yea he should have waited for multiple bids before going with the cheaper option, my two favorite channels are this and Concrete with the Hauses they do a phenomenal job and the owner works his butt off just like you do you both have incredible work ethics and the fact that you do right by the customer I wish there were more contractors in all jobs like you!
1st off, not all contractors are equal in knowledge of what they are giving you the estimate for , hire a drainage guy if you have problem with drainage , never hire a fast talker, I hate that the old sidewalk was not replaced and raised, thanks to the customer and Gate City Foundation Drainage for sharing this video.
I’ve always written out proposals (contracts), spelling out exactly what I was doing. Not even so much as to protect me from people that aren’t going to pay but just so there’s no misunderstandings that damage the relationship. My long time, repeat customers I may send a text but it will always spell out exactly the details. I actually enjoy writing contracts for some reason. I always include price, payment schedule, and unforeseen circumstances clause. I’d be happy to share my format with you Sean.
The responsibility of the homeowner far exceeds that of the contractor BEFORE writing a check or even meeting with a contractor. They need to itemize a list of the concerns in detail much like they expect an itemized list in detail that a contractor should provide in their bid. Also, homeowners should never suggest to bidding contractors what the solutions the previous contractor provided. Homeowners need to discuss what they want, what needs correcting, and listen to the solutions provided by each bidding contractor.Then the homeowner should attach their itemized list of concerns to be addressed by the contractor in his bid. Assume nothing from a "professional" because he's been a contractor doing crap work all over town.
Another benefit of spelling out exactly what you will be doing up front is that it might prompt the customer to ask any other bidders if those same items are included in their quote. This removes the ability from the other bidders to underbid based on doing less work.
That’s so unbelievable! All my work comes from word of mouth and repeat business. How can anyone expect to get a referral from “get outta here, I’m busy”. Please give him a bad review.
I think you should pull out the ADS drainage handbook & do a video on how many drainage channels on YT are literarily going against the Manufacturer's instal recommendations. I see them all the time where they make excuses for failed systems but nobody had read what the pipe maker designed their product to do. 4 inch corrugated needs 2.8% slope or you've hired a liar/scammer.
Great video, thank you. We are seeking a concrete contractor for a metal garage we want to install this year. I know your in Greensboro, we are in Rougemont, just north of Durham...wish you did work in our area, it’s about 1 hour away from Greensboro.
Make sure they get the slab high enough to drain on all four sides. I see slabs ALL the time where they cut into the uphill side and fill in the downhill side and the uphill side ends up below grade and flooding.
Great video Shawn, this is a scenario i can see happening in any business. Communication is key. My kids tell me i'm infamous for thinking exactly what i want, but not articulating it fully on our many projects in the garage. This was a Very informative video, that will have me rethinking the way i communicate with contractors myself. Big shout out to the homeowner for helping you make this important video.
I would probably have offered to correct everything for cost. A little gives you a lot and the positives of this would get you excellent reviews and more work. However you have a business to run and giving doesn’t pay the bills.
Shawn they got what they paid for a cheap ass contractor with half as$ work they should’ve thought about why is this guy so much cheaper then you not the case all the time sometimes the highest quote are big name companies that do mediocre best thing a good reputation contractor well they got the answer now cheap homeowners trying to get good work for cheap 😂💸💸💸
Good point. The highest quote isn’t always the best. It can be. It all depends. Large corporations who provide quotes are expensive and from other’s experience, worthwhile avoiding. They subcontract and a 2 week job becomes an 8 week job. Shawn’s business is one type worthwhile supporting after seeing most of his content.
You should show people the National Maps & how to do their own Soil-Profile with the free tools our Government has given the people. You literally click points on the map & it creates a free graph of the slope, through the accuracy is in feet. The free date is from 2018-2019 but for most properties it's accurate, my city sells new LIDAR data every 2 years so I imagine other cities do it too. I even have pages for land-slope in my 2015 drainage binder that were updated from 1967-free-data to the free-2018-2019 LIDAR results on the USGS soil survey.
I was really hoping you were going to make this video and at the end tell us you were going to make it right for the clients and show them what a true professional does. And use the TH-cam proceeds to pay yourself back for the loss of money for doing pro bono work. Just a thought.
Its not Gate city's fault. You have plenty of videos showing your work and the very good work you do. This is an issue of trying to save a "Buck" It's happened to me but I admit it and learn from it.
I feel sorry for the homeowner for what happened. My husband would have send away the contractors if they were this rude. I think I would have send them away too, but I'm more sensitive for doing that. There is no contract signed, so it isn't a big deal to send them away. It is your house and you have to have a good feeling about it. Just starting the job without even knocking on the door and telling you are going to start is just plain rude in my eyes. Always ask for a contract as you hire someone. You can see fast enough if they are serious enough for the job. No contract? No job. Contract but not explained enough? Just ask or no job. Explained contract is the way to go. Okay even then mistakes could happen, that should be on the cost of the contractor to fix it.
