For what it's worth, I posted a thread a few days ago about a low-pitch roof job. It turns out that I'm going to have to do it myself. But I don't want to do it, I just feel I have to. I called five different contractors to get bids on doing it, and I'm not using any of them.
Contractor #1. Has a fantastic reputation around here. Everyone says to use them. I called to make an appointment for an estimate. Couldn't get someone out for 10 days to even look at it. That seemed odd but, hey, they are good, so I waited. Ten days. On the day of the appointment, nobody had come two hours after the time we had settled on. I called the office. "Oh, um, yeah, he can't make it because we are so busy. Can we reschedule for a week from now?" Oh, um, yeah, NO. You don't keep your appointment and you want me to wait another week? Just for the bid? I could expect even more delays when it comes time to do the work. Reputation may be great, but customer service is important too.
Contractor #2. I get the owner on the phone and describe the project. He says "I can do that for $3,500." He's never seen my house or my roof. I mention that it's a 300 square foot area, so I don't need a GOLD roof, I need a ROLLED roof. He's firm on $3,500. I'm not working with an outfit that would estimate without seeing it. He's not quoting me the price on MY roof, he's quoting a charge he wants for showing up anywhere for a day.
Contractor #3. Looks at the roof and says he can do it for $900. Well, that's a good price, but I priced out the MATERIALS at a roofing supply company (not the home center, a proper GAF/Certainteed dealer) for me to do it myself. Price of materials: $950. Unless he steals the materials there is no chance he can do the job for that. Either he'll hit me for higher costs at the end or he'll use sub-par materials and workmanship. Price isn't everything, and because I researched it, I know better.
Contractor #4. Reasonable price, $2,000. Reasonable time frame. When I ask questions about the materials he'll use and his method, i.e. will he use flashing under the clapboard, run the material under it, try to caulk, etc. he acts offended and mentions that if I knew his business why do I need him, he's been in this business for 20 years, he can't stand it when people read something on the internet and think they know his business. He may be good, but if he won't answer my questions, regardless of how silly he thinks they are, he's not touching my house.
Contractor #5. Runs TV ads. I see his ad on the placemat at the diner where we eat on Sundays. Ads in the paper. See his trucks everywhere. Call the number during business hours and get the answering machine. Leave a message. Nothing. Call again, leave another message (during business hours.) No response. That was five days ago. I'm guessing he doesn't want my business.
So it isn't always as easy as being the best bid or being the best man for the job. Am I unreasonable, for a job that I'm going to spend THOUSANDS of dollars on, to expect:
1. Timely response to my inquiry and an estimate in a timely fashion
2. An honest estimate based on the needs of my job
3. An estimate based on the real cost of good materials, not a low-bid job that can't possibly be for good quality work
4. To be treated as a customer whose business is valued, not that you are doing me a favor to even show up
5. At least a call back to say you are booked and can't take the job
I'm not saying Ed did any of these things, but for me, but I rejected all of one of the above not based on how well a job they'd do, but on how I was treated and how they conducted themselves as businessmen. I'll just do it myself.
Therefore, as a homeowner and customer, it isn't just price and experience that determines who I'll use for any particular job.
