Greg (17 Aug 2012)
"TO NICOLE RE: SEEMINGLY CHRISTIAN CONTRACTORS"

 
Hi Nicole,
 
After reading your post: http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/aug2012/nicole816-1.htm my heart ached for you, and your husband, and of course your baby!
 
I am so sorry that you went through all of that chaos. It definitely wasn't right what how those companies treated the job and you. Everything you said in your post is "spot" on. 
 
I was a contractor for many years, but because of the housing market and economy, I eventually let my company "cease and desist" (2011). I wasn't able to, nor willing to, come down on my pricing, only because I know what it costs to due quality work, as anything less would force me to compromise my work, which I wasn't willing to do, or really could do. Compromise equals warranty work. 
Unfortunately we live under this Obama Adminstration, and anything associated with Obama is not good! But because so many contractors would rather have their tax right-offs, their willing to compromise, and then leave the homeowner, instead of bidding the job to do it right.  The truth is very few contractors are left (Christian or not) that bid the job to do it right.  Rather they bid the job to get it, as price is usually a factor with the homeowner, especially in this economy.  But somethig that should never happen, is that once a contractor accepts to do the job or such and such a price, they should have it done complete and to the customers satisfaction.
 
If I remember correctly, you live in California.  I'm from and lived there over 30 years.  California has a Registrar of Contractors.  Any contractor, no manner their trade, have what is called "professional workmanship standards."  This means when a contractor is licensed he automatically is aware of professional procedures that are expected to be met to do the job correctly.  Getting the Registrar of Contractors involved is good because they police the contractors.  And upon their inspection they will force the contractor to complete it to professional workmanship standards or they could have their license suspended (and they don't get paid until it meets the inspectors expectations). When a customer files a complaint against a contractor (it must be a legit complant) it goes on their record.  Trust me, no contractor wants complaints on their record for it costs them jobs!!
 
There's alot more I could say, but I think you get the ideas.  Let me know if you have any questions about this.
 
In Christ,
Greg
 
P.S.  You and I would talk hours about Jesus!!!!