Contractor Keeps Picking Up Other Jobs During My Flips

[James Robert]

I have a contractor whom I met from a friend of a friend. He is a jack of all trades. This is the second house flip I hired him for. First one went about 30-45 days over what was expected. He is a one man show so I get it however he keeps picking up other jobs during my flips. I am torn on how to handle this, he is priced so well. He is only charging me 17k in labor for a whole house rehab. Not including bathrooms updates though. I pay my bathroom guy separate for those. Do I be firm and say look man I don't appreciate you picking up other jobs while I have holding costs on this or do I say no problem. The jobs he takes on for side gigs are like 2-3 day jobs but they take away from my flips. 

[Bruce Woodruff]

You said it yourself - "He is priced so well" and "he keeps picking up other jobs". He is taking on other jobs because his pricing is too low. If you want him to be exclusive to your project you will need to pay him more, probably a lot more. SO you have to decide what you want.

Having said that, most General Contractors carry a few jobs at the same time. I used to aim for 5 jobs going at the same time....but I had a good sized crew and multiple Subs to throw at every job so there was something going on at every project most days.