There is hardly any construction and renovation project that may not undergo a disagreement between the contractor or contractor company and the client. Awareness of the reasons for these disagreements can be helpful both to the homeowner and the contractor as a way to avoid or solve them rationally in the event that they occur. Here are some of the most frequent reasons for contractor disputes:
1.Scope of work disagreements
Some contractor disputes arise from disagreement on the scope of the work expected. In the context of a construction project, the contractor and the client may have different perceptions of several activities involved, and therefore, disagreements may ensue. Modifying the project also often results in disputes, even if the changes are initiated by the homeowner, contractor and sub-contractor. Some conflict may arise regarding whether change is necessary or the predicted cost and time it will take to implement the change.
2.Cost and Payment Issues
Some of the issues that lead to conflict include extra costs that were not foreseen during the project, and there is a disagreement as to who will cover these added costs. Disputes may also arise when a client refuses to pay at the agreed time or the contractor demands payment before finishing the job to the client’s satisfaction.
3.Quality of work
Dissatisfaction by the client with the quality of the work may lead to a disagreement over the quality of the work done. This means that customers can demand repair on the products, refund their money, or even seek legal justice. When a contractor uses sub-standard materials in his construction than the agreed or stipulated standard provided in the contract, there are bound to be disputes.
4.Project Delays
When the contractors take too long to complete the tasks as agreed with the client, this will lead to serious dispute because the client will incur extra costs and or have to inconvenience themselves while waiting for the project to be completed. Unforeseen circumstances like weather factors, supply constraints, or shortages of labor force can also cause disputes; this can result from differing opinions on who is to blame for the delay.
5.Contract discrepancies
Vague terms in the contracts lead to contractual crises. Disputes common in construction contracts include failure in the contract to state timelines for completion and payment, the type and quality of the material and product to be used, and scope of work. These can lead to serious disputes, usually between the contractor and the client.
6.Communication issues
There are always cases where one party fails to communicate well with the other – the contractor and the client, for instance. When there are issues with expectations, timelines, or changes in some aspect of the project, lack of communication or misuse of communication leads to conflict. Sometimes, contractors fail to spell out to the clients what is included in the project and what is not, while at other times, clients have unrealistic expectations, leading to a dispute.
7.Termination of contract
A contract dispute can occur when a contractor is fired before the completion of the project, and there may be contention based on the reason for dismissal as well as the amount of payment for the work done. A contractor may challenge the discharge from a project if termination is regarded as unfair or wrongfully conducted, relying on the contract’s provisions.
