Never Say this to a General Contractor! WARNING! Audra Lambert Real Estate 2024
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ม.ค. 2024
- Never Say this to a General Contractor! WARNING! Audra Lambert Real Estate 2024
Caution: Never Utter This To A General Contractor!
This video discusses what you should and shouldn't say or ask a general contractor. Don't make these mistakes.
What not to fix when selling your home video:
• Selling a house? Don't...
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What not to say to a Contractor video:
• Never Say this to a Ge...
Interview Questions to ask a Listing agent (top 13 Questions):
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Video on interviewing a listing agent: • Interview Questions fo...
Interview Questions to ask a Buyer's Agent (Check List):
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Video on interviewing a Buyer's agent:
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Staging your home Checklist:
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Showing a property video:
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For more information visit www.LambertGroupHomes.com or give me a call at (949) 697-2232
💁♀️ My name is Audra Lambert. I am a realtor in Orange County, California. I have lived here most of my life. I have over 20 years experience! I love what I do and Love where I live! Most importantly I enjoy helping people as they transition into their next homes.
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🔍 WATCH NEXT:
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This is not legal advice, nor can I give you legal advice Sorry! Everything here is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Nothing here should be construed to form and attorney client relationship. Audra Lambert with the Lambert Group does not render or offer to render personalized investment advice, tax advice, or real estate investment advice. The information provided is for informational purposes only.
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Audra Lambert, Lambert Group Homes
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I’m a contractor in Las Vegas. If I get a call from a realtor that wants a bid for one of her clients, I don’t take the appointment. They are using me to get a bid so they can use it as a bargaining tool when negotiating the price of the home. Total waste of time. Additionally, I don’t work for realtors on their personal homes. They are as cheap as they come.
My husband only does work for people that know people he's worked for and he's always very busy! He won't waste 2 hours going to give bids because people are just looking for the best price, not the best work. He also will do free or next to free labor for the elderly or widows (they only pay materials). This gets him lots of work from the families of the person he helped. This has worked terrific for him! ❤
My husband is an experienced carpenter. He’s remodeled and built many things from scratch for our own home, including our kitchen and bathroom. He contracted someone to put metal siding on part of his shop because he just didn’t have time. The guy told him he had experience but he obviously didn’t. He messed up so much of the siding, my husband ended up having to redo it. He also told my husband it is a 4-day job. My husband told him it’s a 4-hour job and if it takes him that long to do a simple project, he can find someone else. Lesson learned.
Also, I hired someone to do yard work. He charged me $300 and sprayed and killed our newly planted shrubs. Within a week the weeds he supposedly sprayed were thriving and grew a foot. My husband told me to never hire anyone ever again.
I like to say "If you want to have it done right, do it yourself." Sometimes there just isn't enough time in the day. Thanks for sharing your experience. Unfortunately, I hear similar experiences regularly about this type of "stuff." Sorry for your experience. Not fun.
If a person gets sick, they want the best doctor they can afford. If they get into trouble, they want the best lawyer they can afford. If they want to build something, they want the cheapest builder they can find!
Good point. You usually get what you pay for...but its always a good idea to research who you are hiring.
@@asmith8603 I think we all do:)
100 percent correct
lol yep!
Love your directness
Where I live your lucky to get one contractor to show up let alone three or five
I hear you. I've had a lot of trouble too. Finding a cabinet contractor can be nearly impossible or you may be waiting over a year to have him do the work. 😲 I've talked to a number of good, trusted contractors about what's going on with them. They say that they can't find trades people here in Northern California. My painting contractor, really good guy who's in his late 50's says that at this point in his life, he thought that he'd be managing painting crews working for him. He has to do a lot of the work himself now. Our educational system has discouraged young people from going in the trades. Schools got rid of their shop/trades classes. The future was supposed to be everyone sitting behind a computer and working in an office. Now here we are with a shortage of contractors and trades people. It's just one more example of bad management in the educational system.
I hear ya...every area is different.
or even return your call
@@urbinblytte429 That's just horrible!!
Totally true in my area, too. And everyone wants 50% before they even start. Used to be they'd want cost of materials before they start - I can understand that (but you have to wonder why he's running so tight of a budget). Now they don't even break down the material costs - they just want 50% upfront. When you can hardly find 3 contractors to give you a quote, you just end up giving up trying to get anything done.
I was a general contractor for many years in CA and it amazed me how few people knew about what they wanted. Toward the end of my career I did work for people who had a lot of money that required a lot of skill. It was surprising how many people thought I would charge more because of the skill I had but there was never any truth to that. Work does does require a high level of skill does cost more because it takes more time and often better materials are required. I have seen people use someone who was cheaper and found out the hard way by getting inferior work done. The contractor who taught me was one of the best and I still think of him that way.
Oh, I just love that. You sound like a sweetheart. So ethical and kind. I am sure your clients love you. I love that you had a good teacher too. Thanks so much for sharing.
@@AudraLambert I should add that I was grateful and often thought of the man who trained me. He died in 1995 and 1200 people were at his funeral. For about three hours people stood up one after the other talking about him and how he influenced them. For one year I lived in his home before my wife and I got married. I had never encountered someone like that before. It was a privilege to know him until he died. He definitely influenced many. While I was learning I would ask him about how he dealt with things like mistakes. There was a time when he was near retirement and he told me I should start my own business. When people found out I had worked for him it was like being on a smooth highway. There were others he helped get started in business. He was never afraid to help someone become better. He said things to me that I had never heard. I realized I was becoming a better person because of him. He was not only an employer but a true leader. I never saw him get angry and when he made a mistake he made it right. He never charged a customer for something he did wrong. He was like a library of how to treat people well and doing quality work. Some of the work I did has been published and I attribute much of that to how he trained me. I am now retired but I have seen his work and my work for many years and how it has not had problems. Some of his work was from the 1940s.
@@geraldpolmateer3255 Gerald,I have tears in my eyes. What an amazing person to have in your life...and so many others, as well. I love to hear about wonderful people who make the world a better place. I wish I could have met him. Sounds like you're just like him. Amazing person...thank you so much for commenting. Love it.
