The Advice You’re Being Given is Insane!
Here’s my current rant! There seems to be a lot of so-called “Experts” out there giving advice to remodeling consumers about how to hire a remodeling contractor and stay out of “REMODELING HELL”! The remodel from hell is the one that cost twice as much as expected, takes twice as long to complete as expected and generally makes you want to run screaming to the Better Business Bureau with the contractor’s head on a stick.
A Google search for “tips on hiring a remodeling contractor” generates about 89,400 results. Reading them all is pretty low on my priority list, but I did read the top five (unpaid) results.
All five listed “getting three bids” (two called them written “estimates” – “Estimates”? Really?) in their top 10 tips and three of the five advised contacting the BBB before you hire. Now recognize, this is the same advice that was dominant when I first got into the remodeling business, back in 1989. Obviously, this advice has been around for a long time, so we should assume its good, solid advice – right?
To determine if the advice is good advice, let’s look at the results it has generated over the years. Back in 1989, the remodeling industry ranked 11th highest in complaints to the BBB. In 2009, it ranked 37th in complaints. A drop from 11th to 37th! Maybe this is good advice!
Welllllll, not really! In 1989 the BBB only ranked 714 industries. In 2009 they ranked 3947 industries. Statistically, things have gotten worse! In 1989 we didn’t have (or at least they were a small market) satellite TV, cell phones, internet services, internet shopping, etc. to complain about. All these new industries have jumped in front of remodeling contractors. It’s not that remodeling complaints are down, there’s just more industries to complain about. A rank of 37 out of 3947 is in the top 1%.
If staying out of remodeling hell is the goal, it seems that the advice being given out is not helping. But, what if no one is following the advice. What if the “expert” advice to get three bids and contact the BBB is just being ignored?
While I couldn’t find any statistics on how many consumers are actually getting three bids, it does seem that the advice about contacting the BBB to inquire about contractors is being followed. Inquiries, to the BBB, for remodeling contractors ranked 4th in 2009. It seems at least one of the “experts’” (way too many “’” – don’t you think?) tips is being followed and based on the number of requests we get for “bids”, I’m betting consumers are following the bidding advice as well.
Einstein defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again – expecting a different result.” The so-called experts seem to be insane, and, if you follow their advice, you too will go insane – on your way to “Remodeling Hell”.
The concept for this article was only to show that the typical “expert advice” about remodeling and specifically “how to select/hire a remodeling contractor” is failing to achieve the desired results. It’s about time this is exposed for what it is – insanity. “A Better Way to Avoid Remodeling Hell” is a whole other blog post entirely (Note to self – future post idea) there is just not enough space to get into it here.
Am I down on the “bidding” process? Absolutely! I believe there are only three methods worse than “bidding” to select your remodeling contractor: 1.) throw darts at the Yellow Pages, 2.) a hand written cardboard sign stapled to a telephone pole and 3.) Craig’s List. I’m so down on the bidding process that at Da Vinci, we just refuse to do it.
If you insist on using the bidding method for selecting your contractor, there are things you can do to minimize the risk of going to Remodeling Hell. How to use the bidding method to your best advantage is yet another separate blog post – possibly two (Note to self – another future blog post?).
The whole point here is, be careful of the advice you act on. If the expert advice is not generating the desired results, try something different. Remodeling Hell is no fun! Stay out-a-there!
The simple message here is a direct message to the “experts”: Stop giving advice that doesn’t work and do some research instead of regurgitating the tried and untrue! Your insane advice is driving everyone else insane.
Here endith the rant!
Paul
Enjoy!
14 comments
Great, lucid, well-researched rant Paul – and yeah you probably used too many quotes.
Expert advice is typically written by writers to fill pages…and I know no expert who calls themselves an expert or a guru and anything else similar.
problem is – homeowning internet surfers just it eat up. . . they want it spoon fed, an easy answer. . . but there is no easy answer. remodeling is hard — you (general and someone that wants to stay out of remodeling hell) have to do legwork, and the bid should never be the be all end all deciding factor.
Important yes — but I usually perfer to work with people I work well with. . great post. jb
Thanks for the comment jb. Remember I’m not a word-smith. I took exception to “lucid” in your response – then I looked it up. Thanks! Paul
I can’t believe my eyes! Finally someone else has got the guts to come out and say it.
In remodeling, price is NOT the way to quantify nor qualify a contractor’s professionalism or ability to do the job!
I’m curious to see what the next rant will be.
Also curious what DaVinci’s solution is…this tells what it isn’t.
Tim, Thanks for visiting and the response. I have lots of rants to post. I’ll try to space them out over time so people don’t think I’m an angry old man.
I will post a follow-up in the future on how to “Net-work to Find the Right Remodeling Contractor”.
Again, Thanks Tim
Paul
Nice post Paul…what constitutes an “expert” and what qualifies them to give advice in the first place?