Man that was a great interaction with the homeowner and yourself. I am the same way as the homeowner, I’ve been burned before on work so if it’s not on the quote, in my mind it’s not getting done. Who knows how many excellent contractors as yourself I’ve past on just by not having a detailed quote.
When I am looking for a contractor I expect a written proposal. Can email it to me as a PDF. In that I want to see what the entire job entails from start to finish. That way as work progresses and I see something not happening I can address it right away. Price is irrelevant to me without a plan. I hired a roofer and he did that. Day before starting he stopped by to make sure everything was ok and to see if I had any more questions. I am sure since you do the same kind of work most of the time you could draft a template so not spending so much time putting a bid together. I am also looking for a quick response when looking at bids.
Thank you to the homeowners and to you for this valuable video. I learned so much! You are a true problem solver and humble enough to admit that you could have done better too. Wish you were working in my area!
Yeah both parties needed to do some more work. This is a very good video explaining why buyer and seller need to explain what's the plan and what it includes.
It was interesting how I had gone through the same thing with clients who agreed to the job but then hit me with several texts about details like thickness, fiber, hauling away the debris. I was like, duh, yes....but did I actually say that? Nope.
Hey this is great, im not a homeowner but you always have to hire people even if you rent out. Im still kinda young and new to this process and its a sore point so its good to see other people perspective. Very informative, i appreciate it.
Well, he had make a mistake and he pay for it. That’s ok. We all make mistakes. But he stands for it. Here in Germany we would make a lawsuit up for that first contractor. But it seems to me that - in US - the customer is willing pay for it once again instead of sue them for do it right. Here we have a 5 year guarantee for construction work to do it right.
I don't like simple texts. Best way is e-mail a PDF or snail mail a detailed quote and with a follow-up phone call. The prices for your type of work can't be line by line, so adjusting the total might require a follow-up call, complete re-quote or if minor, a text. Watching your videos shows a lot about your company and how you work, but it doesn't give a total picture of what goes on behind the scenes as far as the actual quotes and haggling. If the contractor has nothing to hide, then having the detailed contract helps both the customer and the contractor.
I totally agree Joe. The issue is I don't have time to do a detailed assessment on site with the customer and then write it all up as a detailed quote when giving them a price. If they like the price then I will write everything up in a contract. I just don't have the man power to do it all. Also notice my video posts have dropped off a cliff for the same reason.
@@GCFD Maybe before you leave your initial visit, you could let them know your work will include complete clean up right down to seed and straw. That could almost be a standard closing of every evaluation before leaving. You're always going to lose some, it's the nature of doing business. It's got to be hard to know how much time to spend on a quote. If it gets too involved, you can charge for in depth quotes and take that off the total if you get the job. Good Luck.
Not being a tradesman and only a customer, my biggest beef is this, 1. Not turning up. 2. Turning up, viewing the job and discussing it, promising to send a quote, then no communication. 3. Having a quote accepted, agree a start date and then silence. 4. Quitting once the job is started. Everyone has a phone, a quick call or text makes the difference between a disappointed customer and an angry customer. Silence, in my opinion, is contempt. Talk to your customers, we’re not children, we understand that shit happens sometimes and delays can, sometimes, occur, but if I’ve taken time off work and you’re a no show, I’m not a happy bunny. All the above assumes you are a proper contractor and not one of those scummy rip off merchants. The most important thing is communication.
i will say that i count myself lucky if they do 1 2 or 3, because that means i didn't pay anything, and dodged a bullet. annoying, but still a bullet dodge.
I definitely agree with this. I had a customer last january who paid a deposit but then the weather kept delaying us. I would schedule a day to work, then rain on that day. This went on for many weeks. I always kept in touch with the customer to make sure they knew I wasn't avoiding them or didn't intend to do the work. Once we had good weather we got in and did it. That led to more work for that customer.
Sorry Sean, but it wasn't the price is total BS........People always go for the lower price, unless they've seen the work that they get for the price that's offered........People don't understand the price of materials, labour..........They want something for nothing........They pay for quantity and expect quality, but don't pay for quality..........You should never take on a job if you can't give the customer the quality they expect for the price they're willing to pay.......Walk away.
Well to be fair we accepted 3rd contractor before Shawn responded with quote. We had same info from both so went with other contractor without waiting. For us we weren't worried to pay more.
Great video showcasing how a “competitive” environment can ultimately affect the performance and quality of the end product. I do agree with adding enough information to capture the full scope but be careful not to provide too much detail in your bids to the point of where your “competitors” or prospective clients can use it as a free design guide to find a “cheaper price.” In the end, the selected contractor was not the cheapest because he did less work.