Contactors are shady as F. I interviewed several for my roof and none of them would give a detailed estimate with labor and materials. One guy wrote a price on a napkin wtf who does that. In the end I did the job myself for under 25% of the prices I was told.
I hear ya...its very frustrating. Very impressed you did the work yourself. A napkin, who does that??
@@AudraLambert The napkin was my neighbor who's a general contractor.
@@stoneyswolf Ugh...so unprofessional.
I got 2 quotes for some drywalling repairs in my basement. Both quotes from contractors were just above $3000.00 each. I got a friend who has drywall experience to do it. He came over 5 different days for a few hours a day, and got the whole job done for a cost of $450.00! That is a big wow/win for me.
A few hours a day for 5 days is a minimum of 15 hours @$450. Sounds like you ripped your “friend” off.
LOL. You wont even get 3 to come out where i live. And forget about getting detailed bids.
Oh, I am so sorry. What has the world come to? Sorry to hear that.
Yep. This is the world today.
Took me 8 MONTHS to get 2 quotes for my double door+transom. About 6 contractors responded, but only 2 actually showed up to give a quote.
Same thing when we did a basement entrance. In 6 months we got 2 quotes out of about 15-20 contractors that responded and said they come over.
@@shane250 What city do you live in?
Detailed bids were a joke on my project.
@@michaelt1349
Ottawa, Canada.
This is valuable for the average gullible homeowner. This video confirms my rule of interviewing SEVERAL contractors so you do get ripped off. Also, NEVER, EVER, pay up front!
I was about to sign a contract with a contractor and requested a few modifications. The contract actually stated that the "homeowner or the contractor would pay for insurance..." and it required 2/3 of the total cost up front without a guaranteed time line to finish the job. While we were negotiating, he sent me a message intended to someone else stating that I was "a pain in the ass." I told him we didn't have an agreement and thanked him for his time.
Another one required that I tell him what was my budget before quoting me a price for the project. Once I gave in, he stated the total amount of my budget was for labor alone. I had labor-only quotes for this project from seven thousand to fourty five thousand...
Thank you for this educational video.
I have been a contractor in the high end residential market for thirty years in New England. Certainly some of her advice is good in getting multiple bids and not paying everything up front. However, the best way to evaluate a contractor is to check references with clients who have done comparable projects. I also STRONGLY agree with what a number of contractors have said in their comments that the interview process is a two way street. There are absolutely a number of shoddy and unethical contractors. There are just as many clients who are difficult, dishonest and morally bankrupt as well. Most good contractors are in a position to say no to a client if they see they are going to be difficult to work for.. if you are a homeowner be VERY aware of how you treat that contractor in the interview process. The very best contractors ALWAYS have work. If they perceive you to be difficult you may scare them away and end up hiring the wrong person.
You make some very valid points...and I do agree with you. I have heard from contractors about some of their nightmare clients...it can go both ways. Thank you for your comment.
I should have watched this video months ago. Boy do I have a ton of regrets. Boy, mine was a smooth talker and pumped himself up to be a perfectionist... Then when he put in the cabinet with granite and didn't have it the same height as the counter top next to it or the same depth his comment to me was.. you didn't say all that you said put it here... I'm not a designer... And then wanted more money to get it right.
This is the reason why you must have a detailed work plan in writing, and if you don't know how to do that, then hire someone with the expertise to put one together for you. I write a tight work plan and when an issue comes up, I refer to the work plan and say, "this is what the work plan says". That shuts them down fast, and they just get it done.
Ugh, this breaks my heart. So sorry you had to go through this. Thanks for sharing your story.
@@audiophileman7047 Who do you hire for something like that, I wouldn't know where to look
You either do it yourself or hire someone in the contract specialty. You can hire a General Construction Contractor to write a spec for you or a Construction Engineering Contractor. You can even hire them to do inspections for you, if you can't verify the work yourself. Just make sure you find reputable ones. @@M.Johnson69
People need to watch the old movie "Money Pit".
Love that movie!
yes..its tons more fun than watching a painted up cougar ,,
@@stevestadterman9270 Hey...I think you are talking about me...LOL.
It's called a schedule! A good contractor should be able to provide a schedule along with payment % that align with the performance
Very good point..and you are right!!
That’s what my pool builder did back in 2010. It was a really smooth transaction start to finish! I was very happy until about 6 months later when we discovered a leak! He had gone belly up by then!
Love this content, thank for all your advices about general contractors. Very helpful! as I had horror experience with one in West Hollywood. Keep amazing content coming 😊
Ahhh..thanks so much. So glad I could add value. Sorry to hear about your horror experience in West Hollywood. Appreciate your encouragement.
Our painter (was painting the outside) would leave for months at a time. Left plastic on all the windows for two weeks. Left garbage all over the yard and paint on the sidewalk. They has 5 star reviews so I trusted them. Big mistake.
So sorry to hear this...that is such a disservice. Terrible what you had to go through. Ugh. Thanks for commenting.
I've now had 3-4 experiences with lots of 5-Star reviews where I wondered how they were still in business. One way to tell they are fake is there are no details about the job and they compliment "good communication".
@@nsbd90now so true…very good tip! Thanks for commenting.
@@nsbd90now They'll have family and friends give them reviews. I'm a little skeptical of one man or one-crew companies that allow themselves to be listed on Google.
@@nsbd90nowthose reviews are half fake. They have their friends that they did good job for putting out the good reviews while they are out grabbing job that they are not good at on the other hand.
When you buy your own materials usually the labor goes up. The mark up a contractor uses on materials is what covers his time for the estimate, and to cover other overhead items.
Another good point to consider. Thanks for chiming in!!
Lucky you, 3 contractors. In a boomtown like Phoenix, you'd be lucky get even one to come by for a bid. They're booked months out. Hard to even get return phone calls.
Olga, I have been hearing that a lot from some of my followers. That is just ridiculous. Its hard to find good contractors...Ugh. So sorry.
Same in Louisiana. We get contractors from Alabama or Mississippi. It is so expensive as they have to drive all the way here.
