Home remodeling projects can often cost more and take longer than expected, and it's usually because some general contractors are looking to make the most money they can. While this is understandable, some contractors go too far. If your contractor is taking too long to finish, it may be time to replace them. Here are some tips on how to get your project done on time. The first step should always be to contact your contractor directly and let them know that the delay is not acceptable.
Have them commit to an end date, and if they can't do it by then, let them know that you'll look for other solutions. Most of the time, even the veiled threat of a lawsuit will set them in motion. Communication problems and lack of updates are usually the cause of problems between contractors and homeowners. Make sure you have everything in writing, and if you're in a deteriorating relationship with your contractor, re-initiate communication. Texts and emails are great for this; even when you have verbal communication, tell the contractor you're going to send an email summarizing the conversation to make sure you're on the same page. It's important to establish communication early on, but if you're already having problems with your contractor, re-establish what the plan is going to follow and the time frame in which it will occur.
Write down exactly what will be done to rectify it and when it will be done. A good contractor will be able to avoid delays and have a little cushioning to account for unexpected events. The remaining payments can be used as leverage to get your contractor back to work and finish the job as soon as possible. If you can't get along with a contractor's employee, it's their job, not yours, to resolve the dispute. There can be many reasons for the contractor's disappearance, some understandable: the contractor got sick or injured on another job, for example. If all else fails, find a copy of the contract and gather all documented communications, deadlines, invoices and photos of the contractor's work.
Show the judge the chronology of what happened, the contractor's bad faith and the low quality of the work done (if any). But once you've gotten to this point, you'll wish you fired your contractor a long time ago.
