TL;DR:

• As a Project Manager/Estimator, I chased a $3M job plus $2M in extra scope from a shady GC to fill a lean backlog.

• It backfired - cost us big and burned a key owner that took years to rebuild.

• Lesson: wait for the right partners, not just any work. Screen smart, lock in terms, and walk if it stinks.

This week is about a call I botched - one that cost us big and taught me plenty. Let’s dig in.

Work was running low in our civil division. We were wrapping a major project, and I couldn’t see where our six crews would land next. As a PM/Estimator, I felt the heat - keep the team busy, keep the revenue flowing. Then a $3M job popped up with a general contractor we knew was trouble - 24/7 schedules, meddling in our work, blaming us for their flops. We’d been burned by them before. But the work was for a great industrial owner we’d partnered with for decades.

Still, I bid it. Hard. We won, and when they dangled $2M in extra scope - including work we weren’t equipped or qualified for - I said yes. I pitched it to the team as a chance to shine, banking on grit to pull us through.

It didn’t.

The GC was as bad as advertised. We floundered on the added work, racking up delays and disputes. Change orders turned into a standoff, payments stalled, and they dragged us into a lawsuit. By the end, we’d hemorrhaged hundreds of thousands and lost an owner’s trust we’d spent years earning. I’d tried to play hero. Instead, I’d dug us a hole.

A lean backlog doesn’t justify a rotten deal.

Good Partners Matter More Than Full Schedules

Not every GC or owner’s a nightmare. There are partners - subs, suppliers, clients - who get our best every time. They pay fair, communicate straight, and stick around. Those are the keepers. But the bad ones? In this industry, word travels. If they’ve got a reputation, you’ll hear it. Trust your gut when it says no.

8 Ways to Pick Smart & Protect Yourself

1. Do not let low backlog drive poor decision making.

2. Screen Them: Ask - how’s this funded?

3. Check their track record.

4. Can you handle the scope?

5. Lock It Down: No signed contract, no work.

6. Nail payment terms and know lien rights.

7. Document every change in writing.

8. Walk Away: If it feels off, don’t be afraid to cut bait.

Kyle Nitchen’s contract post has a gem: distill your contract to one page everyone grasps. Borrow that.

The world is full of great clients to work with. With patience, you’ll find them.

Your Move

Next job, ask: Is this worth the risk? I’ve learned to wait for the right fit. You should too. Got a story of dodging - or surviving - a bad gig? Hit reply - would love to hear it!

Thanks for reading this week, keep building!
Tristan

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About the Author

Tristan Wilson is the CEO and Founder of Edgevanta. We make software that helps contractors win more work at the right price. He is a 4th Generation Contractor, construction enthusiast, ultra runner, and bidding nerd. He worked his way up the ladder at Allan Myers in the Mid-Atlantic and his family’s former business Barriere Construction before starting Edgevanta in Nashville, where the company is based. Reach out to him at [email protected]