The home contractor did not even start the work and now refusing to refund my money

[pennyone]

Our contractor took forever but they finally completed the remodel attic, put in a new shower there, remodel the master bath, installed a back deck and updated half the electrical and installed two mini split systems. But they also recently installed a back glass French door and updated the water faucet in the master bath. I am not happy with the faucet in the bath as it is not flushed with the wall….so the bill due for the French glass door will not be paid until I am happy with the faucet. You need to be tough or they will ride all over you.

[johngolf]

Not to speak to all big box stores but it is not uncommon for them to send someone (inspector) out to look at the job before giving a final quote. Often they will charge for this visit (less then $100) and will take the visit cost off the final quote if you go a ahead with their quote.

I had one experience with Lowes. The in store person gave me an estimate on tiling my screen porch floor. The "inspector" said they would not do the job without an underlayment which nearly doubled the price. I said I know several that did such without an underlayment including DIY at another house. He said as Lowes was guaranteeing the job the only way they could do it was is if the underlayment was used due to potential cracking. I did not go ahead with the job. What I did is had indoor/outdoor carpeting installed. As it is a screen porch, the carpet does get somewhat exposed to the elements. I just had it replaced after 6 years.

[matrix5k]

I deposited $2500 for a new roof back in July. The contractor originally estimated to do the job in October. They claim the delay is due to the supply chain/labor shortage. I asked when they expect to start but they say they'll only give 2-3 days notice. Should I be concerned?

[simplexsimon]

Originally Posted by matrix5k

I deposited $2500 for a new roof back in July. The contractor originally estimated to do the job in October. They claim the delay is due to the supply chain/labor shortage. I asked when they expect to start but they say they'll only give 2-3 days notice. Should I be concerned?

Depends on the reputation of the contractor. As a general rule I try to know my exit options before agreeing to a deal.

[1200RT]

Originally Posted by matrix5k

I deposited $2500 for a new roof back in July. The contractor originally estimated to do the job in October. They claim the delay is due to the supply chain/labor shortage. I asked when they expect to start but they say they'll only give 2-3 days notice. Should I be concerned?

We had a new roof put on a house back over the summer. When we put a deposit (20%?), the roofers contract required job start w/in a specified time frame (maybe 10 days? I don't recall, but its besides the point). Is there anything like this in the contract w/ the roofer? 3-4 months sitting on a deposit is on the long side, IMO. Are they doing other jobs?

[matrix5k]

Originally Posted by 1200RT

We had a new roof put on a house back over the summer. When we put a deposit (20%?), the roofers contract required job start w/in a specified time frame (maybe 10 days? I don't recall, but its besides the point). Is there anything like this in the contract w/ the roofer? 3-4 months sitting on a deposit is on the long side, IMO. Are they doing other jobs?

Yes they do many roofs and said the rain last month has made them fall behind schedule. They get good reviews.

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by matrix5k

I deposited $2500 for a new roof back in July. The contractor originally estimated to do the job in October. They claim the delay is due to the supply chain/labor shortage. I asked when they expect to start but they say they'll only give 2-3 days notice. Should I be concerned?

I put a $2000 deposit down w/a landscaping contractor for a project back in mid June. They just got to mine the last week of September. I was told that a few crew members got Covid and that put them behind, then it was a rainy stretch we had that put them behind. However, I imagine they must have been booked pretty solid. At least these folks actually showed up and did a good job. Seems to be few and far between these days with any type of contractor who actually shows up and does a quality job. It was worth the wait in the end.


That was actually my one gripe is that they couldn't give me a specific week they expected to start the job, just said they'd call 2-3 days in advance. I called their office mid July and they had no scheduling time frame yet. Then, I called end of August and they still couldn't tell me, then the trucks just rolled up one day during the last week of September with no advance notice!

[mdovell]

There have been shortages of labor and material, not to say what happened is fair but let me say a few things.

To just get someone to trim a tree for me took about a month last year. I had to get an attempt to get three quotes. First one said he'd get a tree guy and didn't say anything, second just said nope and walked away, the third did it via subcontractor. I had more gutters put on. The first set was fine with no issues. The second set I found out was not angled and as a result the water sat there. I had to pay another company a small amount as the original contractor left town. The company is in his fathers name in florida. I found supposedly his address and wrote to him about my money back for the fix, not the installation.

Landscaping I hear is backed up a bit sometimes months.

If a legit contractor has a delay they should say why they are being delayed an a expectation of when. On the box store subject I can tell you having worked for them usually there's what's called a detail that is refunded. It's a measurement of what is to be done. Believe it or not some think they can measure and many contractors don't want to work with that

From what I have seen lately is that whoever wants to get work done is buying the materials and will deal with the labor later. My neighbor did the roof of his garage but the crew didn't have time to do the rest of the house.