What can I do when I find out my general contractor inflated our construction bill and get him liable for job.
Question:We are building our house for past 1 year. Recently, we compare the building details with other friend and realized the general Contractor inflated our rough lumber bill over about 80000(same as other items). Even though on our contract we agree to pay him such amount, we felt that we were cheated when he presented the contract with us.
There are several defects on materials or installation such as doors and windows in my new house (such as the casement windows can't be close during the hot day, the 2-piece front door can't be closed tightly). My contractor refused to take responsiblity of it.
Can anyone know what I can do to get the contractor be liable for it?
Answers:
The time to shop around and compare prices is before you sign a contract, not after. Certainly not after you are 1 year into the project. You are out of luck so far as the money issue is concerned.
Material and workmanship defects are another story. I assume you have talked with your contractor about these things, you need to put your concerns in writing. Make a list of all things that are wrong and ask him to present you with a written plan to deal with them including a time frame. If material defects are an issue, you may need to get in touch with the manufacturer to make a claim against their warranty. Do so soon, as the manufacturer may try to point back to the contractor in which case you need to stay on him to get it resolved.
Is the project complete? Your question does not make this clear. If not, your contract should allow for a payment of the final balance when the project is complete. The project is not complete until these issues are resolved, so it would be proper to hold part of the final payment until they are taken care of.
If your project is complete and you have problems, do not hesitate to contact the Better Business Bureau in your area. They can't force a solution, but they are often helpful in resolving issues. If that fails, you may have to sue the contractor which is not fun, but you will have much better luck if you document things now. Documenting would include the list of items you present to the contractor and his response (or lack thereof). Also take pictures.
Unfortunately, you should have done your research and price comparisons prior to signing a contract. As for the defects, you may have to retain an attorney. Always get at least 3 bids, ask for references and check those references out.
you contact your state's Contractor's License Board you can file a complaint with them - you can also get their bonding information - and you can even file a bond claim against their bond. feel free to contact me if you need further assistance.
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