r/Wellthatsucks • u/DMAS1638 • 5d ago

Plumbers broke through this foundation to add pipes, compromising the structural support of the home.

Gallery image

Gallery image

28.1k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

900 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

59

u/A_LiftedLowRider 5d ago

In your opinion as a construction company assessment guy, are people always this stupid?

45

u/Great-Palpitation308 5d ago

Head of a commercial construction estimating department here; we selectively do some residential work for commercial clients' personal homes. I have a residential design-build renovation im finalizing this week for $800k, adding a second floor to a home and full reno on the first floor. Home was bought 14 months ago for $925k, home was originally built in the 1920's and is in a very posh area in the center of a relatively HCOL city. See some stupid shit in commercial, but not as much as I do in residential. Homeowners typically want the cheapest option, and that means hiring the likely unlicensed guy who gets his labor pool from the home depot parking lot. Vet your general contractor and ask him to provide a list of his subcontractors

19

u/78765 5d ago edited 5d ago

Homeowners typically want the cheapest option, and that means hiring the likely unlicensed guy who gets his labor pool from the home depot parking lot.

Homeowners often don't know that the plumber didn't have to do what they did. I have witnessed plumbers taking out way more than they need or not spending a little more time doing it right or missing the bid and cutting their losses. From my observation, homeowners typically hire licensed plumbers and expect them to do the needful and learn the hard way they need more than a plumber.

I should add that this particular mess doesn't look like a plumber was involved. They usually at least get the pipes done right.

4

u/Great-Palpitation308 5d ago

You are correct as well. Homeowners do tend to be more ignorant than commercial customers and can easily fall victim to crews willing to cut corners.

That's why you vet your contractor and get references. Also, read your proposal and think about what level of customer service you want to receive. For my $800k residential, I've got around $85k in there just as the project super. It'll be an at least 11 month job and the customers lender requires full time, on site supervision throughout the duration of the project as a condition of the loan.