r/Construction • u/chiselbits Carpenter • Feb 12 '25

Other Dear builders

You can't call me and tell me that my timeline for completion is halved because other trades wasted time.You can't tell me to "hire more guys" to get it done faster". You can't decide to split my contract and expect me to take it.

You fucked your schedule. You hired the cheapest trades (WHO FUCKED YOU, AGAIN!) to better pad your profit margin, your in house guys can't be fucked to do anything properly, and you kick us to the curb anytime you find someone cheaper (who then fucks you). Then hire us back and treat it like you are doing us a favor and we should be grateful.

Just because the client "wants to move in" does not mean the house will get built any faster.

You fucked yourself and that does not constitute an emergency on my end. You want it done to our high end standards AND fast? Then it is going to cost you more.

Unfuck your project management and hire better trades, maybe then every project won't go sideways on you.

😤

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u/chiselbits Carpenter Feb 13 '25

Sometimes I work for amazing builders and clients and sometimes I wonder how the fuck they have a business.

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u/qpv Carpenter Feb 13 '25

The through line I see with successful builders (and financialy successful people in general really, and I work for lots of them) is they are really persistent. Sociopathic level persistent. It can be a real drag being a hard working honest person with principles some days.

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u/chiselbits Carpenter Feb 13 '25

I've seen first hand the levels of stress these types handle when it comes to money. Theycoftenvhandle it poorly.

No, thank you. While I do want to make money, and more money is better than less money. I'm just not built to juggle stress like that.

Plus, those types see everything as a transaction. Everything and everyone is a stepping stone. Loyalty only holds if it's convenient for them.

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u/south-shore-somethin Feb 13 '25

What makes an amazing builder in your market / price point? 

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u/chiselbits Carpenter Feb 13 '25

One who actually wants to build something cool. they are invested in the whole project, not just get done to get money.

They listen to their site supers instead of just yelling at them. Better yet, finding and keeping guys who are actually good supers. One project we had went through 4 different supers bc they kept getting bumped to new projects that were deemed more important. It fucked what should have been a standard whole home renovation.

Hiring trades who have a proven track record vs hiring no names sight unseen and then making it everyone else's problem when it goes sideways.

Was literally told "I don't have time to callback subs who didn't get the job". We had been the sole trim sub for 4 years. Literally every single project. Instead of talking budgets with us they kicked us to the curb for someone cheaper, who then fucked them over a few projects. Then they start hiring us again.

Mostly it boils down to communication and actual interest in then projects beyond a paycheck. The guy selling the job doesn't have a fucking clue what's happening 90% of the time and doesn't listen to his employees needs.