7 Telltale Signs Your Building Contractor Is Cheating You

28 Jun 7 Telltale Signs Your Building Contractor Is Cheating You

It’s normal to have questions and concerns throughout the building or renovation process. A good building contractor makes you feel confident and informed about everything. If you have begun talks with a building contractor or find yourself arguing during a project, you may have hired someone who lacks the temperament, engagement, and integrity that you really need.

Building Contractor Sheepish About Putting Details In Writing

Contracts protect both you and the building contractor. If they would prefer to do things by handshake agreement, it could mean they like to cut corners. They may think you will never know the difference if they use inferior products or non-specialist laborers for tasks that require expertise. Or perhaps they don’t want to be tied down to a schedule because they know they cannot deliver.

Mysterious Credentials Or Identity

Many constructions companies operate multiple business names as different LLCs and DBA names. However, you should feel comfortable with the legitimacy and reputation of the building contractor you have chosen.

At the start, confirm that your contractor has a licensed business and appropriate credentials in the state of California. If they do not have a physical, permanent office, make sure you at least have verifiable contact info. And make sure to personally see insurance information.

Fails To Report With Updates

The building contractor or project manager should be on top of things. Vague updates mean they are sloppy at best, or intentionally hiding something at worst.

If you cannot get answers to questions or status updates when you expect them, do not assume that the contractor is simply too busy or that you don’t understand how the construction process works. A good building contractor can explain everything clearly in lay terms.

Inferior Substitutes For Labor And Materials

If your contract stipulates a certain quality and color for tile or flooring and you see different materials arrive on-site, speak up immediately. It could be an honest ordering mistake, or it could be that the building contractor found a deal on a substitute that does not meet your requirements. If you notice the same worker doing both electrical work and laying tile, this is a major red flag and you should verify the worker’s credentials.

All About Looks — Infrastructure Gets Built Poorly

Sometimes a building contractor will focus heavily on the superficial aspects. These include flooring and cabinetry, while cutting corners on basics such as insulation and electrical work. Talk to your contractor about these critical features as much as you do about finishes. Otherwise, you risk getting a pretty result with costly underlying problems.

Workers Are Out Of Control

Consider firing your building contractor if they fail to manage their team effectively. Some red flags include yelling at workers, workers drinking beer on the job, or just a general air of demoralization. Either the contractor is incompetent, or he may be bullying or underpaying his staff. This can be an uncomfortable situation, but the end result may be lower quality results.

Demanding Early Payment

The maximum down payment to a building contractor in California should be 10%, according to the BBB. Installment payments can be made at regular intervals. Under no circumstances should the final payment be made before the work is complete. Your building contractor might not be doing anything nefarious with the money, but it could indicate problems at their business — and if they spend the money on other projects before finishing, legal battles can ensue.

If you want a professional who understands the building process and the importance of staying on top of things contact us.  Our building experts are here to give sound advice and get your project completed within the agreed budget and on time.