I'm new to managing renovations in my home, and I recently reached out to a few contractors for estimates to redo my bathroom. One contractor really stood out because he had reasonable pricing and promised to complete the work in under two weeks, plus I heard great things about him from neighbors. After our initial meeting, he assured me he'd send over a written estimate within a day or two, but when I followed up, he kept pushing the deadline. Now it's been weeks, and I'm wondering if this kind of behavior is normal in the contracting world. Should I keep waiting or look for new contractors? What's the best way to handle this?
3 Answers
You definitely gotta keep momentum! Just remember that when it comes to home projects, everything usually takes 2-3 times longer than initially planned. And a key tip: if you’re working with a general contractor, make sure you get lien releases from all subcontractors before paying more than the deposit. It can save you from a lot of headaches later on.
It sounds like he might just be too swamped with other jobs to take yours. I’d say it’s best to look elsewhere at this point. The longer he takes to respond, the more you should consider moving on.
From my experience, if it’s taking this long just to get an estimate, you might be in for a real headache with the actual work. I'd suggest moving on to another contractor—you deserve someone who's ready to jump in right away.
Sincerely,
Someone whose 3-week bathroom project took 6 months.