How To Avoid "Cheap" Construction Horror Stories

You Get What You Pay For

I don’t like the word “cheap,” it’s synonymous with poor quality. Cheap things are expected to break and they do, filling landfills and emptying our bank accounts to replace them. I much prefer the term “cost-effective” as it lends to the value of every dollar spent.

The reality is, the cheap trade will cost you more in the long run. I’ve seen it over and over again. You think you’re getting a great deal and whammo, two months later, your basement is flooded because the weeping tile was never connected to the sump pit. New floors, trim, doors, drywall and furniture all destroyed. I’m dealing with this very scenario right now on a project I’ve inherited. It pains me to know what my clients have suffered.

What Does Quality Look Like?

Quality work takes planning, thoughtfulness, and execution by skilled individuals confident in their craft. None of these people are cheap and nor should they be. They are professionals who, in the long run, save money, stress, and the ultimate commodity, time.

They take great pride in their work as they see it as an extension of themselves. You’ll know them when you meet them. I have great respect and admiration for these individuals. Some of them I’m even lucky enough to call friends.

Major renovations and builds take a financial toll, that’s obvious, but also a psycho-emotional one too; not so obvious.

If you’ve renovated before, you know what I mean. If you have not but are planning on it, you will find out.

Unknown Unknowns vs. Getting Lucky

Everyone thinks they’ll get lucky with a great cheap contractor, but they don’t. Instead, they suffer and the bad blood boils over. Contractors will always find ways to get “their money” back. I tell my clients every time at the beginning of the process that no matter how well this goes, you will be tested. Few ever believe me until we’re about halfway through. Then they give me the look, “you were right.”

There are always surprises, especially in renovations. I call them the unknown unknowns. We do our best to mitigate them. However, one small oversight can lead to disaster months down the road or soon.

Across the board, I’ve been blessed to have wonderful clients. Each unique with their own needs, but all of whom have taught me to be a better builder. Communication, understanding and empathy are key.

It’s become somewhat of a specialty of mine when taking over failing projects. I’ve had clients who’ve been lied to, robbed, and even threatened.

The process of rectifying a construction mess is unique and far different than beginning the process from scratch. The obvious is to redo work that’s either wrong, or worse, failing, but more to the point, it’s a process of healing the trust the client has with a builder and reinvigorating their passion for the project. Their emotions have been rattled. Their resentments are strong and often warranted.

What can you do to avoid this? Hire right.

Asking The Right Questions

How do you do this? Firstly, always trust your gut when dealing with anybody, especially contractors. If the deal seems too good to be true, it usually is. If the price is far less than other builders, it’s because it’s wrong and you will pay for it soon.

Speak with your builder’s references and ask about their experience. Anybody can pull photos of their “work” off the internet. Engage with past clients to get a feeling on what the process might be and whether your builder is truly committed to you.

Do you sense that they love what they do? Will they be there for you during the hard times of the build? Do they listen to you? Are they responsive? Good humoured? Do they seem overly emotional or level headed? Can you grow to trust them?

Invest in a builder who is an excellent communicator and top tier trades. Your build will go faster with well-planned foresight resulting in fewer mistakes and sleepless nights.