If you’ve got a job that’ll take a week, contractors will basically fight for it - but if it’s just something that takes a few hours, it’s apparently a real struggle to get anyone to show up.
I just installed a new kitchen sink and hooked up the faucet and dishwasher for a client. He said they had called eight plumbing companies, and all of them either refused outright or said they’d get back to it but never did. One company agreed to come install it but wouldn’t do the hole in the countertop for the sink, so they would’ve needed to hire a carpenter separately - and you can imagine how thrilled a carpenter would be about a job that takes less than an hour.
This is an incredibly common story among my customers. I’m a plumber by training, but when I went self-employed, I expanded my services to cover all kinds of handyman work. Clearly, I’m filling a niche, considering the amount of gratitude I’m getting from customers. I literally received a gift basket from one just last week. I should’ve made the jump a decade ago.
Following those lines, I recently received some money from an aunt who passed away in January. It’s possible that I could straight up pay for the repairs, but I sure as hell don’t want to tell someone that before they give me a number!
Most of the companies I’ve had contact with start talking about claim numbers before they even come out. Of the ones that actually came out and looked at the roof, they wanted claim numbers “to talk it out with the insurance company” and then they’ll get back to me with what it would cost once they get it sorted out. It’s just so frustrating.