My husband and I are nearing the end of a major construction project on our home, which has dragged on for 18 months instead of the agreed-upon 8 months due to a lot of disorganization and poor communication from our general contractor. We are dealing with multiple issues, particularly in our primary bathroom where they miscommunicated the plumbing requirements. We chose Kohler fixtures, but the valve they installed was a Delta six-way diverter, which doesn't match our Kohler fixtures. The contractor assured us he would fix it with a Kohler valve, but now he's trying to charge us for a change order for something that's clearly his mistake. It's one of many grievances we've had, and we're both really frustrated. We are considering hiring an attorney, but we're not sure if it's worth the extra stress since we're so close to finishing. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Is it advisable to get a lawyer, or should we just wrap it up?
3 Answers
The core issue is who approved the Delta diverter valve. Ideally, you should have selected and signed off on these during the rough-in stage. If the GC installed a valve without confirming it with you first, that’s totally on them! It sounds like there might have been some mismanagement going on if they didn’t give you all the necessary options beforehand. Don’t let them put the blame on you for their missteps.
Before jumping to legal action, consider this: how much of the work is done versus what you’ve already paid? List each issue you have with the work and estimate their value. If it’s under $10k, it might be better to skip the lawyer. Once you hire a lawyer, the contractor will likely stop all work, and it can be an endless process. Just be firm but polite with your GC, and push them to fulfill the agreement. No shortcuts! You deserve what you paid for.
I’ve been through a similar mess with a contractor, and let me tell you, it often leads to a long, grueling battle. In my case, we ended up with a final invoice that was four times what we expected! The contractor put a lien on our house and tried to claim all this extra work they never flagged properly during the project. My advice? Ensure you’re not paying for any ‘extra work’ that wasn’t discussed. You might want to hold off on payments until everything is completed to your satisfaction. Just be aware—lawyers can get involved real quick, and it can halt your project completely.