All Forum Posts by: Carmen Savolainen

Exactly. It is time to move on. I have spoke to a lawyer and will be utilizing them if they refuse to give me my deposit back. Definitely not giving them a more money when nothing has happened. 

Hi Marcus

That is correct. They refused to put milestones and timeline in the contract claiming it for their own protection. They e told me verbally many time they can get this done in 10-12 weeks. I’ve told them multiple times this needs to start and the delays are unacceptable. But as many others have mentioned and I have realized it is time to move on. It is a hard lesson to learn but a lesson I will care with me for future projects and working with contractors.

Hi Chris

I agree it’s time to move on from these contractors. I did give them a significant deposit for this project which is part of the issue I’m having in trying to push forward. But I agree that there are too many red flags and it will only get worse if they start working on my property.

I found them on Houzz.

Talking to a construction lawyer was going to be my next step and I’m truly hoping I will be able to get my deposit back especially because no permits have been obtained and work hasn’t started in 15 weeks now.

Thank you for the advice I truly appreciate the candor and confirming what I knew in my gut.

Hi TJ

Yes I signed a contract back in February when I closed. 

This great advice. Calling the city for contractor referrals is a fantasist idea. 

I would really appreciate a contractor lead for Oak Park! 

Hi Aisha

This is great to hear an architects perspective not involved in the project. 

I think one of the huge issues is the lack of communication and keeping me in the loop this what I’m currently go through with these contractors. (Among other things). 

The architect sent the stamped plans to me and my contractor 6/6, they were submitted by the contractors to the city 6/7 and the city approved them 6/9-6/10. Now what is holding things up are the contractors insurance, electrical license and pluming license renewal which all expires in April from what the city told me. I found this out 6/9 when I called the city and immediately ready out to my contractors and told them they need to take care of this stat. 

I truly was patient in the beginning and I understand there are things you can’t always control. As you mentioned in your original post delays and plan checks being different in 2025 I’m not sure how it was before or in other counties/cities but this doesn’t seem normal. 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Hi Aisha

I am dealing with something similar but I don’t think it is permit delay it’s my contractors not being proactive and not communicated effectively. There have been things that come up where I am currently flipping ( just outside of Chicago) like needing architectural plans because I guess the size of the SOW but being delayed months is not normal. 

Hi All,

I’m posting to get some legal advice on a current situation I am in with contractors I have hired in Oak Park, IL for a flip property. 

I hired them 1/27, closed on 2/28. Between those two date we were talking back and forth about my project, SOW, and my intentions for this property. Knowing that this was a flip and I am an investor it was important for me to get started right away especially because the spring market was coming up. They said permits should take 1-2 weeks and the project could get done in 3 months or less. Great. Checked their license and references and everything seemed good. I give them a deposit for the job once I close and from my understanding permits were to be submitted right away.

A week passes after I close and no permits. So I call the city to see what the status is because I have a gut feeling I should call them instead of the contractors first….to my surprise permits have not been submitted. So I immediately contact my contractors to see what’s going on. Now they are telling me (condescendingly) they have to get their licenses approved and this is Oak Parks process and it’s not their fault. This is the first time I’m hearing about this. Now 3 weeks past and my contracts finally reach out to tell me that licenses are approved and they can submit for permits 3/24. (I later learned from calling the city there were no license submittals until 3/17. The contractors told me 3/4).

4/1 rolls around and no word about permits being approved or any update. So I call the city again and they sent my contractors a whole list of corrections on 3/25. So I once again immediately reach out to them and they’re real since was “yeah we’re working on it and we have a meeting at the property tomorrow” how convenient and thanks for keeping me updated. 

So now I apparently have to get architectural and engineer plans and for this project which is a huge expense I wasn’t anticipating. This whole time the communication keeps getting less and less and my frustration and anxiety keeps growing with all these things popping up that should have been addressed at one time and at the beginning like electrical and plumbing. (They tried to tell me now I’d have to replace the 3/4” main water line to 1” if I wanted to add another bathroom). 

Fast forward to 4/26 and the first set of plans are rejected. Great more time and money waisted. Less and less communication continues. Second set of plans aren’t done until 6/6 and finally submitted to the city. Oak park comes back the next could days and presents a “ready for issuance” on the permits. So I call to ask what that means and the tell me that my contractors insurance is not up to date along with the electrical or plumbing licenses and expired back in April. How was this not taken care of the whole time the architect was working on the plans?? They constantly blame Oak Park for the “ridiculous” things they were asking for now they are the one who are holding up my project and have no excuse. At this point it has be 14 weeks since I closed and 19 weeks since I hired these contractors. 

I am reach out on BP to see if there is any legal advice for me to get out of this contract and get my deposit back. At this point I don’t think I can move forward with these contractors that are clearly not able to get this done and are unprofessional. 

Thank you

Carmen