I hired a contractor for a drywall job, but he's been really slow to respond. After around 12 days, I finally got his estimate on the 26th, and we've been talking since about June 8th. He mentioned that business is slow, which makes me wonder why there's such a delay in communication. If he goes silent again, how long should I wait before I tell him I'm going with someone else? I haven't paid him anything yet, and the invoice I signed doesn't require me to hire him. The contractor came recommended by a friend, but I'm getting anxious about the timeline since I need to get this drywall issue sorted out quickly to prevent any further damage.
3 Answers
For real, red flags are popping up everywhere here. If his communication is this shaky now, I’d be wary about how things would go once he’s officially hired. You definitely want to feel secure about who you’re trusting with your home repairs!
Honestly, I’d move on if I were you. You don’t owe him anything, and if he's this unresponsive now, it's unlikely to get better once you've hired him. Definitely look for someone else, especially since this is an urgent issue with your drywall. Don’t feel bad about it!
I get your concern. If it took him this long to send an estimate especially when he said business is slow, that’s a bit of a red flag. I’d keep my options open and start looking for other contractors. If you’re already feeling uneasy now, imagine how it might feel after you pay him! Just reach out to a few others and see what they say.