need advice how to resolve problem with contractor

[Jane Shafrin]

the licensed electrician i hired to do a short list of repairs to my rental didn’t finish work he agreed to do and left me with a mess of trash even though i asked him not to put anything in the trash receptacle outside he smushed his boxes etc into it and the cover wouldn’t close there are varmints in the area. he left an electric plug uncovered after he agreed to install a blank cover etc

what should i do my work list was very clear and i supplied all the light bulbs and new fixtures. instead of a ladder he stood on a half full paint bucket i am not sure it can be opened now etc

i am waiting for advice before i settle with him he was pretty sloppy with finishing up

i had a great guy but he is very busy and said he’s too old for ladder work … 

i’m really having bad luck with hiring.

thanks in advance for ideas

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Jane Shafrin:

the licensed electrician i hired to do a short list of repairs to my rental didn’t finish work he agreed to do and left me with a mess of trash even though i asked him not to put anything in the trash receptacle outside he smushed his boxes etc into it and the cover wouldn’t close there are varmints in the area. he left an electric plug uncovered after he agreed to install a blank cover etc

what should i do my work list was very clear and i supplied all the light bulbs and new fixtures. instead of a ladder he stood on a half full paint bucket i am not sure it can be opened now etc

i am waiting for advice before i settle with him he was pretty sloppy with finishing up

i had a great guy but he is very busy and said he’s too old for ladder work … 

i’m really having bad luck with hiring.

thanks in advance for ideas

If you've already paid and the loss is less than $250, cut ties and let it go.

If you have not paid yet, or haven't paid in full, write him a short letter explaining the scope of work and what he failed to do. Offer to pay him for the work he completed, minus the cost of cleaning up his mess. If he demands payment in full, ignore him. If he actually figures out how to take you to court, then you can respond and negotiate a settlement somewhere in the middle. Odds are he's not bright enough and will drop the whole thing.