Help...my contractor bailed

[Meghan McCallum]

Hi BP Community,

So, three strikes...I should be out. This is the third contractor that has failed me. So, he blew his first deadline...now its 5+ weeks later. I went and inspected his work and said, hey...I don't think those porches are to code...(of course I got permits and on the windows he has muffed up) He told me I don't know what I'm talking about...(I'm not only a Fire Inspector, but qualify as a home inspector in more than a handful of states).  Much like the firehouse, no one respects you until you can walk into a fire without getting burned. But, he brushed me off, took all hs tools out of the house, and hasn't finished, nor returned. He first started raising his voice and threatened to dig up the concrete that his guys supposedly poured around each post extending one foot below the frostline...as I reminded him of the code, and throw it through the windows. He screamed at me, "Why don't you come here and do an honest days work and get your hands dirty." I told him that's why he gets paid. He is backing out saying that each of the 23 windows he replaced wouldnt be getting wrapped because that wasnt included. (but it was on the last project we just did, in fact he said he wasnt going to wrapt them until the house was painted...now a different story. He is expecting full payment an claiming he did all this extra work that I never approved in plumbing. He has threatened all my properties with mechanical liens.

What is my best way of getting rid of this a-?

I'll be damned if I'm going to be pushed around.

[Rick H.]

Ok, you're Irish. Me, too!

You need someone with a bigger stick and pick your battles carefully.

Delegate the negotiation to your real estate attorney. You will learn about leverage points that you were never ever aware even existed. 

Cool heads prevail. So, you should hire someone who loves eating contractors. 

Meanwhile, you'll need to find someone to get the work done then backcharge the current contractor. Find out who sells the product to other rehabbers. 

Your job is to do deals, not fight contractors. You will not change the contractor's mindset nor is it your place to teach him any lessons. 

Your success depends on you focusing on the most profitable activity that us in front of you and avoiding distractions and giving free rent in your head to others.