| Author | Message | ||
     mlj Citizen Username: Mlj Post Number: 264 Registered: 6-2001 |
Experience with this contractor? | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 1856 Registered: 12-2003  |
Very good. Did part of our kitchen renovation. | ||
| Bklyngirl Citizen Username: Bklyngirl Post Number: 86 Registered: 10-2005 |
I wouldn't recommend him for roofing jobs, though. I tried to get an estimate from him on patch-up work and he said he wouldn't quote a price until he finished the work! My experience with him was too weird. bklyngirl | ||
| Oldstone Citizen Username: Rogers4317 Post Number: 745 Registered: 6-2004  |
ditto what bklyngirl said about the weird experience but not pertaining to roofing. the work they did do was less than, had to have some of it redone by someone else because i couldn't get a return call once the final bill was paid. wouldn't give me an itemized estimate or bill but because i had to have this work done before i moved in, i just bit the bullet and went with them because i didn't know anyone/anything about maplewood. in fact, i wouldn't recommend them at all. | ||
| KRNL Citizen Username: Krnl Post Number: 68 Registered: 9-2005 |
We have had several good experiences with Bob Hume. He has been prompt in coming out to quote and getting the work done on a very timely basis--especially when we had a leak in one of our flat roofs. My only dissappointment with Hume was my husband's fault. When we reshingled the roof he selected a lower grade of shingles than I would have selected (I was traveling on business) and I felt that Hume should have told him to upgrade to architectural shingles. | ||
| Horse Citizen Username: Grunt Post Number: 10 Registered: 5-2005 |
After the build up Bob Hume got on MOL I was disappointed in the final product. Do not make the last payment until you are happy. They promissed to come back but never did. I will not use him again. | ||
| Kitchenguru Citizen Username: Kitchenguru Post Number: 113 Registered: 9-2005 |
I was told last time I said this to tone down my tone, but this thread just makes it clear everyone's standards may not be yours. Hire people based on a reference from someone who has a project similar to yours and when you are getting that recommendation make sure it's a recent job and you are standing in front of it. In defense of Mr Hume, I've never heard anything negative about him and every contractor at some point or other just gave up on a job when the customer was too demanding and impossible to please. | ||
| MeAndTheBoys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 3926 Registered: 12-2004  |
Bob Hume did a great job getting our garage back in shape, and it was pretty bad both structurally and aesthetically. | ||
| Darren Say Grrrrrrrr Citizen Username: Darrensager Post Number: 415 Registered: 11-2001 |
Did I read properly somewhere that Bob charges for estimates? Please anyone let me know if I'm correct on this. | ||
| MeAndTheBoys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 3927 Registered: 12-2004 |
You are corrected! | ||
| Kitchenguru Citizen Username: Kitchenguru Post Number: 114 Registered: 9-2005 |
Nobody charges for estimates. | ||
| max weisenfeld Citizen Username: Max_weisenfeld Post Number: 43 Registered: 9-2001  |
Bob does not charge for estimates. I have used him for several jobs, large and medium sized, including a kitchen gut and re-build. Never used him for roofing. I am demanding but flexible, and I have always found Bob responsive. I don't pay the final bill until the punch list is done, and he has never lost track of a job or failed to finish to my satisfaction. Once his guys start, they have stayed with the job (they don't vanish for a couple of weeks in the middle, like one contractor I worked with). He's not cheap, but there are more than one way to measure value, and I get value from Bob. I will use him again. | ||
| Oldstone Citizen Username: Rogers4317 Post Number: 746 Registered: 6-2004 |
i will just add to my statement that the actual person, bob hume, was not the foreman of my job. | ||
| Darren Say Grrrrrrrr Citizen Username: Darrensager Post Number: 418 Registered: 11-2001 |
I don't know where I thought I read it. Glad I was wrong. | ||
| impy Citizen Username: Impy Post Number: 23 Registered: 8-2005 |
Very good experience on several projects including a new roof and new front walkway. Good work, done quickly. Hope to do a kitchen reno with him in the next year or two - started planning but didn't quite have time to squeeze it in before the new baby! | ||
| Bklyngirl Citizen Username: Bklyngirl Post Number: 87 Registered: 10-2005 |
Actually, Hume charged me $85 for simply looking at my roof from my driveway. That's what he considers "inspecting a roof for any damages." If I'd used him, then he would've deducted the $85 from the total cost. A total he couldn't tell me until he finished the job! I've spoken to a couple of people in the area who have known Hume for many years. Apparantly, his father made a name for himself here many years ago and passed the business down to Hume. I was told that Hume has many connections with the Township and tends not to focus on the quality and integrity of his business as someone starting out would. I don't know anything personal about Hume or about his supposed connections with the Town, nor do I care. I do know, however, that I could never recommend him as a contractor. bklyngirl | ||
