House addition project

[czechsonofagun]

We had a guy from a - what the say - good building company to look at our house. The estimate for project plan he gave us was between 1200 and 1500 - I could live with that. He promised to email me when he will come to measure the house and look at it closer.
Well we had to chase him down with several phone calls to actually get him here and the contract for the project has $1800 written on it. I didn't sign it yet and I am not sure I will. Is this normal for a building company to behave like this?
The bottom line is - I don't trust them anymore, they don't behave business like. Hard to imagine what kind of a nightmare would go on if they actually work for us.

What is your experience? Anybody been general contractor for your own house rebuilding?

 

[weldingisfun]

You haven't signed a contract yet so you have no obligation to stay with this guy. My advice, look around for someone with whom you feel more comfortable.

 

[riptides]

I think you'll find chasing people down in this area is the norm. We live through this every time we need service or work done around our place. Heck, even my friends do it to us.

 

[czechsonofagun]

I am totally new to it - not counting septic pumped - the last thing we had somebody to work on here was a split unit hookup in 2002.

 

[oldnslo]

I ma also looking at an addition. Called five different contractors and they all called me back with in 24 hrs. We are in real housing slump here so people are hungry for work.

Mine quotes are closer to $70,000 so that may also spark their interest a little more.

Roy

 

[CurlyDave]

Prokop:

I have acted as my own contractor for housing projects up to and including building an entire house.

You are an engineer, you can do this.

A project in the $1200-1800 range ought to be within your capabilities. Put up some pictures and diagrams -- the people on TBN can help you.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Oops my bad, I was not clear. The price I quoted is just for the plans. The whole thing is going to be around 100K - depends where we will stop them to finish it ourselves. I think I would like them to dry it in - if it's the right term - walls, roof, windows.

 

[riptides]

Well, if your interested I can send you a PM of the guy that did most of our work.
It was a demolition/rennovation. Pretty time consuming and fraught with unknowns. I am still friends with him today, so that says something.

And the wife still speaks to both of us.

 

[MarkV]

He double the verbal pricing of the plans and you had to chase him down to come look at the project. That is not the way you want to start a $100k project. Make some more calls and find someone you are comfortable with.

MarkV

 

[2manyrocks]

If you aren't comfortable now, it's not likely to get better. There's a reason you're not comfortable even if you're not really sure what it is, and you just need to look at your other options.

If he isn't all over you to get your business in this economy, I have to wonder what's up.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Well, if your interested I can send you a PM of the guy that did most of our work.
It was a demolition/rennovation. Pretty time consuming and fraught with unknowns. I am still friends with him today, so that says something.

And the wife still speaks to both of us.

That would be highly appreciated, thank you.