Total scenario screams red flag. I've worked for a guy who wanted just a ballpark over the phone and details worked out later. Got paid, but always after some haggling.

Send him a few texts. He'll get them. If he doesn't respond even to those...tread very carefully dealing with him.

As far as the mailbox being full, there could be many scenarios, good or bad, but bottom line, it just isn't good business. Potential clients, first time calling you and don't get to leave a message, guess what, they are not calling back. They'll move on to contractor second on their list. Why? Besides the fact that most people want answers/results now, now, NOW! (at least here in NY) it shows that you are not communicating with your clients at all times.
In this day and age, access to your contractor isn't a phone call at 8:30 when they get home from work and check their answering machine. Smart phones took all that away.

Its a good point to check your messages and re-record your phone message each morning, "Hi you reached *** construction, it's March 2nd, I'm sorry I missed you and I'll get back to you within the hour." This screams that you organized, reliable and overall on top of your game!

 

Maybe your contractor doesn't answer the phone if he sees a strange number.

 

Sorry but my two cents I'd full mailbox is a huge red flag. Especially after a say or two. I don't need contact or a callback immediately but a potential sub will get one second attempt at a phone call. A customer or a potential employee with a full voicemailbox will never get called again. I'm too busy to chase after people who are perpetually unavailable. Everyone I have ever known or heard of with a full voicemailbox longer than a day or two was a complete dirtbag.

 

I really dislike voicemail. All of my closest work associates and friends know not to leave me one. I can see with my "smart" phone that someone called me and I call back when I've climbed down off a ladder or put the paint brush down. Having to listen to their voicemail takes longer than calling them back. That being said though, I'm adamant about deleting them as soon as I've heard them. Not everyone has the same philosophy. Some of us are just more organized with our communication. Sometimes it's difficult to handle 15 to 30 texts and phone calls while you're working. This guy, if he's serious about his business, really needs to improve his communication skills.

 

builder never signed contract #3, but somehow thought Id be on the jobsite today....

I called him tonight...his phone is full again (it wasn't a few days ago)

so this voice mail thing is a major problem for him...don't see how anyone can run a business with their voice messages being full

if I don't get paid I lien the house....ive never lost....once the homeowner see's the legal letters they yell at the builder....and I get paid....

how can I collect when it hasn't been 30 days yet? .....very few GC's pay quicker than 30 days...I have a bunch, but its definitely not the norm.....

im going to do a legal search on the WI court system for this guy