This is related but not what you are talking about. After completing the build of our custom home, I thought it would be a good idea to create a Builder's Report Card. It would list out many things like, "Communication skills", "Financial skills", "Ability to get the job done in a reasonable timeframe", etc. Each line item on this Report Card would be given a letter grade (A+, B-, C+, Incomplete, etc.) Wouldn't it be interesting if every contractor/sub-contractor was given a report card after each job by a homeowner (following standard definitions of what an "A" "B" grade required)? And then he/she had to show these report cards to future people he worked with in order to obtain new work? If I was smart, I wouldn't share this idea and try to start up some kind of business (online, of course) and make some $$ off it. Not!! I don't have the time or interest. Still burned out from our build which completed last May! LOL! :-)

We live in the Madison area and built a new house two years ago. We were general contractor and used Barman Construction (Middleton) for framing, roof, and finish work, Olson Plumbing (Mineral Point), Miller Electric (Middleton), Boehnen Excavating (Cross Plains), and got our Dura Supreme cabinets from Stock Building Supply (DeForest address but right off the interstate) as well as most of our lumber and other building supplies from them. Another builder who does remodeling is Jensen Quality Homes (Middleton). Others who might be doing remodeling because of the slow new housing industry include Michael Simon (Waunakee), Hensen Contruction and I may add more later. I found Dream Kitchens to be unreasonably high for Brookhaven cabinets when I asked it for bids for new cabinets when we were going to remodel our old home 5 years ago (I got bids from other Brookhaven sellers and Dream Kitchens bid was MORE THAN than twice the bid of the other sellers-I later found others who had this same experience, but that was 5 years ago and may have changed). Bella Domicile is also a good spot to go for cabinets--sells Dura Supreme and others--Stock's price for Dura Supreme beat Bella Domicile by about 1/3rd 2 years ago. And there are lots of other good contractors in the area. Good luck.

Glad to hear you're getting closer Eastsider :) As to the insurance because we own part of the company. We talked to our insurance agent (the commercial one) and there are no compromises in coverage if we don't manage the job (and we never were going to...we were just asking the GC to try a different sub). The electrical and plumbing were seperate bids and insurance policies. (Each having their own). THe balance of the job is at a fixed price (under the GC's responsability). Our insurance on the company level is significantly more than any GC would carry (because we build multi million dollar buildings and electrical structures). So the insurance hurdle on that side was dealt with. And just to be clear...our GC has full veto power on the electrician. He has specific standards for subs he'll work with (most likely because of these types of issues) so he is doing an interview and we've pulled this out of our final contract so that he can make his decision. Frankly our company is huge and his, while a good sized contracting firm, is very small in comparison. He's already said he feels good about the idea and dosen't mind being introduced to another electrician option because he's frustrated with the one he brought over (apparently he was bidding 3 jobs and each came in way over reasonable with no explaination). As to the holdbacks...we pay our contractor, he pays his subs. We aren't trying to get in the middle of that. The bank will track to see that folks get paid which is standard, but we didn't change that arrangement at all. We're meeting with our insurance agent (for the house) tomorrow at 2 to discuss issues like living in the house, etc. We're running into a road block on adding a builders risk policy because it's "a condo" (it's actually a townhome in PUD legal structure). We are going to live in the home (it's five levels so that's not crazy entirely...ok well a little), but I want to be on site and not force my son, who is ill, to have to go to yet another place he's not familiar with. He's been in hospital so much of his 18 months that he gets upset every time we spend even a night at a hotel anymore. We test drove the kitchen demo with him in the house on the bottom level and he did great so we should be ok (there is a level separating the demo and the level we will live on). We'll also be building a temporary wall to protect us as much as possible from dust issues, which adds to cost, but is worth it for us to stay home. Besides temporary housing in Alaska in the summer is almost unheard of...tourists you know :) Our total budget for the job is actually up to $250,000 plus we have a 20% reserve in the bank. The electric is about $10,000 of this and the plumbing is about $20,000. The majority is "stuff" cabinets, granite, the french stove, tile, lighting, blah blah blah :) You know the drill. In alaska it's tough to get into the summer schedules with any contractor. They have a limited building season and want to do any open air stuff during the summer and push folks like us to the winter. That's part of the problem with the electric. We would use either of his other two normal companies but they won't take on any new jobs before September and we're not going one more month without starting heh heh Anyhoo, we'll nail down the insurance stuff this week and demo next I guess...I say demo :) We already gave the kitchen away lock stock and barrel so we have to go forward now huh? We had cabinet folks out for final changes and orders, and have our Lacanche order ready to fax in as well as the orders for the balance of the appliances. We did sign contract after it was reviewed (leaving the electric out) and everyone is happy so...fingers crossed, hammers will hit walls soon (or I'll do it!) How close are you East?

So....the LAWYER in the house has given over 73.3% of the budget yet only 10% of the project has occurred. No materials have been ordered but demolition has occurred (unsolicited, unsafe and improper removal of asbestos without proper license/abatement to do so). And you have a "worker" (employee/subcontractor) who appears to be unsafe and unable to work without direct supervision and has continued to do things against code. Do I have that so far? I would say contact a lawyer...but it seems the one you have has mucked things up - ROYALLY. OK. So. What to do? Not much. So long as the Project Manager (who is the REAL boss - not DH lawyer who doesn't know to withhold HUGE amounts of money from a project such as this) has your money, you have to deal with the company and their employees/subcontractors. The Project Manager is FULLY responsible for this stuff. All of it. Stop talking to DH and start calling project manager. And start talking about REBATES....yes. They are going against your contract (which your lawyer has mucked up) for scope of work (removing what should not be removed, failure to mitigate, etc). If you REALLY want to get some action: make some statements about contacting state licensing agencies and the health department (unsafe removal and disposal of asbestos). That should REALLY get everyone's attention. That's not a fun thing to do but it will make EVERYONE snap to attention - even deadbeat DH/lawyer. Remember: the work done by the subcontractors/employee is 100% the responsibility of the General Contractor/Project Manager. Every. Stick. Of. It. Anything that is out of place with this employee is to be reported to the Head Dude In Charge! Figure out who that is and speak with him/her. Point out to whomsoever is in charge that the employee/sub that concerns you is NO LONGER welcome on your property. Put it in writing. Get copies. Everyone signs a master copy (which you keep) and they in turn receive a copy for their records. I would suggest leaving it with your lawyer....but this seems to be an issue. Again...I would suggest a lawyer but it seems yours is on temporary leave of absence. I would put these guys on notice. They get one more kick at the can and then you kick them to the curb! Oh. Wait. That have OODLES of your money. Hmmmm. They should have only received 30% of what was needed....not 73.3%. This is not a healthy place to be....but it is *possible to get out of this. A lawyer could get it done...but alas...