Issue getting bid from contractor

[Tristan Colborg]

Hey BP community looking for some insight here. I've been trying to get bids for some work on a newly acquired triplex, and recently guy response back from one of the contractors that kind of took me back. Not sure if what I'm sending is maybe too detailed or in-depth, but wondering if I need to adjust what I'm sending them. Below is the message that I sent to a contractor and their response, as well as the scope of work document I sent them.

"Morning _______, I hope you had a good weekend and thanks again for replying back to me on facebook. Attached is the construction scope of the work and we discussed. I would still like to see about having you out on Thursday or Friday to look at the project and bid it out. I currently have a company scheduled at 1 pm on Thursday, as well as one @ 12 pm on Friday. Let me know what time works best for you."

Contractor response:

"Im gonna pass. I as the contractor come to the table with the paperwork and contract.

This not how I conduct my business.

Good Luck"

What are your guy's thoughts, was what I sent him to much? Or is this just the contractor's way of not wanting to bid the job.

This is some of the scope of work I sent him below. The only thing I can think of was the lines where it stated material cost and total cost for each section. Really I did this so if there are things/areas I need to remove to stick to my budget it is easier to do so.

[Brian Garlington]

You came across like the Somali pirate in the movie Captain Phillips when he said to Tom Hanks “I’m the Captain.”

The biggest red flags were that detailed of an SOW, the I’m meeting 2 other contractors and the time you are saying you can meet.

The better approach will be 

DO NOT mention any other contractors. 

Offer to meet him at the property at 6am. That is not a joke. He can probably meet you at 6am or when it is first getting light outside . That way he can look over the job, THEN he will go to his current job site at 7 or 7:30am..... and then get his bid to you later that night or the next night. Right now you are implying you want him to take time away from a job he currently needs to be on to meet him at noon or 1pm to bid on a job he “might get” and he needs to compete with at least 2 other contractors.

Last but not least, keep your initial request very simple with a few bullet  points of what you ultimately want done from a 40,000 foot level. I have a leaking roof, some windows that need to be replaced and the garage may need to be flattened, do you do that sort of work on a triplex? Cool. I know you probably have other projects going on so I can actually meet you at the property at 6am before we both go to work, if that fits your schedule. 

You come to him with detailed SOW type of request screams, “I’m an analytical controlling potentially difficult consumer to work with.... a lot of these GCs are used to being the Alpha.

You practically told him, here’s the schematics I have already diagramed as well as the blueprint you will need to use. I know you’re the GC, but this is my property and I expect things done a certain way (my way). I also have multiple checks and balances built in and I’m letting you know that I can and will hold up your money if things do not go EXACTLY the way I want them to go WHEN I want them to go, I hope we are clear on this buddy.

Although it is good to  know exactly what you want, you came across as way to overbearing for him.