Because of this thread, I didn’t pay the painting contractor all the funds he wanted, even though the job was MOSTLY done. I told him I’m keeping back $1000 because the windows and screens aren’t done, though he says he’ll finish them as soon as his carpenter is able to make the new screens & windows. He and I agreed my keeping $1000 until things are 100% done is fine.
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We are leaving at the end of next month, but next week our next-door neighbors are leaving for a month in Germany. I am hoping they’ll let us stay in their home if we need to! 
When they are gone, we are in charge of watering and looking after the house.
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Always!
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Consider a contractor who uses a licensed plumber and a licensed electrician rather then doing the work themselves.
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When I had my apartment repainted, I went on vacation for 2 weeks. They barely got it done on time, but the place was put back and broom clean. The contractor sent pictures to me everyday.
The same contractor also did D1’s kitchen. Her family was gone while they worked. They couldn’t have stayed with 2 young children.
I see a lot of people rent out a place while their place is getting renovated. Sometimes it’s 6+ months.
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And have your contractor show you the paperwork that all subs have been paid once the job is done.Don’t want to pay off the contractor and then have the subs come back on you.
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IMO that paperwork should be lien waivers signed by each subcontractor. I wouldn’t rely on the GC’s paperwork.
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Yes. I couldn’t think what they were called.
I did have a contractor that didn’t pay his subcontractors and vendors. We put in a new furnace and plus a lot of other work around our weekend home. He didn’t pay the utility company that put in the furnace. He ran out of town with a lot of money his customers paid him. We showed the utility company that we had paid the contractor for the furnace. Luckily, they decided to go after the contractor and not us. I know sometimes subcontractors put liens on the homeowner.
We left our house after a major repair issue in 2021 and went to our vacation place. We trusted the contractor and it turned out to be fine. We would also go back periodically and check out the house and the work that the subs were doing. My H would also call the contractor every few days. (I’m sure the contractor loved that!!) We were out of the house for almost 6 months. We’d stay with friends in town when we’d go back home.