Anyone else getting quoted insane prices for work around your place?

[radios1]

My best friend's next door neighbor was a lawyer living in a very nice home. He bragged about how he never paid anyone for anything and didn't even bother going to court when he got sued. He said all they could do was put a lien on his home and that the liens on it now were way more than he paid for the home so he is already a couple hundred thousand dollars ahead. He said it was perfectly legal to do what he does and he never considered morality.

This made me for cautious when working for lawyers.

I have always wondered if there was some kind of list these people could be put on to warn contractors to avoid them in the future.

maybe it varies by State, but over here, if you don't show up in Court for even minor civil infractions, the Judge puts out a bench warrant for your arrest, and the Police force you into the Court in hand cuffs!!.. I don't see how it could be any different anywhere!!..

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have been mostly fortunate, never to have been burned by such people. They are out there for sure. Sometimes preying on "greedy" contractors. Often the clue is that price doesn't matter. It doesn't. They have no intention of paying you.

 

[Hay Dude]

Illegal workers are a problem. But there are rules, policy and laws to address them. I will say enforce those accordingly.

In addition, change the mindset of those that seek out and find illegal workers. Therein lies another issue. Employment of said individuals should carry some sort of penalty, even down to the Citizen seeking a "handy-man".

Those laws are rarely enforced.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I like paying for a mans work, talent and good will. I don't like paying for all the necessary behind the scenes Guberment BS, fall protection courses, permits, workplace violence training, port-a-poties, and stuff like that. So, under the table suits me fine.

 

[kenmbz]

I had my buddies team do my garage roof a month ago. Went through the permit process etc. He was the same price as I got from others and I won;t go to the "companies" with no traceability. Pool installer was the same guy who installed my friends pool, insured and I got permits.
Landscaper is a local guy and I give him side business when I am too busy on other projects.

Got tired of fly by nights a long time ago. I don;t go through the permit process to make the town happy, I do it to get a job done right and so far not regrets.
I am tired of hearing these other guys pay tax, sales tax and property tax in NOT income tax. No insurance, not willing to go through with a permit, no work from me.

I also do what I can myself, just replaced a motor/inverter on a washing machine, springs for the garage door etc., tractor work, clearing, cutting down trees, planting.

I try to do most work and hire good people when I can't.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Good people are often just too expensive, simply because they can be. But worse, they are often so overbooked, that they hire not so good employees which is who you get and they still charge top buck.

Speaking of garage springs. I have heard of garage doors guys just going nuts hearing of do it yourselfers messing with garage door springs, like a more dangerous thing has never been invented. lol

 

[ultrarunner]

I met a house flipper whose business model was to stiff the subs. He only used unlicensed contactors and when the contractor complained he'd say you aren't licensed and have no standing being unlicensed...

My floor covering friend had one guy get to him good... so good he made it a point to perfect a lien and then the strangest thing happened.... out of the blue a guy that had been stiffed by the same guy bought the Judgement at full value just for the satisfaction of getting even by foreclosing...

There are plenty of low life consumers preying on the trades too

 

[caver]

Probably well over 20 years ago I worked with a guy that did electric on the side. He installed some wiring in this guys barn and then the guy didn't want to pay. I said "what did you do, go back and rip everything out"? he said "nope, I knew his schedule and went back when he wasn't there." let's just say he made some improvements to the guys house. I thought that is genius and pure evil at the same time.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Before I retired from my business I had a list of bad customers in a notebook. A friend had a business and said he did the same thing, so we compared notebooks. They were mostly the same people. Some suppliers I new had a list people not to sell to. I've known of contractors not getting paid on jobs so large it bankrupted them.
A contractor I know gets 10% up front then 30%, 30%, final 30% as the job progresses.
Some subs he uses he lets the customer pay separately.
Lots of people I know have a "hassle fee" added in for people they know will be a problem.
I know good contractors who do good work and I get a good price, always pay them cash.
I like doing lots of things myself. I can usually do a better job but if it doesn't turn out right I know who to blame!
These crooked lawyers and people bragging about stiffing someone for money I can't see how they sleep at night. They'd have to be a sociopath.
Fifty years ago when I met my wife I knew she was the right one when she said she found $20 that had fallen out of my pocket the day before at her parents house. We've never taken a dime from each other.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I like paying for a mans work, talent and good will. I don't like paying for all the necessary behind the scenes Guberment BS, fall protection courses, permits, workplace violence training, port-a-poties, and stuff like that. So, under the table suits me fine.

That makes you part of the problem.