How does everybody else negotiate contract?s?

[1900box]

For the last few years I always worked for the same handful of contractors, same superintendents, and same subs. For whatever reason, I always just signed the sub agreement that the GC provided. That agreement was totally one sided and in the GC?s favor. But up until recently I never had any problems getting paid or extra?s, now everyone?s cash flow is down, all the superintendents are beating the heck out of the subs, and pay outs are s-l-o-w. So I am not going to sign the sub agreement.

How does everybody else work it when you are doing light commercial/municipal 30,000 to 150,000?

Do you have a contract that the GC?s signs?

Do the EC and GC email contracts back and forth until the language is acceptable to both parties?

EC has boiler plate language in the letter of intent or bid?

I always got a pdf of the sub agreement and would then chase the superintend around to get it signed, mostly over breakfast or lunch. But those days are over??for now.

 

[480sparky]

Like anything else, it can go back & forth. Some GCs flat-out will not sign anything other than their own contracts. If that's who you're dealing with, you have a choice of either submitting to their rules or walking away.

I have my own boilerplate contract that I initially bring to the table. If there's something they don't like about it, we either delete it or reword it so both of us are happy.

Sometimes, we just cannot come to an agreement. There's no law that says you have to sign anything, so don't sign anything unless you're willing to comply with it.

 

[Tiger Electrical]

Like anything else, it can go back & forth. Some GCs flat-out will not sign anything other than their own contracts. If that's who you're dealing with, you have a choice of either submitting to their rules or walking away.

I have my own boilerplate contract that I initially bring to the table. If there's something they don't like about it, we either delete it or reword it so both of us are happy.

Sometimes, we just cannot come to an agreement. There's no law that says you have to sign anything, so don't sign anything unless you're willing to comply with it.

Great advice. Anything is negotiable. Be aware that changes in the contract can affect the quote.

 

[Sierrasparky]

Some Gc's have their own contracts that are look over by their own attorney. They will rarely budge from their contract unless they feel it is good for them and warrents the attorneys to look it over. I rarely will work for these GC's unless they will strike out the garbage one side stuff " Like GC with 24 hours notice for cause can take over your materials , tools and ..... and complete the job and charge back any and all charges."

This stuff has no place i a contract.

 

[teco]

I never work for GCs. Have not for years. Never found one before that I wanted to do business with a 2nd time. I know some guys have to work for them but around here I never hear any ECs say that working for a GC was a good, profitable, business experience. I have asked to work directly for the customer before. Some have said I could ask, and some have told me to get lost. It has given me repeat business with the customers I have work directly for.

 

[charlie b]

I have nothing useful to say about contracting, but I will offer a word about negotiations: The one who wins is the one with the stronger fall-back position.

 

[1900box]

" Like GC with 24 hours notice for cause can take over your materials , tools and ..... and complete the job and charge back any and all charges."

This stuff has no place i a contract.

I used to just sign the sub agrement, I never read it, 6 years later I read it, and I won't sign it again...I just found a bunch of contracts that never even got signed