Just recently, I hired a subcontractor, Bill, who reached out through our website to become one of our trusted vendors. He also provided a reference from one of my trusted colleagues.

He told me he had worked with Bill for years and was always happy with his quality. That was enough for me to make the call.

Bill and I had a great conversation—he was professional, knowledgeable, and responsive. He sent over his license and proof of insurance right away.

Everything looked solid. We signed the agreement, and the job was scheduled to start in two weeks.

Then, things started to shift.
A week before the start date, I checked in to confirm we were still good to go. No response. Then a message:

“I don’t think we’ll be able to start Monday. Don’t send the down payment until I confirm the new start date.”

Sounds fair, right?

Well, yes—but also, not really!

Why? Because I had already lined up the next subcontractors based on Bill’s timeline. If he didn’t finish on time, the entire project schedule would be thrown off.

Bill didn’t start until three weeks later.

Once he got going, the quality was great, but his work pattern made me nervous. He’d show up for a few days, disappear, then return and go full speed. It felt unpredictable. Then, on Day 56, I got a call:
“The job is done!”

I took a deep breath—relieved.
The work was solid, and his pricing was fair. He was honest about payments, never overcharged, and truly cared about his craftsmanship. But as I stood there, I asked myself:

Would Bill be my first choice for the next project?

Surprisingly, I couldn’t say yes or no right away.

I liked him. He was talented. But his unpredictability was a major problem.

In construction—and many other real estate operations, like property management—predictability is critical. I’ll take a contractor who is qualified, steady, and (yes) BORING over one who is excellent but inconsistent.

Top contractors in my network all share these qualities:
– Licensed & Insured – They have all the required qualifications.
– Consistently High-Quality Work – No surprises. No shortcuts.
– Responsive – They answer calls, or at least text back when busy.
– Strategic Pricing & Adaptability – They’re intelligent to tailor their work and pricing to the project’s needs. They understand that a one-size-fits-all approach makes them either unfit for some jobs even if their craftsmanship is top notch.
– Reliable – They sign the agreement and deliver as promised.
– BORING, PROFESSIONAL, PREDICTABLE.

In construction, excellence is expected, but predictability is priceless.

What do you think? Do you prefer “boring but steady” or would go choose “great craftsmanship even if that involves dealing with unpredictability” in your projects?