masonry contractor weird conversation

On Jul 20, 8:54 am, "Mr John Doe" <[email protected]> wrote:
> I am looking into having a 6' masonry fence constructed (about 50').
>
> I had one contractor come out, take notes, called me the next day
> with his estimate.
>
> I ask him for a copy of his write up.
>
> Guy says, call around, get more bids, when you're ready to really
> move forward, I'll type up a formal estimate with a breakdown of
> all the work & material we'd be using.
>
> I'm willing to give this guy a benefit of a doubt. Perhaps his way
> of looking at is, he's not interested in spending his time to make
> up a materials list that I can shop around to others.
>
> However, I would think contractors would expect consumers to acquire
> multiple bids on work.
>
> I am probably going to pass on this particular contractor due to
> this proprietary attitude.
>
> Is this type of contractor response common place ?  (or is this guy
> just a bad apple ?). He did invite me to his other jobsites to take
> a look at the "quality" of his work though. And admitted outright he's
> not the cheapest guy, but tooted his own horn about how great his work
> is, blah, blah, blah.

He gave you a price if you like his work go with him, he doesnt want
to waste time writing out bids if you are still shopping, so shop and
get bids. What he is doing is normal since he is busy.

ransley wrote:
> On Jul 20, 8:54 am, "Mr John Doe" <[email protected]> wrote:
>> I am looking into having a 6' masonry fence constructed (about 50').
>>
>> I had one contractor come out, take notes, called me the next day
>> with his estimate.
>>
>> I ask him for a copy of his write up.
>>
>> Guy says, call around, get more bids, when you're ready to really
>> move forward, I'll type up a formal estimate with a breakdown of
>> all the work & material we'd be using.
>>
>> I'm willing to give this guy a benefit of a doubt. Perhaps his way
>> of looking at is, he's not interested in spending his time to make
>> up a materials list that I can shop around to others.
>>
>> However, I would think contractors would expect consumers to acquire
>> multiple bids on work.
>>
>> I am probably going to pass on this particular contractor due to
>> this proprietary attitude.
>>
>> Is this type of contractor response common place ? (or is this guy
>> just a bad apple ?). He did invite me to his other jobsites to take
>> a look at the "quality" of his work though. And admitted outright he's
>> not the cheapest guy, but tooted his own horn about how great his work
>> is, blah, blah, blah.
>
> He gave you a price if you like his work go with him, he doesnt want
> to waste time writing out bids if you are still shopping, so shop and
> get bids. What he is doing is normal since he is busy.
Amen to that. A working contractor has to expect a certain amount of
window shoppers wasting his time, but doing a materials takeoff and
formal bid is a lot more work than a quick on-site estimate based on
square footage and experience. True in spades if your area requires
engineering plans to pull a permit for masonry fences, since footers are
involved. Some contractors get around this by charging for formal
estimates, with the cost credited toward the work if you go with them.

Can't address the 'tooting his own horn' part- I'd have to see his other
work. But the really good ones don't advertise much- word of mouth gets
them all the work they can handle. I'd ask friends and coworkers who
have had work done- who did they use, and were they happy? Or just drive
around on a Saturday when people are out in their yards, and if you see
fresh-built work, stop and ask. Most suburban esquires LOVE to talk
about work they have had done.

--
aem sends...

I can't speak as to the commonplace in the masonary/construction field, but
as a landscape contrator, I can certainly respect his attitutude. Often
times on estimates, I try to feel out the enthusiasm a potential client has
for a project before I decide how involved I will get in the estimate at
first. If I get the sense that they are either price shopping or don't have
any real idea of what a project should cost, I will hold off before spending
lots of time selling the project. Like your contractor, I am rarely the
cheapest because I will only do the project if I can do it right and do it
well. I probably wouldn't have been as blunt as the contractor in your
situation, but the end result may have been the same. I should say, however,
that I don't know how you behaved during the meeting. If I got the sense
that you were interested in have quality work done, had a good idea of what
you were going to pay, I would have taken the estimate out further and tried
to sell myself to get the job.

"Mr John Doe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:f72dnQxypIBy3h7VnZ2dnUVZ_sjinZ2d@comcast.com...
>
>
> I am looking into having a 6' masonry fence constructed (about 50').
>
> I had one contractor come out, take notes, called me the next day
> with his estimate.
>
> I ask him for a copy of his write up.
>
> Guy says, call around, get more bids, when you're ready to really
> move forward, I'll type up a formal estimate with a breakdown of
> all the work & material we'd be using.
>
> I'm willing to give this guy a benefit of a doubt. Perhaps his way
> of looking at is, he's not interested in spending his time to make
> up a materials list that I can shop around to others.
>
> However, I would think contractors would expect consumers to acquire
> multiple bids on work.
>
> I am probably going to pass on this particular contractor due to
> this proprietary attitude.
>
> Is this type of contractor response common place ? (or is this guy
> just a bad apple ?). He did invite me to his other jobsites to take
> a look at the "quality" of his work though. And admitted outright he's
> not the cheapest guy, but tooted his own horn about how great his work
> is, blah, blah, blah.
>
>
>

I would assume you discussed during his time with you what the
basic materials were to be. My prime concern would have been
footing design and steel. He has already spent at least an hour
with you plus driving time two ways to see the job. He has spent
another hour assembling material quantities and current pricing
(some of this stuff changes daily). How many dollars do you want
him to spend on you with only a slight possibility of a job?

--
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)
[email protected]



"Mr John Doe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:f72dnQxypIBy3h7VnZ2dnUVZ_sjinZ2d@comcast.com...
>
>
> I am looking into having a 6' masonry fence constructed (about
> 50').
>
> I had one contractor come out, take notes, called me the next
> day
> with his estimate.
>
> I ask him for a copy of his write up.
>
> Guy says, call around, get more bids, when you're ready to
> really
> move forward, I'll type up a formal estimate with a breakdown of
> all the work & material we'd be using.
>
> I'm willing to give this guy a benefit of a doubt. Perhaps his
> way
> of looking at is, he's not interested in spending his time to
> make
> up a materials list that I can shop around to others.
>
> However, I would think contractors would expect consumers to
> acquire
> multiple bids on work.
>
> I am probably going to pass on this particular contractor due to
> this proprietary attitude.
>
> Is this type of contractor response common place ? (or is this
> guy
> just a bad apple ?). He did invite me to his other jobsites to
> take
> a look at the "quality" of his work though. And admitted
> outright he's
> not the cheapest guy, but tooted his own horn about how great
> his work
> is, blah, blah, blah.
>
>
>