What is wrong with this contractor?

You feel uneasy and do not know what is wrong. You have just had your initial meeting with a contractor. The meeting was not as beneficial as the others were and there was something annoying about this contractor that you cannot identify.

Review this checklist for any items that could help:

1. Describe his appearance.

• Was he physically too clean or too dirty?
• Were his clothes too clean or too dirty?
• Were his hands not calloused even though he works on each job?
• Was his vehicle as used as you would expect for a contractor?
• Was there a mismatch with his appearance … clothes … vehicle … conversation … watch … other jewelry?

2. Describe his body language. What is wrong.

• Was he too introverted, extroverted or controlling?
• Did the contractor not look you in the eye?
• Did he stand too close or too far away?
• Did he make you feel uncomfortable? How?
• Did the visual message not match the words?

3. Did he have any distinct or distracting mannerisms?

• Did he give direct answers to your questions?
• Did he look uncomfortable when you asked for material details?
• Did he look uncomfortable when you asked for installation details?
• Did his hands shake when you ask for references?
• Did he attempt to intimidate you by using jargon?
• Did he seem agitated at any time during the meeting? When?

Still Not Sure What Is Wrong?

If you do not know what is wrong yet, there are two more sections here to help. Still need help? Contact me.

4. Describe the flow of the conversation.

• Did he ask the appropriate scope of work related questions?
• Did he talk too much and control the conversation and meeting?
• Did he try to impress you too much? Use too much jargon?
• Did he stress his honesty? Too many times?
• Did he never commit by using ‘but’ too many times?
• Did he attempt to answer authoritatively yet end the statement as a question?
• Did he talk down to you?

5. What kind of information did he request?

• Did he ask for your budget price?
• Did he try to find out your budget price by asking what you thought the work would cost?
• Did he try to bracket your price tolerance by changing the scope of work?

When I was dealing with subcontractors, most would just ask me for their scope of work, question some possible problems then ask me when I needed their price and ESC (exceptions, stipulations and conditions). This group would not ask how many others were sending prices or try to pin me down to a dollar amount the others had quoted, our budget amount or what price did they need to beat.

• Did he ask for the names of the other competitors? Their price?

A few subcontractors would tell me how they really need the work and what would it take to award them the contract. I was always consistent, I told them to send me the proposal and we will talk if all the items I requested were included and the price was competitive.

• Did he ask for any other information that did not seem appropriate?
• Did he attempt to offer you a price if you would sign a contract that night and then offer you his contract form to sign?

If you still cannot determine why this contractor gave you an uncertain feeling, bad feeling, or made you feel he was not trustworthy after reviewing these questions then you should not work with him. A bad first impression may ruin anyone’s chance for working with you. Exactly what is wrong with the contractor is not important if you determine you do not want to work with him.

Have you had an experience with a contractor that you realized something was wrong? Please share your experience and the result. If you have before and after pictures of the work completed by another contractor, let us know why you chose this contractor.

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