Working with subs
Coordinating the people you count on but do not employ.
After hours calls and texts with subs: where the line is
The 9pm call to a sub happens because daytime questions have nowhere to wait. Here is a boundary both sides can live with, and the two that cannot wait.
The sub's side: what GCs do that make good subs stop calling back
The good subs are screening your calls for a reason. Here is what looks fine from the office and costs you your best trades from the truck.
Trouble getting subs to respond? What actually works
Subs go quiet because answering you costs them too much. Here is why, and three changes that get replies inside a day.
How to get subs to confirm they're coming tomorrow
Subs go quiet because the ask is buried. Here is the day-before ritual and the exact script that gets a real yes on the record.
Keeping subs accountable without babysitting
Drive-by checkups insult good subs and miss what bad ones hide. Here is how to move accountability from watching people to checking work.
How to onboard a new sub in one day
A one-day onboarding checklist for a new subcontractor: paperwork, site rules, who to call, and where the job talks happen, all before he parks.
Scheduling subs across three jobs at once
One tile guy, two jobs, one slipped inspection that eats your week. Here is how a small GC keeps sub dates straight without living in your texts.
Scope fights with subs: getting it in writing without a lawyer
Most sub scope fights end when someone scrolls up. Here is how to get the scope in writing so the record settles it, no contract addendum needed.
What to do when a sub no-shows
A morning-of playbook for a sub who never showed: the first call, resequencing the crew, and the paper trail that keeps the relationship talk on facts.
How to manage subcontractors without making them buy software
Subs will not pay for your software, and the workarounds lose the record. Here is the only setup that keeps subs in the loop without a fee on their end.