Benefits to setting time limits in remodeling contracts

PEORIA, AZ (CBS5) -

If you're doing a home remodeling project, it's smart to include time limits and your options if the contractor fails to meet them.

Contractors want to get started and finished as soon as possible so they get paid, but sometimes delays occur and they can be long and frustrating. Having a defined start date and an estimated time to complete the entire job can make it easier for you to cancel.

"The whole island will be demolished out," Victor Matos said.

Matos is doing a full kitchen remodel. He gave a company called Da Vinci Green a $4,000 deposit on a $24,000 contract and expected work to begin right away. There was no estimated time to complete in the contract.

"He said he could not put an estimate date on there right now, because he needed his designer to come out to the house, the next day," Matos said.

The design was finished, but the estimated completion date was never added to the contract. There was also no official start-by date.

"It's not something anybody ever thinks about because you think the guy wants to finish the job as soon as possible so he can get paid as soon as possible," Matos said.

Matos said problems finalizing the design and ordering cabinets lead to a nearly two-month delay in starting. Matos said he wanted to cancel, but the contractual right to do that had expired.

If he canceled now, he would owe 20percentof the total contract price. He would lose his $4,000 deposit and owe another $900. That is when Matos said he realized how important a formal start-by date can be.

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Benefits to setting time limits in remodeling contracts