Your Project: Get it in Writing

Sometimes, you can be too close to your contractor.

There’s a noticeably remodeled house in my neighborhood. It went from a nice midcentury modern one-story to a two-story Spanish-style behemoth boasting an upstairs outdoor room with a magnificent fireplace overlooking a midnight-blue swimming pool. The homeowner, an architect, designed his house for entertaining both adults and teens (he and his wife have two daughters), and he ordered all the right toys and appliances for good times to come

But, in a year or so, they stuck a "for lease" sign in the lawn, left their dream house and moved to a nice midcentury modern one-story fixer-upper with great views – a half-mile away. While they claim the move was for the fabulous view of the water, other neighbors believe it was their tumultuous experience with the contractor and construction process that turned their castle in the sky into the domicile of doom.

But He Seemed Like a Great Guy
You see, the contractor lives right across the street. Easy-going athletic guy, pleasant wife, four kids – the neighbors were casual friends and tennis partners. Since they were right there – merely a few leaps across the street – both saw no need for one of those formal written contracts (pay attention). The athlete was a general contractor with a stable of workers he could round up in a snap. Since the homeowner was the architect for his own remodel, he could address any design issues onsite.

You know what’s next. The sounds of drills and wet saws were silenced for days – sometimes weeks – while the contractor was away on his “bigger” jobs. He’d slink out of his house before dawn to avoid inquiries from his clients/neighbors. Soon came the accusations, denials and arguments. Some name-calling, too.

The Love Story's Over
Long story somewhat shorter, the remodel got done, but about a year later than verbally agreed upon (key words here). The homeowners were so furious with their neighbor that they agreed to halt the project before its completion, finishing up what they could by themselves and enlisting day workers to more-or-less finish the house. For those who didn’t know the story, the place looked pretty good. If unfinished walls could talk.

Work wasn’t completed; payments to the contractor ceased. Friends became enemies, to the point that asking the architect or his wife about the remodel caused both to curse in their native language (not English).

Get a Written Contract from a Licensed Contractor
Remember those key terms that got our friends in trouble? Saying "no" to a formal written contract in favor of a verbal agreement? Get it in writing and make sure the contract includes everything you and your licensed contractor have discussed. Don’t sign your name on anything until you and your contractor have gone over everything. Resist the urge to blindly hire the contractor three doors down, unless it’s done by the book, and you’ve asked the same questions to at least two other contractors.

You don’t want to have to move to evade those evil neighbors, that incomplete patio, or those ghostly images hammering away at -- nothing.

Photo © Lisa Hallett Taylor