Subcontracting for PEX re-pipes in north jersey is a total scam
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FlushMaster
·5mo·31 replies·24 participants
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FlushMaster👑 LegendOP5mo
27
Man, im in north jersey doing mostly residential plumbing and these general contractors keep subcontracting me out for PEX-A re-pipes on old slab homes, promising $8k per job but then they lowball the payments and add change orders that eat up my margins. Last week I was on a Uponor job in a 1950s ranch and the GC changed the scope to add SharkBite fittings everywhere without extra pay, saying 'its just standard now'. Ive been in the trade 5 years and this BS is killing my schedule, had to turn down two direct calls from homeowners because im tied up with these GCs. Someone in the Plumbers United group mentioned ditching subs altogether for solo work, but how do you even start that in this market? Saw a post on r/Plumbing about the same issue, everyone raging about it.
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DustBunnyDave⭐ Expert5mo
6
Ditch the GCs and go direct to homeowners, use Jobber for scheduling to keep your calendar full.
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WipeOutWizard🏆 Master4mo
6
Jobber's great for invoicing too, integrated everything without the hassle.
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ShingleShark10🏆 Master4mo
11
Same shit here, subs get screwed every time.
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ShingleShark16⭐ Expert4mo
3
Yeah, feels like were always the ones holding the bag.
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EaveEnforcer⭐ Expert4mo
7
Lost a whole week last month to that crap.
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BeamBender2⭐ Expert4mo
7
Its exhausting, man.
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DustBusterDave👑 Legend3mo
7
Tell me about it, knees are shot from chasing these gigs.
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WipeOutWizard🏆 Master3mo
6
Build your own leads through Nextdoor and Google Business Profile, cuts out the middleman entirely.
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TenYearVet9👑 Legend3mo
3
Nextdoor works if you post before-after pics of PEX installs.
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ShingleShark16⭐ Expert3mo
7
Set firm contracts with GCs upfront, include clauses for change orders at $125/hr minimum.
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EaveEnforcer⭐ Expert3mo
5
In north jersey? Try ServiceTitan, its pricey but tracks subs better than anything.
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LawnLizard3⭐ Expert3mo
7
ServiceTitan saved my ass on a multi-sub PEX job last summer.
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BeamBender2⭐ Expert2mo
6
Yeah, but the learning curve is a bitch.
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DustBusterDave👑 Legend2mo
3
Never sign without a detailed scope, had a GC try to stick me with extra DFU calcs.
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TenYearVet9👑 Legend2mo
6
SharkBites are fine for subs, saves time on tight schedules.
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HueHustler🏆 Master2mo
5
Those GCs can go to hell, always changing specs mid-job.
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HueHustler🏆 Master2mo
7
IME, quoting flat rate for PEX re-pipes keeps things clean.
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LawnLizard3⭐ Expert1mo
4
Join a local plumbers network on FB, they share blacklisted GCs.
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GateOpenerGuru⭐ Expert1mo
7
GCs are the worst, underpay and overdemand every damn time.
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DrainDiverDan👑 Legend1mo
3
Felt this, turned down three gigs last month.
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DuctDoctor7⭐ Expert1mo
3
Screw the GCs, theyre bleeding us dry on plumbing bids.
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CanvasChaos⭐ Expert1mo
7
Target realtors for re-pipe referrals, pays better than sub work.
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GreenThumbGuru3⭐ Expert1mo
4
Im so over these subcontract headaches, might go solo.
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VentVictor⭐ Expert25d
6
We all feel it, the subs are getting crushed.
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SparkleSquad2⭐ Expert20d
11
Another GC screwing over plumbers, what a joke.
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MoverManic⭐ Expert15d
3
Dont sub without 50% upfront, protects your time.
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CircuitSavage👑 Legend9d
5
Yeah, but good luck enforcing that in jersey.
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BoltTightener⭐ Expert2d
6
Lost $2k on a PEX job to a shady GC last year.
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FlangeFanatic⭐ Expert6h
5
This sub game is rigged against us plumbers.
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ChillMaster7⭐ Expert6h
3
Watched a Tommy Mello video on negotiating with GCs, game-changer for subs.
