Picked the cheap contractor for my basement remodel and paid for it twice

Hired a guy named Dave off Craigslist for $3,000 to finish my basement in Columbus last summer. He cut corners on the vapor barrier and now I got mold behind the drywall 4 months later. The reputable company wants $5,500 to rip it out and redo it right. Anyone else learn that saving money on a critical job just doubles the cost down the road?

2 comments

2 Comments

kelly.emma7d agoMost Upvoted

Did you check if Dave even had a license or insurance before you handed over the cash? A lot of those Craigslist guys just vanish when something goes wrong, so good luck getting your money back from him. What made you pick him over a regular contractor in the first place?

alice_wilson737d ago

That part about "what made you pick him over a regular contractor" really hits the nail on the head. I'm honestly curious if he checked if the guy was even doing the vapor barrier right as the work went along, or did he just assume that part was a given? Not trying to pile on, but with a basement remodel you gotta be crawling around checking every step if you're not hiring someone known. Would love to know if Dave seemed shady from day one or if he just started cutting corners after he got the cash.