Q: I have a builder building a home for me, they aren't addressing issues I have found but want their final payment.
Is it legal for me to with hold providing them the final check until they complete the issues I have with the home? I have asked them for over a week to come to the home and address the issues with me and they've ignored every email and text and say I'm going to be late on their payment and want to charge me a late fee.
A: The contracts should be reviewed and you should have counsel involved as there are a lot of moving parts. Construction is a legal specialty by the way and not for the pro se dabbler unless you are willing to take the lumps you may be in for!!
A: I suggest you review the contract you have with the builder. It should state the circumstances under which the builder is entitled to full and final payment. It may give you a right to withhold payment pending completion of repairs per your request. Frequently building contracts have a provision for completion of small adjustments and repairs called "punch list" items and an escrow of a portion of the funds due the builder pending completion of the items. Of course, your issues with the builder's work may be larger than what are usually considered "punch list" items. I suggest the starting point for you is a review of the terms of the contract.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
