I am now a project manager, maybe general contractor is the wrong phrase, on a $167,000 construction project. My house. Good help is in fact hard to find.
For a $107,000 project the general contractor that was referred to me gave me a smaller line item, well it wasn't line item. I give clients for a $1,500 web development project more specific details. Line by line. Cost by cost. His was just a long run-on-sentence of what he'd do and a fee.
Also Alstate refused to upgrade my electrical, plumbing, gas, and HVAC to code. I told him to push back. He didn't to my level of satisfaction.
So I did. I used an Allstate approved inspector to inspect my house before I bought it inn 2002. Paid fees and taxes based on my house being up to code, as best I can tell. Well all the vital parts of my house are not up to code and you won't pay to bring them up to code I told them.
I noted to my Allstate adjuster fine, but the letter in protest I am about to write will be CC'd to the County and the Illinois Insurance Commission. My lawyer (just had to throw that in) suggested it.
Funny thing, I got another $60,000. I get all NEW gas, electrical (including a line underground), plumbing, and HVAC.
As you might guess I demoted my general contractor.
Said I am not a "dick" but I do expect performace. You have not shown me that. I don't doubt you do good work, but not sure you have the "chops" to manage a project of this size. He argued with me, and I noted I have managed huge teams and budgets of $10M on projects. 15+ subs.
I don't mind if you make what I assume is 12-15 percent. But if you want to, then I am in charge.
This started today as a long email to him outlining he doesn’t have a room-by-room budget. Or the budget of stuff in the room. So I don’t know how much to spend on doors. Lights. Many others things I might be missing. Nor do I have the specs. Get me them and I know almost exactly what I want, and I’ll get those items to you yesterday.
We should see how this will work.
Oh he says he will have me in the house on July 1. I am LOL. No chance IMHO. But my 49th birthday is July 12th. If I can be in my house by then I will run naked through the street.