Over the past year, I have observed the lows that businesses are willing to stoop to maintain and earn new clients. Specifically, many companies in the construction industry are bidding jobs only to keep their doors open, not to earn a profit. While I do commend the valiant effort businesses are taking to keep their people employed, this business model paints an unrealistic standard for the client that is oblivious to this business practice; they just think they are getting a good deal. But are they?
I am empathetic with all businesses that are trying to survive in this struggling economy, however, I lose respect when a legitimate company decides to implement desperate and compromising business practices to remain competitive. All this does is muddy the waters for the clients that are trying to discern between a company that is “inexpensive” and one that is just plain “cheap.” It is a shame how many phone calls we have received from clients that need our help in repairing or completing a job from a contractor that got a job over us because they were ‘cheaper.’ This is not to mention the clients that have come to us with horror stories about contractors that quoted one price in a bid and then hit them with change orders later. Sometimes by choosing the cheaper contractor it still ends up costing more. The moral of this story is to choose your contractor very carefully. Ask questions, consider their work history and ask for references. All contractors should have a valid license and insurance (visit www.myfloridalicense.com). Lastly, if a contractor is not working for profit, you have to consider what incentive they have to perform the job well. If you have any other questions with regards to common pitfalls in choosing a contractor, feel free to contact us.