| Kitchenguru Citizen Username: Kitchenguru Post Number: 115 Registered: 9-2005 |
I think the point here is to get feedback from people who have actually worked with him. Sometimes the contractor senses that the project or people are not a fit for them. There are many ways to finesse that without not calling back or giving ridiculous estimates, but those are the tactics usually used. Giving estimates can bury a contractor fast if he's not savvy about who is serious and who could be wasting his time. Salaried people are very often inconsiderate of tradespeople's time and disrespectful. It may help to just say to the contractor,"I will understand if you are not interested in my project for whatever reason, just be up front with me so I am no wasting my time calling you etc." Give them an out, works for me personally and professionally. I find myelf reassuring contractors when I get them to bid a job about the people's personality and expectaions. This is very critical to the progress of a job and the livlihood of the contractor who is after all trying to operate at a profit. | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 1857 Registered: 12-2003 |
"I was told that Hume has many connections with the Township and tends not to focus on the quality and integrity of his business as someone starting out would." Who "told" you this? That's quite a blanket statement about someone. | ||
| Darren Say Grrrrrrrr Citizen Username: Darrensager Post Number: 419 Registered: 11-2001 |
"inspecting a roof for any damages" and charging you $85 for that IS charging for an estimate. | ||
| Bklyngirl Citizen Username: Bklyngirl Post Number: 88 Registered: 10-2005 |
Three (3) people: my home inspector, and two (2) local contractors, all of whom know Hume very well, professionally and personally. My home inspector, who is great and was highly recommended to us by a family member, actually recommended Hume to us. After I told him about my weird experience with Hume, he apologized for recommending him and went on to tell me personal info about Hume. I don't make "blanket" statements about anyone, cmontyburns. And, you should attempt to learn the facts about something or someone before accusing them of making such statements. While the information I was told came from people I know and work with, I nonetheless, ended my post by saying: "I don't know anything personal about Hume or about his supposed connections with the Town, nor do I care. I do know, however, that I could never recommend him as a contractor." This is because my point was, and continues to be, that I wouldn't recommend Hume, because of my personal experience with him, nothing more. bklyngirl | ||
| Bklyngirl Citizen Username: Bklyngirl Post Number: 89 Registered: 10-2005 |
It certainly is, Darren. Maybe Hume only charges for estimates for certain jobs? bklyngirl | ||
| Kitchenguru Citizen Username: Kitchenguru Post Number: 116 Registered: 9-2005 |
He charged for a consultation not an estimate. You in fact, did not get an estimate. | ||
| jeep Citizen Username: Jeep Post Number: 169 Registered: 8-2005 |
consultation...estimate both ridiculous. Pricing a job is the cost of doing business. When you go shopping for a new refrigerator and the salesperson spends 20 min with you and you do not buy should the store charge you a consultation or pricing fee? Then telling you if you end up buying in the future we will credit the fee back! Different situation but the same thing. Cost of doing business. | ||
| Bklyngirl Citizen Username: Bklyngirl Post Number: 91 Registered: 10-2005 |
Hume and I verbally agreed over the phone that he was to come to my home to provide me with an estimate of how much my roof work would cost. We agreed that the estimate would cost $85, which would be deducted from the total cost of any work performed by Hume. Hume and I didn't consult about anything. My home inspector provided Hume with my home inspection report prior to Hume visiting my home. The report mentioned possible roof damage and Hume's job was to inspect my roof to let me know how much he would charge for the work. He believed my home inspector when he said that my roof needed fixing, and stated, in fact: "If ***** says it's so, then it's so." If you still think that this is a consultation fee rather than an estimate fee, kitchenguru, then we're simply going to have to agree to disagree. bklyngirl | ||
| Kitchenguru Citizen Username: Kitchenguru Post Number: 117 Registered: 9-2005 |
Okay, If assuming all this is true, then you are right, but you didn't get what you paid for. I'm just curious now--why would you pay for an estimate, especially one that you did not get? | ||
| jeep Citizen Username: Jeep Post Number: 170 Registered: 8-2005 |
Call a roofing company and they will come to your home and give you a firm price to repair, replace or fix a roof. FREE! There are many roofing companies that would love your business. | ||
| Kitchenguru Citizen Username: Kitchenguru Post Number: 118 Registered: 9-2005 |
Jeep, the store is paying that salesperson. | ||
| Bklyngirl Citizen Username: Bklyngirl Post Number: 92 Registered: 10-2005 |
