Sorry to hear that man that is horrible overage / situation regardless of the cost of the property, or how often you went by to have a PM do that. Obviously I don't know the exact conversations or what they were fixing, but I'd refuse to pay over the original estimate without detailed accounting.
What was the job and what was the final bill verse budget. I would have something in place that if/when the budget/bid goes over it needs to be communicated to you before work is done. $20k isn’t a small number. You can lipstick Fix an entire house for $20k.
They gave me a written estimate including what they called a "fudge Factor." Of 1,500, When I realized we were going over estimate they kept saying we're almost done it's just a little bit more work and we'll have it rented that went on for several months. Of course looking back I see lots of red flags along the way but I wanted to trust them and they were recommended to me by someone I trusted who now is no longer doing business with them.
They billed me a little every month and when I realized it was over the original estimate and ask them about it they said it was almost done and will just be a little more but would never put a figure on it that, it happened 3 months in a row.
I know these were all red flags. No contract just the written estimate in the beginning. I have paid them every time they billed me. I have been asking for detailed records for the last several months and I'm not getting very far. They will give me a few receipts but no detailed, itemized work listed which leads to more questions and now I'm feeling that I have been the victim of a scam.
Sorry to hear that man that is horrible overage / situation regardless of the cost of the property, or how often you went by to have a PM do that. Obviously I don't know the exact conversations or what they were fixing, but I'd refuse to pay over the original estimate without detailed accounting.
Thanks for echoing my sentiments. This is a tough crowd...
I'm looking for steps to fix this.
I have paid them most of the money because they billed me each month and every month they would say we're almost done, we have inspection scheduled and an interested tenant. Inspections always led to more items that should have been done already, Just a little more money each time they would say...
Like Pete Barrow said, either eat it or get a lawyer. In my experience, the BBB isn't really that potent of an organization. Same with the realtor board.