"tayliechuqx - Mr. Tay Lee Chuq (of the Woo Hoo triad)"
<tayliechuqx@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:dae94383-f450-4b82-a869-b9f8ef5fce3f@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>re: how much to pay contractor/worker on fence or other
>I agree in theory with the advice given in this thread and on the
>Holmes website about giving contractors milestone payments and holding
>back 10-20% of the price until the job is finished and the customer
>standards have been met.
>However, in the real world I find that this really can only apply to
>the larger fence builders/contractors who have extra money in the bank
>to pay for supplies etc.
>Dealing with the smaller guys/gals with simple ads in the press are a
>different story.
>I've been meeting fewer smaller handymen who are prepared to go out
>and plunk down $800 for fence and building supplies after getting only
>a few hundred dollars from the customer and a signed contract.
>Many contractors that I've talked to have come across many problems
>getting paid for reasons like
>- customer turns out to be having financial problems
>- customer just likes to delay payments forever
>- customer likes to change the plans alot
>- spouses fight (like the article in todays Globe and Mail said where
>big projects go off the rails when couples fight over escalating costs
>of major rennos)
>- customer finds some reason to not like the job and hold back more
>than 30%
>I would do the following on the fence build if you go with a small
>builder.
>1. have a written quote/contract on parts and labor and start/finish
>date and milestones etc
>2. once you are convinced that the contractor isn't a scammer, have
>the builder tell you what you need and arrange for the purchase and
>delivery to your house in your name and paid for on your card by you
>3. take photos along the way
>4. hold back some money in case it falls over in a few days after a
>windstorm or nieghbor complains that it is on thier property line;)
>5. have a backup plan in case of rain or the contractor gets sick and
>can't finish the fence or the big company goes into receiver****p and
>you have to rush out and hire the small guy that you didn't want to,
>to begin with
>Many would say to just hire a big, reputable company with an ad in the
>phone book, insurance, wcb,etc etc...but this is Winnipeg.
>Sure you could have an iron clad contract and spend the next 3 years
>in court trying to get your fence finished.
>The world is waggling differently today.
Perhaps it is time someone created an instructional video on this topic?
JJ
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