Hume asked for the $85 up front - prior to meeting with me. Since my home inspector recommended him, and being that I have the utmost trust in my home inspector, I agreed to have Hume come out. Had it not been for the fact that I'd recently given birth when all of this took place, I would've fought Hume to get my money back. I was too exhausted to fight. Glad he did good work for some people on this thread, though. bklyngirl | ||
| Bklyngirl Citizen Username: Bklyngirl Post Number: 93 Registered: 10-2005 |
You're right, Jeep, which is why I chose to use another roofer, who was also highly recommended by a friend. They did great work. bklyngirl | ||
| Shanabana Citizen Username: Shanabana Post Number: 499 Registered: 10-2005  |
Yeah, my husband never charges for estimates. None of his subs charge him for theirs. It "kills" him sometimes, because for a GC, the estimate can be a huge, and VERY time consuming. It often includes diagnosis of problems, as lots of estimates are requested from clients without designers/architects. Though he wishes he could charge for the estimates (or consultations), he won't, as it is considered pretty much an "industry standard" not to. | ||
| Bklyngirl Citizen Username: Bklyngirl Post Number: 95 Registered: 10-2005 |
I've contacted a few companies for different jobs that charge for estimates, and I think they do themselves a great diservice by charging for estimates. I know a lot of people who are turned off by companies who charge for estimates regardless of how great their recommendations are. For example, a couple of months ago I asked for electrician recs. One of those provided was for Mr. Ore. I spoke with him over the phone - he is as nice as people said he is - explained my problem and toward the end of our conversation he said that his charge for reviewing the electrical work to be done is $75. I followed up on other recs for Schipani Electrical and Stacey's and they were just as nice without the estimate fee. I ultimately went with Schipani for scheduling reasons and was more than satisfied with their work. Had Ore not charged for "reviewing the electrical work to be done," I would have gladly used his services. bklyngirl | ||
| jeep Citizen Username: Jeep Post Number: 171 Registered: 8-2005 |
Ok kitchenguru....you run a broker around for 1 day looking at homes. You dont buy one. Should the broker charge you for their time? This is the same thing. Certain businesses require some free work to get the sale. Hume ripped her off! | ||
| Bklyngirl Citizen Username: Bklyngirl Post Number: 96 Registered: 10-2005 |
He did. But, that's okay. What goes around, comes around. bklyngirl | ||
| mim Citizen Username: Mim Post Number: 601 Registered: 5-2001 |
Bob Hume did a small-scale bathroom remodel for us some years ago. We were happy. I had the feeling I was dealing with a real pro for a change. We have two friends who also used him for similar work and professed to be happy. (I'm sure I wasn't charged for an estimate!!) | ||
| Kitchenguru Citizen Username: Kitchenguru Post Number: 119 Registered: 9-2005 |
I would love to hear Mr. Humes' side of the story. I would generally assume that people who charge for estimates are very busy and really can't do them except for really serious people. This could also be because they do excellent work or because their prices are low or even because they just hate giving estimates. In any case I don't decide whether to hire people based on such trivial things as an $85.00 cost for an estimate. I hire people with whom I have personal experience with from seeing their work and talking to their clients.I have some other criteria for hiring people for or deciding to work with them as clients. For instance, if I take a subcontractor in a house and he exhibits bias against the clients race, religion or lifestyle I don't hire them. Same thing applies if they are sexist toward me or just plain obnoxious. We have to live with each other for months and I am usually the project manager getting it from both sides so I need to see a spirit of cooperation and most of all emotional maturity. Lots of times a contractor will say to me--"this can't be done" very often that means "I don't want to do it that way." I try to work with people in a fair manner as much as possible while on the job, so there is a careful weeding out process that has to go on ahead of time. Good contractors are in short supply. If I know someone has a proven reputation then I am happy to pay them for an estimate because I know my time is precious. | ||
| LilLB Citizen Username: Lillb Post Number: 1750 Registered: 10-2002  |
If contractors charge for estimates because they're very busy then they need to restructure their time. For example, I have a contractor who doesn't do actual work on Saturdays, but he'll do estimates on Saturday mornings instead. That way, he's getting around to the estimates without letting anyone down - he sets expectations with his clients that he will not be doing work on their projects on Saturdays because that's when he does estimates. I think that's a much better way to handle it. I'm not saying that contractors have to do it on a Saturday, but if they tell their clients that they won't be working on their project on Monday mornings for example, because that's when they do all of their estimates, then expectations have been appropriately set and the contractor gets an opportunity to drum up new business while satisfying their current business. Besides, how does a contractor know whether I'm serious or not? If I'm serious about a project, I get more than one estimate, and if one of those guys is charging me....they're out of the picture and I don't even entertain using them. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 7971 Registered: 5-2001  |
