What is your current issue with your construction projects?

[Mike Garrett]

In today's current construction market, contractors are only getting busier and both prices and schedules are increasing. Many contractors are attempting to increase their scope in a project to capture the gaps while charging the owners for the training. The contractor charges more for the service or the project takes a delay until the specialist can fit the project into their schedule. Other contractors are sending out 'B' and 'C' teams because they are so busy that the most profitable jobs get the 'A' players. So I am wondering- what problems are other Washington State investors seeing in their rehabs, flips, and new builds?

[Brian Cohen]

Mike

I have experienced this as well in recent jobs. Plumbing contractors specifically using 'B' team with apprentices because they are busy and trying to capture as much work as possible. This is extremely profitable for the contractor because their billing rates are the same regardless of the quality or experience of the team. As a result of lower quality finish work, damage to fixtures and because I felt the inexperience caused the job to take longer -resulting in a higher bill than anticipated and delays, I deducted a percentage from a recent invoice and paid an amount I felt was fair for the job. This didn't sit will with this contractor (whom I had given a lot of work to over the past year) and so, this one may not work with me again, but that's okay... I am not paying to be their training facility.