Reading all the posts so far, I love the pictures.
I am a Union Carpenter of over 35 years in the trades. The hatchet job on the trim tells me the worker was not trained in trim work. YouTube makes everything look easy.
I bet the floor was sanded with a hand sander. I did my first floor sanding with small electrical sanders. It took forever! The rental sanders are faster and less back breaking!
No permits pulled. I get it. I want to cut corners as much as anyone. This guy is probably a pretty good handy-man for small jobs. He didn't want to pass up the big job, and you loved the idea of hiring cheap, uninsured help.
When you are your own Superintendent, or General contractor, its up to you to assure that proper materials are used and delivered as needed.
As a business owner, you are responsible for getting insurance for Uninstalled and installed materials, and other insurance for damages caused by your workers, by accident or on purpose.
Your due diligence was neglected, and you got blind-sided. That's hard, I understand.
In my career as a Carpenter/Builder, I have seen many ways the job can have a bad outcome.
Dust off your ego, (no disrespect intended),
and see if you can "shadow" a contractor in your area in a house renovation. The questions, need to center upon what YOU need to do so this doesn't bite you again.
Yes, we all want to blame the worker.
We rarely like to look at the events from another side, not so flattering.
Not telling you that you need to hire Union, as I do understand the labor costs.
I do wish to impress upon you the idea that you can do better! You Can let a contractor pick out the material needed.
You could, ask your contractor to furnish a material list for each part of your next project.
Separate the entire project by materials needed, and a labor pay schedule. A schedule can be per project, or per % of the entire job.
When a project or % of the job is complete and inspected to your satisfaction, you write that check! This way, if something was missed, or done wrong, the contractor will have a vested interest in getting it done! NOW!
No need to give the contractor money for materials. You pay the vendors! If YOU pay the vendors, you won't need to worry about mechanic liens being placed on your property because your contractor pocketed the money!
Have a contract for work to be done.
Demand insurance papers from your contractors. VERIFY PROPPER COVERAGE! No payment for permitted work until the inspectors also sign off the work as accepted.
There is more, and less can be done.
The phrase " Pay me now, or Pay me later ", comes from a contractor denied the job because he was more expensive than the "buddy and his friend down the street".
While the project may have been underbudgeted and the worker thinking remodeling is as easy as YouTube makes it seem, you will get another chance to do a better deal!
I have eaten my hat on jobs of my own, paying hired hands from my own pocket. It hurts, and I do not dismiss your pain.
The sun will shine again. Now get out there and GET SOME!
Dan!
Thank you for your response!! I definitely take full responsibility on the crap job and negligence --like i said i was too excited and naive at that time. Looking back- I could have done sooo much and saved so much money but too late now.. only can improve from here. I will take your advice and apply it to the next job--- watch me trend with the best flip ever!! :)
