This is the first client I’ve ever had that hasn’t paid every invoice even if there are small things that need to get finished. It’s time and materials and I need to pay the guys
You need to loop in the person who referred you to this difficult client. You have been more than fair and have been greatly taken advantage of.
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To clarify, I think they are jerks for not paying promptly, in full, and their failure to pay is despicable.
Shame on them for not appreciating you. Without your willingness to take on their project and deal with their unrealistic expectations and inadequate budget, they’d be living in an unimproved dump.
And shame on them for not caring that your hard-working crew must be paid.
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I am not sure what you have left to do that can be withheld, but if there is anything of significance - a city/county final inspection?- I’d be saying, no $$, no further progress.
And the crew will be unavailable - starting next job - in 2 days.
Coralbrook, you are a saint!
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I hate to say this…but you may end up in either small claims or needing a lawyer for this one.
It’s unfortunate that this couple is being this way.
We had things unfinished in our house when it was built. Not crooked, or somehow otherwise “unacceptable”…things that were not done. We paid the builder in full for everything completed and got estimates on the items not completed that were part of our contract (driveway, window inserts, all of the grading and grass planting, gutters), and we set up a meeting ASAP where we handed him the check for the completed work…and a list of what it would cost US to get these jobs done (we don’t get a contractors discount). It was about 5% of the total cost of building this house. The builder did the window inserts, but nothing else…and he agreed with out payment.
These are not items that are still remaining to do. These are corrections to existing work (screws in cabinets) or changes wanted to move range hood and their concern about a leak under slab. So I would lump them into the category of maybe they are concerned with the quality of work
We are already onto another 2 week quick job to fix up a rental between tenants. The irony is that my agent (who is real estate agent partner with the woman) is begging me to get ready to renovate a rental investment property for her. It’s going to close escrow soon. I don’t dare share my frustrations with her because I don’t want to get in the middle of their permanent relationship. At least 75% of my business is referrals from her. Clients who buy properties that need remodels.
Im sure I will get paid, just a modified amount. I have always gone back and fixed anything that clients aren’t happy with because our reputation is the most important asset we have. I charged a minimal management fee of only $250/week because I have worked with them for years and I wanted to be a little hands off and not have to work a 40 hr week. So, the irony is that if they chose not to pay some amounts it will probably have to come straight out of my pocket. I will never ever tell my guys “I cannot pay you for 4 hrs last week because the client thinks it took you too long to install the cabinets”. I wouldn’t have a crew left and it would set up an atmosphere of unnecessary stress on them.
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Your clients will never be happy.
These are the type of people who think they deserve a million dollar renovation for pennies.
Don’t forget that they bypassed a crucial inspection to get a rat infested, dried-up, unoccupied, 60 year-old home full of technical glitches and surprises. They promised to get work done, on their end, and did not comply with the timing of the schedule.
I think it sucks that you will probably have to go to small claims court to get your money. They, obviously, won’t pay because they really don’t have the funds. Can you still place a lien on the property?
We paid our contractor according to a contracted payment schedule, as work, in certain areas was completed. We received a discount for paying in cash, with each section of work completed. We had no idea how much the costs to repair flood damage would escalate to cover the unknowns until walls were opened. You cannot predict that water damage affects more than just the bathrooms.
For your clients, the cabinets were rushed, and given supply chain issues, I think you did a great job!
(Our original Arizona Tile order- Paros hexagon 8 ½” tile- is still on a container ship somewhere in Long Beach! No idea it was coming from Italy! https://www.arizonatile.com/products/porcelain-and-ceramic/paros )
We waited 4 months for our Lowe’s cabinets! Regarding their cabinets, their budget didn’t allow for many options.
Pull out that spread sheet, and pictures, and have them give you something for work that isn’t currently in question. That’s the right thing to do.
