Builder giving me the run around

Ader1

I purchased a property almost a year ago and chose this builder to do do most of the work as he's done work for other family members too. He gave an estimate for the job. All fine. He came and re-roofed the house at the biginning of the last summer. He then disappeared for weeks to roof other properties before returning to do the odd day here and there. It's now almost Spring time again and there's still loads of work to do. I've had to cancel the kitchen delivery umpteen times. Wickes won't allow me to cancel anymore times. I've had skip problems since it's in the middle of town. Other crafts-people are also being held up until he completes certian things. And now the the weather may improve, he'll be back repairing and re-roofing other properties. I gave him a damn good telling off around 3 weeks ago after which he turned up for a couple of days then disappeared again. It's so frustrating. I'm not sure what to do now. Any advice? He's good at his job and in demand and so greedy he's got so many jobs on at the time including another side-line not retlated to the building trade. I could throttle him at the moment.

DRP

Well, the big question is: have you already paid him to do any of the outstanding work?

If not then definitely start finding other contractors to do the work.

If you have then ask him for the money back, and start finding other contractors

Ader1

No, I haven't paid him for outstanding work. I maybe indeed have to find another contractor.

NICHOLAS_2

Presumably you never stressed that there was a rough deadline before he started work and decided to book other work in because he may have thought that your, presumably empty property, could take a little longer and it wouldn't matter?

If it is causing you trouble i would explain this and say that if he doesn't finish by a certain date you'll find someone else.

If he's bothered he will come back and finish.

snowcat75

Everyone who runs a small business is guilty of this in some way, I'm not in the building trade but have had jobs pushed aside for around 12 months, I finished a job on Tuesday which was about 3 weeks from the estimated date and so on.


If your good at your job you will be in demand, and also its very difficult to work to timescales as jobs change along the way, materials can be delayed, little jobs or snagging interfere and so on..


With that said, he should be able to give you some idea of when he will return, Then to be Legal send him a letter with the agreed timescale for works, stating that outside the period you consider the contract to close and another builder will take over works.

Ader1

NICHOLAS wrote: »

Presumably you never stressed that there was a rough deadline before he started work and decided to book other work in because he may have thought that your, presumably empty property, could take a little longer and it wouldn't matter?

If it is causing you trouble i would explain this and say that if he doesn't finish by a certain date you'll find someone else.

If he's bothered he will come back and finish.

That's the problem......I've explained to him many times and so has another member of our family who has used him in the past. It's basically greed.....taking on so much work along with another business interest. I like Snowcat's suggestion of sending him a letter.