Time-lost with GC

[Robert P.]

This may be a bit of stretch, but I have been dealing with a contractor for the past week and a half about getting some work done on a property I am buying. He came by on Tuesday afternoon and took a look at the property and said he would give me a written quote with everything broken out, license #'s, etc by Thursday night.

Friday comes and nothing.

Saturday night comes, nothing. So I reach out and he said he sent it, Friday night. (and now he is travelling and will try to resend when he gets home)

Sunday afternoon, nothing yet. Monday afternoon, finally sends me a written out email quote (actually in the body of the email, most likely from his iPhone) after I texted him again asking where the quote is. 

Mind you that this is not all split out (labor/materials) or any license #'s etc.

I tell him I agree to price and we should move on and fill out agreements, get copies of licenses, etc.

2 days later...texts me and tells me he is passing on a 15k project, with no reason.

I know nothing was signed, but this can't be right, or legal! Is there anything I can do to recoup some of my time, or have someone investigate these guys and make sure they are legit and not screwing other people over. I know that no $$ was transferred or anything, but I just feel the need to get these guys inspected or something to give them some karma.

Thoughts?

[Alexander Felice]

The guy didn't screw you over, and he didn't waste that much of your time. When he didn't follow through the first TWO days you should have bailed. In fact, he did you a favor by passing because if he TOOK the job he would have wasted way more of your time and money.

It sounds like the job was over his head, he knew it, probably wanted to take it but knew he couldn't handle it so he just bailed. 

As you said there were no contracts and no money was exchanged. You can't get your time back (that's impossible fyi). Don't get so mad over contractors because there are more lousy ones than great ones. You will experience this situation plenty more times and probably have to go through another 1-2 contractors just like this one before you actually get the job in question finalized. 

 If you're going to get vengeful about everyone you run into who doesn't run their business the way you want them to then you're in a for a very stressful career my friend. TL;DR Find a new GC, move on.