Posted by Toni on 12/05/04

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I received a notice that the contractor who did work in my
condo will be filing a Contractor's Lien. I have no idea
what this is and what my rights are. He and I wrote a
contract stating that it would cost approximately $2000 for
him to sand, prime and paint kitchen walls; install a sub
and wood floor into a ripped out old floor; install the
kitchen cabinets and finishings. He stated that he would
be charging by the hour. I hired him after also discussing
that the closet on the opposite side of the kitchen was
part of the agreement. He came and worked for three weeks
and not much was getting completed. He started work later
than he charged by the hour. He often lost tools which ate
up time and he generally did not work with a plan of action
which meant lots of time was wasted. He didn't complete
one section of the kitchen that was ready to be put
together. He even brought in an assistant who tried to
make suggestion that he would not take. I spoke to him the
first week, second and third about how I wanted to project
to move forward and how I couldn't continue to pay if he
wasn't completing any specific of the work. He would
say "problems pop up" and "there is progress being made
that I could not see." I had a relative watch him work and
he told me this guy's method of thinking was all over the
place. I paid him weekly. At the end of the third week
when there was still so much to do -- I had put lot's of
fire under him to focus and get sections completed but it
wasn't coming together. At the end, I still have many
aspects of the work to be done. He volunteered to leave.
It has costs me over 1/2 of what I paid him to have
handiman complete the work. I had paid him nearly the
$2000, however, when he left my washer was broken, I had to
pay a plumber for work he said he would do the first week.
Walls that I had paid him to paint had to be re-drywalled
because of plumbing and gas. I had to take down a cabinet
because of how he had installed it too far above the
microwave outlet. He also spliced wires which where not in
code so, at a huge price, I had to pay an electrician to
correct it. I didn't make the final payment to him because
I was not satified with his work. He and I have written
back and forth spelling out details and why I am
withholding a portion of the final payment and why he think
I should pay. What are my rights and recourse since he has
sent to me a notice of contractor's lien? Thank you for
any advice. I will also check with legal assistance in
Chicago Illinois. Toni

What rights do I have?, 12/05/04, by Toni.

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