---
title: Why Some Construction Projects Fail
description: How construction projects can end up like a train wreck by hiring the wrong contractor
---
[Construction Company Bookkeeping For Contractors All Across The USA Including Alaska And Hawaii](https://www.fasteasyaccounting.com/blog)
# [Why Some Construction Projects Fail](https://www.fasteasyaccounting.com/bid/80648/Why-Some-Construction-Projects-Fail)
Written by [Randal DeHart](https://www.fasteasyaccounting.com/blog/author/randal-dehart) | Thu, Oct 06, 2011
## **Rule #1 Never Hire The Low Bidder!**
### **The Sweetness Of Low Price Fades Quickly**
### **While The Bitterness Of Poor Quality Lingers On**
Whenever someone decides to have some work done they get several bids from competing contractors because that is what they heard someone say a long time ago. There are two problems to consider:
## **#1 The Low Bidder**
- **Good / Fast / Cheap** - Choose **Cheap & Fast** or **Cheap & Slow!** Expect the project to Late and over budget!
- **Base costs** - Taxes, fuel, cell phones, nails, glue and small parts are the same for all contractors; no savings here
- **Labor** - Cheap labor makes mistakes and causes damage because they are learning, by experience, on your project!
- **Material** - Price is King! So they buy and install cheap material!
- **Tools** - Cheap tools take more time and the finished product may be hard on the eyes but they have to cut costs!
- **Trucks** - Rickety old trucks and vans may break down which means the job may take longer but costs have to be cut!
- **Office** - They work out of their house or truck; so called no-overhead
- **Cheap Construction Manager** - Biggest baddest construction worker. Also the bill collector. Also acting as a "Working Project Manager" which means the company is attempting to save money in the short run and ends up losing money in the long run. Assembling parts and building something takes a "Tactile" mindset. Running a project is "Strategic". Put another way no man can serve to masters as he will hate one and love the other and the inevitable outcome is the [Peter Principle](https://www.fasteasyaccounting.com/construction-definitions/) which leads to a construction train wreck.
- **Invoices** - Make no sense, total cost may exceed the bid and **you will pay the contractor to avoid violence!**
- **Warranty** - Cheap contractors cannot afford warranty work because they are "One-Hit-Wonders" never to return
## **#2 The Other Bidders**
- **Good / Fast / Cheap** - Choose **Good & Fast** or **Good & Slow!** Expect the project done on-time and on budget!
- **Base costs** - Taxes, fuel, cell phones, nails, glue and small hardware are the same for all contractors
- **Labor** - Skilled labor costs more, produces more work faster with fewer mistakes which means a quality project
- **Material** - Quality and reputation are King! Skilled labor can install quality material faster than cheap material
- **Tools** - Quality tools and equipment cost more and will produce a product that is easy on the eyes and lasts longer
- **Trucks** - Reliable trucks and vans means the job is done quicker and with fewer delivery issues
- **Office** - Skilled staff and office equipment provides for effective communication
- **Qualified Construction Manager** - Has construction background and formal training in project management. Most professional construction companies with good reputations will have people with credentials like [PMP](https://www.fasteasyaccounting.com/construction-definitions/) assigned to oversee projects.
- **Invoices** - Are [Pay Applications](https://www.fasteasyaccounting.com/invoicing-residential-remodel-projects-in-washington-state/) that make sense because they show a history of costs and payments made
- **Warranty Work** - Is a marketing cost because the first project is the beginning of a relationship
## **When Hiring A Contractor Discard The Low Bidder Because You Will Get What You Pay For And Sometimes Less!**
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### ****
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### **Call Sharie 206-361-3950**
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### **We Are Xero Accounting Experts Specializing In Construction Bookkeeping Services**
Cloud Based QuickBooks Outsourced Bookkeeping Services For Contractors All Across The U.S.A. We are headquartered in Lynnwood, Washington State, USA. We work remotely to meet your accounting and bookkeeping needs with QuickBooks and Xero Accounting Online whichever is most appropriate for your situation. We can perform a QuickBooks Setup,QuickBooks cleanup, customize your invoices, process payroll and generate QuickBooks financial reports. We Help “A Little or A Lot” depending on your needs including on-going bookkeeping services. Remote web based QuickBooks for contractors bookkeeping, accounting & quarterly tax reports. We specialize in contractors including general, specialty and trade contractors, home builders and commercial tenant improvement contractors. If you need help please call Sharie 206-361-3950 or sharie@FastEasyAccounting.com If you are considering hiring a contractors bookkeeping service go to http://www.fasteasyaccounting.com/contractors-bookkeeping-services-guide-for-quickbooks
**About The Author:**
**[Randal DeHart, PMP, QPA](https://plus.google.com/u/0/106414353685550708429/posts)** is the co-founder of Business Consulting And Accounting in Lynnwood Washington. He is the leading expert in outsourced construction bookkeeping and accounting services for small construction companies across the USA. He is experienced as a Contractor, Project Management Professional, Construction Accountant, Intuit ProAdvisor, QuickBooks For Contractors Expert and Xero Accounting Specialist. This combination of experience and skill sets provides a unique perspective which allows him to see the world through the eyes of a contractor, Project Manager, Accountant and construction accountant. This quadruple understanding is what sets him apart from other Intuit ProAdvisors and Xero accountants to the benefit of all of the construction contractors he serves across the USA. Visit [http://www.fasteasyaccounting.com/randal-dehart/](https://www.fasteasyaccounting.com/randal-dehart/) to learn more.
**Our Co-Founder [Randal DeHart](https://www.fasteasyaccounting.com/randal-dehart/)** - Is a Certified PMP (Project Management Professional) with several years of construction project management experience. His expertise is construction accounting systems engineering and process development. His exhaustive study of several leading experts including the work of Dr. W. Edward Deming, Michael Gerber, Walter A. Shewhart, James Lewis and dozens of others was the foundation upon which our [Construction Bookkeeping System](https://www.fasteasyaccounting.com/our-bookkeeping-services-system/) is based and continues to evolve and improve. Check out our [Contractor Success Map Podcast on iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/contractor-success-map-randal/id882018353) and [Follow Randal on Google+](https://plus.google.com/+RandalDehart/posts)
[View full post](https://www.fasteasyaccounting.com/bid/80648/Why-Some-Construction-Projects-Fail)
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