You don’t expect subpar contractor work when you embark on a home project. Home repairs or remodeling projects can be expensive. You invest a significant amount in your home and should expect quality work from any contractor you hire. Unfortunately, sometimes the work is substandard, maybe incomplete, and you feel cheated. Here’s what you can do.
Different ways in which subpar contractor work occurs
Unfortunately, less-than-desirable outcomes can result from these situations.
- Using poor-quality materials
- Performing substandard work
- Leaving a job unfinished
- Not meeting building code requirements
- Lagging significantly behind schedule
- Executing a remodel design that’s different from what you agreed upon
What to do when you are dissatisfied with the work
The first step is to stay engaged in the building process as the project progresses. Staying observant of the work in progress helps you catch developing problems early, when they can more easily be corrected. When the job is nearly complete, corrections may involve a significant amount of tearing out and rebuilding.
Review your contract. Ensure the language is in your favor, aligning with what was agreed upon and what you received.
Next, ask the contractor to meet you at the job where you can show him your concerns. Address matters in a calm, businesslike manner. Ask him why you believe you have not received what was agreed upon, then allow him to explain. Discuss solutions, not accusations, and refrain from implying that the contractor has taken advantage of you. Give him the benefit of the doubt as much as possible, and let him step up and fix the job.
If the contractor disputes that the quality of the work is substandard, you could seek a third-party contractor willing to examine the work and give you an opinion. Offer to pay him for his time. Inform your contractor of the third-party contractor’s opinion.
Other considerations
Also, be aware that some issues could result from developments during the job that the contractor did not foresee. For example, when installing a set of cabinets in an older home, the contractor may find that, due to the house settling, the floor is not level or the walls and ceiling are no longer square, meaning he must “float” out these variations to make the cabinets level and square.
If you cannot work out the differences
If you and the contractor cannot resolve your differences, you must seek mediation from a third party.
- The Better Business Bureau handles such disputes and can help facilitate a compromise agreement.
- You can contact the state licensing agency for building contractors or inquire about their specialties, such as plumbing or electrical work.
- If these methods don’t help, you can contact an attorney if the dollar amount exceeds the state-determined threshold for small claims court.
- If the dollar amount is below the threshold for small claims court, you can take your case there to recover your money.
Related – Can You Trust Contractor Review Sites?
