First off,
@bigb I'll apologize for the generalization. That is a fair complaint and I apologize. But, also I've never heard anyone ever having an on time on budget build, reno, project, etc .... pretty much anything that involves anyone in the construction industry is going to be hell.
1. Not sure how to answer this. This is an existing house being remodeled. So we had each part come in, walk through, we told them what we wanted, picked out what we wanted from their inventory. So for painting they measured every room. For carpet and wood flooring same. For light fixtures and outlets same. They knew exactly what we wanted and we had product picked out for them to use. Should have been no surprises.
We were short on flooring in the master bathroom. Right where the tub needed to go. So of course that flooring is out of stock, so the tub can't get put in. So the plumbers are now delayed. Once again, they came in and measured and knew exactly what was supposed to go where. But we do have about 8 boxed of unopened flooring that goes to other rooms left over, so that is great. Strike one against the construction industry.
2. General contractor or the most part but we are at the house making decisions when stuff comes up. There seems to be an ungodly amount of miscommunication or no communication between the GC, the workers, the guy that works under the GC. No one is ever on the same page. Strike 2 against the industry.
3. Not much is changing. If anything they tell us it would be easier and cheaper to do B instead of what we had wanted as A. And if it makes sense we ok it. But then the easier and cheaper option turns into longer and the same price or longer. Like putting in a janitor sink istead of a farm sink in my wifes flower studio. Was supposed to be more functional, which I'm sure it will be, but not cheaper, well not after repariing walls, moving plumbing, tile back splash etc ......Strike 3.
4. I pay invoices as soon as I review them and make sure they aren't full of bull ****. Which, guess what they always are. I'm never holding things up though. I want this done ASAP.
5. We've been doing this since June. Move in date was supposed to be mid July, then end of August, now end of Sept. All because if one group ****s up then everyone else is pushed back, and so on and so forth.
6. An example. Handyman is doing the bathroom, I ask him about just tiling in the shower instead of putting in a fitted one or what not. He says, no problem, super easy, will be $2,500 at most. I get a bill for $6k. And the god damn shower isn't even done. Still need to be grouted, a few more rows of tile, fixtures, etc ..... It's been almost a month since it was started on.
I'd be willing to bet if you surveyed 100 new build or remodel customers. You'd get 1 or maybe 2 positive responses. With probably 85 highly unsatisfied customers and a few whatever's. Like I said I have never ever ever heard of a positive build or remodel. Not once. And I obviously talk about it to a ton of people right now. It's always over budget, and way behind. I understand not everything is in your control but don't act for one second like the ****** ones are in the minority because that is an absolute lie.
I am sure your are great. I'm sure you are. But dates with your wife, office work, etc .... are not my problem nor your customers problem. I just want people to show up when they say, do what they tell me they will do, and charge me what is agreed upon. If that makes me an ******* so be it.