My husband's sister's boyfriend is a "contractor" and is remodeling our bathroom for us. He already did our bathroom and it looks great...not perfect...but, really nice. He said he would be more than happy to redo our other bathroom for us while we were out of town for a week. (We've been planning this for at least 6 months) We stripped the bathroom totally clear of EVERYTHING before we left so all he had to do was install. We got back and it's not even halfway done. Everything that he did do is sloppy including uneven trim around the door, lack of paint on the wall, mud spatter all over the new bathtub, holes where they shouldn't be, tile not complete etc. He keeps telling us the room should be done completely tomorrow, but, he'll come over and do MAYBE one thing to it then leave. It's been two weeks since we left for vacation and it's no where near finished. It looks like he slacked the entire time we were gone, then rushed to get things together the last few days we were gone. Since we've been back (At least a week) he's been over for no more than 2hrs total. He hasn't come over at all today and hasn't contacted us to say when he's going to work on it. It's the TOTAL OPPOSITE of how he treated our 1st bathroom. He always told us he's such a perfectionist with his work and his projects, then he acts as though he doesn't care at all about this one.
The hard part about this whole thing is he's not charging us to do anything. We offered to pay him something ($600) to help him out since he's not working elsewhere. But the work he's done so far isn't even worth $50. We're having to go over it and figure out how to fix it. This is such a touchy subject b/c he really isn't charging us to do anything, but, what he is doing is such bad work. If we say something, it could cause major conflict between him and our family. Maybe even between my husband and his sister (the contractor's girlfriend). Oh I don't know what to do about all this.
Any suggestions???
I talked to my neighbor who was here the whole time we were out of town and he said the guy was here only the last few days working frantically on the project. He said the day before we got back NOTHING was done and he just did what he could to "Cover Up" his lack of work. We came home and have already given him $400.00 for the "So-called work" he already did and really haven't heard from him since.
What upsets me the most is HE ACCEPTED THE MONEY! He basically lied to us and acted as though he deserved it. He knew what he did was not right yet he acted so immoral and deceiptful! He said he was here every night till at least 7PM working hard on our bathroom. He didn't do ANY of that! I'm an extremely honest person and feel it's only right...especially with family...to treat everyone the same! And on top of it all, my sister-in-law was in on it too! What a mess!
Thanks everyone for your input! I do appreciate it!
My husband is very successful in his business, but he never, NEVER does business with family. He will refer them to someone reputable, but he will not get involved AT ANY LEVEL with them. Take this as a lesson learned the hard way. Hire someone to finish it correctly and try not to let it fester. It happens to everyone at some point in life.
Get someone else to finish it.
Hire someone else to come finish it.
Sorry I jump to conclusions, was anything missing in your home? Not that he's a thief but maybe he took something and is acting uneasy. Or he's ashamed of the job he did and took on too much. You paying him for a job is ok, even though he shouldn't have accepted it. You learned your lesson, never to hire family. If for some reason you do make sure you are home so you can check each step. I would pay someone else to complete/fix the job and call it a day.
Just because it is free doesn't mean he shouldn't do his best and that you shouldn't be happy with the work. If you feel bad and want to pay him a little like the $50 you mentioned then do it but if you have to re do the whole thing I think I would say thanks we are going to finish it up. I would be mad free or not. My BIL did our dry wall work on our ceiling it took him forever to do it we had to keep calling and asking if he was going to finish up so we could get the inspection on our addition. He didn't charge us and insisted on doing it so we fed him while here but didn't feel bad about not paying because we did offer and the work he did hasn't held up it looks pretty bad and he did this for a living. He is deceased now so I hate to redo it. Good Luck and I agree don't let Family work for you free or Not.
Just hire someone to finish it and let it go. I would be pissed too, but It's not worth causing a rift in the family.
Pay him for the work he did and the hours he put in... it doesn't sound like he did much... then hire someone else to finish it... live and learn.
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Live and learn.
We have had relatives and friends do work for us and have not had any issues....but we know them well, obviously.
My mom wanted to redo her bathroom, this time it was only wall paper to start & one of my aunts (her SIL) badgered her way into 'helping'. Well the wall paper came out bubbly & crooked & my mom was NOT happy. She didn't want her help in the first place b/c the SIL did her own b/r & mom saw how IT turned out so she tried to be nice & say she liked it but it really does look bad & not to mention a waste of wall paper. I have another uncle (the SIL's brother) who wanted to 'help' me put a deadbolt on, well let's just say, no matter how I tried to insist I hire a locksmith, he wouldn't hear of it so after a lot of 'badgering' I reluctantly let him 'help'. Let's just say, he not only made a mess of my metal coated door but the lock never got installed. I was NOT happy. As a suggestion, what about little by little, if you can, redo it 'right'. Maybe doing it a little at a time, it wouldn't be as noticeable. Relatives can be a very touchy subject as they can take everything the wrong way...I have a few of my own like that so I can understand your problem. I would say nothing just to keep the peace & redo it to your satisfaction & IF anything is said, just say that while you appreciate his efforts, you had something a bit different in mind or you can just be straight up & just be honest. Point out what's wrong so he can see for himself compared to what the other room looks like & let him know that while you appreciate his efforts, the job just wasn't done as well as the first time & you feel you have to redo some aspects of it. Sometimes honesty is the best policy. Sorry you hafta go thru this, it's nice when relatives wanna 'help' but it's usually better in the long run to hire a professional. I wouldn't have, however, paid him anything unless the job was done right but that was your decision but I'd advise to next time, hire a professional.
Give him some money. Anyway. Its only fair. He's out of work right now.
Call it even.
Then hire someone else.
Unless, you really don't want to pay someone else, to finish it.
If you hire someone else, get a real professional.
Is he depressed because he isn't working otherwise? If he did so good for the 1st bathroom and doing well pathetic for this one depression could explain it. Is he and his girlfriend having issues?
When I am hitting one of my lows (bad depression) I don't care how anything looks or how I look and when I am feeling good you can tell. Just a thought.
I know you've updated us; however, I agree, hire someone else to do it and don't even mention to him the fact that it is being done. The next time you see your SIL and him hopefully it will be completed and you can say, "I know you couldn't work it in, so we had someone finish it" or something to that effect. It would have been best, if he would have just told you he didn't get around to it and do it right at a later date. If you're interested in a contractor message me and I can give you a name. He is good, fair and honest and could use the work right now.
Whatever you do don't give him anymore money, I think the amount you gave him already is fair enough.
