Anyone Willing To Offer Advise?

riley4416

I am hoping some of you can help me. My husband was a general contractor for many years, but unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. In February, I signed a construction contract with a very reputable contractor in my area. The contract states the approximate cost of the home is $340,000.00. This includes a 43,000.00 contractor's fee. I already owned the land, so that is not included. I was notified last week that he needed $134,000 more than the contract stated, because of what I added to the home. He has already received the amount in my contract plus $20,000. The last time I talked to him and gave him money, he said this would finish the job. Well, the only thing I added was two more rooms upstairs that are approximately 500 sq. ft. total. The space was already there, so I figured it would be feasible, since the floor was already laid out. All he did was add the sheetrock, everything else was already there. The rooms are side by side. Would that have been $134,000 worth of material and labor? I haven't signed anything stating him to make the changes, although they were already done, but if the estimate would have been that much, the rooms would be blown with insulation right now. I have contacted an attorney, but can't get in to talk with him for 2 weeks. The contractor has locked me out of the house and all work has stopped. I guess all I want to know is if this is common? My husband used to add things all the time for people, but he didn't rip them off. He keeps leaving me messages about getting him his money, but I won't answer. Isn't this illegal? I got a copy of my job cost sheet and he has me charged for mowing and watering my yard, yet I don't even have grass sewn yet. He has me charged nearly 40,000 for a screened in porch. Help me please. I feel like if I talk to someone in the business that is honest, my nerves would calm down. Thank you all for your help! Please feel free to email me if you need me clarify anything. Thanks again! P.S. You contractors need to explain everything to your spouse as to how the business works, so this will never happen to them.

send_it_all

If he doesn't have a signed change order or a seperate contract for the added work, he doesn't have a leg to stand on. I don't know what was involved in adding the rooms, but if it was just drywalling space that was already there, and not adding foundation and roof, or even framing...$134,000 is ridiculous.

What was the extra $20,000 for?...This whole thing is a mess and a prime example of why there is so much paperwork involved in this business. When you paid him that money and he said it would finish the job...you should have received an unconditional lien waver.

ProWallGuy

Get a different attorney. One that can meet with you tomorrow.

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Ed the Roofer

I agree 100 % with that.

It sounds like you are being held (reverse) hostage, by not even having access to your property.

There are ways around the lien laws, if he threatens you with that.

Ed

riley4416

The extra rooms only needed the drywall, which is why I added it. When he gave me the cost sheet to get the rest of the money, it had $7,000 for the tile. I know I went overboard with the tile and was expecting that amount. The other says $800 - Bill's Labor (Don't know who Bill is or what he does), sheetrock labor - $6,840, Excavating - $5,000. (Not sure what else there is to excavate. I have already spent $30,000 on this, because they ran into some rock. I just figured it was for the extra rooms. That's what I get for "figuring" huh? All of this was typed on a sheet of paper and attached to the Job Cost Detail report. I am just really confused. This man is a very reputable contractor in the area. He was even named Builder of the Year. It just doesn't make sense. I only went over on the tile and added the two rooms. When I asked him to explain to me where all the money went, he pointed at the job cost detail sheet. He must have pulled the amount out of the air, because nothing is adding up. Thank you for replying. Sorry my posts are so long, but I have to spell everything out for myself to understand it.

riley4416

I guess he gave the unconditional lien waver to my bank. They gave me a copy of the draw inspection form and the inspection was completed two days after he received the money. I added more into the loan, so the money was there if he needed it, but he didn't know that. The bank was concerned and requested all receipts, but they never threatened legal action, which is why I made an appt. with my own. I would think the bank would have sent someone out before they gave him that much, but it seems the inspection always takes place after the money is dispursed. I just happened to notice it when I pulled up my bank accounts. His wife mentioned something about a lien as I was leaving. I just want in my house. I have to be out of this house on the 30th.

Doesn't the contract cost have to match to some degree?

Mike Finley

***** I'm so sick of these things. Homeowner is getting screwed (according to them), contractor is getting screwed (according to him), here's 3 jarbled details about something that is more complicated then sending a man to the moon, what should I do?

How about you post pdfs of your contracts and every document you have here, all the cancelled checks, transcripts of every discussion, video of every interaction between you and your contractor and we will hold a kangaroo court, create a poll and whatever the poll outcome you follow as the decision?

I'm sorry, sorry for the ranting, all you want is advice so my advice is pay the bill since nobody knows what the real story is. Just pay it and don't ever hire anybody to build anything for you again.

Argh! Isn't this a contractor's website?

send_it_all

Goodness....looks like somebody has a case of the Mondays.

Mike Finley

Those T.P.S. reports have been getting me down, I keep forgetting to put the new cover sheets on them.

send_it_all

lmao....you caught it....cool.
I was expecting a verbal beatdown.

Bummie

riley4416.... you should have gotten everything in writing. This protects you and the contractor. You should have asked, "How much is this extra work going to cost me?" You didn't so as a contractor I would say you have to pay!! We have only heard your side of it.... what does your reputable contractor have to say. If he is well established in your community, I doubt he decided to become a rip-off artist just because he is doing work for a widow!!

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Tom M

I was feeling bad for you until I read something about charging you for cutting and watering the lawn. If you somehow agreed to that I cant imagine what else you agreed to that you were unaware of. My significant other knows little about my work, however she hears much about the business from me. Is it possible you okayed some "construction lingo" you misunderstood?

Bone Saw

u may b able 2 put him federal pound me in the @$$ prison if u hire william lumberg esquire

GSE

I agree, but one big red flag came out in the OP "My husband used to add things all the time for people, but he didn't rip them off."

Adding anything cost money, your not ripping anyone off by passing on the cost of an addition, your recovering your expenses, and a small profit, somithing any business needs to survive.

tinner666

How big is this house?

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Frank Slate Roof Repairs, Richmond, Va.

copusbuilder

You say the space was already there? Did he have to frame the rooms? Wire the outlets, Insulate, basboard, trim ,flooring, doors, paint, texture, windows
Plumb? up the H.V.A.C.

It is always easier than it sounds and is usually more involved.
Only you know the case. Try talking in a logical manner perhaps with a 3rd party?

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Flacan

Tinner's onto to something.

Tell us where you're located. Then tell us a few details about your house: how much living area, garage area, patio areas, options such as the screened patio you mentioned, pool, granite or solid surface countertops, kitchen details, ceiling heights, flooring, etc you have (maybe post a few photos). It's possible that maybe someone here who's located in your area, can tell you if your contract is in the ballpark of being reasonable.

I'm not promising anything.

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Raimo Kumpulainen
Those who don't remember the past, are condemned to repeat it.