Contractor breach of contract in Pennsylvania

[Jeff Lehman]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for a little advice in dealing with a contractor. I hired a guy to do some concrete work on a wall that I have at one of my rental properties and he initially gave me a start date of 30 days after we signed the contract. The start date is written on the contract. When the time came and went and he had not started, I contacted him and he gave me another date. Because I know it is hard to hire people and I knew he was looking for help, I was gracious and told him that would be acceptable. However that time came and went as well and I started to get a lot of excuses so I asked for my deposit money back, which I probably should not have paid him up front. To make a long story short, I have been trying for over half a year to get my money back, without taking him to court. He doesn't appear to have any money to be able to pay me back. I have exhausted every option that I can think of without going to court but my issue is that I really don't want to pay a lawyer because even though I can very likely make him "pay" my lawyer fees, if he doesn't have any money, I would be at the same place we are now. And I will have spent lawyer fees that I may never get back top of a deposit that I may never get back. Have any of you ever dealt with a contractor in court, on your own? If so, what advice would you have? Do you know what the procedures are? Especially if I have to place a lien against him. Thanks in advance!!!