Contractor Woes

[Charley]

We have the worst luck with contractors. This time, our contractor talked my husband into paying him and gonna finish the lattice work around the bottom of the deck next week...six weeks ago (this would be, he estimated, a two hour job for his guys). They power washed the house, stained it twice and rebuilt a large wrap around deck. They even brought in a couple in our neighborhood to see the work in progress and are working on their deck right now.

Anyway, he is not available by phone ... it just rings and his voice mail is full..this for the last four weeks. He returns emails when he gets around to it and always has an excuse and does not give us a date anymore for the work to be done. He has missed two set in stone dates...once due to rain and once due to a death in the family.

So today I put out two signs saying "Ask Us About our Contractor". He can't miss them as they are large, in red letters, and on our mailbox post. One of his worker guys lives near us and passes our home daily and he is working in our area as I saw their trucks yesterday putting up another deck. He will know about the signs soon. We are going to knock on the door where he is working later today and let them know how he did not finish the work promised.

If this gets no response...we will be filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and local Chamber of Commerce and maybe I will take out an ad in our paper too!

 

[Sue_C.]

I say go for the jugular...I have seen it happen too many times, and these guys just keep getting away with it.

BTW, I love the sign idea...LOLOL!

 

[Sterling]

I agree. Too many times people being taken advantage of. Pay the money up front and contractors never seen again. My problem has been contractors coming out for estimates on jobs and you never hear from them again. I guess we've been lucky so far tho. We've been asked to pay when the work is done. Just this last season we had some railing porch work done, and the contractor asked for half up front and half at the end of the project..... He did an excellent job and I'm going to try and hang onto him. Good contractors are like equine dentists....hard to find!

 

[Charley]

I just had a work truck (no advertising on it, so I don't know who it was) stop in front of my house, go to pull in the drive, then back out and continue on his way up the road (he did not turn around).

Oh well, going to go run errands and vote today ... we're having primaries today.

 

[Pepipony]

Quite often these guys just walk. I have seen on HGTV ( Holmes on Homes) that so long as they do 'some' work, its just peachy keen fine.

We had some moulding work done. They got stain on the floors, the sliding door, the house, the ceiling. The wood doesnt match ( they couldnt grasp the concept of needing to use conditioner on pine, like I did ) there are drips , yada yada yada. Oh, my favorite spot, they didnt make sure the moulding fit over a partial wall, so there is a gap. Before all the work was done I pointed out a few errors and was told 'if the amatuer homeowner sees it, we saw it long ago'. Yet the mistakes are still there. He was supposed to come back months ago, still no show. He is hubbys friend, I said over my dead body will he do any more work.

I hope you get some resolution. If not, I hope that people see your sign, ask, and dont use him.

 

[Charley]

We just got an email from the contractor. He is ready to send the guys down to finish the job and mentioned the sign in his email. Looks like it got his attention back on finishing the job.

 

[Sue_C.]

We just got an email from the contractor. He is ready to send the guys down to finish the job and mentioned the sign in his email. Looks like it got his attention back on finishing the job.

I bet it did get his attention.

 

[Bess Kelly]

If he does NOT make apptmt, keep it, finish well..........take him to court. Sue for emotional damages, plus costs of another to do completions, court fees, etc.

DO NOT mess with him. BE FIRM.

I will assume you had all in writing....hmmm. Hope all ends well without this.