All Forum Posts by: Quentin Barlow

I am a plumbing contractor. The plumbing industry has so many different type of materials and codes that most customers simply don't know what to buy and get frustrated after so many trip trying, because they keep buying the wrong thing. As the condition change in construction so does materials. There is Cast iron, pvc, copper, pex, galvanized, lead, brass, stainless steel, hoses, flanged, threaded, waste pipe, waste fittings, vent fitting, gas, water and on and on. I prefer customers to buy there fixtures only, that's it. If they have specs that calls for a certain model number then I can  purchased and get it delivered or picked up. In this event I ask for a down payment. When customers want to meet contractors at home depot it cost  more time because contractors are constantly consulting because they haven't made up there mine. Jobs under 2,500 I will purchase materials because its a small job and  I will be finish in a day or two. When I am the only contractor and the job is under 2,500 I prefer to finish the job and get paid. When there are multiple contractors and  sub contractors involve like a framer, painter, tile man, electrician and others. I ask for a down payment even if its under 2,500 this is because the customer will often times run out of money once they pay everyone else then hire one of these other guys to finish up for cheap. While you are waiting to finish up to get your remaining balance.