On Wed, 17 Mar 2021 10:11:50 -0400, Gary > wrote:

>bruce bowser wrote:
>> Get 4 or 5 separate installers over to the house for estimates
>> for you - yes - literally - at the same time. That way you get them
>> to quote prices to you at the same time and one can tell if the
>> other one is padding expenses or not. Then, you get the cheapest price
>
>Getting a few estimates is good but not all at the same moment.
>If I showed up for an estimate and saw other contractors there, I'd just
>leave. Screw your job.
>
>And don't always pick the cheapest contractor just based on price.
>Sometimes, you get what you pay for. Inferior products and substandard
>work for a cheaper price.

Precisely... the cheap ends up expensive. Best to see photos of the
work and talk with the people he worked for.
I never look for the lowest price. I look for a photo album of the
prior jobs and contact information of the customers. The lowest price
is no different from the cheapest car tires.
The guy who did our hardwood floor came highly recommended and by
people we could speak with. He arrived with an expensive truck towing
a very nice closed trailer containing his entire machine shop... he
was well prepared to do the job. And he did the entire job working
alone... I wouldn't hire a subcontractor unless you're looking for a
cheap job with cheap workmanship. We never quibbled over his price,
we were looking for a top of the line job and that is what we got...
he did niceities we never would have thought of. He moved the stove
and fridge out and refloored those spots, he made up new baseboards
where needed, and transitional flooring at doorways. When he finished
we paid his bill and never had to call him to return for anything, he
made improvments we never would have thought of... he knew his shit.
He could have easily ripped people off but he didn't