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.