blue dog
Banned
This morning I went to a job I have going that is a addition on the back of a garage [ 10’x20’ ] I received a 10% deposit up front when the owner signed my contract. We then dug type 5 footings for the addition, had them inspected and poured the concrete. At this point I was due a progress payment and was paid according to the payment schedule on my contract. Yesterday we stocked the job with lumber for the addition and I had my laborers demo the stucco on the back of the garage where the addition is going. Everything is fine right, WRONG.
This morning at 7.15 I get a phone call from one of my carpenters telling me that someone else is at the job starting to do layout for the framing and my guys were told to leave.
I arrive at the job at 8.30, I talk to the carpenter doing the layout and he informs me that he is the brother of the wife that resides at this house, and that his sister has hired him to finish my job. Now at this point, the owners have not contacted me to tell me anything and have not responded to my phone calls.
At this point, I realize that this has gone wrong and that I need to protect myself financially. First thing I do is call one of my guys to get a trailer so we can load up all building material on the job and take it away. At this point the brother tells me I cant take the lumber. Too late, Myself and 2 of my guys load everything on the trailer and I send them away. Here is where it gets better, the police show up [ the brother called the cops ] I explain my situation and deny taking my lumber that I have receipts for, at this point the cop has no proof I did take the lumber and informs the brother that the homeowners would have to go after me in civil court if I did take the lumber. I paid for the lumber, but if it is delivered to the job according to law, you can not take it back. FU$$ THAT. The brother did have a mouth on him but did not push the issue with me due to him knowing that it would not have been in his best interest to try to stop me from taking my lumber. One of my guys wanted to beat this guy, I told my guy if he tries to stop anyone from taking the lumber or touches anyone , he could do as he pleases. And did this in a manner so the brother could hear us plain as day.
At around 12 o clock I get a call from the homeowners husband [ I have done jobs for this family every year for more than 10 years ] The husband apologizes to me and tells me that the wife’s brother needed the work and his wife insisted that her brother did the work. He tells me that he was against it but in his words, he has to live with her and not with me. At this point I tell him that I will figure out what he owes me [ it is minimal ] and will expect full payment on Monday morning. I as well let the homeowner know that the building permit is in my name and under my license and that first thing Monday morning I will be making a call to have that permit revoked. At no point did the owner ask me regarding the lumber I took, I found that to be odd, but he did tell me that he would pay me in full for what I have done.
Who does sh$$ like this, what are these people thinking?. Not even a phone call to tell me that they were going to have someone else do the job. Are you kidding me. Right before the close of business today I called a very good friend of mine who is the lead inspector for L.A city and told him my situation, I know it is un ethical, but I asked him to make the homeowners life a living hell with inspections, he informed me that he would pull there info, and proceed from there.
I have been a general contractor for 20 years, building custom and spec homes in los Angeles as well as high end remodels and performing project management on large commercial and mixed use projects and have never had a situation like this happen to me before. Ever since the economy has gone down hill, I have had to resort to doing smaller unspecialized jobs like this to keep my guys working when I can but what were these people thinking. I only wish I could go back sometime and see what the quality of work that the brother will have done .
Sorry for the rant, and hope your friday morning was better then mine.
This morning at 7.15 I get a phone call from one of my carpenters telling me that someone else is at the job starting to do layout for the framing and my guys were told to leave.
I arrive at the job at 8.30, I talk to the carpenter doing the layout and he informs me that he is the brother of the wife that resides at this house, and that his sister has hired him to finish my job. Now at this point, the owners have not contacted me to tell me anything and have not responded to my phone calls.
At this point, I realize that this has gone wrong and that I need to protect myself financially. First thing I do is call one of my guys to get a trailer so we can load up all building material on the job and take it away. At this point the brother tells me I cant take the lumber. Too late, Myself and 2 of my guys load everything on the trailer and I send them away. Here is where it gets better, the police show up [ the brother called the cops ] I explain my situation and deny taking my lumber that I have receipts for, at this point the cop has no proof I did take the lumber and informs the brother that the homeowners would have to go after me in civil court if I did take the lumber. I paid for the lumber, but if it is delivered to the job according to law, you can not take it back. FU$$ THAT. The brother did have a mouth on him but did not push the issue with me due to him knowing that it would not have been in his best interest to try to stop me from taking my lumber. One of my guys wanted to beat this guy, I told my guy if he tries to stop anyone from taking the lumber or touches anyone , he could do as he pleases. And did this in a manner so the brother could hear us plain as day.
At around 12 o clock I get a call from the homeowners husband [ I have done jobs for this family every year for more than 10 years ] The husband apologizes to me and tells me that the wife’s brother needed the work and his wife insisted that her brother did the work. He tells me that he was against it but in his words, he has to live with her and not with me. At this point I tell him that I will figure out what he owes me [ it is minimal ] and will expect full payment on Monday morning. I as well let the homeowner know that the building permit is in my name and under my license and that first thing Monday morning I will be making a call to have that permit revoked. At no point did the owner ask me regarding the lumber I took, I found that to be odd, but he did tell me that he would pay me in full for what I have done.
Who does sh$$ like this, what are these people thinking?. Not even a phone call to tell me that they were going to have someone else do the job. Are you kidding me. Right before the close of business today I called a very good friend of mine who is the lead inspector for L.A city and told him my situation, I know it is un ethical, but I asked him to make the homeowners life a living hell with inspections, he informed me that he would pull there info, and proceed from there.
I have been a general contractor for 20 years, building custom and spec homes in los Angeles as well as high end remodels and performing project management on large commercial and mixed use projects and have never had a situation like this happen to me before. Ever since the economy has gone down hill, I have had to resort to doing smaller unspecialized jobs like this to keep my guys working when I can but what were these people thinking. I only wish I could go back sometime and see what the quality of work that the brother will have done .
Sorry for the rant, and hope your friday morning was better then mine.