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You don’t want to share your frustrations with your agent because of potentially harming her relationship with her partner. But it’s very possible the partner i.e. client might damage your relationship with the agent. You may be keeping quiet, but is the client? You don’t know what she might be saying which could influence your agent’s decision to give you referrals.
It might be smart to diplomatically mention to your agent friend that you don’t know if she’s heard anything, but that you’ve had some issues/problem, including payment needed for your crew. And that if she has any questions about the situation, to please discuss it with you.
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From what Coralbrook has shared about this couple the non payment might be coming from the boyfriend. It seems like he is the demanding difficult one and the female client isn’t standing up for Coralbrook.
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I won’t go to Small Claims Court or anything like that. Just sharing how every client is different. Give me the lawyer from Dallas who loves fancy things any day. She does not question every hour spent on anything. That’s the stupid part. Who did they think was going to drop everything and show up with 2 weeks notice the day they closed escrow and work weekends to get them into the house in less than 7 weeks? That’s the part that irks me.
Not worried about my real estate agent. She has been calling me all week to schedule renovations for a rental property she purchased. I don’t think she would ever use anyone else. I did mention I was having an issue trying to get final payment and she said “Do you need me to intervene?” I thanked her, but No. And then she reassured me that we would get paid promptly every week and she’s not going to second guess anything we are doing.
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We’re just looking out for you, @coralbrook!
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Just checking with @HImom since this was your last post - how are you holding up with the rains? Looks terrible in the news stories!
Our area was a bit sodden but not much damage I’m aware of. Other areas were much more slammed and the unhoused really had a bad time of it with their tents meant for only light passing showers. We had flickering power briefly and momentarily lost it but otherwise fine. Other areas lost power for differing lengths of time.
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Congrats on being near the end! Just be happy you left them with ugly wall paper. That’s on them! My dad’s 60 year old house had outlets in the bathroom that were part of the bathroom cabinet up at the top where the lights were. I wonder if this house was similar.
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There were no outlets in the bathrooms in this house. So that was part of the rewire and new panel we out in (for 60% of the electrician quote they got and they added a ton of stuff not in the quote). We also added exhaust fans to the bathrooms and additional lighting
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My brother just mentioned downtown Honolulu just got back power today, so we’re without power from Monday to Thursday morning!
I totally missed this flip! Can someone send me a link? I tried as suggest upthread on flickr and couldn’t get first time homebuyer in groups.
I met with the homeowners on Wednesday evening. They had a list of things that they were not happy about. Then I got a lecture on how they should not be charged for 20 minutes each day when the guys were taking breaks or eating lunch. I just let it go in one ear and out another. They are unhappy with the kitchen cabinets - don’t even get me started. There was one screw that was crooked inside a cabinet (they think that damaged the cabinet) and they didn’t like the trim piece we invented to cover up the big gap on a panel against the really crooked original wall to left of sink. They wanted to know why we didn’t fix all the studs in the wall to make them straight. Evidently they were hounding the poor cabinet guy while I was gone on vacation and he sent people over twice to fix things that were just stupid.
They wanted to argue about having to pay for certain hours and I just explained it was Time and Materials and the guys were there working. Did not budge on that one. Finally got paid.
Bottom line is we are going to have to move the range hood because it was mounted to the original vent hole in ceiling and it is too far back, about 10 inches back. Not catching all the steam coming off front burners of stove. They made it very clear that I was going to have to pay for the fix.
I took some quick pictures of finished bathrooms and kitchens and they are loaded to Flickr.
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You are a miracle worker with that budget!
I had to LOL about the wonky walls and gerry rigging trim pieces. Our 118 year old house had zero level or plumb surfaces and everything is “cheated” in the kitchen to look right.
Hopefully the range hood move won’t be too painful.
What’s the next project?
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CB you are a saint and a miracle creator. To turn that dilapidated ugliness into those beautiful spaces on that puny budget AND in such short period of time is a real miracle. Please do not do any more work for these ungrateful folks.