That's exactly what has happened a few times. One client I visited their house four times and they gave the job to someone who beat my price by 5%. I never heard anything after that, but I seriously question if the other contractor could successfully implement my design plan.
@@GCFD sure, especially since you are the one actually performing the work (and/or directly supervising) as opposed to “sending the crew over.” Makes a world of a difference in the final product.
Incredibly helpful! Kudos to you and thanks to your customer for being willing to share this experience! When I've worked with contractors, I'm always comforted when they give me a detailed, written estimate up front, like the other person said below. But I'm also a compulsive homework-doer, so I read tons of reviews and customer feedback before I even approach a company for a quote. Now with TH-cam, I'd be watching all their videos, too!
Good video. I take my hat off to owner letting you film his experience. I’m in a similar situation looking for a contractor to correct my grading on my property after water in my basement from storm. Every one that comes to my house has had varying different opinions of how to fix my grading problem. I bring up other contractors ideas and they trash talk alternative ideas? For instance one says I can’t build a small garden wall with river stone inside next to house to give the extra needed space for grading/ raise land as siding is low to ground in certain areas. But others say I can. Not easy to find a trust worthy knowledgeable company. I hope your TH-cam channel grows it’s very informative and a public service. Thank you.
Sean if you do go back to this client, two things i noticed while watching. I thank them for making this video. The concrete slab was not poured to the brick on the right and the downspout was not put to the concrete as there was dirt and a correugated. Looking at old glory, the gutters have blockers for that corner but one down spout. The flag can be moved, but not sure about the house numbers, but a second down spout would probably better. Yes love to some concrete prep. This was good to see.
Gratuluje odwagi nie każdy właściciel domu odważyłby się przyznać do błędu i jeszcze pokazać swoją twarz. Dostał srogą lekcję jak wybierać firmy. Dla Ciebie to też nowe ważne doświadczenie, mam nadzieję że to pomoże Ci w przyszłości zdobyć jeszcze więcej klientów.
I won't argue against "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". But... That front patio slab is butt ugly! No plantings are possible under that center window. It's all just so threadbare and stark. That's not the contractor's fault, of course. And just my own opinion.
Yep - stating the obvious! the road to hell is paved with assumptions... ;-) I think you do a good job in talking to the clients, not only here but in all your videos (that I have seen-...)
Thanks for all you do. Based on watching your videos, I was able to solve my own drainage problem and it took actually seeing it rain to identify the proper solution. Couldn't have done it without the details you share.
As said in the video, I am reluctant to accept a one liner quote, especially on big jobs, it makes look the company like a sloppy and lazy one. Thumbs up to the client for accepting the interview and being straight forward with his story, so many scammers out there, it's a jungle. The hack who did the job deserves to be exposed.
A concrete footings issue: I'm writing up complaints against my Floodplain Admin violating NFIP for allowing homes in the special-flood-hazard-area to not have foundations. They have allowed homes to be placed on compacted crushed concrete & I worry I will get some awful photos of the disaster if a home fails in the floodwater. For a 40ft long mobile home on 1/8 inch rated expansive soil I've seen the two sets of end block-stacks sink & lose contact with the frame of the homes in less than 2 years. The wildest part is that I told them to get the FEMA piers installed but they chose the advice of our Floodplain Admin's minimal requirements.
Wow that was great of them to share the issues that they experienced. It was a great learning experience for you and it is great that you will change the way you do things in the future based on what he told you.
It's understandable that people will always look for a cheaper way of getting a job done but, it is also heart breaking when they have to learn the hard way and spend more money. After a year or more of watching your vlogs I learn to hire trade workers this way. And I even follow them on Instagram to see the type of relationship they have with their customers and workers before deciding. And as you get more into an expensive job you are prepared
Hey great video thanks for the insights on how the relationship is between the contractor and customer over price and timing of bids. Really appreciate it.
I got quotes from three concrete guys for a driveway and sidewalk. The most expensive guy rolled in and told me what I wanted. The cheapest guy barely seemed to be paying attention. The one in the middle asked questions, listened carefully, offered suggestions, proposed options. I asked the middle guy for a few references; he gave me a dozen, just from what he had with him in the truck, and said he could get more when he got home. I looked at one, it was fine, and then at the second one, that customer just happened to have work that was done by all three companies I was looking at. The cheapest guy had definitely done inferior work; the middle guy and most expensive were both top notch, zero difference in quality, and the customer had the same experience in the quote process with all three. I went with the middle guy, with no regrets. When i have another concrete project, i won't even consider anyone else.
I'm so impressed by your character. Making this video owning up to your mistakes and learning how you can improve. People with growth mindsets who are able to listen to feedback are people who can be trusted. I hired a contractor recently who owned up to a mistake he made while giving me the quote and THAT is the reason we hired him. He did a phenomenal job. Kudos to you.
