Expert: Michael Hughes - 1/4/2008

Question
Dear Michael,
I am a general contractor and have never been asked this before...I have a fixed price contract with a homeowner that I'm building a house for. My customer has requested to see the bids I obtain from subcontractors. Do i need to show them my bids? They also want receipts from items I purchased, such as windows and doors. They want the receipts for their long-term records, but they have my prices on them, and I don't want to open my books to them. I'd like to respectfully decline. What do you suggest? What is customary?

Thank you,
Gordon

Secondly, they have requested receipts from items such as the windows and doors from me. Since they purchased these items from me, I feel that the receipt should come from me.

Answer
Gordon,
I don't have a copy of your contract however if it is fixed price with no provision that the customer shares in the selection or specifies suppliers I would say that it is certainly not a requirement.
I would suggest that you put a product spec/ submittal binder together that provides the manufacturer and relevant warranty associated with the items you purchased for their project and include that with the documents you provide them at contract close out.