Contractor?

Question

I hired a contractor to do a fire damaged duplex unit. He told me in the beginning that there would be no money out of pocket. I do not have full replacement cost coverage on my insurance. We agreed for the contract price, plus the supplement checks that come in. Now he is telling me that I owe for the deprecation as well. This was not our agreement. Do I have to pay this? No, it was not written in the contract. I want to also know if the 20% overhead & profit is built into this. He also has not completed this job and it has been going on for 8 months on a small duplex unit. Can I finish it myself and deduct this from the contract amount?

Answer 1

If its not in the contract too bad for him.People need to check referenses,especialy with contractors.I am a contrator and cannot believe some of the horror stories I hear.Everybody calls themselvws a contractor nowadaysand all they do is send people to do the job that dont have a clue and barely speak english to be able to communcate.Contact the better Business Burreu.If the contract has finish date on it,you should be able to finish and deduct from the origina price.

Answer 2

What depreciation? What "supplement checks?" Unless you shopped for the contractor and got several bids, it's hard to know what profit he built into the contract. Overhead should have been included in the cost of the contract.

He probably "low-balled" you to get the contract and now wants to change the terms to make a profit. Hold him to the contract, get a lawyer to send him a letter demanding he honor his contract, or, if your state requires contractors to be licensed and has a process to hold him accountable, file your complaint with the board of registration or whatever it's called where you are.

Answer 3

if it is not in writing, you are OK.

no contract than you might not have to pay, but if there is a contract than you might have to pay..