As a small general contractor, we are often competing with individuals who are jacks-of-all-trades and promise more than they can deliver in terms of total cost and completion date. Often, they lack the required insurance. In our experience, the contractor with the low bid is the guy who has figured out how to cut the most corners. Expensive change orders for work that the guy “discovers” are needed after the contract is signed and work begins are often used to bring the cost in line with what is actually required.