Contractor is not completing my project
 

We signed an agreement in August 2022 to have some major landscaping done all around our house. We were supposed to have it completed by March 2023. Furthermore, we have been extraordinarily patient with this guy because the quality of his work in other houses we have observed is excellent. However, he is stalling getting our work done and has complained that he has had problems getting the proper stone color. Recently, many of his crew that we were consistently apparently quit, and we have had zero work done over the past 2 weeks. Our front yard looks like a junk yard and I am wondering what we can do legally to force the completion of the job? Please advise.

Did you pay money in advance? If so, this situation is very common. If the contractor has a Florida license, you can file a complaint on the Florida license lookup website. You can also ask for assistance from the Seniors vs Crime office. Good luck.

Ask him what color stone he can get to finish, see if you like any of the other colors.

Happens all the time, my neighbor down the street paid a guy 2k up front to add landscaping, never heard from him again....Never pay up front, never.....

The OP signed a contract a year ago, and now the front yard looks like a junk yard. Somehow, I don't think the problem is about the color of the stone. When you pay a contractor in advance, he has no incentive to complete the work. The OP should just hire another contractor and move on.

And yet, by the time the sun goes down there will be thousands of idiots
doing the opposite.

I would go to his place of business and if no satisfaction perhaps small claims court.

Much missing information. Who is ahead work completed, materials on site. Equipment on site-his construction equipment. Problems getting the proper stone color? That does not make much sense. Similar color surely exists. Past two weeks it has been 95 plus. Perhaps that is the entire explanation. Legal, force? The first thing I would do is to be sure he has filed a plan
with the Villages-It is required. Some unlicensed guy? You will quickly discover that. You will find the Villages Offices are helpful in advising residents.

Really? There is no missing information. The contractor signed a contract a year ago and is still making excuses for why he cannot perform. It is time for the OP to hire another contractor and to move on. The weather, the color of the stone, the license, the plan, etc. have nothing to do with anything. The OP didn't say it, but I suspect that the contractor has already been paid, and he has no intention to complete the project.

Of course there will be, but also remember there are MANY, not just an occasional one in any field, landscape, roofing, kitchen remodel, so many refuse if the customer won't pay up front. We've had that happen, and just said no, and they said, "ok, we pass, we don't work on that basis". They usually claim they have to order the materials involved, my opinion is a business that can't afford the materials unless they get paid FIRST, might not be a very financially sound business ! ? Strange situation recently. Neighbor signed contract for new roof, paid them, and in a couple days a truck arrived with all the materials, put all of the squares of shingles all over the roof, rolls of roofing paper, plywood, etc. and have never seen them again, about 3 weeks now. Have never seen that, they usually tear off old shingles into a dumpster and a truck with conveyor belt arrives and up goes the squares of shingles, nail strips, etc. and done in a day. Hope all that survives and stays on the neighbor's roof when the hurricane hits ! Wonder if they'd be on the hook for MORE materials if these all go flying ? Neighbor said they better not call and want more money to buy the same materials again !

Send my uncle Guido to have a talk with him.

Contractor not finishing
 

Naming the contractor may save countless others the bother you've endured.

Recommend you visit the Senior vs Crime office in Sumter sheriff office (466 & Morse). File a complaint against this SOB. They may be able to help or at the very least get this up on the radar screen. Enough complaints could have a dramatic effect. They also have office in Brownwood Village Square. Be sure to bring ALL info, documents, check copies, vendor details, business card, etc, etc. Good luck.

I can tell you what worked for me. I posted the facts about the situation on social media. Left out my opinion, the facts speak for themselves. Did not post it as a complaint, but rather a review to help potential future customers. Then I told them about it and they said they would finish if I took it down. I said you’ve got to be kidding, I’ll take it down after you finish the job. If this is a company that wants to stay in business they know how much social media can hurt or help them.

You say many of his employees quit. That happened with the guy we hired too but it was after he finished the job. They did quality work and had mentioned to me that he was having personal problems. His wife ran the company but he was the guy who knew landscaping. My neighbor knew him and said he finally left town. Not sure if the company is still in business

Okay so this is 18 years ago we along with 4 of our neighbors hired a landscaper to do our work on our new house. We have a corner lot so we paid $7000 up front. Didn’t show up and calls went to voice mail and same with neighbors. Went to seniors vs crime and they said call him and tell authorities have been contacted. Showed up the next day and they worked morning till dark for 3 days finishing project and also did the neighbors. Of course bottom line don’t way anything or maybe 10 per cent up front.

Lanscaping Contractor
 

Swiley and sons did a great job for us. 352-286-0610

So we had a similar problem with our front porch. We contracted through Lowe’s but they used an outside contractor. They didn’t finish and the gate was actually falling over. When I couldn’t get any action, I stated posting pictures to Facebook and tagging Lowe’s. Thankfully we also used American Express and I threatened a charge back. Those two things got action. If the guy has a Facebook account, start posting publicly. He’ll want to get it done just to shut you up.

you didn't pay him, right?

