On 2005-03-25, Derek Mark Edding wrote:
Hi Folks.

whine
Why can't it be easier than this?

I called a contractor and said I wanted an estimate for grading and
clearing an area for a storage shed.

After two weeks, he calls back and wants to come out. I'd already moved
on to making other arrangements, but hey, I'm flexible.

He drives out and glances at my backyard, ignores my writeup of the
preparations, and launches into a sales pitch to clear and revitalize my
whole property.

After that, I could barely get his attention back on the work I wanted.
He gave an estimate for the whole property (almost three grand) and
dropped it twice while I tried to get him to focus on the shed prep.

He finally gave me an estimate for just the shed work, but continued
pushing for the whole enchilada as he left. He called back this morning
with another price drop.
/whine

He has a point that the yards need attention, but it's not a high
priority. I can't spend that kind of money on an impulse purchase.

What do people here think? Would you try to work with this fellow, or
continue calling people and trying to get estimates? There don't seem
to be many people interested in this kind of job.

Thanks,

-dreq

Ask him if you can pay it over the next 24 months with no interest.
That might shut him up. He is interested in maximizing his income now.

Tell him this is all you can afford now, but if the job is done well and
when you are ready you will give him the opportunity when you have the
funds to do the rest.

I would get a very specific contract though because he sounds like the
type that would do more than you asked when you were not there and then
expect you to pay the extra.

Obviously he has been successful in bidding up jobs in the past.
--
Wes Dukes (wdukes.pobox@com) Swap the . and the @ to email me please.

is a garbage address.