@kayaker91 Nailed it. That summary is spot on and super helpful. Thanks for compiling the wisdom of this thread! 🙏
I've come to think of contractor schedules like the weather forecast – you take it with a grain of salt. 😅 They say "sunny and done by Friday," but you keep an umbrella handy (i.e., expect a delay or two). Jokes aside, threads like this have taught me not to settle for the bare minimum. There are contractors who keep their word, and those are the ones I'll be calling.
I just recently finished a window replacement project and I have to say, following advice like what's been shared here made a difference. I chose a contractor known for reliability (yep, one of the ones named above) and made sure to communicate my expectations. The result? No major delays, and a job completed on schedule. 🤩 It might not be a dramatic story, but that's exactly how you want it to go. So consider me another vote for doing your due diligence and not just going with the lowest bid. It paid off for me.
I hope you got some solid direction from all this, @rwilson45. Contractor punctuality can be a headache, but at least now you've got a ton of perspectives on it. If it were me, I'd probably give your guy one more chance with a stern talk (as some suggested) and then switch to someone like Karoly or Pro Tech if he still doesn't shape up. Life's too short to be waiting around every day for a no-show. Good luck!
After reading all this, I'm thinking we should form a "Punctual Contractors Fan Club" for Tampa Bay 😂. Jokes aside, it's really nice to hear that there are companies out there that do it right. Gives me some hope moving forward with my own projects.
This thread really highlights something important: our time is valuable. I wish more contractors understood that instead of making us wait and wonder. The good ones do, and those are the ones getting all the praise here. For the rest, well... hopefully they'll read this and take a hint! 😜
Big thanks to everyone who contributed here. This turned into an encyclopedia of do's and don'ts for dealing with window contractors in Tampa Bay. As someone about to dive into a similar project, I feel way more prepared. 👍 Here's to smooth installations and contractors who actually show up on time!
I've been quietly following this thread and just want to say it's been super informative. Who knew there was so much to say about contractor punctuality? 😄 But seriously, it's great to hear that punctual contractors in Tampa Bay do exist and to learn how to find them. Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories and advice. This has been a real eye-opener and will definitely help me (and I'm sure many others) in future projects!