Contractors like a challenge, and no one wants to turn down a job that might bring in significant dollars. But sometimes, saying “no” is the most cost-effective, quality-driven decision a company can make.
“You have to, at some point, draw the line,” stressed Harry Vignocchi, chairman, ILT Vignocchi, Wauconda, Ill. Here are some situations where companies might choose to hire subcontractors for help, or simply suggest that clients look elsewhere.
· For technical jobs, such as installing plumbing for a water feature – instead, call for a plumber or irrigation specialist
· When the schedule looks crammed and there isn’t time to finish the project up to the company’s quality standards
· When there aren’t enough employees available to manage the project – if a company is too small to handle the scope of the work
· If the project requires special equipment the company does not own or cannot affordably rent
· For special installations, such as swimming pools and decks, that might be completed more efficiently by a company that specializes in these areas
“You can’t do everything perfect, but you can do some things really well,” Vignocchi pointed out. “We have turned down some things that are complicated or where we didn’t have the right equipment or people. It’s hard to do – but it’s best to turn down these jobs.”
The author is Managing Editor – Special Projects of Lawn & Landscape magazine.