Contractor issues

[halleesmom]

Holy hell, it is like babysitting a toddler dealing with this guy.  We just closed on our new construction home 2 weeks ago.  We decided to get the base level carpet so we could install the wood floors ourselves because it was about 10x cheaper than having the builder do it.  Ok, so the install processs didn't quite go as planned so we decided to hire someone to do the install. 

Everything has been going ok, just the basic issue, showing up late, leaving early, taking long lunch hours, moving at a snail's pace, blah blah blah.  Well the guy told me the job would take 3-4 days, we are on day 8.  My husband only worked a half day today so when he got home at 11:30 the guy wasn't there.  I figured he was just at lunch, he shows up two hours later and when my husband asked him when he would be finished (because he told me yesterday he would be done today) he told my husband he would need 1-2 more days!  DH asked him why and he starts in with all of these excuses so DH asked him where he was for the last 2 hours, the guy blows up and basically throws a temper tantrum.  DH calls me and says he is about to fire the guy.  I talk to the guy and basically stroke his ego so he will stay and finish the job, everything is fine by the end of the call.  DH texts me 30 minutes later saying the guy packed up all of his tools without a word and left, taking our brand new garage broom with him. 

So, I call the guy and ask him what is going on.  He continues to whine and says he was afraid of DH and he didn't want to get beat up because DH allegedly told him he was "violent."  Um, no, DH has never used the word violent, "I will kick your ass" is more his style.  DH tells me he didn't say another word to the guy after I got off the phone with him the first time because he was in the attic organizing all of our totes.  So, again I have to placate this guy so he will go back to the house and finish the job. 

I wouldn't be so worried about getting this done but I have paid this guy for the work as he has completed it.  Well, I also sold him our old range for way below market value as a trade for completing the baseboards.  I let him take the range already and the baseboards aren't done.  So basically he has more compensation than he earned at this point. 

So, right now the guy is back at the house working, DH is at the house with strict instructions to stay away from him and I am at work hoping I don't get another message or phone call that all hell has broken loose again.  Dear God, I just want this project to be done!

[kaylie]

Where did you find this clown?

[halleesmom]

Craigslist...I know I know I get I pay for.

Jun 28, 2013 18:54:06 GMT -5 kaylie said:

Where did you find this clown?

[halleesmom]

We didn't have a contract. So far I have paid him for all the work he has done. I have not paid him for his materials, so about $325. The only thing he has left to do is nail down the quarter round and caulk everything. He should be finished tomorrow. His work has been good but the excuses and victim attitude is exhausting.

Jun 28, 2013 19:49:50 GMT -5 nursecramer said:

Ugh. I feel for ya. We went through something similar last summer. How much have you paid him so far? What kind of contract do you have with him? I would check it over and see what it says (as well as your state laws) about not finishing the job. I know our state says that the contract has to have language in it about how long the job will take and what will happen after exceeding such and such time, and if it doesn't have that in it, the contract is void.

[kaylie]

And get an Angie's List subscription. However, it was a really good deal it might have been worth it. Flooring makes me nervous so I probably wouldn't have risked it. Too many ways it can go wrong.