Thank you Jason! I'm a scientist by training and in science, we care about the best information and best evidence. We also try to understand why something happened, so asking what did I do to contribute is a natural response for me. It usually leads to a better way forward. 👍
So heres a question since you work with roofers now n then that you may or may not be able to answer.. Recently had my roof replaced due to storm damage (Insurance chose the contractor), the contractor appears to not have used nails on the shingles so they just have the sticky adhesive to keep them on the roof.. is that normal these days to not use nails anymore? i already had to fix one loose shingle, tried to get them to come fix it but numerous times they said they would but never did so had to do it myself.
NOOO! Code said 4 nails per shingle! Section R901 General (North carolina residential code) says manufacturer recommendation with 4 minimum. edit: I would contact your insurance agency right away and get a new roof installed right away before any structural/wood damage is done.
Okay so i mailed my insurance to see what they have to say, and i mailed the contractor and hes SUPPOSEDLY coming out tuesday himself to check everything.. But will he actually comes, thats the question. Thanks for the info
I would suggest you have an "elevator pitch" kind of video that visually highlights what services you generally offer the client in your price. Then get a QR code to link that video so that you know the customer has the pertinent over-all information on what's included in the quote for the job. The particulars can be covered in the contract. You may want to put the QR code on your vehicles, too.
This seems like a situation where the concrete guy thought of the homeowner as a General Contractor. It also doesn't seem like anything was written down, causing sone confusion on both sides The concrete guy that was hired is probably used to working with GCs who will bring in the finish graders and drainage guys. Tough situation for the homeowner and an unfortunate lesson learned.
That's a good point. A lot of concrete guys don't do anything but rip the forms out and leave as fast as possible. No finish grading or smoothing out the ground around their concrete.
You normally go for 3 quotes n interview all 3 what you want done . No point going back to see the owner when you didnt get the job.. only point to your frustration. You win some you lose some .. thats the name of the game in business .Gift of the gab ..😂😂😂🎉🎉
That's a good point, but I'm glad that Shawn came back to us to talk. I was very happy to share what happened to us and help others make a good decision going forward. Of course , if we have concrete work to do the future , we know who to call!!!
I’m glad that you agreed to it. It’s really nice to hear your perspective in dealing with Shawn and the bad contractor. Wishing you best in hopes he will come back and make things right.
If you need a drainage education project then look into how our Federal Government is using Contractors who do not get floodway permits for sand mining to build our highways. There are blue chloride ponds all across the south part of the US built to literally obstructing the flow of our floodways. Many of these never-permitted sand mines have berms higher than the 500yr expected flood height. I've been trying to contact the new-2022 FEMA-Audits for NFIP but no luck yet, the AI chat bot says FEMA is only promoting safety but the FEMA YT video on their Audits says they'll fine governments that violate the citizens.
@GCFD Maybe you should send the customer a 30min video of a job showing start; work & finished look so they can see what to expect whilst waiting for your quote
Don't forget, the client also mentioned that the other contractor responded with their quote quicker.
I checked back and I took two days and five hours to send my quote
@@GCFD perfectly reasonable
yea he should have waited for multiple bids before going with the cheaper option, my two favorite channels are this and Concrete with the Hauses they do a phenomenal job and the owner works his butt off just like you do you both have incredible work ethics and the fact that you do right by the customer I wish there were more contractors in all jobs like you!
@@GCFDvery reasonable.
It's interesting to hear the client's perspective since we never hear their side of the story.
For sure! I was so happy these homeowners were willing to share their perspective! 👍
I've been scammed by the contractors giving the highest quotes too. I now just try to DIY everything but my roof now.
That's very true Chris! People stink sometimes.
1st off, not all contractors are equal in knowledge of what they are giving you the estimate for , hire a drainage guy if you have problem with drainage , never hire a fast talker, I hate that the old sidewalk was not replaced and raised, thanks to the customer and Gate City Foundation Drainage for sharing this video.
Great point Brian. I've had customers tell me they appreciate I listen to them instead of talking over them. 👍
I’ve always written out proposals (contracts), spelling out exactly what I was doing. Not even so much as to protect me from people that aren’t going to pay but just so there’s no misunderstandings that damage the relationship. My long time, repeat customers I may send a text but it will always spell out exactly the details. I actually enjoy writing contracts for some reason. I always include price, payment schedule, and unforeseen circumstances clause. I’d be happy to share my format with you Sean.
The responsibility of the homeowner far exceeds that of the contractor BEFORE writing a check or even meeting with a contractor. They need to itemize a list of the concerns in detail much like they expect an itemized list in detail that a contractor should provide in their bid.
Also, homeowners should never suggest to bidding contractors what the solutions the previous contractor provided. Homeowners need to discuss what they want, what needs correcting, and listen to the solutions provided by each bidding contractor.Then the homeowner should attach their itemized list of concerns to be addressed by the contractor in his bid. Assume nothing from a "professional" because he's been a contractor doing crap work all over town.
