MILWAUKEE — When a contractor agrees to do a project, they generally provide an approximate completion date. But, despite good intentions, sometimes these dates get delayed due to bad weather such as excessive rain or cold temperatures setting in. If you have an unfinished project, here are a few things that you may want to do to protect yourself:
If it has been awhile since you have seen your contractor, now is the time to get in touch with them and take action to get work done immediately. If they do not respond, reach out to our Call 4 Action office for help.
Do whatever you can to try to get the project completed before cold weather sets in. If the contractor states that the project cannot be finished until spring, document your conversation in writing, and get approximate dates for a restart of the project.
Make sure that you and your contractor take measures to protect materials, structures, and land during the winter months. Do not pay in full until the project has been completed. And, get lien waivers for the work that has been completed thus far. If your contractor is bonded, it might be a good idea to get updated information in writing about this bond, just in case you need to file a claim before it expires.
Most contractors act in good faith and do their best to get projects completed in a timely manner. But sometimes bad weather gets in the way. Now is the time to take action to make sure that you and your contractor are doing all that can be done to get things finished or to protect yourself in the coming months.
