Construction company agreed to a job at a low price; a 12'x30' platform deck and a set of deck stairs going to a sliding glass door on a mobile home, built and painted, for $2800-3000. We agreed he would recycle some the wood from the existing two sets of stairs to save some money.
I gave him $1500 to open an account with Lowe's to get a discount and wood delivered for free. This is what he told me anyway. He started on the platform part first. That was completed but there are a few adjustments required (there are screws hanging out and dangerous, and the pressure treated boards were laid upside down with only one screw, sure to curl later down the road.
I did not see this work when it was complete. I saw it all at one time when I was told the entire job was done). I paid him another $1150 total at different times because I don't like owing anyone money and I had it on me. The work was a little slow but it was going and he presented himself very professionally. When he finished the platform he did the stairs to the slider.
I got a call from the wife that they needed more money to buy deck boards for the stairs to the slider so I sent $400. I also gave the gentleman $120 to secure me a used dryer that he had found on a FB group. He was to install that for me too.
Timeline? The job was to be completed by Dec 11. I was living in NY at the time and was flying down to check on the work. On Dec 10th I got a call that the work was taking longer. No problem. I came down and watched his children while he worked. Then it was Dec 16. I came back again but it wasn't done. Then Jan 4 I was told it was done.
I went to the home in FL and was absolutely disgusted by the site of the deck I spent $3050 for. I found the slider stairs in such a state that I thought a child did the work. When I asked him to come fix it he reluctantly came. There were several issues. If there is a place to post pictures I will.
His continual excuse was that he ran out of money and was basically working for free and he didnt feel the need to do a quality job. He also did not return any calls or texts with me asking if he intended to complete the job and fix the mess.
The dryer was also never purchased nor installed so that money was lost, bringing the cost of this debacle up to $3170. After I posted about this on FB with some pics, his wife did call me and wants to fix it, but he says he's lost money on it and he won't do the work. His excuses are all about money and time.