What to do When Your Contractor Doesn't Pay Subcontractors and Suppliers
Recently I was contacted by some homeowners when their contractor told them that he had run into financial troubles and would not be completing their renovation work. They quickly discovered that he had not paid numerous subcontractors and suppliers and left them holding the ball. Over the years, I have seen this scenario many times. Contractors who are not adept at running their businesses “rob Peter to pay Paul.” At times, it is simply mismanagement of their finances, but sometimes it is intentional and criminal. How can a homeowner avoid getting caught in this kind of situation? At its worst, I had a client who discovered that fourteen of the sixteen subs were never paid. The homeowner pays his general contractor in good faith and then faces the prospect of having to pay twice for the same work and materials. There are some ways that a homeowner can protect himself. 1. Make sure your contractor is properly registered and insured. 2. Ask references if the