Having issues with my General Contractor

[Johana Villamil]

I am having problems with my GC. We are 6 months into a whole house gut job and I feel like we are wasting a lot of time. There are days even weeks that no work gets done. His communication with me is terrible. He never answers the phone and just sends me a text here and there. Today I had a new GC come into the house and said we are not even 50% done and he will give me an estimate. He looked into the online portal and said the build permit will be expiring soon. He also saw my house is under investigation. Has anyone had these issues and needed to change their GC? what happens with the initial scope of work and the company that's funding me? At this point I feel I need to take some type of action. I tried to give my old GC a chance because I did not want to increase budget and don't have the funds for another deposit, but I feel stuck and just need to move forward asap!    

[Peter Mckernan]

Quote from @Johana Villamil:

I am having problems with my GC. We are 6 months into a whole house gut job and I feel like we are wasting a lot of time. There are days even weeks that no work gets done. His communication with me is terrible. He never answers the phone and just sends me a text here and there. Today I had a new GC come into the house and said we are not even 50% done and he will give me an estimate. He looked into the online portal and said the build permit will be expiring soon. He also saw my house is under investigation. Has anyone had these issues and needed to change their GC? what happens with the initial scope of work and the company that's funding me? At this point I feel I need to take some type of action. I tried to give my old GC a chance because I did not want to increase budget and don't have the funds for another deposit, but I feel stuck and just need to move forward asap!    

 I saw you need more funds, think there was another post like this a while back. Great info on the responses. Cut ties with the one you have now, and get that other contractor in there that can finish the job fast. There are many contractors that as you mentioned just like the one checking on permits can do this and then never finish the property. I would pay them in draws, and inspect their work every step of the way. Before you higher the next go to some of their active sites of projects and see how they are going. Once you interview them, and find the right one. Do the draws and inspect that work as you go along, and do not pay them unless they do the work. You can even bring a check that same day, and bring someone that has done flips to make sure the scope is done right. 

Now for the current guy, yes you hired an attorney, make sure you put a lien on his house to recoup your costs (this may not be possible if he does not have one, go after him civil to pay the amounts). 

For the money situation, you may need a partner to finish out the deal. Either a family member, friend, or business partner. I would sign an agreement with this partner if you do find one and make sure that a contracts attorney drafts it up. If that is the case, this is what I would do.. Hey partner, I need $20,000 to finish the deal, if you put in $20K I will give you 10% return on your money so you get back 22,000 once I close *just an example but have whatever you do in writing.*

The other option is do a HELOC on a property you own or a personal line from a bank.