What is Your Companies Reputation?

By Myron Ferguson

Sometimes I just can’t figure out how certain companies can stay in business. Some companies are so slow and meticulous, and courteous that they make me nervous. Some customers love these guys. And then there is the opposite type. These guys comes in and just blow through the job. The work isn’t perfect and there will be a big punch-list later on, but they stay busy.  And then there is the contractor who falls in between the other two. They don’t like to rush through a job, or cut any corners, but still strive to be as productive as possible.

Contractor number one will get the jobs where the customer is just like they are. Time and money is not as important to the customer or drywall contractor as  super high quality and just letting the dust settle every day. If someone in a hurry hires this company neither the customer nor the contractor will be too happy. Of course contractor number one has to be quite expensive in order to stay in business. Contractor number two gets hired because they can get the job done, things will keep on moving. Any little problems hopefully can be fixed up later. This company would not be paid if the customer was thinking they were hiring contractor number one. Number two tries to be low bid to get these high  production jobs. There is also contractor three who just wants to be left alone to get the job done but also don’t want to be rushed.  Everything has to be organized and ready to go when they get there, so they can make a buck without having to rush. Of course this is the mid-range cost company.

I think I am contractor number three. I don’t get too many calls from production builders. I like to have control of the jobsite, I want everything ready when I get there, and I am very organized. But I don’t like to be rushed so many of my jobs end up being smaller remodeling jobs which I can easily handle within the allotted time. The homes I work on are for customers who want affordable quality.

So I think there is a place for all three contractor types mentioned. Each has a reputation that they are happy with and they have carved out their own niche. 

As far as the customer goes they have to do their homework. If the customer is the general contractor they are usually clear with what type of drywall contractor they are looking for but sometimes they hire contractor number 2 and try to remold them into contractor number 3, which could happen but not for the same price. But the owner of the home or commercial building may have certain expectations of their drywall contractor and it may not be the same as what the GC is thinking. Some friends of mine were having a home built recently. They hired a builder well known for getting things done on or ahead of schedule. The wife was complaining to me one day about the contractor not being very talkative and he had even used one of her paint brushes and did not clean it out. The house was a $500,000 house and the brush cost $5. I asked her if they hired him because he is mister congeniality or because he gets stuff done. She stopped complaining.

Advice for drywall contractors

Bad contractors hurt all our reputations.

Don’t take job you can’t handle.

Don’t work for someone you are not comfortable with.

Be prepared to turn down the job or be ready to stand your ground if things are not as promised.

Offer detailed bids!

Charge the extra so the job is done properly and money is made.

Include option to reserve the right to change bit after seeing the project rather than just based off plans.

Don’t promise more than you can deliver.

Have clear deadlines for completion each step of work.

Advice for Customers

Be careful of the fly by night contractor.

Don’t work with someone you are not comfortable with.

Ask for detailed bids!

Spend the extra so the job is done properly and money is well spent.

Have clear deadlines for completion each step of work.

Hire the reputable contractor that fits your needs. Make sure you are getting what you want.