[biker1]

A nominal deposit is fine. Larger projects should be setup with "draws" based on completed milestones. Paying with a credit card is also a good idea as you have recourse if things go south. I wouldn't assume all suppliers work on net 30 days.

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

Yes, I agree on custom made, my oversite.

If they are not on 30 day terms then they aren't credit worthy with their vendors.

why should you give them money? because they can't get credit.

How many stories are we all going to read here of folks getting screwed.

See the work before paying

[BK001]

Originally Posted by debron911

I feel compelled to share this after a huge $50,000+ mistake.

My husband and I are savvy researchers who thought we had done our due diligence in sifting through many general contractors. We had experience here with some contractors such as concrete and painters for work under $3,000.

Biggest clue of a contractor with integrity, honesty and a desire to do their best is this:

No money up front!! Even a large addition contract won't want a penny until the first "benchmark" is completed, such as a foundation. Please don't sign a contract for a huge job without it containing the benchmarks, clearly stated, and the percentages. Make sure the last draw is greater than 10% because that is usually their profit and they want that. Also make sure you get release of lien or partial release of lien from each sub-contractor as they finish OR they can come after you, and lien your home EVEN IF you paid the general contractor. Every time you pay a draw you should know in detail what you are paying for.

They should be getting the ARC approval and pulling all necessary permits.

At this point I can't mention the company name as we are awaiting consultation with an attorney specializing in construction law.

We could have had one of the best builders in this area IF we had been more patient to wait for his bid. A builder who can jump right in and start, as robust as the home improvement business is here, BEWARE! Point is: waiting a couple extra weeks to get a bid could save you months of heartache, stress and legal issues.

If this post helps one person, not have to experience what we have and are still in the midst of, then I'm glad I did.

So sorry you have had to put up with this. Such a happy event improving your home should not come with such stress. Shame on this vendor!

[CECE]

I have had a terrible experience with local "contractors'. If I am allowed to mention their names please let me do so and I will. But let me tell you ....
do not do business with anyone for big jobs that work out of their golf carts (because they have no drivers license 'cause of drinking) and the other guy is a sociopath and a real charmer with a big black truck. They have no contractors license to do work in TV but TALK a lovely game. You never know when the are showing up: their work is sloppy and done improperly. They lied constantly and I called the police once on one of the guys cause he wanted his money before the job was completed--that took 8 weeks- was done and he was furious. Right now Pergo is giving me 10 boxes because 10 boxes of wood were installed improperly. They painted the tops of the bases boards and said it would look like a "million dollars". Well it looks like my 10 yrs old grandson did it. I could go on and on. PLEASE don't be charmed by the cheats. They do THAT job so well. Its a very costly error and I am sad that at my age I keep learning lessons and will have to look at the sloppy workmanship for a long time. I will probably end up in small claims court....but who really wants to do that. Did I mention they overcharged me for 22 boxes of wood!

[CECE]

I truly sympathize. It is SUCH a stressful, sad time. Hang in there.

[debron911]

Weekly subs bills???? We never never saw any sub bills. Almost finished - having a custom 107" windowsill made for our master bedroom. Can't get a final without a window sill. Wonderful siding done by Brian Terry Vinyl (they did Sally's above). Still need lanai screening, gutters and our shower floor and bench re-tiled [husband doing it himself].
Can't imagine a contractor like yours or Sally's. Light is visible at the end of our tunnel. Live and learn. To anyone out there that is considering please go with the ones that actually give you detailed billing as you go along, draw schedules and a completion date without ten exclusions.

Day 206 home still not finished.

[gomsiepop]

I have to share my experience with one heck of a contractor. We had a three-season room built in our courtyard villa by Brian Terry Vinyl and in our current home we had our lanai enclosed under heat and air with raised floor with Brian Terry Vinyl. Not a penny, was asked for or given until the entire project had the final county inspection. In fact, on both occasions I called and asked them to stop by our home for the check. Word to the wise, check, check, check references on any contractor that does work on your home.

[jimbo2012]

FYI, as an advertiser you're free to post in any related thread to your biz, in fact any thread, no need to apologize.

Of course there are legit businesses operating here, most don't get a mention unless they do an extra good job.

On the other hand people by nature want to share their negative experience more often to warn/protect others.

.

[Waverunner]

Originally Posted by outlaw

Although I agree with not (USUALLY) paying anything up front, I do believe excellent and reputable companies can get a deposit up front for large jobs. I remember when considering T&D (very good recommendations) for a large ($80-90K) job, they also required a substantial deposit upon contract signing. I may have remembered wrong, so if others have had a different experience with T&D, please respond.

We did a large addition job with T&D. They required no money at the signing of the contract. They had milestone draws of concrete 20%, trusses 30%, drywall 30%, first paint 15%, and final inspection 5%.

They bid and finalized the contract using allowances for flooring, tile, granite, plumbing, and cabinetry. Everything that came after the contract signing is done is a change order, which is due 100% at the next scheduled payment. (For example: $4,000 granite allowance gets credited against $5,000 actual granite amount all at once, regardless of the original milestone percentage spread at contract signing.) So, assuming you have picked out all your finishes between contract signing and first draw, it is very likely, if you have above builder grade selections, that your first payment will exceed 20%.

There is also a provision in their contract that reads, "If not paid when project is completed a 5% interest fee can be charged to full amount of project. Note: Punch items and manufacturing defects will not hold up the completion of job. Payment is still due once major scope of work is complete."

T&D is very busy and has lots of crews and projects going at any given time. Getting your job off the ground is a bit of a process, and we have learned a lot. Getting an actual start date for our project was difficult. We were delayed well beyond our original planned start date. Once construction actually started though, we could see daily progress, going faster than we anticipated. The days when someone was not on site daily were mostly inspection days, which was expected, and very few others.

A "shout out thank you" to TOTV members as well, as our research on this site led us to T&D. T&D is not known as the lowest price, but seemed to have the least amount of complaints about doing business with them, their timeliness, and the quality of their work. We were also concerned about the financial stability in our choice of general contractor, and did not want to personally find out the horrors of the FL Construction Lien Law (i.e. from unpaid material suppliers and subcontractors), so T&D fit our needs here as well.

We were our own construction managers and have learned that the more you know, the better to manage your expectations of the process, the timing that all parts of a project takes, and the appropriate financial contributions schedule.

[buckscounty]

You should never put any money down, I don't care what the projectis, if you feel you need to give them money give on the first day they show up to do the job.

[MorlDonna]

Originally Posted by outlaw

Although I agree with not (USUALLY) paying anything up front, I do believe excellent and reputable companies can get a deposit up front for large jobs. I remember when considering T&D (very good recommendations) for a large ($80-90K) job, they also required a substantial deposit upon contract signing. I may have remembered wrong, so if others have had a different experience with T&D, please respond.

T&D just completed enclosing my lanai. Excellent workmanship and very easy to work with. They did not require a deposit up front, however, my job was considerably less money. I was on a payment completion schedule.