Contractors can seem difficult because they juggle multiple jobs, deal with daily problems outside their control, and often communicate less than homeowners expect. Setting clear expectations up front, keeping communication in writing, and choosing a well-vetted contractor solve most of the friction. Here’s why it happens and how to have a smoother working relationship.
Anyone who’s ever renovated their home in the past will often ask, “Why are contractors so difficult to work with”? Almost every construction project has had issues that arise along the way. People often feel like the contractor is to blame for many of these problems.
Whether that’s true or not, the client often feels like the stress and issues that arise during a renovation project are because their contractors is so difficult to work with. In some cases, it really is the contractor who is difficult to work with but in some cases, it’s just a function of the complexity of construction. Let’s discuss the reasons that contractors can be so difficult to work with…
Here at GreatBuildz, a free service that connects homeowners in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Ventura Counties with reliable contractors, we speak to homeowners every day about finding local contractors that are great to work with – read on to learn more.
Reason #1: Communication Gaps and Misunderstandings
When it comes to communications or miscommunications, there are always two parties involved and so both have to take responsibility. Sometimes people can certainly get frustrated with their contractor when that person is not being responsive to their needs or requests. It’s ultra important that at the outset of a project, both agree as to the best ways to communicate with each other and a good cadence to keep the lines of communication open.
In general, most contractors are not over-communicators. They will proceed and continue with your project unless there is some major issue they need to discuss with you. But otherwise, they’re trying to proceed as quickly as possible to get the job done. Often miscommunications arise when a homeowner finds an issue with the contractor’s work well after it was completed. And now the contractor is frustrated that they have to redo the work, and the client may feel like the contractor is being difficult to work with.
In other cases, the contractor will make an assumption about how the homeowner wants something to look instead of specifically asking them about it. In this case the homeowner may be unsatisfied with the appearance of this specific detail and feel frustrated that the contractor never asked them for their opinion.
#2: Lack of Transparency in Pricing
It’s obvious to most people that any major construction project with a contractor will require a thorough agreement laying out the terms, pricing, scope, materials, etc. Both the client and the contractor will generally do their best to make this contract as clear as possible, there will invariably be details that go ‘unwritten’ because they may be hard to envision upfront.
So, during the course of the project, the client will assume that a specific item of the project is ‘obviously’ included in the contracted scope and learn that the contractor doesn’t think that’s the case. That’s an often-mentioned frustration that makes the contractor seem difficult to work with.
Here are a few examples. A new kitchen is installed by the contractor and the appliances arrive. The client assumes their agreement with the contractor includes installing their newly delivered appliances, but the contractor disagrees because it’s not explicitly stated in the contract.
Or an agreement with your contractor includes painting the kitchen & dining room as part of your remodel. However, the client noticed the contractor only painted the walls but not the ceiling. The contractor says that’s not included in their scope because the agreement doesn’t explicitly mention the ceiling. These kinds of misunderstandings are very common in a construction project.
#3: Scheduling Conflicts and Delays
The average homeowner has some basic assumptions about how work gets done, based on their own job. Just like they work a consistent 40 hours, 5 days per week, they expect a contractor crew and labor to also be working the same consistent hours to get their project completed.
Unfortunately, that’s just not realistic for most contractors to achieve. There will be days when a large crew is working on the project, performing multiple trades. But there will be other days where the site is literally a ghost town, with no work being performed for days.
It’s expected for this to occur sporadically as the contractor is waiting for city inspections or some materials to come in, etc. But if a client sees this occur consistently, they will feel like their contractor is difficult to work with and creating unnecessary delays. This is especially frustrating when a project continues to drag on well past the expected completion date and still very little work is happening on a daily basis.
Generally, this kind of contractor behavior is often a sign that they have simultaneously taken on too many projects. Because their crews are busy with one of their other projects, your job just sits idle. The homeowner has almost zero control over how many projects the contractor takes on at once, so this issue is very difficult for them to address and resolve with their contractor.
Related: Why Are Contractors so Unreliable?
