Not all that they are cracked up to be

[Newbeginnings]

I have lived here now 3 months, used several contractors that were recommended on TOTV. On some it was exactly as described, great service, great product. But, there are some that are raved and put up on a pedestal that if you do say something negative you are ostracized told you are way too picky or fussy or given an excuse as to why they made errors. One has not completed the job and will not respond to emails or phone calls, only after 6 times of communication do I get an email to wait and be patient. Another, a landscaper, is not that good either, had my landscaping done and kind of disappointed after I look around the neighborhood at what they got for there $$ and mine. I think the posts about them were mostly done by them and friends to get business. So my lesson here is to filter the posts that are raves and personally contact people if you can on the phone or see it in person. I'm not naming names because I will get a lot of flack for naming some these "top" contractors, and it's not that they are that bad, just not as good as to be believed by this discussion group on some of the posts. Wish I had taken more time and I did do the 3 quotes, not paying upfront etc. My lesson learned.

[graciegirl]

I have lived here now 3 months, used several contractors that were recommended on TOTV. On some it was exactly as described, great service, great product. But, there are some that are raved and put up on a pedestal that if you do say something negative you are ostracized told you are way too picky or fussy or given an excuse as to why they made errors. One has not completed the job and will not respond to emails or phone calls, only after 6 times of communication do I get an email to wait and be patient. Another, a landscaper, is not that good either, had my landscaping done and kind of disappointed after I look around the neighborhood at what they got for there $$ and mine. I think the posts about them were mostly done by them and friends to get business. So my lesson here is to filter the posts that are raves and personally contact people if you can on the phone or see it in person. I'm not naming names because I will get a lot of flack for naming some these "top" contractors, and it's not that they are that bad, just not as good as to be believed by this discussion group on some of the posts. Wish I had taken more time and I did do the 3 quotes, not paying upfront etc. My lesson learned.

I think that most people will agree with you. I think it is wise to wait a while after you move in before you start a big expensive project. Ask around, get a feel for things and prices.

I think many of us think that some cheers and positive posts about some contractors are contrived on here. Especially first time posters. Or posters with less than ten posts. I can't see most people just off the bat saying how much they loved a contractor. Most people enter the forum with a Hi, I am from this place or that place and I am new here, etc.etc.Or ask where they can buy this or see that.

There are some people whose opinions I trust a lot after really getting to know them in five years. And some I don't.

I am very sorry you had work done that was disappointing. If a contractor doesn't finish work or fails to respond after you have paid him, it is time to tell him that you will take steps to see that he does.

[NotGolfer]

Above all else...do NOT pay for anything before any project is begun! Too many "fly by night" folks here that will stiff people!!!

I wish there was a link on TOTV where one could click and find out who these folks are ahead of time. I know residents who've been stiffed by landscapers, contractors and pest-control "businesses". If someone hasn't finished and don't answer their phone...what recourse would one have. Also to sue may not be the answer as this individual doesn't have any resources anyway.

[gomoho]

I'm afraid many of us have been guilty of being so excited about our new lives and our new homes we jump right in to start getting things done and don't do our due diligence. Hopefully the project you make this mistake on is not a high $$$ one. I speak from personal experience and my best advice to new homeowners is put the brakes on - you have plenty of time to create your dream home. And most of all have fun.

[kittygilchrist]

Well, DJ, do unto others! I will need contractors and now I don't know who to avoid! Please PM me with names, so I can unflack you. :-?
Kitty

[BarryRX]

I've found that talking with my neighbors and friends is a much better barometer when looking for a contractor then TOTV.

[Bogie Shooter]

Treat TOTV contractor recommendations the same as restaurant recommendations................ignore them.

[Mikeod]

What I've seen happen is a contractor comes into a new neighborhood and does a first class job on a home. That elicits positive comments that get people to hire them for their work. But the subsequent work is never as good as the first one(s) and people are disappointed and upset.

Then the contractor moves on to the next new neighborhood, or changes the name of the company, and the whole thing starts again.

