Abandoned by my builder

[ProfessionalPirate]

I am half way through a massive full house re-model and extension, and my builder has just announced that he is off to another job next week and won't be back for 3 months. The new job wasn't booked in until after ours, but basically the builder has grossly underestimated how long ours would take, and is unwilling to put off this new job in order to finish our house.

The house is a total demolition site. We have one working plug socket, no kitchen etc. We will be left in a position where we can't carry on with any work while he is gone. The timing couldn't be worse. We thought we'd be finished by 3months, not still stuck with this mess.

The best part is, builder doesn't seem to think he is doing anything at all wrong. Totally unapologetic. He has pointed out that things have taken longer than he expected, but I surely he should have made allowances for that.

AIBU to be totally pissed off about this? His 'I'm doing nothing wrong' attitude has thrown me, and I just want to check this is an unacceptable thing to do!

He doesn't want to work on your project anymore so don't bother asking him to come back at all. Builders are notoriously good at not giving notice.

It's not that I would be asking him to come back - he's assuming he is coming back, so I need to put him straight if that's not the case. perhaps you are right and he has no intention of returning. It won't really affect the project either way, as I've got plenty of work I can put him onto, or equally other guys to give it to. Thanks again for the replies, sometimes it's just useful to vent.

It's not easy, good luck with the rest of your project. FWIW I now segment the work into really small bits of work and give it to the experts in that field a few days at a time. Saves my sanity a bit more.

Why is everyone bashing the OP here?

You sound like you are doing the right thing. You got a lot of work done already for a great price. The builder has told you up front they are not coming back for three months (that is if they will come back at all). You have now found someone else.

I would go with the new builder. If the old one calls you at a later date you can tell him thanks but no thanks.

And as for the comments regarding the new builder having immediate availability, that is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes builders have lulls and can give a great price because they have nothing else on. Other times the builder may have a waiting list of 2-3 months.

I have had work completed by a builder who had immediate availability and gave me a good price. I was very happy with the quality of his work. Now he is super busy and has a waiting list.