Don’t worry, because of recent court rulings, there will be tens of thousands of unemployed realtors and they will be available to do construction work, finally to do something productive in their life. There is light at the end of the tunnel
I love buying my own materials as well. Floor and decor is great.
It really is! I love Floor and Decor. I really like that everything is in stock and available. Thanks for the comment.
For my bathroom "gut job" I bought all the, fixtures, flooring, tile, etc. myself. My contractor was fine with me picking everything out, but annoyed that I purchased everything myself and expressed his unhappiness.
@@KathyW5 I have a lot of friends that are contractors, and the real reason they don’t like homeowners buying the materials are that they typically don’t order enough of things like tile and hardwood that require a minimum of 10-20% overages for cutting waste and not being forced to use every piece of an item if it has a cosmetic defect. These items also have production color lots, and if you need additional material that lot may or may not be available when you buy extra which means you can have modest but visible color difference from your first batch. Keep in mind when the project is finished you’re going to want extra anyway to store in case you ever need to do a repair. Not ordering any or the correct finishing trim for things like bathroom tile is another issue.
@@993mike I'm well aware of all that and purchased plenty of everything so I had much to return. I did leave the in-wall things up to him. However, the way he talked, it was because he didn't get the markup as if he got them for contractor price and then charge me retail as was part of his profits from the job.
@@KathyW5I believe it!!
We found that creating a detailed list of exactly what we wanted and giving it to the prospective contractors resulted in quotes that I could compare. It also ensured that we each knew exactly what was being contracted for. “Putting in a new bathroom” might mean two entirely different things.
Awesome advice. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!!!
Thank you for the valuable advice. I wish I would have watched this video before I hired a contractor.
Glad I could offer some value. Hope its not too late:) Best of luck to you!
Im a trim carpenter that does work for a couple of agents every now and then. and we have a really good working relationship.
I like to supply my own materials, I dont choose them, but I supply them. It is too difficult for the homeowner to know what I am going to need. And like you said, they are interviewing for the "job". Not the supplier. On a tenured bid type of project (commercial usually, sometimes residential), there is a architect/engineer, and everything is detailed. down to the fastener systems. That is telling me, not asking me, "here is how this product is to be installed, (detailed trim, flooring, cabinetry etc.), and here is all the materials needed". That is how a supplied material job works. And if material is missing, there a cost plus if I have to go out and get it. Now I agree, if there was some specialty tile or trim or whatever, that you bought and want it installed. That is fine, But there is all the other materials that will be required. nails, screws, glue, shims, underlayment etc etc. This can cause so much headaches if left to the home owner.
I agree with the three quote stuff. Its good to interview multiple contractors. But I don't discount it because there is other ppl bidding. I price the work for "my" skill set. If someone else can do it better faster or cheaper. Then its good for both the homeowner and me. If I were to try and match that price, or beat it, I might be out of business real fast.
I also agree, do not give the entire bid up-front. That is crazy. It should be fair for both I usually ask for 5% to 10% with progress payments
I disagree with telling the contractor that you are in a hurry, and you need it done six months ago, (unless you are in that position). Let them know your timelines, and be firm on them. When I am told this, I just let them know if I can meet that or not. I wont pull off another job to come and do yours, (how would you feel if I did that to your job). I just schedule the work as it comes in. Sometimes ppl have to wait 3 months. There is only 1 of me (and partner, and helper). Someone who tells you this, is being honest with you, this is what you want from your contractor.
Do not shake on it....dont do it. Bad for both.
The key is finding a good contractor (and yes I know its not east. there is a lot of bad ones) and when you find one, treat them good, pay them their worth. Its not price gouging if they are good. If you constantly beat up your contractor on their quote, they are going to stop doing your work. Take care of your contractor, and your contractor should be taking care of you. It cant be 1 way.
Hello there....I really appreciate the time you took to write about your perspective. I can tell you are an honest contractor. I agree with not negotiating on your fee if it is fair and you are worth it...good for you. Most contractors take on too many jobs at once and end up delaying the whole project. Most aren't as organized as you are. Just trying to help my followers find a good contractor. Really appreciate you sharing.
@@AudraLambert Thank you. and you're welcome. Just sharing my experience as a contractor. And I think your video will help ppl. Good advice in there.
@@JoshRecollet Thanks so much Joshua.
I am in Florida and a lot of General Contractors will sub contract out labor to smaller, usually Hispanic or minority owned businesses. If a homeowner knows exactly what they need done, then it can be way cheaper to search out these smaller sub contractors directly and deal with them (Most are licensed, bonded and insured as they are 1099, not employees of the contractor). They generally get the work done super fast because they are motivated by getting a quick influx of money to get them through between projects. An example, a neighbor needed a driveway done and by taking this route they got about a thirty-percent discount from what a General Contractor quoted them on the job and it looks great and it was done within a week of their bid, over a weekend. I have used this method also for tile work, slabs (AC), sheds and small outbuildings, renovations, etc. and roofing with success. In Florida we have a huge number of contractor scams so I second your assertion that people check credentials before even contacting someone.
Great tips...appreciate your comment. You make great points. Thanks for sharing.
I'm starting a reno down there now. Are you in SE Florida and do you have recommendations?
I do the same thing. I definitely prefer working directly with the subs but you have to know exactly what you want done and always structure your payments.
Excellent advice!
Glad you thinks so:)
I would rarely agree with a real estate agent but I think that this lady has performed a valuable public service. In my experience lots of contractors are less than professional.
Well, Liz, thank you so much for the compliment. I really am just trying to help people out. Really appreciate the compliment.
@@AudraLambertdefinitely a valuable video!….
@@abowling5759 Thanks so much!! Glad you got some value!!
Retired contractor here. Back in the day when making a sales call I would bring a portfolio of my most recent jobs but more importantly I would invite the prospect to come and visit my current jobsite, meet my crew and talk with the homeowners if they give consent. It's nice to know who you'll be living with in your house for the next weeks or months.
I would always ask for a 20% deposit when contract is signed and the rest would be progress payments. Final payment due the day the job is finished or it doesn't get finished.
You are best of the best!
