A good contractor should have the ability not only to resolve the problems when they occur but to forecast the problems before they occur. My GC forgot to place the order on a door which has long lead time even though I have reminded him many times. Now the millwork on both sides of the door is under installation. I asked him where is the door? he said it is still under production, and I asked, how about the door jamb? Still under production, he replied, then he told me it won’t be a big deal since the millwork guys still can install the millwork, so it won’t delay the installation. So, I asked the contractor that without the door jamb, where you think the millwork guys should end their wood panels? He answered, well, they can leave the wall panels at the approximate locations but slightly longer so when the door is installed, the millwork guys can come back to this area and cut the wall panels shorter in order to fit in the door jamb. Well, I asked the millwork guys how long that will take? they said it will be about 3 – 4 hours of work, then I looked at the GC and asked, those millwork guys will have to leave other work behind in another room and come back to this area to finish up the wall panels, who will pay for those hours lost on the other millwork in another room? The GC was quiet. That door was supposed to be ordered more than a year ago and I kept reminding him because I could foresee such delays. I wish the GC could foresee this issue a year ago so the millwork guys can have much smoother installation flow without any delay. You might think 3-4 hours delay is not a big deal, but imagine 3-4 hrs here, 30 min there, 1 hour here, they all added up, no wonder this 2007 project is still under construction NOW. Rediculous!