guys went after each other like cats and dogs, it disgusted me. After the meeting (cusing, yelling, fighting and threating) they wanted to know if I would join them for lunch, I declined, I ate by myself and they went off to Ruby Tuesdays.

I prefer not to be part of that mix.

[mdshunk]

Two summers ago, I went to look at a job for some no-name GC. He promises me there more work....
"...but you have to work on that number a bit."
No I don't - See ya! LOL
So true! Never alter your price on the promise of future work. Economies of scale are real, and discounts can be given noting that fact. However, that mass quanity of work must be real and just not promised. If I had a dollar for every promise jobs to come, I might retire on that alone. Lots of people have big plans that never hash out. Bid on the job at hand only.

[LarryFine]

I was on a big job (200 electricians) and had to attend a meeting with the EC and GC, these guys went after each other like cats and dogs, it disgusted me. After the meeting (cusing, yelling, fighting and threating) they wanted to know if I would join them for lunch, I declined, I ate by myself and they went off to Ruby. They're like professional wrestlers: off the mat, they're best buds.

Yeah, I get the "do this one cheap and there will be more" spiel a lot. I tell them that the "more" jobs get the discount. After all, if they're being honest, it would work in their favor in the long run, right?

[tonyou812]

Just recently i was helping my lisensed Friend on the side. He just started out on his own and only has one helper. He said he was to busy to do it but he would let me keep most of the loot, i would in a sense be working under him and would be really doing him a favor. so i said why not. Im really not a side job guy unless its for friends or family(and i usally get paid in food or beer) but i did it and it really was a pain in the ass.... plaster ceilling, cut in cans three ways and four ways added on everywere, bath, master bedroom, a real nasty crawl space...the works. and in the end of the roughin about 5 weeks ago he tells me the builder or homeowner bounced a check and hes waiting for it to clear or get another one or something like that.. and says "How about I give you half of what we disscussed and half later. So now its later and just for giggles i drove by the house and i could see that the rest of the work has been finished by someone. I think it was my old friend but he told me that it hasnt even been inspected yet. He is full of crap and i almost want to ask the HO who finished the work but i feel that would come off as a bit cheesey. I had a good repoir with him and dont really want to compromise that over some short cash. the (1200$) What do you guys think?

[emahler]

I think your friend hosed ya...but what do I know?

[tonyou812]

We worked together once for another EC and we did alot of jobs together,Marshals,White Castle,Wall mart and a lot of laughs in between. It just goes to show you what money does to people.

[Paul B]

I'd find out. Then go from there.

[celtic]

What do you guys think?

I think you learned a life lesson ;)

[emahler]

I think you learned a life lesson ;)

You gonna give him a little statue like they have on TLC?

[celtic]

You gonna give him a little statue like they have on TLC?

I dunno :confused:
I don't get that channel...I'm stuck in a "Ground Hog Day" type existence that has the Disney Princesses in heavy rotation.

[emahler]

http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/lifelessons/lifelessons.html

[celtic]

LMAO..that is funny.
Thanks...and it wasn't even a Pixar Production!

[JohnJ0906]

I dunno :confused:
I don't get that channel...I'm stuck in a "Ground Hog Day" type existence that has the Disney Princesses in heavy rotation.
You too, huh?:smile:

[goldstar]

It just goes to show you what money does to people.
Repeat this to yourself over and over and over again because the moment you forget to do that it will come back and bite you (you know where). As far as working for GC's, take heed to what the others have mentioned here. There are no other jobs down the pike. If you believe there is then there is a bridge in NYC that I can get you a great price on !!! Your price will always be compared to some other unsuspecting electrician, not to mention that you'll probably never get to actually see any other ligitimate estimates. If I've said this once on this forum I've said it a hundred times, GC's will not allow you to make any money. They make all the money. Their job is to get the best possible product or output for the cheapest possible price, every time - every day. If you believe that you can start a good working relationship with a GC and that he'll toss you a lot of work - think again. Stop now before you get sucked in. I know this is a little hard to swallow when you're looking for work but take a tip from all of us who have been there and done that. Whatever arrangement you may plan to get into with a GC - do it with the utmost caution and don't be surprised if you come out on the short end.