Another benefit of spelling out exactly what you will be doing up front is that it might prompt the customer to ask any other bidders if those same items are included in their quote. This removes the ability from the other bidders to underbid based on doing less work.
That would have alerted these homeowners that the two bids were not comparable
Thanks for laying out all this info. Also, huge appreciation to the homeowner for speaking to you after the job to say why they chose someone else
For sure Dino! This was only possible because the homeowners agreed to share their story to benefit all of us. 👍
That's what I like about your channel. You are always solution oriented. I wish I could get you to come to MO to fix the drainage problem in my yard.
Me to. I also live in cedar Hill, Mo.
That’s so unbelievable! All my work comes from word of mouth and repeat business. How can anyone expect to get a referral from “get outta here, I’m busy”. Please give him a bad review.
Thank you soooooo so much. Some of these contractors are just scam artists taking advantage of people's lack of knowledge.
That's exactly right! I'm thinking about making a video pointing out the ways to cut corners on concrete work.
@@GCFD this is a great idea
@@GCFDI like that idea alot Shawn.
Make sure they have a very flat affect....no smiling or laughing under any circumstances.
I think you should pull out the ADS drainage handbook & do a video on how many drainage channels on YT are literarily going against the Manufacturer's instal recommendations. I see them all the time where they make excuses for failed systems but nobody had read what the pipe maker designed their product to do. 4 inch corrugated needs 2.8% slope or you've hired a liar/scammer.
Ouch, that one must’ve hurt for you to see.
It was awful and I really felt bad for the homeowners.
Excellent video.
Thank you!
Great video, thank you. We are seeking a concrete contractor for a metal garage we want to install this year. I know your in Greensboro, we are in Rougemont, just north of Durham...wish you did work in our area, it’s about 1 hour away from Greensboro.
Make sure they get the slab high enough to drain on all four sides. I see slabs ALL the time where they cut into the uphill side and fill in the downhill side and the uphill side ends up below grade and flooding.
@@GCFD thank you for that information..the building is going to be 30x40x12 and I will want concrete around the entire building.
Great video Shawn, this is a scenario i can see happening in any business. Communication is key. My kids tell me i'm infamous for thinking exactly what i want, but not articulating it fully on our many projects in the garage. This was a Very informative video, that will have me rethinking the way i communicate with contractors myself. Big shout out to the homeowner for helping you make this important video.
Thank you! It also had me rethinking how I communicate with clients! I'll let the homeowners know! 👍
I would probably have offered to correct everything for cost. A little gives you a lot and the positives of this would get you excellent reviews and more work. However you have a business to run and giving doesn’t pay the bills.
👍👍
Always learning 👍🏻
For sure Tony!
Shawn they got what they paid for a cheap ass contractor with half as$ work they should’ve thought about why is this guy so much cheaper then you not the case all the time sometimes the highest quote are big name companies that do mediocre best thing a good reputation contractor well they got the answer now cheap homeowners trying to get good work for cheap 😂💸💸💸
Good point. The highest quote isn’t always the best. It can be. It all depends. Large corporations who provide quotes are expensive and from other’s experience, worthwhile avoiding. They subcontract and a 2 week job becomes an 8 week job.
Shawn’s business is one type worthwhile supporting after seeing most of his content.
You should show people the National Maps & how to do their own Soil-Profile with the free tools our Government has given the people. You literally click points on the map & it creates a free graph of the slope, through the accuracy is in feet. The free date is from 2018-2019 but for most properties it's accurate, my city sells new LIDAR data every 2 years so I imagine other cities do it too. I even have pages for land-slope in my 2015 drainage binder that were updated from 1967-free-data to the free-2018-2019 LIDAR results on the USGS soil survey.
Really great perspective. Thanks for sharing.
I was really hoping you were going to make this video and at the end tell us you were going to make it right for the clients and show them what a true professional does. And use the TH-cam proceeds to pay yourself back for the loss of money for doing pro bono work. Just a thought.
Great video and explaining work to be done alone of fly by night contractors
Thanks Sean
Thank you Chris!
Its not Gate city's fault. You have plenty of videos showing your work and the very good work you do. This is an issue of trying to save a "Buck" It's happened to me but I admit it and learn from it.
I think the homeowners thought it was an accurate comparison with the only difference being price. They didn't even know finish grading was a thing...
I feel sorry for the homeowner for what happened. My husband would have send away the contractors if they were this rude. I think I would have send them away too, but I'm more sensitive for doing that. There is no contract signed, so it isn't a big deal to send them away. It is your house and you have to have a good feeling about it. Just starting the job without even knocking on the door and telling you are going to start is just plain rude in my eyes.