Hope you get more subscribers!
Ahhh...thank you! I am getting more subscribers. Really appreciate you support. Means a lot to me.
Thanks for the info. I need to hire someone for electrical work and I think that most of these principles can be applied for that too.
Yes, you are correct !! Electrical work is something you want to make sure you are hiring a good contractor. Interview at least 3...best of luck!!
Great video. I had a roofer let me buy/ deliver felt and shingles then his crew demo,installed next morning,all cash at end of job well done
You paid all cash? Hope he gave you a receipt and a lien release.
Yep,and they brought th roll off dumpster all demo stuff,fixd leak @ chimney,us easttexas folks always get written invoices,cash at end of job.thanks
Good stuff! Well done!!
You did it pretty good!
The reason he took his own tiles out of his house without breaking them, they were never installed correctly to start with.
If the tile is fully bonded to the floor
You can't get them up in one tile.
You're probably right. Ugh!!
Unrealistic in a lot of areas of the country. I'm building a home in the mountains of Colorado. You're lucky to get one guy to show up to give you a bid. I'm acting as my own GC (this is my 5th house), so I have to be really flexible with subs. Finding a GC in general is getting extremely difficult. I recommend you hire the subs yourself as an option to paying someone to (mis)manage a project.
Excellent list, thank you!
My pleasure!
Very sound advice, though on getting your own material contractor are not super keen for that, a friend of mine (contractor) once agreed to build a deck for a client who will bring all the material so day one the client brings a while pile of shippillng pallets aka the wood , this needs to be pulled apart nails pulled out sanded and oiled adding at least a month of labor to the deal, my friend promptly noped right out of that deal.
Great point! I've done that a few too many times. We had so many pallets of wood that needed to be broke down and/or removed that it took us weeks to dissemble and get rid of. However, I recently found a good contact from Costco that would take my pallets....but you still have to get them there. Thanks for sharing!!
I’ve dealt with several general contractors in my area and even the overpriced ones were shady as hell! They overcharge by 40-50% for their own pocket, even on simple projects like window installs, and refuse to breakdown the cost in such a way that clients know what they are paying for. The industry is highly unregulated so you don’t get what you pay for here. Best is to work with someone with high ethics who consistently gets fantastic reviews and appraises fairly - at least breaks down what they charge you for and lets the client make an informed decision afterwards. As long as a client knows what they’re paying for and agrees to it, I don’t mind a contractor charging a higher fee if I trust that person more. It’s all about transparency, which many contractors are terrified of because they know they wouldn’t get many jobs if they were actually honest
You are an excellent Realtor. If I were in your area I would contract with you no questions asked. Watching your videos make me realize how many mediocre Realtors I have worked with (Hint:Pretty much all of them)
Also, never pay in full until the city inspector signs off on the work, and the contractor should be there when the inspector is.
Great tip....agreed...thanks for commenting.
Blowing my cover Audra. LOL! I'm a General B Remodel Contractor in SF/East Bay/North Bay Cal. 90% of people that call me, have seen my work and want me specifically to do their remodel(s). Those that are getting several bids shall not (ever) get a detailed written bid unless/until they commit to hiring me. However, at this point in my career, my verbal easily reflects the written. And I nearly always demand last word on materials or quality thereof. Nothing worse than installing ugly or crap because the client is paying/insisting that I do so only to find out they blame me for how awful it looks and/or performs...
Blowing your Cover...LOL! Great points...and thanks for commenting.
Thank you for sharing your considerable experience. We are dreading interviewing contractors in our town for a project that we want to do. I will be watching this video several times in preparation.
Best of luck! You'll do great. Remember, its just business. You have to watch out for yourself!
Contractors lie too
Some contractors do lie. I'm not a contractor, but customers lie too or are often unreasonable. Some of the stories I've heard from good, honest contractors would make you sick. People also try to get away without paying. I pride myself on paying contractors immediately after work is done properly and I sometimes tip them. They love to work for me and are always eager to work for me again. Take care of a good contractor; they're hard to find and are as good as gold when you find one.
There are a lot of good contractors out there...however, there are some bad ones too. Its true in any profession. It does break my heart to see people being taken advantage of. Not cool.
Con- Qwackters
There is a saying in Puerto Rico -- A PAID MUSICIAN DOES NOT PLAY MUSIC VERY WELL - musico pago no toca bien! They will disappear on you and THAT is why you do not pay upfront anything. I had the roof replaced and at the end of the project I wrote them the check. Then went looking for the release of the Notice of Commencement at the court house.
George, I love your analogy. Unfortunately, there is a lot of truth in what you are saying (not for every contractor is unethical...but you got watch out).
Beware of workers on drugs. Also, everytime you do a project, you should order 20% more materials than you need just in case a material arrives damaged or gets broken during installation. Sometimes it helps to order even more. Make sure that your contractor knows that if there is leftover materials, it belongs TO YOU. They don't get to keep it.
Laurie this is great advice. Thank you so much for your comments...great points.
if this is not bringging value to the consummer, I don't know what is.👌
Ahhh...thanx! Means a lot!
After being a contract for myself for 30 years.
Remember the contractors are interviewing the customer as well.
If I even smell crazy I go to the next.
Very good point...it goes both ways:)
This is really helpful. I'm planning to build rougly 6-8 months from now and i know I would have made several of those mistakes. Thank you so much!
Excellent video, Audra! I can't tell you the number of complaints from people in my area about general contractors and fake GC's who never even bothered to check their CSLB license let alone if they are bonded and insured. I'm going to earmark your video and send it to them as getting the right GC makes a HUGE difference.
Thanks Sue...so glad I could help. You really got to be cautious with who you work with nowadays. Appreciate your comment.
Please read my strategies above. They have always saved me big bucks for excellent quality materials and work.
As a professional remodeler😮, we interview our clients as well. Problem clients will notre reveive
That is very smart...and great point.
was vacillating on watching this, soooooooooooo glad I fought my lazy brain and watched!
Thanks for such an awesome video!
So glad you watched it...thanks for the nice comment...I really appreciate it.
