GU, customer service and communication extremely frustrating

  • Erstellt am 2022-05-06 16:50:18

HilfeHilfe

2022-05-07 10:17:57
  • #1
What many do not understand is that a general contractor does not focus on communication/marketing but on building houses. If he delivers good work as your external construction manager says, that is great! Otherwise, all general contractors do not have 3453 people in administration and yes, Corona, inflation, and generally managing craftsmen, materials, and their own people is difficult enough. And no general contractor can live off one construction project. You always have many projects in the pipeline.
 

kati1337

2022-05-07 10:26:06
  • #2
I find the description quite intense. On some topics:

Site inspections during the construction phase I find at least unusual. We had a major selection appointment with the general contractor (GU), where everything was discussed in detail. Afterwards, you receive an approval for execution (huge plans for the craftsmen) which you also have to sign. Whatever is written there is how it will be done. Changes after approval are no longer so easy to make. For us, one or two things were done differently on the short route, in agreement with us on site, but that was about it. Exceptions to this: With the electrical and sanitary trades, there were separate site visits where all details were discussed. We also had to sign the agreements. Prior to that, there were appointment agreements that were kept. I assume our need for inquiries was not so enormous because we had discussed and documented most things in advance.

Regarding inquiries: We did not always receive an immediate answer. Our site manager was overwhelmed as well. If nothing came through, I asked again a day later, and most of the time an answer came. We had a WhatsApp group with him; maybe that could be a solution for you? This way he can respond asynchronously. For most questions, that was completely sufficient for us. At the handover, we saw how often his phone rang, I almost felt sorry for him. Our GU people were always easily reachable by e-mail / WhatsApp and usually responded very quickly. Phone was sometimes difficult here as well. But nothing I would complain about—especially in the context of your descriptions.

Subcontractor list / schedule: I believe one is not entitled to it (as aptly said), but we received a photographed copy. I printed the photo on A4, it looked awful but was usable. I can imagine why some general contractors don’t release that. In recent weeks, things have been shifted here and there. If the client is involved, you have to pass on every little change. He neither needs to know that, nor do you as site management have time or desire for the communication overhead.

Completion of your building: I would insist more strongly that you get an answer there. We accepted Corona (2020) as an excuse, but by now you should not be able to talk away every contractual obligation because of Corona. After all, he also signed the contract with you during Corona (ours was signed before). What does your contract say about deadlines / when they must be finished? Regarding consequences and what you can do, you might need legal advice.
 

Neubau2022

2022-05-07 10:35:31
  • #3


It all depends on the GC and the trades. With our trades, we can change our minds at short notice as long as it doesn’t affect the building application or structural engineering. So, for example, moving drywall partitions differently, choosing tiles instead of parquet, etc. I have to say they are very flexible there. Additional costs are then charged directly to us by the trade.
 

ypg

2022-05-07 11:27:52
  • #4
That's right! Three thumbs up! That is already positive. Nevertheless: Especially a somewhat smaller regional provider does not sit at digital media all day, not even in the evening. If you want something, you have to annoy them by phone or show up in person. Showing up can also mean the house itself... doesn’t matter. There are jobs that are not reachable 24/7 or not digitally reachable. I’ll give you the tip of a three-parter: no idea whether it’s available on Mediathek, Prime, Netflix (probably not), but it’s available on DVD; Once in a Lifetime - Family Semmeling builds a house. Dieter Wedel put a lot of truths into this amusing satire - it applied back then, but much of it still applies today. :)
 

ypg

2022-05-07 11:40:59
  • #5
Rarely... I rarely write ;) There are always positive reports, but not often.
 

Pinkiponk

2022-05-07 11:59:52
  • #6

Off topic, joke: ;-) With it's like with the site managers. You get your turn when it's your turn and can't expect continuous, uninterrupted attention. :)
 

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