Tell us your worst experience with contractors...

[Account Closed]

I thought this would be a fun question to ask. What is your worst experience you have had with a contractor???

Mine is on our last two projects. "Brad" and his crew had done work for us before and did an excellent job. We decided to let them try to handle a complete project, start to finish. While they started on the first project we were a week away from buying another project, also having them do everything on that one.

A week in to the first project they were in over their heads. They quit. Pretty bad huh? Well what made it worse is that we just bought the second project and had no contractors to do it. It turned in to a 6 week nightmare finishing up the first and then doing the second. We put all our eggs in one basket and the handles fell off and SPLAT!!! Egg everywhere, especially my face! Lesson learned and I am thankful to move forward.

Anybody else have any good ones?

[Frank Adams]

I guess the way to avoid nightmares is to never fall asleep! I almost NEVER use outsiders for any work (I'm a pretty anal, Type "A" personality, so it's difficult for anyone to do work up to my standards), unless it's unavoidable. I do have 2 local licensed electricians that I trust, both are expensive but both know what they're doing. I have a local HVAC guy, local York brand "dealer/installer". Since I have a long term relationship with the York distributor for TX I had somewhat of a connection to this guy.

Here's a few signs that the guy you're interviewing IS NOT THE ONE to hire:

1. He says "pay me ANYTHING up front so I can get started". Never let anyone get ahead of you. Very expensive (over $20K) jobs are an exception, as are long term (2 or more weeks), in which case have YOUR attorney set up a draw account and him/her disburse the funds.

2. He says he needs ANY MONEY up front to "buy supplies". If this clown doesn't have trade accounts with the suppliers DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH HIM. The only possible exception is if you are special ordering something, custom plumbing fixtures or the like. In which case YOU go to the supply house, order it in YOUR name and YOU pay for it, and give them YOUR contract phone number.

3. You ask for his proof of insurance and he hands you a piece of paper. No, no and NO. That's not proof that he has insurance, that's proof that he (may) have had insurance. He gives you his insurance agents contact info, YOU make the contact and they mail or fax the POI to you.

I'm sure I'll think of more later but it's early Saturday morning.

all cash