Excellent video Audra; one of your recommendations I have to disagree with, it is directing people to Home Depot, It is true that there are deals to be found in certain departments, flooring, gardening etc, however as a DIYer, I find the Lumber at Home depot of the lowest quality, when compared to a lumber yard, I usually go to a Lumber yard such. as Ganahl lumber, for my projects, you pay a little more, but in this case you are getting what you pay for, this also applies to plumbing, go to a plumbing supply house, such as Ferguson, or Hirsch, not only will you get plumber quality, often the guys behind the counter will give you bits of information that can save you money, but for sure the Lumber is the Biggie, it's like comparing target to Sacks, or Nordstrom, or Help U sell, Vs the service you provide, hope this help, keep up the good videos!
Wow...I didn't know that. Really appreciate your comment. Thanks for educating us. I will definitely heed your warning. Good to know. Thanks for watching my video!! Truly!
Solid advice in this video thank you so much!! Great things to remember for my next house project. TIME/PHASE PAYMENT is huge when hiring then signing a contract with a GC. Had friends get BURNED on this similar to the person you referenced here. My last bathroom reno I went ahead and took over as the GC to avoid that. I handled demo, all drywall, cement boarding the shower, paint/texturing, baseboard install, slab repair etc. We also selected all of the materials to include vanity, cabinets, fixtures, lights and mirror, and I also did the install on those as well. I researched then hired the plumbers, electricians and my tile guy. Normally would have done the electrical and tile myself, but thinking of eventual "resale" wanted it to be 100% copacetic and up to code. Being south of OC in San Diego, I get the grandiose cost of everything here. It's definitely outrageous. Remodeling the bathroom in this manner saved me a lot of hassle and I could ensure oversight and saved roughly $10K minimum (based on bids I received) on the project.
Wow!! Great job! I am so impressed!! You're hired:). That was serious a lot of work. You can save a lot of money if you do the managing of projects yourself. A lot of people can't do it or do not have the oversight to handle such a project. Every penny counts. Glad everything went well for you!! Really appreciate the comment.
Well done. 👍 I took over as GC when there was water damage in my kitchen. The toughest part was finding a cabinet contractor. It was nearly impossible to find one, but with some thinking outside the box I was able to find a really good contractor to get it done. Did you pull the permits for your bathroom remodel or did your contractors do that?
@@AudraLambertas a contractor, the price automatically goes up when the home owner is the “general contractor”.
They are a nightmare to work with. Imagine any other profession, having a home owner walk in, and start running a project with no experience. It’s not surprise that they often run way over schedule, are not organized properly, have many changes or “mistakes” due to having the wrong order of operations, and just overall inconvenience for everyone trying to run a professional business.
I will turn down any home owner run project, unless it’s through a referral or for an existing client. Even the best case scenarios I’ve had, they look great by the end, but are fraught with cut corners, or ignorant errors and omissions due to the lack of experience.
Peter, that just breaks my heart. I am so sorry to hear that. That is ridiculous!!
@@audiophileman7047 I pulled the permits. Too easy.
A good contractor has a line of credit with suppliers, so no need to pay before work begins. Pay for materials after they have been delivered to the site. Final payment only after job has been completed.
Very good point. Thanks for the message!!
Custom orders must be paid for at the time they are placed. They can not be canceled or returned.
One problem I have had is with , how much money is too much too soon. Very hard to get itemized proposals. They always want to bundle everything. I have had every problem mentioned over the years. A general contractor would be helpful right now with a house I am selling but I tend to break it down to skill groups since my trust level is very low and I can count on only one thing going wrong even if it is more of a mental strain. I hate small claims court. Sounds like a general contractor could actually take longer in some instances.
Yes, you make very good points. Most contractors and general contractors won't give an itemized list until you agree to hire them. However, its always a good idea to interview a few to get a ball park figure. I hate small claims court too. The time it takes to complete a job is really dependent on who you are hiring and how much business they have. It can be a long experience unfortunately.
Ive been a residential contractor for 20 years. 95% of my work is from referrals and existing clients repeat business. I work alone mostly ( helper had surgery and is out for 6 months) and do all the work myself so they know what theyre getting up front. I take no money up front unless its a big job and even then i dont get the deposit until the day i start working even after i bought the initial materials to get started. Ive lost bids to people that saved $100 dollars to get the call back later that they got screwed over by the cheaper contractor. I no longer carry insurance since most of my jobs are small (bath/kitchen remodels/ painting etc) but i do provide a liability waiver if they want one (only 2 people did in 20 years). Like I said trust comes with referrals and communication and work ethic/job progress and a good pace. I also never have more than one job going at once. I dont need a crew to babysit screwing things up. Id rather do it right myself the first time.
Sounds like you provide a good service and have developed a very strong referral base. Your clients are lucky to have you.
Referrals are the best advertising ever.
Great info
Solid advice!! As a project manager in corporate I always interviewed and got 3 quotes on cost, timing etc.
Thanks for the comment. Always a good idea to interview 3...served me well. Thanks for the comment.
Excellent video!
New sub, great content.
I fully agree with ALL......your points and examples. I have had identical experiences on all points.
Around here if you ask for a detailed estimate, you won't hear back from them.
Oh, I am so sorry to hear that. That's horrible.
Why? I'd think that they were either lazy or shady. Weird.
Never ever tell them how much you have or what can I get done for $XXX, negotiate, negotiate, negotiate! remember they are working for you and its never personal, keep it all business, if the contractor is shady, they will not want to have you hire them, pay as you go in increments, if they ask for half up front (50%) don't hire that contractor because he could get your half up front and
be in crazy debt and skip town the next day because he didn't pay his bills or his sub-contractors
by gambling it all away in Vegas. Audra is so right!
Thanks for the comment. Just trying to protect people out there against bad contractors. There are a lot of good ones out there too!
I overheard my supervisor giving a potential client an estimate. I gasped at the price. We are outside SF. Expensive up here too.
Oh yes, SF is even more expensive, I think. It crazy the pricing in California. Ugh.
We have worked with 3 and they were all terrible. The work got done not to our standard and my husband had to hold his foot to the fire. So happy my husband is such a good handy man and a housing inspector so know what to look for.
