Ask the Expert: Quality Assurance could have saved the day

Glenn was recently sought out by a law firm regarding a client who was extremely unhappy with their home renovation which, being extensive, had them temporarily renting a small condo.

This put them in an uncomfortable situation, but they realized it was necessary for the six-month length of the project, in order to realize their “dream home” outcome.

They had also agreed to and paid out an up-front lump sum amount of many tens of thousands of dollars with not much to show for it except for anxiety.

The problem was, which they could now clearly see, there was no oversight of this contractor, who ended-up having carte blanche over all the work. Without any oversight and with only a vague contract, this ended up being a complete nightmare. After 18 months, these homeowners were still stuck in that tiny condominium with a growing young family, paying maintenance fees, insurance and taxes on the empty townhouse, beyond their monthly rent, which was supposed to be at an end almost a year prior.

It’s now clear that much of the work has been done wrong and will have to be redone by a new contractor. Plus, all the incomplete work not done yet must still be carried out.

This matter will now go to court, if it cannot be settled between the lawyers, which will again prolong their pain and suffering. In hindsight, even a weekly spot check by Glenn (just one more very valuable service offered), to ensure someone was watching over the project, would have given them some peace of mind, instead of headaches and the city now after them for a lack of permits.

All this is to say that Quality Assurance = an excellent investment!

If you or anyone you know are thinking of undergoing any project for your home, a building you manage or a construction project needing oversight, be sure to contact Glenn at Duxbury & Associates for all your Quality-Assurance needs.