The time will come during homeownership when you will need a repair or are interested in making necessary updates and remodels. But what do you do if you have a vendor concern or your contractor isn’t performing on par with expectations? We’ve included a to-do list in hopes we can help you salvage the job at hand.
- Put the majority of your communication in writing. Don’t let miscommunication wreck havoc and ensure it’s all laid out as a reference point to fall back on. That way, should an issue arise – you can pinpoint clearly what was discussed, and should you end up in court, you’ll have the proper documentation.
- Discuss with your contractor a clear time frame to get the task completed or reach notable milestones along the way. This allows you to understand the bigger picture and help keep your contractor accountable for staying on task. With that being said, try to remain flexible with any hiccups along the way. There can be supply-chain issues or factors out of your contractor’s hands.
- The contract is going to be your primary reference point when dealing with issues and concerns. Refer back to it when you have questions or concerns regarding the scope of work or timelines.
- Agreeing to a payment schedule rather than putting all the money upfront gives you some leverage to make sure the task gets completed on time and according to your standards of expectation.
- If worse comes to worst and you can’t seem to settle any disputes with your contractor, you can check in with your city and county’s local agency offices to see if they can be of any assistance. It’s a good first step prior to going to small claims court.
