Sandra spent Monday morning reviewing construction contracts for several clients who needed help understanding terms or wanted an attorney to ensure their business was being handled properly. Living on the Eastern Shore, she'd built relationships with electricians, carpenters, plumbers, and landscapers who worked for various builders scattered across the peninsula.
Most were hardworking people trying to make an honest living in an industry where bigger companies often held all the advantages. Sandra wanted to make sure her contractors had equal access to representation.
A soft knock interrupted her concentration. "Sandra?" Portia poked her head through the doorway, expression concerned. "Manuel Garcia is here. He looks upset."
Sandra glanced at her appointment book. His name wasn't scheduled. "Send him in."
Manuel walked into her office practically vibrating with anxiety, weathered hands clutching a manila folder against his chest,his agitation palpable.
"Mr. Garcia, sit down," Sandra said gently. "What's wrong?"
"Ms. O'Neill, I don't know what to do," he began, his slight accent more pronounced with stress. "I was working onthe Patterson house today… the big one on Creek Road that Blackwood is building."
Sandra nodded. She remembered him mentioning the custom waterfront home from his contract.
"The home buyer, Mrs. Patterson, stopped by to check on the progress. When she asked who I was, I told her I was doing electrical work." Manuel shifted uncomfortably. "She got very upset, saying I was overcharging her."
"Overcharging?" Sandra frowned. "You don't set the prices for homeowners, Manuel. That goes through Blackwood."
"That's what I tried to explain! But she kept insisting I was doing something wrong, that I was..." He struggled for words. "She called me a crook."
Sandra saw papers clutched in his hands. "What do you have there?"
"My contract with Blackwood Luxury Custom Homes." He placed the folder on her desk, his hands shaking. "To show you I'm not doing anything wrong."
Sandra opened the folder and scanned the straightforward contract. Manuel had an agreement with Blackwood to do all the electrical work for the Patterson house at a price she knew was competitive.
"This fee is standard for a house that size," Sandra said. "I don't understand what Mrs. Patterson is upset about."
Manuel took a steadying breath. "She says she's being charged almost twice that amount for electrical work. Said her friend is having a house built by someone else, and that her electrician charges half what she's paying." His voice rose with frustration. "But my charge is just what I have on my contract."
Sandra felt unease flutter in her stomach. "Over twice? You're certain?"
"Positive. She showed me her contract with Blackwood, waved it in my face. I looked at it, and she is being charged almost 80 percent more than what I’m getting paid."
Sandra's legal training kicked in. She knew builders typically marked up subcontractor costs by 20 to 40 percent for overhead and profit. But this was way over Manuel's quote… a markup that went far beyond industry standards.
"Mrs. Patterson threatened to ruin my business," Manuel said quietly. "Said she'd tell everyone that Garcia Electrical overcharges customers. Ms. O'Neill, I can't afford to lose my reputation."
Sandra reached across and patted his arm. "That won't happen, Mr. Garcia. You're one of the most honest contractors I know. Let me make some calls and figure out what's going on."
After Manuel left, Sandra stared at the contract, her mind racing. But before jumping to conclusions, she needed more information. She walked into Tom’s office. “Hey, have you got a minute? I need to ask you something."
"Of course. What's on your mind?"
"Have any of your contractor clients mentioned discrepancies between what they're charging builders and what homeowners are being billed? Beyond normal markup, I mean."
"Funny you should ask. I had Rupert ask me about something similar last week. A plumber had a homebuyer come to him asking about their price, then complained about how much the builder was charging them.”
Sandra's pulse quickened. "Which builder?"
“Rupert didn’t say.”
“Thanks,” she said, offering a smile before moving to Rupert’s office. He waved her in, and she sat in the chair across from his desk.
“Tom mentioned that you had a subcontractor client concerned about their fees being increased above market standards.”
Rupert blinked, then nodded. “Yes, but I know builders typically mark up to 40 percent. I told him not to worry about it. The buyer can take it up with the builder. Why?"
