The Difficult Contractor - When the Contractor Abandons the Job
When a contractor delays a project, it causes problems for the homeowner. When a contractor abandons the job in its entirety, even more serious consequences may occur. How can a homeowner know when a contractor has abandoned the job? Sometimes it's obvious. If the contractor comes and packs up his tools, it is clear that he is finished. If she does not show up for an extended period of time, then it is likely that she won't return. It is not uncommon for a contractor to stop paying subcontractors prior to abandoning a job. What can a homeowner do? First of all, hopefully the homeowner has not paid the contractor in full. The homeowner should always have an agreement that some money will be retained (usually 10%) until the job is completed to the parties' satisfaction. Then, the homeowner should send the contractor written notification that the contractor has breached his agreement, and that the homeowner is going to mitigate damages by hiring other contractors to finish the...