How to handle an ineffective building contractor

Your home is your castle. Before hiring a building contractor, you probably dreamed of ways to improve your house. If your vision does not line up with the contractor’s results, you may need to act quickly to save money, protect your legal rights and find someone to do the job correctly.

As their name suggests, most building contractors use contracts. That is, your contractor probably outlined duties and obligations in a legally binding document. If you think a building contractor has breached a contract, you have the following options.

1. Request a meeting 

Before escalating a building dispute, you may want to request a meeting with your building contractor. Simply put, your contractor may not realize he or she is not meeting your expectations. Therefore, try discussing your concerns in a nonconfrontational and proactive way. With a bit of talking, you may be able to get on the same page as your building contractor.

2. Ask your contractor to stop working 

Sometimes, firing a building contractor is the only way to stop ongoing problems. If you must go this route, be sure you work to mitigate your damages. That is, try to find a replacement contractor who can do the job in the same time frame. If your contractor has left dangerous conditions, try to cover or repair them to keep your family and guests safe.

3. Read your contract 

Your contract may outline your legal remedies. For example, your building contractor may require you to go through mediation or arbitration to settle disputes. Once you understand your options, you can proceed in an informed way.

4. Go to court 

You may have spent a fortune for unfinished or inferior results. While you may not be a litigious person, you may have to go to court to receive compensation for your damages. If they are under $5,000, you may be able to resolve the dispute in Florida small claims court, though.

You do not have to put up with either shoddy craftsmanship or unfinished work. While you may not have the expertise to remodel your home without the assistance of a building contractor, you have a variety of options for protecting yourself. Remember, your goal is to receive satisfactory results. With a bit of effort, you can likely get there.