Oh, I am so sorry to hear that. I am glad your husband is handy. I love my husband...but he isn't handy!
Thankful for utube you can learn how to do many things you would otherwise need to hire a contractor for.
The standards in the quality of work in construction have really gone downhill where I live. Even the high end remodelers are fairly disorganized. Very often the people that are actually doing the work don't seem motivated at all to do quality work. They just don't seem to care. Many of them just want to put in their 8 hours so they can go home and smoke their weed. I don't want to generalize but I see the same thing over and over. To quote D. J. Trump, "SAD"!
Not only that, they're pushing for a 32 hour work week and get paid the same money or even more money.
Appreciate your comment. I had a general contractor I worked with for years. Very trusted individual. I had him complete a project over the Covid era (not a big job). The project turned out like poo poo. He told me he was sorry but this was the quality of people that he could only find to do the work. Eventually, he closed up shop and is now working for a corporate contractor. He said that he couldn't provide the quality of work he wanted. The people he could hire were too expensive and did below average work. Its a huge problem right now!
" Oh..No big rush". So many times I've said that and regret it !
Yes, I agree. No big rush=1 year. Just set timelines and expectations. I've learned the hard way too. Thanks for watching!!
Terrific advice 👍👍👍
So glad you got some value...really appreciate your feedback.
Audra what can you do if you have a GC who flies off the handle and doesn’t take accountability for anything? Blames everyone else including the client (us) for delays when he estimated we’d be done in November and it’s now May! We feel trapped in this and just want to get the house finished (flip property) but walking on egg shells with everything.
I wish I had seen this video 2 years ago. I did so many things this lady is saying not to do. I had a horrible experiences with Simone who I hired just because one of my neighbor was using him. Later, I realized not only I paid too much, the work the person had done was so bad that I will need to redo the work again. I was so angry for months after work was done that I avoid going into the room for few months. I am the type who was not really involved and trust the person to do the job right. I still get angry thinking about that person
I am so sorry to hear that. That's why I completed this video because a lot of homeowners fall prey to some not so good contractor tactics. Really appreciate your comment. Its good for people to read it. Much appreciated.
In Florida, getting 3 contractors to even show up to be interviewed is next to impossible.
Oh, I am so sorry to hear that. That's just terrible!!!
Excellent information 😊
So glad you go some value...and thanks for watching!!
My understanding is a contractor is only bonded if he has credit issues, like a bankruptcy on his record. You only need him to be licensed and insured. I recommend checking on insurance coverage monthly….i hired a contractor who was insured when we started and quit paying and had been canceled halfway through the build. So he was uninsured when the errors occurred….nightmare.
What a nightmare. So sorry to hear that. Great info. I am not a GC:) I thought the bonded was to protect the bonded company against major financial losses. Either way, check to make sure the contractor it current. Appreciate you sharing.
Bonding has it's applications. For big remodels, I would have bonds on the work. There are two kinds of bonds of interest: (1) payment bonds and (2) performance bonds. There are other kinds of bonds, but these two are the ones you need to learn about. Normally bonds aren't used on smaller projects, but be sure that you have a way to ensure that material suppliers and subcontractors your contractor uses are paid (lien releases) and verify all work is completed to the requirements of the work plan before you make payments. It is critical to hire reputable, good contractors, so do very careful research on the quality of their work from past projects before you hire one and go see work they've done if you can. Like Audra said, screen them before you even talk to them. I check licensing info, BBB info, and customer reviews before I'll even talk to a contractor.
Bonding is a requirement of renewing ones license, unless you post a cash bond.
Yes, that is true. What people need to be thinking about once they've verified active licensure are payment and performance bonds for their specific project. If it's a big involved project, those bonds are important.@@stevekovacs4093
Low IQ people here talking about subjects that they clearly have no knowledge of.... being bonded has not a thing to do with a contractor credit.
In your area, does the return on investment from a higher sale price make hiring a GC worth the additional cost over a homeowner hiring a tradesperson directly (through the realtors personal network of recommended tradespeople)? My understanding is in Orange County hiring a GC will add roughly 40% - 50% to the total cost as compared to hiring the tradesperson directly. I have no experience in the real estate industry so this is a mystery to me but I heard that if a homeowner wants to find a good tradesperson then ask a local real estate agent because they often have a personal network of vetted tradespeople. Ultimately the work quality is determined by the tradesperson doing the actual work and the realtor has seen the end result over may properties.
Great question! Most realtors aren't experts in vetting the tradesmen they recommend. A lot of brokerage houses won't allow their realtor's to even recommend any contacts due to the liability...meaning the client may come back to sue the brokerage house for a bad referral). Craziness! Yes, of course you can hire a specialist that focuses on one trade...but you will be overseeing the project. A lot of home owners get overwhelmed with coordinating all the moving parts....especially if there are several subcontractors involved on a project. Most contractors won't work on the property if there are other workers from another company present. If something goes wrong on the property, they don't want to be liable for another's employee mishap. It can take longer if you hire you own contractors for this reason. If you are a homeowner and are just gradually doing improvement over the years, then hiring your own/vetting specialized contractors make sense. Regarding the 40-50% mark up for GCs, I think that is a bit high for my area (should be in the 20-25% range). It really depends on the scope of the project and the purpose of doing the remodel/improvements (are you selling your house...or just improving the house for your own enjoyment?). Always a good idea to get quotes from a GC and also quote the work individually. When I re-did my landscaping in the backyard for example, the project was an undertaking. There was no way I could have coordinated/scheduled the work myself...only a skilled, trusted GC could have coordinated the job. If you do hire a GC, you will want to know who the subcontractors are...and ask if the subcontractors are on a referrals basis or fall under their personal umbrella. If they are a referral basis, then I would ask if you could interview a few tradesman to make sure your comfort and price for the project are in alignment. Thanks for the question.
