I needed work done at my house. I called a few contractors for quotes. There's a guy in my family who works in home construction and recommended a guy he knows/works with/called him a friend but tbh I don't think they hang out or anything. So I set up a quote with him and in the mean time check out his yelp reviews. They're pretty bad. Another guy who came out had all positive reviews, seemed much more professional, and came in at roughly the same price but actually a few % cheaper. Overall felt much more comfortable with that guy so I went with him. Of course normally contractors must give quotes all the time without expecting further contact but the family friend guy feels like a situation that warrants a follow up. Obviously I can't tell him the truth about why we're not using him. What's your play?

“Thanks for coming out. We’ve decided to go in a different direction.”

You don't owe him any explanation. Tell him you decided to go with someone else. If you want to give him a reason tell him you got recommendations from a few people and one of the guys gave you a better quote.

OP this calls for an intricate web of lies, where one lie covers the one before which covers the one before and so on; until there is some sort of comical resolution. Just say your house burned down and go from there.

Well that escalated quickly. Guy in the family is actually the girlfriend's dad who likes doing things for his daughter so he took it upon himself to tell his contractor friend to schedule the work and he would pay for some of it. Not sure if any firm commitments were made yet. I used the "going another direction" line but if I find out there was money lost anywhere I'll switch it up to house burning down.

Might as well put it up for sale now and go on an extended out of country vacation to avoid the coming interactions

Any other projects you've been putting off that you can assign to family guy?

I bet he could build you a dog door

Just say you found a better deal with a different contractor, should be enough.

lol'd irl, thank you Henry

Do something nice for him to make up for the fact you aren't going to hire him. Like invite him over to dinner or something.

Seriously though, don't say you got a better deal because that opens him up to ask what deal you got and what he needs to do to win the business. Just stick to the going in another direction line and leave it there.

I'd nip that in the bud.

No means no.

Obvious answer is to get some peeps engaged in up-voting our subsidized hero.

+1

Break up with your girlfriend and tell her you decided to go in a different direction.

Do you know what kind of vehicle he drives? Disconnect his brake lines.

2 viable choices:

1) tell him what post #2 says

2) email him this thread

wildcard, bitches

You're a treasure

Give him a little piece of the work after the other guy is finished. Tell him he can install the lathe in your living room.