Best advice, as posted above, is never pay anything upfront, and no final payment until the work is done to your satisfaction. Reputable contractors will not balk at those terms because they value their reputation. The others will object because their reputation means nothing. They will just disappear and resurface later as someone different.

[Newbeginnings]

This has gotten off track: My original post was about contractors who are praised and cheered when they in fact they have not been perfect. I didn't get scammed, one job is not complete and this is from a highly regarded contractor well known, they will finish but I am frustrated waiting for responses and lack of communication. I did use, I believe, very reputable contractors, but what my point was some of cheering is for just average work. The landscaping like I said in my original post is okay, certainly not the above average great work many had posted about. These were well known contractors, that we all know if you read TOTV and known in my neighborhood.

[redwitch]

It may be worth sending a PM to someone who has praised a contractor to see if they respond. If not, odds are it is someone shilling for the contractor. I will frequently recommend contractors whose work I have seen and I feel are worth recommending. I think that is true for most of us "old-timers."

I also think the ones that get flamed are people who have only posted once or twice and are not known to most of us. It is just too easy to praise or flame someone either because they are personal friends of the contractor or a competitor of a contractor. I've rarely seen someone flamed for saying they were not happy with a contractor when (1) the poster is specific about the complaint and (2) the poster has posted in the past about other subjects.

Personally, I would want to know if someone was unhappy with a contractor that is praised here and why. No one is perfect. I've seen more than one complaint be resolved to the satisfaction of all after a negative comment was made here.

[justjim]

I'm afraid many of us have been guilty of being so excited about our new lives and our new homes we jump right in to start getting things done and don't do our due diligence. Hopefully the project you make this mistake on is not a high $$$ one. I speak from personal experience and my best advice to new homeowners is put the brakes on - you have plenty of time to create your dream home. And most of all have fun.

:agree: Very good post and excellent advice. There is no need to finish everything you want to do to you new home in the first couple of months. Take your time and "feel things out"---play some golf or whatever you like to get involved with here in TV. Like Gomoho said---have some fun! Back to the game!

[jimbo2012]

Remember licensed contractors are liable legally for workmanship, but do they have a real biz with assets to bother suing?????

[Barefoot]

I think many of us think that some cheers and positive posts about some contractors are contrived on here. Especially first time posters. Or posters with less than ten posts. I can't see most people just off the bat saying how much they loved a contractor. Most people enter the forum with a Hi, I am from this place or that place and I am new here, etc.etc.Or ask where they can buy this or see that.

:agree: I agree with GG, as I often do. Some of us are reluctant to speak openly about bad experiences with contractors. I've even been threatened by a contractor to never post negatively about him on TOTV. It pays to be careful and to talk to neighbors.

[graciegirl]

:agree: I agree with GG, as I often do. Some of us are reluctant to speak openly about bad experiences with contractors. I've even been threatened by a contractor to never post negatively about him on TOTV. It pays to be careful and to talk to neighbors.

This is the THIRD time I have heard of folks being threatened by a contractor.

Don't JUMP into landscaping or other expensive projects. Live here at least six months and talk to neighbors and everyone to see what they have to say. Get at least three bids in writing.

[jimbo2012]

I've even been threatened by a contractor to never post negatively about him on TOTV.

Not threatened but harassed by two of them for speaking my mind,

one located on rt 466 in an email described my house in detail?????? :ohdear:
(yes I saved it)

the other was reported here to the admin and quickly resolved.

But I will not not be stifled by those actions. :boxing2:

[Newbeginnings]

I wrote the post, my point was that even if it is a reputable contractor some of the bragging about how great they are is kind of unfounded. I used some very good contractors, checked everyone out. Some of the workmanship was okay but not the raves seen on this site. I didn't get stiffed, nothing to be reportable to seniors vs crimes. The spirit of the post was "average work" doesn't deserve all these great reviews, didn't work like that when I worked for the Fortune 500 company I worked for in my working years, you had to excel and do exceedingly well and go above and beyond the expectation. I can think of 2 that did this, and I do put in my 2 cents when someone asks, but don't brag or plug about "okay" work. Like said before, I think some of the contractors use pseudos to brag about the work, just my feeling on some of them.