Using a general with a Class B license (California) reduces the number of contracts you have to keep track of. A general will sub-contract some of the work and may do some of the other work himself or herself. If you're doing a major remodel, a lot of subcontractors could be involved. If you have the time and expertise to sort out the good from the bad sub's, then more power to you. If you just have a few things to do like maybe a new roof and new flooring , then it's not too bad to just hire the contractors directly yourself. Either way a good, reputable general will have expertise on how the work should be done and who the best contractors are. You just need to be sure that you have tight spec's and plans for your contract and make sure the contractor does the work per the spec's and plans by having the work inspected.
@@audiophileman7047 Really appreciate your comment. Good info! Thanks so much.
Also, make sure they have “ errors and omissions” coverage on their insurance plan
Great tip...thanks for commenting.
@AudraLambert This is the third compelling video of yours I've watched. I subscribed because you are simply the best! Thank you for your honest, well thought out, detailed, enthusiastic and humorous videos. The anecdotes you highlight really make your points "hit home".
Some people you shake hands with, you discover your watch is missing.
Very true!!
Thanks Audra for this video. When I interview the contractors, do i need to meet them in person or the initial phone call is good enough? Thanks for your reply
Well, you will probably want to meet them in person so you can show them the scope of work you are requiring. Its hard to quote a job without seeing it first. Hope that helps....and best of luck.
We've owned properties in multiple states. We've never had problems with HVAC, plumbers, or electrical folks. But any other trade is a nightmare! They are too busy, they don't show up, they hate the owner buying materials and then they want to change the project in midstream because they don't like your ideas. I absolutely hate hiring general workers/contractors. We have gotten very good at doing the work ourselves.
Of course the homeowner should select the finish materials, just know that if they supply them and there are issues, it could impact the project costs too! (damaged in shipping, materials shorted or wrong, shipping delays, etc all can impact the total cost and the material supplier needs to carry that risk.)
Yes, you are correct. I recommend getting a bid from a contractor separating out labor and materials. I agree the material supplier needs to carry the risk.
Not mention I may or may not be willing to warranty work done with customer-selected materials. Just had a situation with a contractor I work with: the customer got one of the those no-name $100 shower systems off Amazon that are styled after $1000 models. The beauty ring marked up tile as it went on, it was a slow/cumbersome install for the plumber and I'd bet that the odds of it leaking or breaking prematurely are very high. A mistake I get to learn from the easy way: watching someone else make it.
This is good. We need advice for finding the right real estate agent. Maybe you already did that one, not sure.
Thanks Chrissy! I actually did a video on interviewing an realtor. Best of luck! I will link it here: th-cam.com/video/bQdpKgfKpe0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=RpIfcbj19f6zO3qN
Thanks for sharing Sub’d 🙏🏼👍
Thanks for the sub! And thanks for your support.
Great content! What is an ideal % payment to a GC to begin with? Thanks
I am not a GC...but in the past I paid 25-30%. At least that is what I thought I was paying.
Depends on the project, bigger remodels and new builds 10%-15% before work starts is a good number with progress payments at specified points along the way. Expect to pay more upfront for smaller projects or specific work (i.e. roof, flooring or siding), although some of the bigger roofing/siding/window companies will start without payment.
I’ve been a GC for 20+ years and some of this advice is SPOT ON and others are red flags for us on who not to work with.
For example of good advice, a payment structure that is inline with the value of the work being COMPLETED is a must, never pay to much in advance.
Over all good advice, even if it’s from a realtor😂 just poking fun.
Well, thank you Helpful Contractor! Really appreciate your comment. I don't mind you poking fun:). Have a good one.
What are some of the red flags you mentioned?
@@PelosiStockPortfolio a red flag for me is when a customer says they want to supply all the materials. I'm not saying its a deal killer, but it definitely is a warning sign. The smaller the job the easier it is to let the customers supply the material, but on larger jobs it can add lot of logistical problems.
9:19 @@Thehelpfulcontractor
I had a GC tell me he only used lumber he purchased, even if i did buy the lumber he would charge me 10% ober his cost.
The GC wanted to get his discount and charge me another 10%.
My brothers brother inlaw worked for a distributor and i could get lumber a little over his cost.
@@bones6554 I do understand that’s a tough one to accept. However most people don’t have family in the lumber industry and will have to pay full retail and then have to get the material delivered or go get it themselves.
Awesome video! If people don't like this video, it's because they are the type of contractors you are talking about.
I appreciate that! Thanks for the comment...appreciate your support.
If a potential client will not discuss budget, we do not move forward. It is not a good use of time to do detailed pricing (7-10) hours, when the client wants a 100K kitchen for 30k. If the budget is not realistic, it does the client a disservice to not explain why the budget is not adequate to their wishes. We NEVER bid projects. A bid is a number that some use to hopefully “win” a job. We provide detailed quotes. The price we give is the price of the project. A great contractor can be your greatest asset. Chose wisely. We have generational clients after 40 years in business. The choice of contractor should never be driven by price. Never.
Great advice!
Thanks Happy Bee!!
OK, so how do I avoid the Newport Beach premium that every contractor adds on top of the job cost?
You need to just interview several contractors and be honest with them. Let them know that you are concerned about the premium cost of hiring a contractor...tell them you aren't asking them to work for free...but also don't want to pay a premium. Ask them directly how that can be accomplished. Then be quiet and listen carefully. You'll be amazed at what you hear...good and bad. You'll find a good contractor:). Just takes a bit of weeding through the others.
I absolutely love your videos
Thank you so much!! Really appreciate your comment.
I won't hire any contractor that refuses to break out materials and labor, if they can't figure out how much the materials and labor are going to approximate for a given job then you don't want them on your job in the first place because they can't do math. Cost overruns happen but those are usually unforeseeable exceptions and explainable to the client who will probably understand and pay the realistic additional material or labor cost.
Great point. Appreciate you sharing!!
I appreciate your videos and I live in Philadelphia north east not an affluent area what suggestions do you have because I cannot pay high priced Contractor thank you😊
You are so very welcome!!! Glad I could help!!
ty for the video! Is there a company like Revive in FL. That sounds awesome!
Yes, Jennifer! I have a call into my Revive contact now. I will make sure I give you the contact for Florida. Stay tuned...I'll get that to you ASAP.
