Issue with contractor: works too slow!

[Michael Ream]

So I hired a contractor to refinish a basement: frame, drywall, skim coat and paint walls, paint ceilings (joists) and concrete floors, add a bathroom and laundry room, update electric. Work is going well enough, but rather slow: signed contract includes a section that states "substantial completion" will be done on or before 35 working days after work begins. Today is the 37th working day, and it doesn't look like they'll be done anytime soon.

My question: for future projects, is there language I can put in the contract of penalty(ies) (monetary, etc.) if the contractor has not completed the project by the date listed in the contract? Interested in hearing others' experiences and how they enforced such penalties.

[Patricia Steiner]

Whoa!  Did you get a Scope of Work?  Did you agree to what would be completed each week?  Did you agree on when payment would be made based on completed work?  Your issue isn't "language" - it's knowledge of construction, scheduling, and the payment based on completion - not the job.  

At this point, sit down with the contractor and review what is done by task - and what is left to be completed.  Ask that each uncompleted task have a time assigned to it - be very specific.  Either visit the job site daily/weekly; I recommend having him text you with an update on what was completed on a daily basis.

Take the time to find a Scope of Work template.  There are several online and here in BP.  Complete it with the contractor on the remaining work.  

You can fine tune the language and still not have the results you want...learn the business of construction and manage from the Scope of Work.

Best...