The religious quotes would be a no go for me.
When my daughter had an insurance claim she had to search hard for a contractor to write the estimate in a form the insurance company wanted. No one in her rural area wanted to do insurance work. She ended up with a contractor who was willing to work with her on the insurance company paperwork. In her case the insurance offer was initially way below what it was going to cost her to do the work.
We had 3 quotes for our roof replacement, all within $2k which was a small part of the total. All had stellar reviews etc. We quickly dismissed one company with the very annoying sales guy who would not stop texting me. So yes, I would totally consider personality of the people I have to deal with as one of the factors!
I absolutely consider personality. These folks are going to be in your home and if there are any problems you will need to work with them in the future. I want to be comfortable with whom I’m interacting.
The religion thing would be a hard no for me too. When I want someone to lay my floor, I just want someone to lay my floor.
Curious how much patience fellow posters have waiting for a contractor’s quote. We chose 4 contractors for an exterior paint job.
Keep waiting? Keep reminding? Keep looking? Nothing will get on the schedule until next year due to weather, but it is frustrating.
I find it odd that he made such a point of letting you know that he was highly religious. Was that suppose to be a perk? It might be for some people (like “we’re on the same page”) but it might make me think I’m going to get some lectures while they are doing their project!
Was he expected you to also state that you are religious? Just odd to me.
As long as the other also had stellar reviews and price and all, I’d probably personally lean that way.
Looks great!!
In my part of the world, this is common. And no, I don’t like it at all either and a big check mark in the “con” column.
We probably have the same kitchen faucet from Costco. Bought in about 2012. In fact, I think we had a thread here in the cafe about kitchen faucets!
In the fairly rural Southern area I’ve lived in for 30+ years I wouldn’t think twice about getting a quote with a religious verse and the info about being religious. It’s very common and usually either just the way they live and believe in presenting themselves and/or looking to see if you believe similarly to initiate a conversation. Like all the times I’m wished a “blessed day” by people working in stores or wherever. Or asked “do you have a church?” when sitting in a doctor or mechanic waiting room. I doubt that’s as common in other parts of the country and probably not if you noticed it. It wouldn’t make me avoid the company if that was the only difference. But I also agree you have to go with whoever makes you comfortable and often a gut feeling is right.
I have a piano tuner who used to talk politics. And he seemed to think that since I was a churchgoer I would surely laugh along at his mocking of the political party opposite his. I still use him because he does good work, but I don’t chat as much with him.
It took me almost 2 years to get our OH home exterior painted. I was so desperate I would approach anyone I saw that appeared to be a painter. Asking twice for a quote would be my max because getting them there to do the work will probably be a problem. I ended up saying I would pay cash for the job. Then, to get it done, I promised a 20 percent bonus if completed in 90 days. He started on day 88. Our home in AZ was much different this year. There were lots of willing workers, but you could sense their fear. They wanted to make sure I was a legitimate homeowner needing my home painted.
I’d keep looking! We had 6 different contractors come out here to give us deck rebuild quotes. The first four quotes were all over the place… the last two were expensive but the people sounded like they knew what was needed. We went with the contractor that was very familiar with the quirks of our permitting process. It turned out to be a good choice.
I wouldn’t hesitate to choose the Christian contractor. Wouldn’t this world be a better place if everyone cared for others and stood for peace and love?
Unfortunately, it’s a leap today to assume professing Christianity means actually standing for peace, love, and caring for others.
We had a painting firm that is local and has done well every time we needed exterior staining done (some trim painted).
Getting our exterior decks rebuilt, our next door neighbor had similar work done - she got 7 different quotes and had found an early low bidder that was the right person. We lined him up, and when he was available, he did our work. He had a helper, and got things done well. One thing small he wanted to come back and fix, and he took his time with that, but left his ladder so we knew he would be back.
In our area, it depends if you get someone that has been here a long time and only feels comfortable charging what he believes is reasonable.
We have a construction contractor that we have for bigger stuff, and they make sure the work is done right and with the quote. We have had several insurance projects done with them.
IDK how else you can pull out one over the other. Checking back with each, how about start date and length of time with the project? I would see if there is any way to see better managed/better run. With the company with less detail, would the detail be there with the work? Easy to ask with talking about start date and length of time.
Maybe something will give you a better feeling on which one to go with - sometimes you will have a recommendation or see a review within your circle of people/contacts.
Sounds like you would be fine with either company.
I suspect your SubZero frig/freezer will hold out.
Normal for microwave and dishwasher over that period of time to be replaced. We are on our 3rd kitchen faucet and our 3rd dishwasher (we built the home in 1992). Electronics on the wall double oven could not be fixed to have the right oven temperature and replaced with another GE double oven that would fit in the built in spot (DH put it in himself with my assistant help). A few years ago we replaced our refrigerator with the best one I have ever had and love it. Cooktop is fine and the original - it is a JennAir which has flat burners and the one side you can place a griddle top or a grill top. We leave the griddle top on and two burners on as we rarely would need four burners. It has a down draft vent in the custom island - so replacement would be a bit of a pain.
Convection cook tops are popular, along with gas stove/oven.
DD1 loves her gas stove/oven combination in their rent house.
A friend wanted gas oven/cooktop and her husband promised to get it put in - they have been in their home for almost 20 years, and the kitchen remodel was never done.
To answer about septic field lines/septic tank - we have septic system in the south - I believe since the septic tank was more generous (due to 3 full bath home) and good installation of septic system, we have had no fail, and never needed septic tank pumped out. Only a few times a year do I put in RidX, typically over winter months. We purposely put very little down the garbage disposal. Our laundry has a separate line out and doesn’t go to septic tank. Many years just two of us living there and the most was with our two DDs also there.
I sure hope the SubZeros last longer. I have two kitchen faucets (one in the kitchen and one in a pantry). The one in the pantry has a pot filler as well. All of these were made by Dornbracht (it’s a German brand) and they are still working (23 years). I probably jinxed them by saying that and they’ll all fail tomorrow.
A 1999 SubZero came win this house. Still squeaking along, but apparently there are new models that are made so that they would fit into the existing layouts.