lnicely
Shy Member
Posts: 20 
Location: Washington State..🍎
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Post by lnicely on Jul 25, 2016 16:34:10 GMT
Back story- we bought a 60's rambler last year and have remodeled the entire house. Our design group subcontracted the flooring install and we really liked his crew... So.. We hired him to do our 2 bathrooms- full gut and redo.
Here's where I need opinions on stuff-
He hired a guy sight unseen from Craig's list to work in my home along with him, the guy was so scroungy and shifty, he got picked up by the police while walking home from my job!( had a DUI)
Then he hired another guy from Craig's list who turned out to do a good job, but left some things undone( small details)
The whole time this guy was working for us, he bad mouthed the contractor and tried to get us to hire him for bathroom #2...
We said no, job was over, and our confidence in out contractor had taken a hit... After MUCH discussion and MANY promises we were told he would schedule is and get us done in 2 wks, working Mon- Friday and done... We scheduled about 6 wks out and when the date came and went and turned to two weeks, I finally texted him and was told he and his son had been sick, shoulda called...
Then still started 2-3 days later than our new agreed upon date!
He has summer custody of his son and understandably wants to be
with him, so he brings him along to our job (he's 11)
He uses our tv for his video games, so is quiet and occupied..
They play together at night till late, so my contractor doesn't come
start his day till 11 or after his son wakes up... I had a stern talk with him and told him he needs to start earlier and leave earlier if he's at a stopping point- but after texting me today, it did no good.. "Sorry, he's still not up"...ARG!!!
Let me say this about him- He is...
Honest , Trustworthy in being in my home when I'm not,
Meticulous in leaving the work area cleaned up behind him,
Kind, good hearted, sweet friendly etc...
He has mentioned me giving him a reference- I'd be honest about him not showing up when he said he would...
Am I being unreasonable?.. What would you do...
I know I shouldn't have given him the 2nd job, but it's in progress now- so no going back.
Thanks for any feedback!!
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Post by tuva42 on Jul 25, 2016 16:44:20 GMT
Wow, brings his kid to work? I would not be okay with that. I also would not be okay with him waiting until his son wakes up to come to work. That's just unprofessional. Any reference I gave would include that info.
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Post by redrulz on Jul 25, 2016 16:46:11 GMT
It's hard to find a good contractor so I can understand why you used the same one for your new jobs. You said you liked his crew, did his crew change so he had to hire these new people? Can he just bring the people he used for your first job instead of these questionable new hires?
I think you should tell him how you feel and communicate exactly what would make you happy on this last job. Tell him if he can keep his word and do a good job you will give a good, honest reference for him. Otherwise, let him finish and politely decline.
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Post by secondlife on Jul 25, 2016 16:48:00 GMT
I would be concerned about the liability with the 11yo. I would want written documentation that his policy covers his child and know that I cannot be held responsible for the child should the child be injured on the job site, aka my house.
A good contractor I don't fuss about timing too much. If they come at noon and work til 6 or come at 7 and work til 1 I don't care, as long as they do a good job. If you need to be there to provide access I would be more interested in having a set schedule.
I would provide honest feedback to them about what your reference would entail and they can decide if they want a reference from you or not.
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Post by redrulz on Jul 25, 2016 16:48:35 GMT
Wow, brings his kid to work? I would not be okay with that. I also would not be okay with him waiting until his son wakes up to come to work. That's just unprofessional. Any reference I gave would include that info. Normally, I would agree with you, but I imagine it has to be hard to be a single parent working as a contractor. The OP said the kid is quiet and well-behaved. I think a little understanding and compassion can go a long way. Now, waiting until the son wakes up to go to his job? That's not professional. |
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Post by justkat on Jul 25, 2016 16:48:57 GMT
I would be very concerned about him bringing a child to a work site. That's a huge safety issue, in my eyes. His whole demeanor/work ethic strikes me as that of a kid getting paid to mow lawns: he maybe shows up maybe not, brings a child with him,uses your tv, stops work whenever,doesn't communicate well....
Write his reference but be honest. Include both the good and bad, just tell the truth. But I agree with a previous post that he sounds very unprofessional.
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lnicely
Shy Member
Posts: 20
Location: Washington State..🍎
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Post by lnicely on Jul 25, 2016 16:49:52 GMT
redrulz.... As it turns out the first crew are his flooring installers.. He does have a nice guy working with him now.. It's just the come whenever works for him mentality that is bothering me..:-(
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Post by redrulz on Jul 25, 2016 16:52:02 GMT
redrulz .... As it turns out the first crew are his flooring installers.. He does have a nice guy working with him now.. It's just the come whenever works for him mentality that is bothering me..:-( Ah. Yeah, it would bother me too. Hopefully you can get it worked out with him. |
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Post by uksue on Jul 25, 2016 17:10:53 GMT
I do find most builders to be like this- picking their own hours and not ringing when they should. The last ones I hired started out great ( came highly recommended by my neighbours and one of the two lived down the end of our road) but once well into the Job, would just not turn uo one day with no explanation. Turns out they had several jobs on the go at the same time and said that's the only way they can keep the price down, but that doesn't make much sense to me.
