I've tried a couple of those project management apps—honestly, I'm still on the fence about them. They're great in theory, but in practice... well, they only work if everyone's actually checking in regularly. Had one sub who never logged in because he "forgot his password." (Pretty sure that was code for "not interested," lol.)
The mini-deadlines idea is solid though. I started doing something similar after getting burned by one contractor who kept saying he was "almost done," and then ghosted me right before a major inspection. Learned my lesson there...
Also agree 100% about explaining the "why" behind deadlines. People tend to care more when they see how their delays affect others. Doesn't guarantee they'll always hit the mark, but at least you're less likely to get an eye-roll when you ask for an update.
Not sure there's a magic solution here—mostly trial and error, unfortunately—but clear communication upfront does seem to minimize headaches later.
"Had one sub who never logged in because he 'forgot his password.' (Pretty sure that was code for 'not interested,' lol.)"
Ha, been there. Had a drywall guy once who swore up and down he never got the app invite—turns out he'd marked it as spam. Go figure. You're spot on about explaining the "why" behind deadlines, though. When I started doing that, I noticed fewer excuses and more genuine effort. Doesn't fix everything, but it helps keep my stress levels manageable...mostly.
Explaining the "why" behind deadlines definitely helps, but I've found it also depends a lot on the sub's personality. Had an electrician who'd nod along to every explanation, seem totally on board, then still show up two days late. Turns out he was juggling multiple jobs and just didn't want to admit he was overbooked. Once we talked openly about his workload, things improved a bit.
Sometimes it's less about the explanation and more about building enough trust so they feel comfortable being honest with you. But that's easier said than done when you're under pressure yourself...
Curious if anyone's had success setting clearer expectations upfront—like during initial contract discussions—to avoid these awkward conversations later on?
I've found that being super clear about deadlines and expectations right from the start—like literally spelling it out in the contract—can help a lot. It doesn't fix everything, but it gives you something concrete to refer back to if things get tricky later on...
Contracts are definitely helpful, but honestly, I've found that relying too heavily on them can sometimes backfire. People can get defensive if you immediately pull out the paperwork when things go sideways. Instead, I've had better luck keeping communication open and collaborative—especially when disagreements pop up. A quick chat over coffee or a casual site walk-through can often smooth things out faster than pointing to clause 4.2...
