My sister has spent over $400,000 on a home remodel in New England, but the contractor has been a huge headache. While his references looked good, I'm suspicious they might have been his relatives. The project was supposed to finish by Halloween 2024, but every deadline has slipped—first to Thanksgiving, then to Christmas. It's still unfinished, with about a month of work left. There are major issues: the dishwasher and bathroom sink are leaking, the hardwood floor is warped, bar chairs have fallen off, and outlet covers come off when used. To make matters worse, the contractor keeps asking for more money while forgetting that he's already cashed checks due to him. He's also behind on payments with the plumber and the electrician. Her contract includes an arbitration clause, and I genuinely believe he's taking advantage of her because she's a nice, single woman. What should we do from here? Oh, and I almost forgot—many of her tools are missing, light fixtures he was supposed to install have vanished, and he's also left her with clogged toilets. This has spiraled out of control!
3 Answers
Taking legal action is definitely the way to go. Your sister should start by consulting an attorney, especially since there's an arbitration clause in her contract. They’ll likely advise her to invoke that clause, as going straight to court might just send her back to arbitration anyway. It’s good to insist on a realistic timeline for him to finish the work—because you don’t want to be stuck without any progress at the end of whatever time frame is agreed upon.
Definitely look into going after his bond if she can. That could open up more options for recovering some of the costs.
I think filing a complaint with the contractor's licensing board is also a solid step. I had a horrible experience with a contractor in the past, and when I took this route, I was able to file a claim against their bonding. It’s worth doing if she's facing such a nightmare.
And be aware that his problems with subcontractors aren’t her responsibility. The situation could get tricky with potential liens on her property, which could be a real issue if she plans to sell soon.