[j_erickson]

Just recently i was helping my lisensed Friend on the side. He just started out on his own and only has one helper. He said he was to busy to do it but he would let me keep most of the loot, i would in a sense be working under him and would be really doing him a favor. so i said why not. Im really not a side job guy unless its for friends or family(and i usally get paid in food or beer) but i did it and it really was a pain in the ass.... plaster ceilling, cut in cans three ways and four ways added on everywere, bath, master bedroom, a real nasty crawl space...the works. and in the end of the roughin about 5 weeks ago he tells me the builder or homeowner bounced a check and hes waiting for it to clear or get another one or something like that.. and says "How about I give you half of what we disscussed and half later. So now its later and just for giggles i drove by the house and i could see that the rest of the work has been finished by someone. I think it was my old friend but he told me that it hasnt even been inspected yet. He is full of crap and i almost want to ask the HO who finished the work but i feel that would come off as a bit cheesey. I had a good repoir with him and dont really want to compromise that over some short cash. the (1200$) What do you guys think?

I think your friend got paid, used the money for something thinking he'd catch up with you when he got his next check from whomever, never got caught up, and had to finish it himself as he couldn't tell you the truth.

[Paul B]

John, I think you are being too nice. TY812, the guy stuck it to you plain and simple.

[petersonra]

There are no other jobs down the pike.

Thats the way it is. No amount of potential future jobs is worth losing money on an existing job. I cannot remember how many times I have heard about how much future business a potential customer might bring, if the current project can be done on the cheap.

I have yet to see it happen.

[hillbilly]

If he was my so called friend and he stiffed me, I'd go see him.
All B*** S*** aside, if he owed me money for work done, I'd have to have it or something else of equal value, no excuses.
I'd take it personal. That may be the wrong way to handle it, but he made it personal when he came to you as a "friend" to help him.
"Right is right and wrong is wrong and never the twain shall meet".
We're talking money owed. Stuff like groceries, power bill, etc.
steve

[ceb]

I agree with Hillbilly if he was friend he would not have did what he did.
I have one GC that wants an estimate on every house I do for him and its allways the same " can you come down 10%" I then ask him is he going to pass the 10% down to the home owner, he smiles and walks away, and my price stays the same and he keeps me in plenty of work because if their is a problem I fix it.

Editted to remove inappropriate comment. - George

[Jps1006]

I have a contractor that I uses me despite me being higher. He actually feels bad to put more that one guy up against another because he hates to waste their time. I think he takes "treat your neighbor as you want to be treated" to heart. The only reason he found out I was higher was because after we got the job, my schedule wouldn't allow it, so he got someone else and saved money. The other guy was cheaper but not as accommodating or quality conscious. I still get his work, but I think he is the exception to the rule. I’ve had other GC’s give me a job being higher just because they weren’t sure of what they were getting with the other guy.

I had another GC who always assured me I was more expensive go with another when I was $13,000 and the other was $9600. Even after he paid me to go back and fix mistakes, he still insisted it was worth it. I’m still not sure if that was his business sense or his pride talking. Total he still got it done for less than $13,000, but that doesn’t take into consideration his own nonproduction dealing with problems and what it might have done to his rep.

[jonesjax]

First file a notice to owner, you send it by cert mail or hand deliver it with your contract and have the HO sign it not the GC. get a copy of your states laws on construction liens give them a copy of this so you dont look like a bad guy and explane how they could pay for the work twice. All of this info is easily found on the web.

You MUST file it at the courthouse or it did not happen.

Second the day you start file a construction lien on the property, don't release the lien until you are paid in FULL. This must be filed at the courthouse as well, or....Always keep a copy of change orders with you in your pocket or what ever you will be asked "oh while you are here" just pretend you are a car dealership and your truck needs to be repaired they dont blink an eye when they charge you $600.00 to change your spark plugs.

If you have a respectful GC he wont have a problem with it you do not have to tell him what you are doing. This way everyone knows who ows who if you really want to be good include any subs names and all supply houses you use. You will find this a burden at first but I have been in the trade since 1972 and Master since 1978. still in buissiness never filed for bankruptcy and all of my customers are happy.

this will eliminate the " I TOLD YOU NOT TO WORK FOR HIM" AND LIFE WILL BE GOOD.

Always remember you teach people how to treat you. let the GC or HO respect your license that you just spent 8 yrs getting.