Also, don't forget to get references from all the contractors, and actually call the references to see if they'd recommend the contractor.

In other news.... I want to start a proposal to have NEC change "Ground" to "Fluzzle". It seems to confuse a lot of people using the word ground, and it would be helpful if they used a different word. "Equipment Fluzzle Conductor", "Unfluzzled conductor", "Fluzzle rod", etc.

Maybe I'll contact Mike Holt, and see if he'll back my proposal.

How do you keep contractors somewhat on schedule? We have a large job (basically gutting half our house) and was told 6 weeks. We put a 10% bonus in for completing the downstairs within 6 weeks and another 10% for completing everything in 12 weeks. Contractor missed the first bonus and now looks poised to miss the second bonus.

@Tester101 Thanks - you're right

@StrongBad Can't put a time limit on quality work... However, if they're not doing quality work, then there's no excuse.

Did you get multiple bids? Did you follow up with the contractors references?

Did their bid have a much shorter project time than other bids? Did they run into any unforeseen delays? Was there time built into the schedule to account for unforeseen delays?

@Tester101 they are doing quality work. There estimate was consistent with others and I doubled the time allowed to account for unforeseen issues, which there haven't been. They are just over committed, as the references said, and not putting me first. I thought over paying might move me up the list.