[Greenbuilding] doing homework

[Bruce Donelson]

I have hired people for projects where I felt I did all the "homework" and
it still turned out a disaster.  I had a guy just build a deck for me, and
it was a nightmare.  I looked at decks he had built, talked with people who
he had worked for, called the Better Business Bureau, looked at his
license.  Everything was fine.  Except my deck was horrid.  Then I had
another guy re-do it, did the same homework, and ended up with just about as
bad a job.  The city inspector said I should not expect to have a good job
done on this end of town - guys will build up to the quality most people on
that end expect (which is apparently not very high).
Personally thought that was B.S. and fixed my own deck, quit hiring people
and started doing everything myself.  At least this way if it is screwed up
it wasn't because I hired a dishonest / incompetant person and paid them
good money.
Granted, there are likely some quality, honest contractors.  But not that I
have run in to and could afford.
Sabrina

Many times the low bidders aren't really covering their overhead. So it is a
false economy to hire them, because they cannot afford to do good work. I am
almost never the lowest bidder, and have stayed that way for many years.
Also stayed pretty busy. Mostly, the really cheap contractors fundamental
dishonesty is with themselves: they think if they don't come cheap they will
starve. But they still starve.
Myself, I would rather stay home and lose money than work for someone else
just to lose money.
Bruce Donelson
A Better Builder