10 Lame Excuses Home Builders Tell Subcontractors
While I've probably heard a lot more than 10 lame excuses
from home builders, while I was working as a subcontractor. Here's the
top 10 list and I hope you have fun reading it, because I had fun
writing it.
1. I will pay you tomorrow, you can count on it. As a contractor who has
worked for plenty of General Contractors, you can almost count on never
getting paid on time.
2. I never signed that change order. This one isn't very funny,
especially if it's a large change order.
3. I don't have enough money in my bank account to pay you. This is
usually followed by more excuses like, I'm waiting to get paid from the
homeowner or their partner spent your money.
4. Let's talk about this tomorrow, when I feel better. This usually
means that they need more time to think, try to get them to talk about
it today.
5. That's too much money, you will need to lower your bid price, if you
want the job. This is pretty standard talk for most general contractors,
it doesn't matter how much you charge them, they're always going to try
to get you to come down on your pricing
6. I thought you were going to order the windows. If you're going to be
installing the windows, make sure you know who's ordering them. This
could also create other problems with concrete, lumber and roofing
materials.
7. I don't have enough money to pay for lunch. Don't get caught up in
this scam. If the general contractor invites you out to lunch, leave
your wallet in your truck. You could end up washing some dishes, but you
will teach the contractor a valuable lesson.
8. I never said that, did I. this is the ultimate general contractor
excuse and if it gets used more than once, you might consider purchasing
a digital recording device.
9. I won't be able to be here tomorrow. This one will usually get used
around payday. If you're supposed to get paid and your contractor uses
this excuse, tell them that you won't be there tomorrow either. This
usually gets their creative juices flowing.
10. Last but not least, I'm not responsible for that, you are. This is
why we have contracts and you had better read your contract, because a
clever general contractor, who isn't interested in using new again,
could make your life miserable.
A little bitty humor and a little bit of pain, this is what the
construction business feels like to me most of the time.