We're currently renovating our first flat and have been dealing with a builder who came highly recommended but has turned out to be really difficult. He's rude, disrespectful, and seems to be taking advantage of us since we're new to this. Early on, he ignored my questions about material suppliers and then took me to an overpriced tile place, likely for his own commission. We decided to buy our materials ourselves, including tiles, which were not included in his fees. Recently, after he tiled our kitchen, we noticed seven boxes of unused tile left at the flat. However, when we asked him about them later, he lied and said they were gone, changing his story multiple times. He even faked an emergency to leave. I'm wondering what steps we should take now. We could fire him, but finding another builder is tough, especially for such a small issue, around €130. However, it feels wrong to let this slide. What are your thoughts?
3 Answers
As a retired handyman, I can tell you that it's not uncommon for contractors to use leftover materials, especially tile. But if you paid for it, that's yours. I recommend addressing it; if he truly took those tiles, you should factor that cost out from any remaining payments. Also, keeping a small stash of spare tile is always a smart move in case of future repairs. If you can't trust him now, it may be time to find someone else.
Did you pay for the tiles yourself? If so, he has no right to keep them. You can definitely try to address the issue directly but it might cause more hassle than it's worth. If you're okay with the quality of his work, it might be best to let him finish and consider this a learning experience. Just keep in mind that once trust is broken, it's hard to get it back!
Yes, we picked out and paid for the tiles ourselves. I'm adding that to my original post for clarity. I do appreciate the advice about finding someone else to finish the job!
Honestly, if you're feeling uneasy about him, just fire him. Once you've witnessed someone lying to you about materials on your property, trust is gone. You need someone who's straight with you for this kind of job. It's likely going to save you more trouble in the long run than trying to keep him.
Yeah, exactly! If he can lie about this, what else could he be hiding or doing incorrectly?
That makes sense. I'd rather not have to chase after him for materials later. I’ll consider that when making my decision.