Smaller crews can definitely be a good find, but I'd caution against assuming they're always cheaper or better value. Had a small team once that seemed great at first—friendly guys, tidy work—but they ended up stretched thin juggling multiple jobs. Took longer than expected, and communication got spotty. Quality was decent, but the delays were frustrating. Sometimes paying a bit more for a larger, established crew can save headaches down the road...just something to consider.
"Quality was decent, but the delays were frustrating."
Yeah, totally get that frustration...seen it happen plenty during inspections. Smaller crews can be gems, but it really depends on their workload and organization. Good reminder to weigh all options carefully before jumping in.
I've seen similar issues pop up before. Last summer we had a smaller crew do our roof, and while the workmanship was great, scheduling was all over the place. They'd show up late, sometimes skip days without notice... drove us nuts. Like you said:
"Smaller crews can be gems, but it really depends on their workload and organization."
Totally true. I'd suggest asking upfront about their scheduling methods and maybe checking references specifically about timelines. Might save some headaches down the road.
I get your point, but I wonder if scheduling issues are really exclusive to smaller crews? I've had some pretty frustrating experiences with larger, supposedly "well-organized" companies too—like one time they subcontracted without telling us and the communication totally broke down. Maybe it's less about crew size and more about how transparent they are upfront about their process and who's actually doing the work... thoughts?
Yeah, I think you're onto something there. I've dealt with both small crews and bigger companies, and honestly, transparency seems to be the real issue. Had a similar experience where a larger company subcontracted out without mentioning it upfront—ended up with a crew that clearly wasn't briefed properly. Felt like playing telephone trying to get answers. So yeah, size doesn't guarantee good communication... it's more about whether they're upfront from the start.