The Three Types of Contractors — Eng. Said Alriyami Reveals Who to Avoid and Who to Trust

Finishing Tips

The Three Types of Contractors — Eng. Said Alriyami Reveals Who to Avoid and Who to Trust

"All Contractors Are the Same?" — Absolutely Not.

There's a popular saying that all contractors are cut from the same cloth — and that's a great injustice to many of them. The truth is that contractors fall into very distinct categories, and the difference between them is not in their title — it's in how they treat your project, your money, and your time.

In this article, Eng. Said Alriyami gives you a frank, practical classification of contractors into three types — so you know exactly who you're dealing with before you hand over a single riyal.

Type One — The Random Contractor: Stay Away Completely

How Do You Recognize Him?

This type needs only one piece of information from you: your plot area. From there, he gives you an instant price — no study, no quantity survey, no reference to your drawings.

You say "300 square meters" and he says "the cost is X" — a number pulled from thin air that sounds attractive and makes you feel like you've found the deal of a lifetime.

What Happens Next?

You pay the deposit and sign the agreement
The contractor begins stalling and delaying with endless excuses
You later discover he was under financial pressure or tied up in another project he's using your money to subsidize
Your project stalls mid-way because the price he gave you was never calculated to begin with

Why Does He Do This?

Simple: he's looking for a new victim whose upfront payment can cover his current financial pressures. Your project is not his priority — his survival is.

Verdict: Never go near this type regardless of how attractive the price sounds. Cheap here comes at an extremely high price.

Type Two — The Clever Contractor: He Exhausts You Slowly

How Do You Recognize Him?

This type is smarter and more dangerous than the first because he starts professionally, creating a false sense of confidence.

He asks for your drawings, conducts a detailed quantity survey, and submits a price that looks well-considered and logical. But he deliberately removes his profit margin from the initial offer — entirely.

What Happens Next?

The moment you begin working together, the endless additions begin:

You ask to close one wall and open another? He charges you
You want to relocate a door? He charges you
You request a minor window adjustment? He charges you

Every change becomes a separate invoice — because he never built his profit into the original offer. He collects it piece by piece through these accumulating extras.

The Result?

You end up paying more than you would have with a professional contractor
You are mentally drained by endless disputes and negotiations
Your project exceeds the agreed timeline
You saved nothing — you spent more and suffered more

Verdict: This type doesn't lie to you directly — he manipulates you intelligently. Identify him early and walk away.

Type Three — The Professional Contractor: This Is Who You're Looking For

How Do You Recognize Him?

This type will not give you a price until he has your complete drawings.

After receiving them:

He refers them to specialist quantity surveyors
He conducts a precise itemized calculation based on current market rates
He adds a clear, transparent profit margin — because he makes no secret of the fact that he is running a business

What Does This Mean for Your Project?

A final price with no hidden surprises afterward
A realistic, achievable timeline that can be adhered to
High execution quality because the project is properly costed with no hidden financial pressure
Clean financial accountability — he knows exactly what comes in and what goes out

Yes — this contractor may appear more expensive on paper. But he is in reality the least expensive option over the full course of your project.

Verdict: This is the engineering partner who deserves your money, your trust, and your dream home.

Comparison Table — Know Who You're Dealing With

Criteria	Type One	Type Two	Type Three
Pricing method	Random, no study	Detailed, no profit margin	Detailed with transparent margin
Initial price	Unrealistically cheap	Appears reasonable	Honest and realistic
Final cost	Unknown and open-ended	Much higher than quoted	Close to original offer
Quality	No guarantee	Inconsistent	High and guaranteed
Timeline adherence	No	Rarely	Generally yes
Peace of mind	Zero	Constant stress	Very high
Recommendation	❌ Avoid entirely	⚠️ Extreme caution	✅ This is your choice

How to Identify the Type Before You Commit

1. Ask for a quantity survey A professional contractor will not give you a price before seeing your drawings. Anyone who gives you an instant number — be warned.

2. Ask him about his profit margin A transparent contractor acknowledges his margin and explains it. Anyone who claims to "work at cost" is either dishonest or you'll pay his profit later in a different form.

3. Visit his previous projects in person Don't rely on photographs. Visit the sites, speak directly with the owners, ask about timeline adherence and quality.

4. Insist on a detailed contract Every item, every phase, every payment, every delivery date — must be written and signed.

5. Never be seduced by an unrealistically low price A price that is inexplicably low is the clearest warning sign. Always ask yourself: how is this contractor making money?

The Bottom Line

In construction, the price you pay at the start is never the real price. The real price is what you pay by the time you hold the keys to your finished home — and whether you're genuinely satisfied with every corner of it.

Choose your contractor the way you choose a business partner — with a clear mind, careful research, and no rush.

"A professional contractor costs more at the start — and saves you everything in the end."

About Eng. Said Alriyami

Eng. Said bin Hamad Alriyami is an Omani entrepreneur and construction leader whose career began in the oil and gas fields of the Rub' al Khali desert. In 2004, he founded Afdal International Construction, which has delivered more than 3,000 projects across construction, luxury finishing, and interior design. Eng. Said is committed to protecting project owners from wrong choices and guiding them confidently toward the right decision at every step of their building journey.

Work With a Contractor Who Deserves Your Trust

Looking for a transparent, professional contractor who treats your project with the same integrity from day one to handover? Contact Eng. Said Alriyami today.

📧 Email: Sriyami1978@gmail.com 📞 Phone: +96897070034