If you’ve read our post about what an owner’s representative is and thought to yourself that you wouldn’t need that kind of assistance, you may want to think again. Just like it’s better to hire a plumber to install the new sink and faucet you picked out for your kitchen—sometimes you need to hire a person with the right tools and skills to make sure the job is done correctly, the first time, without a lot of excess costs.

Case in point: a couple came to me recently for a consultation about the experience they had just had with their remodel and general contractor. Both husband and wife were extremely smart and savvy people who are top-level executives. When they started looking for a general contractor to work on their remodel, they used a service that reportedly checked the licenses, insurance certifications and references of all companies listed through them.

After receiving and discussing several bids, they finally chose a general contractor and got started on their project. It wasn’t until they reached what should have been the project’s end that they realized the poor quality of the workmanship. Even more shocking was the contractor’s lack of concern about correcting any of the problems. Soon they shared this and other concerns they had with friends and family, and ultimately we were put in contact.

Sadly, when I toured their home, I found the quality of work appalling. The walls had not been primed, therefore the old paint color was leaking through the new paint; the custom master closet was unusable; their newly refinished floor had been ruined by the use of adhesive tape; the wrong door handles had been purchased and, instead of sending them back, they had all been installed upside down; the catalog of disasters was a mile long.

I started doing some checking on the general contractor. I found that he did not have a current license or insurance for general liability or worker’s comp, and was in the middle of a bond dispute. Unfortunately, they had not only paid the entire bill for the project, they had also paid an extra 30% that materialized during the course of work. After some checking, I discovered that only one subcontractor had received any money, and that was just a partial payment, even though the general contractor had collected funds very early on in the project.

To add insult to injury, the general contractor was now threatening to abandon the project, which would leave the couple responsible for paying the subcontractors—and if they didn’t, the subcontractors could put a lien on their home.

The bottom line is that this couple will have to pay twice for poor-quality work, then pay qualified contractors to come in and fix the problems. Although I have set them up with an attorney to address the lien issues and start litigation against the contractor, recouping the money seems very unlikely.

The good news is that I’m doing my best to work with them to get their house fixed. I’m calling in some favors with my trusted network of contractors to see how we can get some silver lining from this dark cloud of an experience.

It’s easy to get duped by unlicensed or unscrupulous contractors. In March, the Orange County Local News reported that 18 contractors in Orange County were arrested for working without licenses. These were people who had multiple offenses and used illegal advertising to find jobs.

Find out if you’re getting a deal that’s too good to be true—get your dream home, not a nightmare experience. This highly intelligent couple thought that they were on the path to success with their remodel, and now they end up with triple the bill and a lawsuit. Do you have questions? Want to find a trusted set of contractors for your project? Please give D&S Kuhn a call or email. The consultation is always free, so there’s nothing to lose.

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