Brooklyn - something you said tipped me off to a potential explanation. Eddie has been our electrician for years. We got him thru multiple referrals. He's never charged (as far as I know) for an estimate. But, a "review" of electrical work might mean a significant amount of time spent on a problem that looks simple but may not be. I wouldn't pay for an estimate, either. But an estimate is just that: if all goes according to plan this is about what this will run, give or take (and I am pretty adamant about justification of the "take" part). A review, to me, would be a detailed plan for a more complex problem. Or the contractor spending some time on site diagnosing the problem for a more detailed estimate. If you require detailed plans as part of an estimate, I can understand a reasonable charge from a contractor. We've interviewed what seems like hundreds of contractors for every thing imaginable over the years and we've never been charged for an estimate (contractor comes by, looks at the job, we discuss potential solutions, pitfalls and I get a rough number on a piece of paper). But I would expect detailed plans once we have a verbal agreement, before we sign a contract. The cost of those plans is (should be) built into the cost of the job. I find that to be fair. I don't know Bob Hume and don't know anyone who has used him. But I would take the opinion of other contractors (his competitors) with a big grain of salt. | ||
| Kitchenguru Citizen Username: Kitchenguru Post Number: 120 Registered: 9-2005 |
I would take anyone's opinions with a grain of salt. And I guess this belongs on another thread but I sometimes don't receive PL's that people send and just got one that someone sent three months ago and was clueless when I called. Someone could easily have said on this site that I blew them off based on that. Same thing happens sometimes to the ones I send in response. Bob are you reading this? Why (assuming you did)did you charge that poor pregnant lady for an estimate which she didn't receive, and more importantly why are you charging for estimates if,in fact you are? Can we have a Bob Hume project house tour--I bet all his potential clients will pay for that! How's $20.00? Anyone? | ||
| Bklyngirl Citizen Username: Bklyngirl Post Number: 99 Registered: 10-2005 |
You may be right green, but the truth is that I was able to get great work done at a very competitive price by someone who didn't charge for an estimate or review of anything. I've heard great things about Mr. Ore and after speaking with him, I'm sure he would've done great work, too. Let me get this straight, kitchenguru. Putting aside the question of whether it's good business practice to charge for estimates or not, are you saying that if you'd been charged for an estimate that you ultimately didn't receive, and after experiencing a total lack of commmunication with the person you're potentially looking to hire to complete such a big project on your newly-purchased home, that you would not take that into consideration when deciding to hire that contractor or not? Does something like that not say anything to you about that contractor's character? I would think it would raise the same red flags that his making of racial epithets would? BTW: I wasn't pregnant, I had just given birth. Second, don't refer to me as "that poor pregnant lady," and third, what happened between Hume and I is none of your concern, so cut the crap. I find your tone disrespectful and offensive. I've been neither of those things to you, so don't do it to me. bklyngirl | ||
| Kitchenguru Citizen Username: Kitchenguru Post Number: 121 Registered: 9-2005 |
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound disrespectful at all. You apparently agreed to pay for an estimate--nothing wrong with that and you didn't receive one so I was in agreement with you that if you pay for something and don't get it then you deserve a refund. I never heard of any reputable contractor charging for an estimate except for electricians. I have not paid anyone for an estimate but if I got a great reference from a reliable source then $85.00 is not an unreasonable amount to pay for a written estimate which can take several hours. I am curious about why he seemed to charge some people and not others and I thought there must be some reasonable explanation. People have a right to operate their business in a free market as they see fit. And I also agree that if you get clues that they are unreliable i.e. no call backs, late or missed appointments then move on. In any case no one is perfect and people have bad days. No contractor has a 100% record. I'm sure the people you have had great experiences with have some detractors as well. Suppose the contractor's posted the homeowners names in a thread--Mary Brown any one do any work in her house? It's ALL to disrespectful for me. |
