Contractor Change Order

[Ty Burns]

My General Contractor that I am using on one of my rehabs has just sent me a change order for $5500 over our initial budget. In addition to that, he is telling me that I have to pay the tile guy, the electrician, and the wood floor guy as well(all this work was included in the initial budget). He sent me the change order after the project was completed and the work was already done. In my experience, you are suppose to consult with the owner BEFORE any additional work is completed that is not on the initial scope of work. A few things came up along the way that we talked about and agreed upon that were going to be over budget. I am going to pay him for the remaining balance of what we agreed upon in our contract and for the extra repairs that popped up along the way that we discussed and agreed to pay for. Anyone have any ideas as to what else I can do? I dont want to get into a legal battle with this guy.

[Bill Gulley]

Work it out, but get a lien waiver for those jobbers before you give him any more money, waivers from everyone he had on the site to the date any new disbursements are to be drawn, if he can't or won't I'd say you have no choice but to get an attorney or get ripped off. I bet if he gets a letter from an attorney and he hasn't been paid yet, he'll change his tune, they usually do. Good luck!

Oh, no he can't contract for you to others unless he is the GC and he hires them, if he didn't hire them and you didn't ask your attorney, but try and work it out. :)