How do you judge?

[AngieChick]

I would judge by references. Appearances are superficial and don't mean a thing when it comes to quality work.

My father would be the type to show up in a junker (he has a nicer truck that hauls their 5th wheel) and have an estimate written up on whatever he can find. But, he does outstanding work. He just worries more about the work he is doing then he does about having a "professional" appearance. Beat up tools to me means experience, and focusing on the job, not on keeping everything shiny. Honestly, I feel more comfortable dealing with people like that, the slicker they are the more it seems they have something to prove.

Then again, either one could be a bum deal. So, references, references, references.

 

[Chirpy]

My husband did contracting work for years. Our pickup was borrowed by a friend who brought it back pretty beat up. (Long story) We couldn't afford to fix it up. So, my husband would be arriving in a beat up pick up but would do the absolute best job you'd ever get and at a really good price.

If we had the money - we'd drive a nicer vehicle because we know that first impressions are so important. It doesn't, however, have anything to do with the honesty of the person and the quality of their work.

Get the references, check with your local Better Business Bureau and ask around. I'd even go so far as to call both guys and ask some questions to see how they respond to you - that may give you a 'gut' feeling to go with also.

Good luck.

 

[JennsPeeps]

Along with references, was there one who you trusted or liked more than the other? Did one show respect to your home/family/time that the other didn't?

A beat-up pick-up means lots of hard work & probably is paid off.

 

[serendipity22]

nice truck probably means more overhead that he's having to pay for.

Call the references, all the references, and go from there.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

The guy who built my front porch showed up in a wagon pulled by a pair of mules (no he's not Amish

)

He does lovely work, a little slower than I wanted it done, but it turned out fantastic.

I love living down here where that's the norm (the mule team transportation, I mean, not the slower work)

Yeah, there were other folks who had vans and trucks all shiney and new - but this guy had experience (worked with his father and grandfather on carpentry since he was a little kid) and he was a perfectionist about his work (which is why it took longer, I believe).

References will give you better indication of quality than the truck he drives.

just my two cents

meri

 

[Mahonri]

Me, I'd have to see some of their work. Plain and simple.

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Dhs issue with the guy in the beat up truck was that he felt like his tools weren't just "used" but abused and not well tended.

He's kinda picky about taking care of his tools.....

(That's putting it mildly he's practically OCD!!)

Both guys references are coming back great.......

 

[Omran]

I am a landscape/excavation contractor, and for now I still have a good looking truck, but everything get old and one day my truck will look a little old, that does not mean that I can't do my job or the guy with the new truck and nice paper will do a better job than me! if you want to know if any contarctor delivers good job or not, just ask him to show you some of his finished jobs and give you some phone numbers of some of his customers.

I made a huge mistake and got all new stuff when I started my own business, but trust me I wished that I sturted with some used equipment not put my self in so hard situation, when the economy went down hill like these days.

Omran

 

[hennypenny9]

I have WHAT in my yard? :

Dhs issue with the guy in the beat up truck was that he felt like his tools weren't just "used" but abused and not well tended.

He's kinda picky about taking care of his tools.....

(That's putting it mildly he's practically OCD!!)

Both guys references are coming back great.......

lol, about the tools. But if the references are both coming back good, yay! We recently had some work done, little things, and the guy had a newer, clean truck. He did excellent work. I think he probably just does good enough work that he was able to afford a better truck. So I agree with all the people that said to ignore the truck. Who knows why one is newer? Gut feeling will be the final call maybe?​

 

[bumpershoot]

the very best contractor in these parts drive a POS truck that has almost 400k on it and you'll get a verbal estimate. His work is outstanding and his crews are topnotch and happy workers. My message: go see these guys work. See the product and, if you can at all, watch them work.
I agree with the folks that feel you might be paying for that purdy truck 'n tools.