Thank you!
I bought this fix upper custom home from my agent after I bought several properties from him. He is a licensed real estate agent, but not a licensed contractor.
We worked well together during those transactions. I started to trust him. I saw a few projects he finished. I liked what I saw very much. So I hired him to do the work. The plan was to re do the main house inside out including wiring and plumbing, yard work including paving the driveway, concrete, retaining walls, deck and fence. There is an addition building of two car garage that needs to be finished. He only covers the labor and designs if it needs it. I pay for the materials. He drew up the remodeling plan and I signed it with giving much thoughts.
One of the main problems is at the payment plan.
35% to start the project.
25% after 45 days
20% after sheet rock up
20% after finished
I paid him the second payment already. He is now going after the third payment. The work has only been finished less than third.
Everything seemed going well at the beginning. Soon I started to feel I was losing control of my project. Then I knew he was working on other two projects at the same time including one of his own plus being an agent. He bought materials, paid for it and gave me the receipts. So I did not know what he bought, how many he bought and where he drove those supplies to. After I realized this, I told him I need to be there to pay what he bought. He called me and yelled at me about that. It may be a little late. But I held my ground.
Soon text messaging becomes our main communication. I knew he started to lie (I later realized he lied before). He would tell me someone was on site working. When I unexpected to show up at the site, no one was there. Then he would tell me the guy had diarrhea and have to leave so on. In fact he signed them to work at other places.
Around last Nov or Dec he told me he has a late stage colon cancer. Recently he told me he knew he was sick last May. I think that was time that he started to change. He told me his insurance does not cover the cancer treatment. I know he needs to finish his own project in order to put it on the market.
At this point, I just want to cut my loss and terminate our contract. I would really like to get partial of my money back if it is possible. I feel I may be dreaming too much about that. But my friend who is a law student tells me do not give it up so soon.
Let me know what else you need to know.
Please advise!
Best,
BeBe