Hi Jennifer, what city do you live in Florida?
near Ft Myers@@AudraLambert
Contractor here. Solid advice. If you want to "interview" 5 GCs, that's fine. But don't conflate "interview" with "send me a detailed proposal." If every customer had 5 different GCs send them detailed proposals there wouldn't be such a thing as a free estimate if you only had a 20% chance of securing the service. 3 bids? Nothing wrong with that.
Fair enough.
For the most part, anyone with half decent skills in looking after what each contractor will be doing can manage everything themselves!
I don't care where you live, her advice is absolutely on point. I grew up in Orange County and owned homes in two other states. There are very good contractors, though there are also snakes. My wife and I recently had a remodel. We interviewed four contractors and decided on one. She gave us a what was supposed to be a final al inclusive quote. The first quote was on her company letterhead. Then she sent us the final paperwork in a completely different letterhead. The second quote was double the original quote. For instance, she added on several new costly line items. One was for an onsite project manager. This was for our master bathroom and she'd told us several times she would come and inspect the work herself. Clearly we didn't hire her and let people know what she did.
Steve, Thank you so much for sharing this comment. People need to hear this. Really appreciate you taking the time to write this!! You are very smart for interviewing 4 contractors. Well done.
@@AudraLambert You're welcome. I read what a realtor posted below and it frankly pissed me off and felt the need to respond. You're simply attempting to help people and YT is not some large income generator. My post was written while on a treadmill and noticed it wasn't my best work, though wanted to get it posted. Take care and I'll continue watching your vids.:)
@@stevewise1656 Thank you so much!!
Insured!!!??? 😂😂😂
Do You have CURRENT Workers Comp insurance coverage???
If not, they will sue YOU, the Homeowner, when injured on YOUR property!!! Ask ANY Workplace Injury lawyer!!!
Very good point. Thanks for sharing!!
I know a guy hired a roofer no workmans comp. A roofer hit his thumb with a hammer. He got sued for 2 million because the man couldn't pleasure his wife for 6 months
@@davebrunson125 You're kidding!!
I live in FL. The roofer I hired used someone else's license # on their website. Just sayin.
Oh my goodness...that is just not right!! Shame on them!
Could you ask your realtor to contract the job or for referances?
As a realtor, my broker will not allow me to oversee contractor jobs. Its out of area of expertise. You can definitely ask for references from a realtor, but I would again interview at least three. Most realtors aren't in the contractor business, they pick up references over the years. They aren't usually working with a contractor, so I would just double check your references. Best of luck to you.
Sorry about the stress you’re under but you’re hair looks fantastic! 👍
Thank you!! 😊 Full disclosure, I have hair clip-ins at the front. The good news, my hair is growing back..slowly...but I am thrilled. So nice of you to comment about that..it really been a huge struggle for me.
@@AudraLambert It looks completely natural and lovely. Honestly, you’re beautiful no matter what your hair is doing. Cheers😊
@@Maggie-zr2ow Thanks so much, Maggie! Everyday its getting better:)
@@AudraLambertI would not have known you were wearing clip ons, your hair is beautiful! I actually was thinking of commenting on your make up, but wasn’t sure if that was acceptable, but here goes. Your make up is perfect! The soft pink eyeshadow and the soft colours you have are all harmonious are flattering on your skin tone and has a very youthful and professional appearance. Well done!!! 😍 oh, and the information you provided in this video is invaluable! Thank you!!
@@traceye.6428 Tracey, you just made my day!!! I will be reading your comment over and over again. Thank you!! Appreciate your compliment. My hair has been a huge struggle for me...its getting better and better. Thanks for the comment regarding my make up too...working on that too:). Glad you are getting some value out of my videos....love helping people. Have a wonderful rest of your weekend.
Some states have no contractor license.
oh wow...good to know. Thanks!!
Lol...hope nobody is "influenced" to use the "partner company". Definitely good points made in this video except using this company to get their funds later from the sale of your home. Realtors are no only getting a ridiculous percentage for home sales but also getting crazy kickbacks for referrals. Who do you think is paying even more for every ti ny aspect? No wonder the industry is under fire for how they manipulate sellers equity and over charge. They are sales people not rocket scientist. Everything could be automated at this point of evolution.
Audra doesn't strike me as a dishonest person. She said in the video she doesn't receive anything from Revive. Revive has to make some money on the deal, so it's just a matter of knowing what your house is worth in the current market and then subtract out the cost of the work that needs to be done on the house. Then see what their offer is. A 20% profit is reasonable, so expect about that much to be fair to everyone. You also have to judge if getting out of the house more quickly is worth a lower sale price for Revive. It just might be if it meets your goals. Otherwise, have fun with the contractors or do it yourself if you can.
Yes that's it. I saw in another post from Audra that in Orange County where she lives, GC's make around 20 to 25% profit above their cost to do the work. If you live in a market where contractors and trades people are hard to find, some jobs may cost more, because there isn't much competition. I had to pay a cabinet guy about 30% more than expected, because it was nearly impossible to find a cabinet contractor. I was happy to get him to do the work at all. @@Maggie-zr2ow
Yes, contractors generally work for around 20% above ALL of their costs. Having your contractor break down the costs in labor and materials as Audra recommended is a good idea. @@Maggie-zr2ow
Hello there! Just to clear this all up. I get NO KICKBACKS from Revive Real Estate...nor referrals. Haven't made a singe dime from that company. I only recommended it to help people who are overwhelmed with the updating of their property for resale purposes. In my area, materials and contractors are difficult to find and source. It takes the headache out of the process for homeowners. Revive did not sponsor the video...just trying to assist. I hear and understand your frustration, however. Realtors do get a bad rap for exactly what you are referring to...but not me:)
Thank you for clearing this up for us, Audra. I believe that you're honest about this. I'm curious about how good the return would be with Revive on a 360 Sell arrangement with them. Do you know anything about the returns from such an arrangement or should I call you to talk about it off line? @@AudraLambert
Revive 🤷🏻♂️ I don’t know about that
Hello there, check out the their website: www.revive.realestate. Check out their reviews.