#4: Permit and Regulatory Delays
When they start a renovation project most people believe that there are two parties involved in this project…themselves and their contractor. But that’s not exactly true. Any major remodeling or construction project also involves a city plan checker, a city inspector, an architect, a structural engineer, and maybe even an interior designer. This means that the contractor is not fully in control of the project timeline next paragraph
At multiple points during the construction have a remodel or renovation, other parties need to be brought in to inspect or oversee the various stages of construction. Because those professionals work on their own schedules, there are likely to be project delays that are out of the contractor’s control. The client may believe these delays are the fault of the contractor but in some cases that may not be true.
#5: Differing Visions of Quality and Finish
When a homeowner spends a large budget on a major renovation or construction project, they expect the final product to be near perfect. They will certainly get frustrated with their contractor if they find issues or imperfections in the final product. The contractor might disagree with a client’s assessment that their work is substandard, creating some friction and difficulty in working together.
Although it’s reasonable to expect a high-quality finished product, a construction project is very different than something like a kitchen appliance that is manufactured in a factory. The contractor is starting with an imperfect condition since your home is not brand new. Materials don’t always fit together perfectly. Most good contractors will do their best to create a quality finished product with no major flaws, but expecting perfection in construction is too high a standard.
#6: Project ScopeCreep and Constant Changes
When most people start a renovation project, they feel like they have a good understanding of the scope and the work that needs to be performed along with the cost of all that work. They don’t expect there to be significant other work or projects that arise during the process and don’t anticipate their costs to increase over their original contract with the contractor. But in the majority of cases, some issue or change will arise during the construction that will require more work by the contractor and therefore more money to be spent by the client.
Especially if these types of changes and extra costs add up the client will certainly feel like their contractor it’s frustratingly hard to work with because they didn’t expect these issues to arise. Although in some cases it might be the contractor’s fault for not envisioning these sorts of issues up front, most situations are a function of unforeseen circumstances that are hidden conditions inside the walls, in the attic, or under the house. It’s always best to start a project with a contingency or buffer in your budget to cover any of these unforeseen costs.
#7: Poor Project Management and Organization
We’ve talked a lot about topics where the contractor may or not may not be to blame for the issues and stresses that arise during a construction project. With regard to poor project management and organization, the blame falls 100% on the contractor. A good contractor effectively plans the project schedule such that it is completed efficiently and without much downtime.
But there are certainly many contractors who are very difficult to work with because their poor management and organization lead to schedule project delays. It can be exceedingly difficult to work with a contractor who doesn’t plan ahead and is constantly delayed waiting for materials to be delivered or labor to be freed up from other projects. It’s very hard to tell at the project’s outset whether your contractor will have excellent or poor project management skills. This really requires some significant contractor vetting before you hire.
Why are contractors so difficult to work with? Well, I’ve laid out a few of the reasons above and there are certainly others that come into play. A quality, reliable contractor will be much easier to work with than a poor one, so make sure you are thoroughly vetting your contractor candidates before you hire. Doing your homework upfront will lead to less difficulties during your project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are contractors so difficult to work with?
Most contractors run several projects at once and face constant disruptions, like material delays, subcontractor scheduling, and inspections. Combined with less communication than homeowners expect, that can feel difficult. Clear expectations and a well-vetted contractor prevent most of the frustration.
How do I get a contractor to communicate better?
Agree on a preferred contact method and a regular check-in schedule at the start, and put important decisions in writing by email or text. A detailed contract that spells out the scope, timeline, and payment schedule also keeps everyone aligned and reduces misunderstandings.
How do I avoid a bad contractor experience?
Hire a licensed, insured contractor with strong references and recent reviews, get a detailed written contract, and set clear communication expectations up front. Noticing how responsive and organized a contractor is before you hire is one of the best predictors of how the project will go.
And if you want to make your remodeling process easier, you can contact GreatBuildz who will match you with great contractors that have already been thoroughly screened and vetted.
Just reach out to us to be personally matched with three of our trusted, pre-vetted contractors in the Bay Area and Southern California areas. Contact GreatBuildz today at 818.317.3567 or visit our website for more information.
