How to choose a contractor?

[Irulan]

Well, it's kind of a catch-22 situation. The GOOD contractors are busy, and booked up for weeks or months at a time. The contractors that are really cheap, or less reliable, don't have so much work - so they will return your calls, cause they are really hungry.

Eh, I don't buy that at all, in fact I think that is a bunch of BS: the part about not returning calls because you are too busy. A smart business owner will return a call no matter what... even if to say, "We are booked for the next six months. Can I call you when I have an opening?" It only takes a minute, and lays the groundwork for filling up the schedule down the road. My neighbor who is a super busy contractor, will always return a call within three days.

Both DH and I own small businesses. Regularly I hear, "wow, thanks for returning my call!!". As in, surprised that I did. Returning calls is called customer service. It doesn't matter what kind of business you are in.

[withm]

Eh, I don't buy that at all, in fact I think that is a bunch of BS: the part about not returning calls because you are too busy. A smart business owner will return a call no matter what... even if to say, "We are booked for the next six months. Can I call you when I have an opening?" It only takes a minute, and lays the groundwork for filling up the schedule down the road. My neighbor who is a super busy contractor, will always return a call within three days.

Both DH and I own small businesses. Regularly I hear, "wow, thanks for returning my call!!". As in, surprised that I did. Returning calls is called customer service. It doesn't matter what kind of business you are in.

Yes, Irulan, you are absolutely right. Phone calls should be returned in a timely fashion. And in a perfect world they are.

In a less than perfect world there may be any number of reasons that a contractor may not return a call: overbooked, reduced staff due to injury, proposed work incompatible with abilities, location too far... well I could go on. Or maybe he just didn't like the tone of the message(s). The reasons are immaterial.

It all comes back to hiring a contractor with whom you feel comfortable. Someone whom you can stand to have working in your house several days a week for the life of the project. You want to have a good relationship with your contractor. If you have to fight him from the beginning, then he is not the right one for you. Good contractors can pick their clients the same way.

I'm not saying it's right not to return calls. I'm saying you have to like the guy you hire to build your bathroom. If he can't return calls, that's a big red flag that you've called the wrong guy.

[indysteel]

Eh, I don't buy that at all, in fact I think that is a bunch of BS: the part about not returning calls because you are too busy. A smart business owner will return a call no matter what... even if to say, "We are booked for the next six months. Can I call you when I have an opening?" It only takes a minute, and lays the groundwork for filling up the schedule down the road. My neighbor who is a super busy contractor, will always return a call within three days.

Both DH and I own small businesses. Regularly I hear, "wow, thanks for returning my call!!". As in, surprised that I did. Returning calls is called customer service. It doesn't matter what kind of business you are in.

I'm with you. Certainly, I'm willing to give somebody a reasonable amount of time to return my call, but after that, I start to suspect bigger issues. Showing up relatively on time for appointments is another issue for me. Again, I get the exigencies of this line of business, but the good ones understand the importance of being prompt.

[Stephanie_Owen]

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Cross breed WHs is utilizing a warmth pump, same sort as a cooling unit. In the event that you live in a more blazing atmosphere and the waste cool air is attractive, they are something like 3x as proficient. They cost more forthcoming, however you ought to have the option to more than recover that cost over the lime time of the unit. Drawbacks are they make a slight piece of commotion (like a small scale ice chest), you have to have a spot to deplete the condensate, and they are taller, as the heatpump is introduced on the highest point of the tank.

In the event that any of those drawbacks don't work, get a standard electric unit.

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As to relax mode, you should investigate purchasing a water radiator clock. They are less expensive than getting one coordinated into the water radiator, and can kill on and the heater dependent on a timetable or you can only straight up flip the switch if taking some time off.

Is there an explanation you are supplanting the unit? It likely simply needs another anode pole on the off chance that you are just stressed over its period.

[GiantTraveller]

wow, this thread really helps me a lot. thanks, guys for sharing your brilliant ideas. it's greatly appreciated.