[Porsche-O-Phile]

There are good contractors and bad contractors, just as with any profession.

Since you (generally) don't know which kind you're going to get, it's important to do things "by the book" and have tight contract documents ahead of time.

Please tell me this wasn't one of those cases where "oh, I've got a friend who knows this guy whose brother's friend is a residential contractor - he'll get you a good deal" sorts of things. I recently turned down a job here in Long Beach for a guy wanting to build two 2BR apartment units and based his budget (and he wanted to base my fees on) his "friend who happened to be a G.C. who says he can do it for 60 bucks a square foot". I said "thanks but no thanks". BIG red flag. You'd be lucky to build that kind of stuff for $160 a square foot in this town. Not a chance at $60. That guy was either being flat-out lied to, or being set up to be bled dry on change orders. Either way, I wanted no part of it.

Anytime an owner/prospective client talks about his "friend" who is a contractor and hasn't personally known the guy for the last 20 years and/or goes out for beers with them regularly is full of it. They're always your "friend" until you get 'em on board. I've seen this too many times.

Word to the wise - keep it professional and use all the mechanisms you can to protect yourself - architectural services, good contract documents, a good lawyer, retainment, bonds, etc. Whenever someone claims to "have a friend who's a contractor", run.