This should be the first question any wary consumer asks before accepting and/or acting on the advice they may stumble across on the web or otherwise.
It seems, with design, building and remodeling, all high priced items, the contractors reputation and evidence of earlier work will prove far more useful to any buyer.
In the end…you get what you pay for.
Thanks,
Mike
Thanks for the comment Mike. Bidding just doesn’t seem to be getting the desired results and I get frustrated with the pat advice of “Get three bids”.
When we’re asked to “bid” a project, I usually respond with: “Would you like an honest bid or should I bid it to win the job?”
That usually makes them think.
Thanks again.
Paul
Paul – you stole the idea for my next blog entry!
Regardless, very well written, and to the point. My only hope is that we start to see prospective clients following this “new logic”.
Mark, go with it my friend! Our two little voices against a the hoard of so-called “experts”.
Write it – Post it – And lets promote the hell out of it! We’ve got a lot of work to do to overcome the 3-bid-myth.
Paul,
Maybe this is another future post idea but despite a well researched post, you left out, to my way of thinking, some key parameters on the bidding process you reference.
If you are asked to bid, is it by invitation from an architect with construction documents? Is the result of the project being awarded based on lowest bid or best value bid? Were you being asked to bid against contractors of comparable skill?
In our office, we rarely have issues with contractors putting clients in remodel hell. For us, the bid process is intended to provide many more pieces of information other than lowest cost. It lets us know if there is a conflict in the drawings (or at least an area of confusion) when the line items values from different bids are really different. This also protects the contractor who made a mistake while calculating (as opposed to a calculated mistake). We also go to lengths to match up similar skill contractors and put them in the best position to achieve success because (surprise) we both have the same goal – a happy client.
For the record, we have about 50+ different contractors that we work with and we add to that number far more often than we reduce it. They are grouped by skill, house style, new vs. remodel, some will work with clients still living in the house while others won’t, etc. There are a lot of variables to consider and spending a little time up front – trying to match everything up, including personality types – almost always pays dividends in the end. I would say with certainty that the contractors we work with don’t feel abused by our bidding process and we rarely waste their time.
Hi Bob,
Thank you for responding. I intended a future post on why I view the bidding method as poorly as I do. I also intended on giving some advice to those who differ with my view and will press-on with bidding regardless of what I say.
Even with my future post plans, I’ll give a summary answer to your questions.
I see three different types of bid request here at Da Vinci:
First, there is the homeowner that has no plans or specifications. They want to point, show, wave their arms and tell you how much they hate their _______________ . They then tell you that they have three contractors looking at the project and want a “bid” by next Monday. In my youth (read stupidity), I would take on this very disappointing challenge. Today, they get screened on the initial phone call. Chances are these folks are headed for Remodeling Hell, but they followed the expert advice and don’t understand what went wrong.
The second type has professional to semi-professional plans and specifications, but the designer is not staying on for the contractor selection or project management. The homeowner, following the expert advice, solicits three bids. When the bids come in and they are different, they most assuredly will go with the low bidder – because no one advised them to explore why they are different. These folks are potentially headed for Remodeling Hell. They have a better chance than type 1 above, but still not secure from the contractors who know how to play the bidding game.
The third type is one from your firm or other professional designer. While, these have a much smaller chance of getting to Remodeling Hell, they still have their share of problems and bidding games to be played. We’ve been in our share of “harems” (our term for being on an architect’s contractor list) and I can tell you that, based on you description, your clients and contractors are very lucky. Not all designer take care of their clients as well.
My post is directed at so-called experts advising consumers in the first two types. Their advice is not heeded or needed in the third type.
I hope I adequately responded to your comments and questions – I don’t want to get sent to the port-a-john for the remainder of this conversation! For those of you who don’t read Bob’s blog – go to http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/job-site-vocabulary/ then the port-a-john comment will make sense.
Thanks again,
Paul
Well I’m a “so called expert” and my advice would be for people to read your post.
I just had a conversation with a customer today who took “expert advice” and talked to so many people he got confused, I ended up giving him a few printouts from the state and city that clearly explained why his project was written the way he needed it built it, and explained why my cost was a little more than the other guys.
I mean c’mon, even McDonalds charges more if you supersize your order, they don’t give you a large coke for the same price as a small one.
And the “always get at least 3 bids advice”, well, who do you think pays for that, its you, the buyer, the people who don’t hire but get bids that are subsidized by the buyers.
Good post DaVinci.
Thanks Paul! I send folks over to RC a lot to read your post on “Free Estimates”. It said what I’ve been trying to say for years.
Paul
Paul,
great response to my comment and now that you have clarified a few things, I agree with you 100%! + Thks for the link!
Thanks Bob! I assumed a simple misunderstanding. I also assume I can stay out of the port-a-john!