Are contractors botching the work on your home?
This happens waaaaayyy too often.
Some contractors think that they can do poor quality work and get away with it. Unfortunately, they usually do get away with it.
And sometimes the best thing you can do is fire them before they do more damage to your home.
Here are some recommendations for navigating this difficult and unfortunate situation:
Check Your Contract — Most homeowners don’t know it, but a lot of times there are contractual penalties for firing a contractor before the work is done or the bill is paid. That’s why it’s extremely important to read your contract and understand the ramifications of cancelling the contract. Ideally, you’ll want to find some way that the contractor has broken their part of the agreement, which justifies you firing them without penalty.
Don’t pay more than you have to — Many people don’t know this, but in California, you should only pay up front up to $1,000.00 or 10% of the budgeted project, whichever is less. You don’t want to pay up front an exorbitant amount and then find out your contractor has to be fired and you have to ask for your money back.
Get Adequate Documentation — Before firing the contractor, you’ll want to document everything. Take pictures and videos before and after the work they’ve done. Record conversations if necessary (with their consent). And take notes on all relevant information that will help you if it goes to court.
Consider Mediation — If things get ugly, you might consider hiring a mediation company to help you and the contractor come to an agreement outside of court.
If all of that sounds like too much hassle, did you know you can sell your house without fixing it up first? At Green Sur Properties, we’ll buy your house as-is for cash and we can close in as little as two weeks. Give us a call at (323) 990-3922 to get your fair cash offer!