Always ask for a contract as you hire someone. You can see fast enough if they are serious enough for the job. No contract? No job. Contract but not explained enough? Just ask or no job. Explained contract is the way to go. Okay even then mistakes could happen, that should be on the cost of the contractor to fix it.
There were lots of lessons in this one for sure. Thanks for adding some and hopefully others will benefit 👍
A very interesting vlog, I understand exactly where you are coming from , well done 👍
Thank you Martin!
Another great video Gate City! BTW the proverb is Hindsight is 20/20. ;-)
No one ever notices when I say 50/50. But as a ratio either is the same.
Man that was a great interaction with the homeowner and yourself. I am the same way as the homeowner, I’ve been burned before on work so if it’s not on the quote, in my mind it’s not getting done. Who knows how many excellent contractors as yourself I’ve past on just by not having a detailed quote.
I'm changing how I do things for sure
When I am looking for a contractor I expect a written proposal. Can email it to me as a PDF. In that I want to see what the entire job entails from start to finish. That way as work progresses and I see something not happening I can address it right away. Price is irrelevant to me without a plan. I hired a roofer and he did that. Day before starting he stopped by to make sure everything was ok and to see if I had any more questions. I am sure since you do the same kind of work most of the time you could draft a template so not spending so much time putting a bid together. I am also looking for a quick response when looking at bids.
I went back and it took me 2 days 5 hours to get my bid to the customer. In that time, they had already, interviewed, and hired the other guys.
Thank you to the homeowners and to you for this valuable video. I learned so much! You are a true problem solver and humble enough to admit that you could have done better too. Wish you were working in my area!
Thank you Martina!
Yeah both parties needed to do some more work. This is a very good video explaining why buyer and seller need to explain what's the plan and what it includes.
For sure! Thanks 👍
Fair play to the customer here.
You live and learn.
Happens to lots of people.
We hope to prevent this from happening to others with this video. 👍
Kudos to you for taking this to a new level and accepting where you went wrong and realised what needs to be done.
It was interesting how I had gone through the same thing with clients who agreed to the job but then hit me with several texts about details like thickness, fiber, hauling away the debris. I was like, duh, yes....but did I actually say that? Nope.
Hey this is great, im not a homeowner but you always have to hire people even if you rent out. Im still kinda young and new to this process and its a sore point so its good to see other people perspective. Very informative, i appreciate it.
Thank you Juan! Keep learning from others and you'll be that much wiser. 👍
Well, he had make a mistake and he pay for it. That’s ok. We all make mistakes. But he stands for it. Here in Germany we would make a lawsuit up for that first contractor. But it seems to me that - in US - the customer is willing pay for it once again instead of sue them for do it right. Here we have a 5 year guarantee for construction work to do it right.
That's very different from here! Thanks for sharing!
I don't like simple texts. Best way is e-mail a PDF or snail mail a detailed quote and with a follow-up phone call. The prices for your type of work can't be line by line, so adjusting the total might require a follow-up call, complete re-quote or if minor, a text. Watching your videos shows a lot about your company and how you work, but it doesn't give a total picture of what goes on behind the scenes as far as the actual quotes and haggling. If the contractor has nothing to hide, then having the detailed contract helps both the customer and the contractor.
I totally agree Joe. The issue is I don't have time to do a detailed assessment on site with the customer and then write it all up as a detailed quote when giving them a price. If they like the price then I will write everything up in a contract. I just don't have the man power to do it all. Also notice my video posts have dropped off a cliff for the same reason.
@@GCFD Maybe before you leave your initial visit, you could let them know your work will include complete clean up right down to seed and straw. That could almost be a standard closing of every evaluation before leaving. You're always going to lose some, it's the nature of doing business. It's got to be hard to know how much time to spend on a quote. If it gets too involved, you can charge for in depth quotes and take that off the total if you get the job. Good Luck.
I am so proud of you. I wish I had the money to pay you to fix that mess. I salute you sir.
Thank you!
Not being a tradesman and only a customer, my biggest beef is this,
1. Not turning up.
2. Turning up, viewing the job and discussing it, promising to send a quote, then no communication.
3. Having a quote accepted, agree a start date and then silence.
4. Quitting once the job is started.
Everyone has a phone, a quick call or text makes the difference between a disappointed customer and an angry customer. Silence, in my opinion, is contempt. Talk to your customers, we’re not children, we understand that shit happens sometimes and delays can, sometimes, occur, but if I’ve taken time off work and you’re a no show, I’m not a happy bunny. All the above assumes you are a proper contractor and not one of those scummy rip off merchants.
The most important thing is communication.
i will say that i count myself lucky if they do 1 2 or 3, because that means i didn't pay anything, and dodged a bullet. annoying, but still a bullet dodge.
