Best way for homeowners to ask for bids?
A question for contractors from a homeowner: How would you prefer homeowners request that you quote on a project? This would cover jobs such as re-roofing, new HVAC work, foundation leveling, replacement driveway, etc.
Does a commercial/industrial approach with written RFQ and specifications fly with residential work? Would you flatly reject a home repair project if you had to answer a sheet of questions on your licensing, professional memberships, various technical aspects of how the project will be designed, etc.
“Time is money” and I don’t want to waste any contractor’s time nor do I want to waste my money. I want a quality job, not necessarily low dollar but a good value for my money. How do I best make my expectations known to the contractors who might bid on a project? Currently I’m looking at a foundation leveling project (Houston clay) and I want to be sure that it is done with some engineering involvement, not just a bunch of guys putting in some concrete cylinders without any science behind it)
What would you guys recommend?
thanks!
Tom
Replies
The more detailed the requirements the better the bid.
This works in software development, construction, engagement rings, etc.
Be specific, be detailed about WHAT you are looking for. Write it down, as that has a way of eliminating as much fuzzyness as possible. Just don't specify HOW to get it done - this is the GC's job.
Wylie
Success = Work+ Risk + Luck, in that order. Muriel Seibert
If you want engineering, get the engineer yourself cause either way you're gonna pay for them.
Have the engineer write up what needs to be done then everyone is bidding the same thing, making price comparison much easier for you.
Would you flatly reject a home repair project if you had to answer a sheet of questions on your licensing, professional memberships, various technical aspects of how the project will be designed, etc.
No - It's much easier for me to bid a job the more that is spec'd for me. I don't have to provide options. There are some things that get spec'd that make no sense or are not the best fit for the situation. I recently declined to bid a job as spec'd and explained why. On the other hand, I recently bid a reroof job. The homeowner got several other bids. The three bids she got were all over the place. The winning bidder proposed replacing a power vent and adding ridge venting and static vents to an attic that had suffcient gable venting. All that venting sounded good to the homeowner. What they really needed was soffit venting. So the answer is - Specs are great if the person doing the specifying knows what they're doing.
(((Would you flatly reject a home repair project if you had to answer a sheet of questions on your licensing, professional memberships, various technical aspects of how the project will be designed, etc.)))
Why wood a person in business that has the license, professional memberships, insurance, bond, and references not want to show them to you? It is a sales tool, it will help him the close the deal.
Now as far as telling you how he is gong to do a job in technical aspects. A general discussion on how, yes. Spending hours working up plans, the calculations with enough information on how to do the job, and leaving it with you NO. The contractor would probably not be willing to do any of the prep work for the project with out you paying for it.
I would suggest that you handle the foundation leveling as a separate project, and deal directly with a company that does nothing but foundation repairs. Chances are that the contractor will sub that part anyway.
Other than that, it would be nice to be handed a brief list of specs and scope of work.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt