A commercial contractor provides a much larger scale of remodeling and construction services, making their level of professionalism an essential element to a project’s overall success. Although you don’t want to make the mistake of hiring the wrong general contractor for your commercial construction needs, it does happen more often than you think. Fortunately, there are options for business owners or real estate developers who have hired an unreliable or dodgy contractor.
Continue reading to learn the top 5 avenues for dealing with a bad commercial contractor, as well as who to trust in Central Indiana for superior commercial general contracting services that never fail to exceed your expectations.
What To Do if You Hired a Bad Commercial Contractor
Hired a bad commercial contractor? Don’t let them get away with their unethical or unqualified practices. Your commercial construction project is a vital investment that should be nurtured and protected by a seasoned Indiana commercial construction general contractor. Here are your options for dealing with a shady or unprofessional commercial general contractor:
Terminate Them
Is your commercial contractor failing to meet even a basic standard of professionalism and service? If so, simply fire them. You are not obligated to keep the commercial general contractor on if they are not following through with their end of the bargain. To formally fire a commercial general contractor, you will likely need to draw up a document addressing their misconducts and notifying them of the termination. In some cases, a contractor may take a client to court stating that they’ve breached the contract. However, you can produce evidence showing that the contractor was the first party to breach the contract.
Request Arbitration or Mediation
Some commercial general contractor agreements contain binding arbitration clauses. You can request arbitration to discuss and dispute the inadequacies of your general contractor. A qualified independent authority will sit between the two parties, allow each side to present their case, and in the end make a legally-binding decision. Arbitration meetings are generally inexpensive.
If a binding arbitration clause is not included in your commercial general contractor agreement, you can request mediation services through the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which are usually free, or at least very cheap, plus you do not have to be a member; or you can request a similar type of court hearing in your presiding county.
Retain Legal Representation
If the situation evolves into something more complicated, it is recommended to hire a construction lawyer. Such civil litigators specialize in representing clients who have been cheated or conned by general contractors and construction companies. They are well-versed in the local laws and regulations within the construction and building industry, allowing them to find any inconsistencies or vulnerabilities that can be refuted in a contract. You can expect to pay anywhere from 100 and $300 an hour for construction lawyer services. For cases that are larger and more complex, such attorney fees can double or triple.
File in Small Claims Court
If you’re not interested in hiring a civil litigator for your matter, you can represent yourself in Small Claims Court. Generally, it only costs a few dollars to bring a case about in Small Claims Court. During a small claims hearing, both parties will have an opportunity to present their case, and in the end the judge will make a final decision. This recourse is generally reserved for smaller cases valued under $3,000. Successful parties are not likely to be awarded more than a few thousand dollars in Small Claims Court.
Make a Formal Complaint or Review
In all cases, regardless of which avenue you decide to take, you always have the option of making a formal complaint or writing a review online. Formal complaints are usually made within the company accused of misconduct. You may also file a formal complaint with the state’s Contractor Licensing Board. Online written reviews can be done in the comfort of your very own home on your very own computer or cell phone. Consider writing reviews on Angie’s list, Yelp, Google, and similar websites. Just be sure your reviews are truthful to avoid being sued for libel.
Are you looking for a trusted and respectable commercial general contracting company to perform your business remodeling or real estate development projects in Indiana? Contact BAF Corporation at 317-253-0531 for superior commercial construction services in Indianapolis and its surrounding counties.
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