I definitely agree with this. I had a customer last january who paid a deposit but then the weather kept delaying us. I would schedule a day to work, then rain on that day. This went on for many weeks. I always kept in touch with the customer to make sure they knew I wasn't avoiding them or didn't intend to do the work. Once we had good weather we got in and did it. That led to more work for that customer.
Always provide a detailed written quote!
👍👍
Sorry Sean, but it wasn't the price is total BS........People always go for the lower price, unless they've seen the work that they get for the price that's offered........People don't understand the price of materials, labour..........They want something for nothing........They pay for quantity and expect quality, but don't pay for quality..........You should never take on a job if you can't give the customer the quality they expect for the price they're willing to pay.......Walk away.
Great Advice!
Well to be fair we accepted 3rd contractor before Shawn responded with quote. We had same info from both so went with other contractor without waiting. For us we weren't worried to pay more.
Great video showcasing how a “competitive” environment can ultimately affect the performance and quality of the end product. I do agree with adding enough information to capture the full scope but be careful not to provide too much detail in your bids to the point of where your “competitors” or prospective clients can use it as a free design guide to find a “cheaper price.”
In the end, the selected contractor was not the cheapest because he did less work.
That's exactly what has happened a few times. One client I visited their house four times and they gave the job to someone who beat my price by 5%. I never heard anything after that, but I seriously question if the other contractor could successfully implement my design plan.
@@GCFD sure, especially since you are the one actually performing the work (and/or directly supervising) as opposed to “sending the crew over.” Makes a world of a difference in the final product.
Incredibly helpful! Kudos to you and thanks to your customer for being willing to share this experience! When I've worked with contractors, I'm always comforted when they give me a detailed, written estimate up front, like the other person said below. But I'm also a compulsive homework-doer, so I read tons of reviews and customer feedback before I even approach a company for a quote. Now with TH-cam, I'd be watching all their videos, too!
Always, always, spell out everything on the quote. 🤦♂️
You might have to join the big TH-cam channel club and hire an editor. 😂
The problem is my videos would change...
@@GCFD We can't have that! You do a great job. I don't know how you get it all done!
Good video. I take my hat off to owner letting you film his experience. I’m in a similar situation looking for a contractor to correct my grading on my property after water in my basement from storm.
Every one that comes to my house has had varying different opinions of how to fix my grading problem. I bring up other contractors ideas and they trash talk alternative ideas?
For instance one says I can’t build a small garden wall with river stone inside next to house to give the extra needed space for grading/ raise land as siding is low to ground in certain areas. But others say I can. Not easy to find a trust worthy knowledgeable company.
I hope your TH-cam channel grows it’s very informative and a public service.
Thank you.
Sean if you do go back to this client, two things i noticed while watching. I thank them for making this video.
The concrete slab was not poured to the brick on the right and the downspout was not put to the concrete as there was dirt and a correugated.
Looking at old glory, the gutters have blockers for that corner but one down spout. The flag can be moved, but not sure about the house numbers, but a second down spout would probably better. Yes love to some concrete prep. This was good to see.
Gratuluje odwagi nie każdy właściciel domu odważyłby się przyznać do błędu i jeszcze pokazać swoją twarz. Dostał srogą lekcję jak wybierać firmy. Dla Ciebie to też nowe ważne doświadczenie, mam nadzieję że to pomoże Ci w przyszłości zdobyć jeszcze więcej klientów.
I won't argue against "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".
But...
That front patio slab is butt ugly!
No plantings are possible under that center window.
It's all just so threadbare and stark.
That's not the contractor's fault, of course.
And just my own opinion.
Yep - stating the obvious!
the road to hell is paved with assumptions... ;-)
I think you do a good job in talking to the clients, not only here but in all your videos (that I have seen-...)
Thanks for all you do. Based on watching your videos, I was able to solve my own drainage problem and it took actually seeing it rain to identify the proper solution. Couldn't have done it without the details you share.
As said in the video, I am reluctant to accept a one liner quote, especially on big jobs, it makes look the company like a sloppy and lazy one. Thumbs up to the client for accepting the interview and being straight forward with his story, so many scammers out there, it's a jungle. The hack who did the job deserves to be exposed.
A concrete footings issue: I'm writing up complaints against my Floodplain Admin violating NFIP for allowing homes in the special-flood-hazard-area to not have foundations. They have allowed homes to be placed on compacted crushed concrete & I worry I will get some awful photos of the disaster if a home fails in the floodwater. For a 40ft long mobile home on 1/8 inch rated expansive soil I've seen the two sets of end block-stacks sink & lose contact with the frame of the homes in less than 2 years. The wildest part is that I told them to get the FEMA piers installed but they chose the advice of our Floodplain Admin's minimal requirements.
What kind of work do you do beside drainage? Do you do anything interior? JW
Wow that was great of them to share the issues that they experienced. It was a great learning experience for you and it is great that you will change the way you do things in the future based on what he told you.
