Pierre C Belarge
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
Seems like we have the same problems down here in Florida that EC's are having across the states. Depending on who you have been doing business with for the past however many years makes a big difference on how much work you currently have going. I saw many post about keeping your customers or GC's happy and you will still get a good shot at the job, but depending on who you are working with or for, that could be the farthest from the truth. Our company was built and practically funded by doing work for the Univ. of Florida, or CM's with contracts with the University. Our CM's have always loved our quality of work and finished products we have given them over the years, therefore always keeping us in mind when awarding the job even though we may not have been the low bidder. Now days though, the University is actually forcing them to only take sealed bids and using the lowest guy, therefore throwing quality, reputation, and everything else we have built leading up to this day out the window. Builders and owners are working with such tight budgets now days, they are trying to get the most for their money, which in turn, is forcing them to go with the lowest bidder, no matter the reputation you have spent years to build or the references of the guy who just beat you by 30%!
Recently I was speaking with a contractor who has performed State Education work in NY for decades. He stated that the procedures of bidding/bid acceptance has been modified, generally to allow non-qualified companies (with no record of work) to bid these packages. This has pretty much excluded this contractor (and similar, experienced contractors) from winning any bids. Some jobs have even been awarded to contractors that bid lower than cost. The State is initially saving money due to lower bids.
But we are now seeing some of these contracts going to default and the bond company taking them over...rarely a good thing.
...yes, times have changed. I just wonder how long the legitimate contractors are going to last. Since this is a protracted economic downturn, we are starting to see much dissatisfaction by these contractors.