Posted by Gordon Maney on Monday, September 08, 2003 at 1:36PM :
In Reply to: If you are thinking about building a shop.... posted by Jonas on Monday, September 08, 2003 at 0:41AM :
I hate to say this, but it has been my experience in building two pole buildings (and, actually, the pouring of footings and a basement under my house) over the years that each of the two companies (and the concrete contractor) I dealt with did the kind of things you are talking about. Not snow load, but dimensional and structural specifications that are verbally stated but not written down in the purchase agreement, and then they want more money to cover it. In every single case they were details that I went over repeatedly with the salesman, asked him if we need to put that in the contract, and he said no, he would handle that later.
One can only assume they think the average consumer is just as dumb as a box of rocks.
In each case, it was a fight to the end on every point of conflict. The most recent building was such an outrage that I refused to pay for it until they corrected some errors and omissions. The salesman actually had the guts to phone me and tell me I owed him money because those changes came out of his commission. You won't be surprised when I say that I told him he could take it up with his company.You won't be surprised when I don't tell you the rest of what I told him, which is not fit for this family atmosphere.
In each building I should have gone with Morton, I think, but did not due to price. In visiting with others who had successful dealings with Morton, they gave you what you agreed to and paid for.... meaning they were honest. Consequently, the prices was fair, and a good value.
I think I would be afraid if I were to ever have a house built. There are too many contractors who want to cut corners, and not pay attention to the details that they feel the customer will not see. Too often, also, they wildly overbook their work so your job suffers terrible delay, and it turns into a "We'll be there tomorrow," song and dance that stretches out for weeks. I have experienced that three times on big jobs.
I think if I was going to get any kind of building put up, having had these experiences, whether it was a house or a shop, I would have my own contract for them to sign that would be independent of their document. You have to definitively list your own performance requirements, design, and material specifications.
Grrrrrr....
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