Do you ever do sand finish concrete?
It's understandable that people will always look for a cheaper way of getting a job done but, it is also heart breaking when they have to learn the hard way and spend more money. After a year or more of watching your vlogs I learn to hire trade workers this way. And I even follow them on Instagram to see the type of relationship they have with their customers and workers before deciding. And as you get more into an expensive job you are prepared
The homeowners deserve a lot of respect for going on camera & swallowing their pride.
Hey great video thanks for the insights on how the relationship is between the contractor and customer over price and timing of bids. Really appreciate it.
Dang, I thought I could be the first viewer saying that was posted three minutes ago. Keep it up the good work men!
I got quotes from three concrete guys for a driveway and sidewalk. The most expensive guy rolled in and told me what I wanted. The cheapest guy barely seemed to be paying attention. The one in the middle asked questions, listened carefully, offered suggestions, proposed options. I asked the middle guy for a few references; he gave me a dozen, just from what he had with him in the truck, and said he could get more when he got home. I looked at one, it was fine, and then at the second one, that customer just happened to have work that was done by all three companies I was looking at. The cheapest guy had definitely done inferior work; the middle guy and most expensive were both top notch, zero difference in quality, and the customer had the same experience in the quote process with all three. I went with the middle guy, with no regrets. When i have another concrete project, i won't even consider anyone else.
I'm so impressed by your character. Making this video owning up to your mistakes and learning how you can improve. People with growth mindsets who are able to listen to feedback are people who can be trusted. I hired a contractor recently who owned up to a mistake he made while giving me the quote and THAT is the reason we hired him. He did a phenomenal job. Kudos to you.
Thank you Jason! I'm a scientist by training and in science, we care about the best information and best evidence. We also try to understand why something happened, so asking what did I do to contribute is a natural response for me. It usually leads to a better way forward. 👍
So heres a question since you work with roofers now n then that you may or may not be able to answer.. Recently had my roof replaced due to storm damage (Insurance chose the contractor), the contractor appears to not have used nails on the shingles so they just have the sticky adhesive to keep them on the roof.. is that normal these days to not use nails anymore? i already had to fix one loose shingle, tried to get them to come fix it but numerous times they said they would but never did so had to do it myself.
NOOO! Code said 4 nails per shingle! Section R901 General (North carolina residential code) says manufacturer recommendation with 4 minimum.
edit: I would contact your insurance agency right away and get a new roof installed right away before any structural/wood damage is done.
@@GCFD Hmmm.. alright thanks
@@GCFD Okay so there HAS to be nails? Sealant or adhesive alone cant be used?
Okay so i mailed my insurance to see what they have to say, and i mailed the contractor and hes SUPPOSEDLY coming out tuesday himself to check everything.. But will he actually comes, thats the question. Thanks for the info
I would suggest you have an "elevator pitch" kind of video that visually highlights what services you generally offer the client in your price. Then get a QR code to link that video so that you know the customer has the pertinent over-all information on what's included in the quote for the job. The particulars can be covered in the contract. You may want to put the QR code on your vehicles, too.
You are a consummate professional. All contractors from any field should watch you and learn.
This seems like a situation where the concrete guy thought of the homeowner as a General Contractor.
It also doesn't seem like anything was written down, causing sone confusion on both sides
The concrete guy that was hired is probably used to working with GCs who will bring in the finish graders and drainage guys.
Tough situation for the homeowner and an unfortunate lesson learned.
That's a good point. A lot of concrete guys don't do anything but rip the forms out and leave as fast as possible. No finish grading or smoothing out the ground around their concrete.
You normally go for 3 quotes n interview all 3 what you want done .
No point going back to see the owner when you didnt get the job.. only point to your frustration. You win some you lose some .. thats the name of the game in business .Gift of the gab ..😂😂😂🎉🎉
That's a good point, but I'm glad that Shawn came back to us to talk. I was very happy to share what happened to us and help others make a good decision going forward. Of course , if we have concrete work to do the future , we know who to call!!!
I’m glad that you agreed to it. It’s really nice to hear your perspective in dealing with Shawn and the bad contractor. Wishing you best in hopes he will come back and make things right.
If you need a drainage education project then look into how our Federal Government is using Contractors who do not get floodway permits for sand mining to build our highways. There are blue chloride ponds all across the south part of the US built to literally obstructing the flow of our floodways. Many of these never-permitted sand mines have berms higher than the 500yr expected flood height. I've been trying to contact the new-2022 FEMA-Audits for NFIP but no luck yet, the AI chat bot says FEMA is only promoting safety but the FEMA YT video on their Audits says they'll fine governments that violate the citizens.
@GCFD Maybe you should send the customer a 30min video of a job showing start; work & finished look so they can see what to expect whilst waiting for your quote