Hmmm
 

Licensed and insured?? Or did you bother to check? Go cheap, go broke.

[QUOTE=Pairadocs;2251059] many refuse if the customer won't pay up front. We've had that happen, and just said no, and they said, "ok, we pass, we don't work on that basis".

OK, so in that case you ask the contractor for his drivers license and phone #, make a copy of his D/L, look up his address on the internet, and tell him, in no uncertain terms, "NOW I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE, JUST IN CASE OF A PROBLEM".
If he refuses to give that information, tell him not to let the door hit him in the a$$ on his way out. BECAUSE IN THAT CASE HE IS OUT TO RIP YOU OFF!!! nuff' said....

Sounds like you paid in advance then you have learned a lesson

[QUOTE=jswirs;2251212]Note that even if you take precautions like that, if the company files for bankruptcy, you are out of luck.

First, you should always check for references. Second never pay upfront. Third be careful of legal advice on social media.

Sounds like Arrondondo
 

We used Arrondondo. They did a nice job but some things needed attention after the job was “completed” (mostly dead trees and plants).

I’m still getting no help with these items covered by warranty.

They do not respond to texts or phone calls. I have gotten no relies from one of them since January. His own brother told me “he does that. He doesn’t get back to people.”

I’m reading this thread with interest because I want to take the next steps.

Did we scare off the OP?

RIGHT ! Make him a deal he can't refuse.

[QUOTE=jparsoneau@aol.com;2251260]First, you should always check for references. Second never pay upfront. Third be careful of legal advice on social media.[/

All great suggestions. Also, I've found very few people know they can access the state website and check licenses and insurance status of contractors, and that people at the state department office seem to welcome inquires and are helpful and polite. Here's a tip for what it is worth: when we first began to hire various services, we would not consider anyone without checking the numbers we were given (on business cards). What totally shocked us (should not have, but did) was the number of contractors who do have legitimate state numbers printed on their cards and vehicles.

When we checked with state, THREE different times (tree service, landscape company, and one drive way contractor), all of whom seemed very "upfront", proper state numbers for insurance and vehicles, but we were stunned when we checked with state and found out the numbers are legitimate state issued numbers.... but since the year of issue, the business had NEVER renewed either one ! Just printed them on all paper work and on vehicles, paid ONE year only. The state told us that is common, but "unfortunately we have no way of going out and tracking down every vehicle and business card with numbers that were legitimate at one time, but never again renewed." They went on to say " we send out warning letters that failure to renew could result in being denied a future license, and we keep a record of those who default after getting the initial license, but we just don't have the man power to track down every misleading business card and every vehicle displaying non current insurance numbers." They continue to urge residents to CHECK with the state, not just make the assumption that if it's on a card, or painted on a vehicle, it is current ! Hope this will help convince a few people to go the extra step and actually check with the state to see if all is CURRENT. Those who are having problems (such as this landscape contractor example ?) might want to look into IF the numbers on their contract are even currently in force... or if they expired long ago ? Worth a toll free phone call and a few minutes !

[QUOTE=retiredguy123;2251244]True ! And frankly, when they tell us that's not the way they work, it's fine with us also. Don't even want to work with someone that has to be threatened ! ? Too many do seem to be in that category around here. Too bad, paints all with the same shameful brush ! One little tip we follow, no sure thing, but if the bid is significantly lower, just like in auto and home insurance when you begin to realize your better inspect every element of the policy, it motivates us to do a little more "sniffing" ... for rotten fish.. maybe, not always, but a sign to pay attention to.

[QUOTE=jswirs;2251212]Nope, if they say that, we're done. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on ME. Did that once with City furniture, "we need FULL payment only on special orders". Gave in as it was the only way to get two rooms of furniture to match previously purchased items from the display floor. NEVER did get all the furniture we paid for, 7 months after still a "fight". We refused to "sign off" when they only delivered part of the order after all that time, we were actually "cussed" by one delivery person who threatened us because he said if we did not sign he would loose his job. We refused. Learned a lesson, do NOT pay in advance, even on "special orders", they don't need to have 100% or you might end up empty handed. Thankfully a neighbor was in his yard, heard the driver cussing us loudly right out in the open, then threaten us, saying if we did not sign we received ALL of the order, he would loose his job ! The neighbor called the police. The driver took off like a race car driver when the neighbor came over on his cell phone. The police did take the report, the neighbor did GET picture of license plate on the delivery truck.. but none of that ever got us the rest of the pieces we paid for and were never delivered. Expensive lessons are good lessons...so if they want to "walk" if we refuse 100% payment upfront, that's fine.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda, - great: WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE GUY WHO DID THIS TO YOU???

Is this Brandon’s Landscaping by any chance? Someone in my village down south of 44 has had a Brandon’s Landscaping sign in their front yard, plus many big pallets of stone (pavers?) sitting in their backyard for at least six months now. The job hasn’t even started. We think it’s very odd.