I've never had one bring a child along though- and whilst I admire your patience of his single father status, I do think it could be an insurance risk and possibly a distraction.
Regarding the reference - I would have to be honest. Would you have hired him had you known he was going to be unreliable and bring his child? Is his child ever unsupervised in your home? many working families would not want an unsupervised child in their home no matter how well behaved he seems. As a prospective client I would want that information .
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 5:27:28 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2016 17:25:21 GMT
Back story- we bought a 60's rambler last year and have remodeled the entire house. Our design group subcontracted the flooring install and we really liked his crew... So.. We hired him to do our 2 bathrooms- full gut and redo. A flooring contractor is not a general contractor. Did you have experience with his work as a general contractor to hire him to gut and redo your bathrooms? Does he know how to do electrical, plumbing and finish work? Also, does his insurance even cover this type of work or the employees he's hiring to help do the work? |
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basketdiva
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,615
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Post by basketdiva on Jul 25, 2016 17:31:15 GMT
Back story- we bought a 60's rambler last year and have remodeled the entire house. Our design group subcontracted the flooring install and we really liked his crew... So.. We hired him to do our 2 bathrooms- full gut and redo. A flooring contractor is not a general contractor. Did you have experience with his work as a general contractor to hire him to gut and redo your bathrooms? Does he know how to do electrical, plumbing and finish work? Also, does his insurance even cover this type of work or the employees he's hiring to help do the work? He he licensed as a general and a plumber? In my state he would have to be a licensed plumber to do the work you described. Without a licensed plumber doing the work, no permit could be pulled and therefore no inspections done. |
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Post by christine58 on Jul 25, 2016 18:11:38 GMT
He has summer custody of his son and understandably wants to be with him, so he brings him along to our job (he's 11) He uses our tv for his video games, so is quiet and occupied. That's a big fat NO. That child should not be in your home. You're not a babysitter. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 5:27:28 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2016 18:29:46 GMT
Having been through a LOT of contractors, I would suck it up and let him finish the job out. Contractors seem to play by a different set of rules when it comes to timeliness. But if the honesty, kindness, trustworthiness, and cleanliness are good, I'd probably put up with it since finding another one is such a crap shoot.
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lnicely
Shy Member
Posts: 20
Location: Washington State..🍎
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Post by lnicely on Jul 25, 2016 18:41:41 GMT
So, today he said 9:00 am start time, then uh oh- son's not awake yet- to I'd like to not work today, but I'll wash and detail your car next week to make it up... I sent his helper, who WAS here, home...
I'm so over this!!
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Post by Really Red on Jul 25, 2016 20:21:04 GMT
Can you see him in person?
I'd start with
"Joe. I like the work you are doing, but we've had more than one concern along the way. You started the job later than promised, you hired an unknown off Craigslist and let him in my house and you're bringing your child to work. I have been really tolerant about all of that, but the random hours you are coming to work are not working for me. I need to know the time you arrive and I need to know that you are spending 8 hours on this job. It doesn't seem to me that you are able to commit to this. What do you suggest I do?"
By asking him the solution, you are giving him some control and when he doesn't come in, you can say "YOU told me you'd work these hours." If you are serious about these problems, I'd give him ONE more chance, then change the locks (if he has ever had your keys) and get a new contractor. It totally sucks, but you aren't doing him any favors allowing him to be so disrespectful not only of you, but his helper!
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Post by tuva42 on Jul 25, 2016 20:41:16 GMT
Wow, brings his kid to work? I would not be okay with that. I also would not be okay with him waiting until his son wakes up to come to work. That's just unprofessional. Any reference I gave would include that info. Normally, I would agree with you, but I imagine it has to be hard to be a single parent working as a contractor. The OP said the kid is quiet and well-behaved. I think a little understanding and compassion can go a long way. Now, waiting until the son wakes up to go to his job? That's not professional. I agree one must show compassion, especially for a single parent. But bringing a child to a building site? No, never. I would worry about the OP's liability should something go wrong and the child get hurt. Who is watching the child while the work is going on? The OP? The dad? I think this is more than an issue of understanding and compassion. Dad needs to find childcare in the summer if he wants to work as a contractor. |
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
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Post by scrappington on Jul 25, 2016 20:59:50 GMT
If he brings up a reference again I'd tell him you will discuss it after he has completed your project.
This way your not pissing him off before he's done.
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Post by dawncpa on Jul 25, 2016 23:02:50 GMT
If I trusted him completely, I would give him a key and let him work whenever he wanted - I'd just ask him to let me know. I've had contractors bring a kid - not a small child - and this child isn't small either. We are hard up for good contractors here. I have two guys working for me right now. For all I know they hang in my pool all day when I'm not home. If they get the work done and do a good job - I have lots of leeway. (They aren't hanging in the pool...) My AC contractor and my electrician both ended up with boys here about the same age as the child your contractor has. A little different - but the kids were respectful and helped the parent a bit.
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