depressed :( hired contractor to build walk in coop

[wahmommy]

UPDATE: So the passive aggressive contractor quit when we went out of town over the MLK holiday- he left a voice message for my husband, in which he didn't mention my name or address the message to me at all even though I am the one that hired him and was working with him?!?!. Anyway moving on, as soon as we got back on Tuesday I interviewed some other contractors to finish it and the good news is I seem to have found a really nice one who at this very moment is fixing and finishing the coop *SIGH of relief*

Also after talking to some other contractors it appears he was just making a mess of it (his work was sloppy sloppy sloppy) and I think he decided to quit since he was doing a lousy job and knew that I would be unhappy. I am so glad he is GONE, this new person is so much easier to work with. Hopefully done in a couple of days, will post finished pics then.

 

[bamachicks8]

Glad it worked out for you

 

[jasmer]

He cannot put a lien on you. Did you have any drawings or pictures of your coop design? Blueprints? Anything? If you can prove in small claims court that he deviated from your design that'll back up everything else. He is not holding up HIS end of the contract, not the other way around. He's probably got a lot of personal stuff going on and can't leave it at home when he goes to work. You paid him to build the chicken coop like so, and he's doing something else. HE breached contract, not you. Contact an attorney. He may have quit, but that doesn't mean he won't come after you for the work he did do. Take pictures of his shoddy work before it's all fixed, and take notes and write down everything so you don't forget it. IF he decides to take this to court, you'll eat him alive this way.

 

[littlechick1005]

I think paying him for what he has done so far is reasonable if you decide to go with another contractor to finish the job...not fair to withhold pay for the work thats already done. We have a contractor, hes like part of the family, hes been with us for years...sometimes we get downright fed up with him and the way he does things but then again, over the years hes always been there for us whether we like the way he does it or not...plus if we looked for a new contractor it would take us a while and we'd have to start all over again getting to know them and trust them et...

Edit -sorry didnt see the second page...Nvm what I said lol

 

[wahmommy]

He cannot put a lien on you. Did you have any drawings or pictures of your coop design? Blueprints? Anything? If you can prove in small claims court that he deviated from your design that'll back up everything else. He is not holding up HIS end of the contract, not the other way around. He's probably got a lot of personal stuff going on and can't leave it at home when he goes to work. You paid him to build the chicken coop like so, and he's doing something else. HE breached contract, not you. Contact an attorney. He may have quit, but that doesn't mean he won't come after you for the work he did do. Take pictures of his shoddy work before it's all fixed, and take notes and write down everything so you don't forget it. IF he decides to take this to court, you'll eat him alive this way.

Well we sent him an unconditional release of lien form (and we also kept his voice mail message that said he was not going to hold us to the rest of the money due on the contract). He signed the lien form, so that much is good. Also the coop is done done done and looks fantastic - will try and post pictures later today

 

[naadarien]

I'd pay him for the work so far and be done with it.

Start asking around for references to another handyman and have him/her come assess what has been done so far and what it will take to get you the coop you want. You'll feel so much better once you see work happening the way you expected it to. Move on.

 

[Crazy Mitch]

Pay him for his time and materials and fire him. . . .and don't give him any eggs either!

If you have specific plans. . and he doesn't follow them. . . tell him he can KEEP the coop for himself. . .because he didn't follow your design. And you two are even! And he can finish it any way he wants for his new hobby. Or is it a relative?

Then find another person to hire to build it.

GB
Mitch

 

[debid]

Well we sent him an unconditional release of lien form (and we also kept his voice mail message that said he was not going to hold us to the rest of the money due on the contract). He signed the lien form, so that much is good. Also the coop is done done done and looks fantastic - will try and post pictures later today

So glad to see this update! We went through something like this when my hubby tried to help out a friend who was between jobs. We were paying by the hour (he sure took his sweet time!) He walked off the job without a word one day and when I went to see if he'd finished, I about had a heart attack. The tile floor he was supposed to set that day looked like a child had done it and he had left it with grout all over the place and about 50% of the tiles down. He apparently gave up. I was able to pull it all up, scrape off the half-set grout, and wash the tiles clean before it became an even bigger disaster. Never again.

 

[wahmommy]

So glad to see this update! We went through something like this when my hubby tried to help out a friend who was between jobs. We were paying by the hour (he sure took his sweet time!) He walked off the job without a word one day and when I went to see if he'd finished, I about had a heart attack. The tile floor he was supposed to set that day looked like a child had done it and he had left it with grout all over the place and about 50% of the tiles down. He apparently gave up. I was able to pull it all up, scrape off the half-set grout, and wash the tiles clean before it became an even bigger disaster. Never again.

Yes, sounds a lot like my experience. I had spent probably a good year thinking about this new coop, being excited about building it, etc. However, its now done, and I'm really happy with it - here are pics PS I am particularly happy with the lanterns... they are turn of the century mason jars, with a battery operated candle (that's on a timer, so I don't have to turn it on every night it comes on automatically) the grey gravel is chicken grit.

 

[naadarien]

That is just gorgeous. Nice and airy. It would seem to be a joy to collect eggs from it. Happy for you.