Rules that apply before the work starts
New York law requires home improvement contracts to be in writing and to include certain information, and it controls how a contractor may handle a homeowner's advance payments. New York City and several nearby counties require home improvement contractors to be licensed locally, and an unlicensed contractor may have difficulty enforcing payment. Construction of a new home carries a separate warranty framework under state law. Permits are a further issue, because work done without required permits can create problems at resale or with insurance. For contractors, these rules mean that the form of the residential construction contract, and not just the quality of the work, affects whether you get paid.
The paper trail on a disputed job
Collect the signed contract, any plans or specifications, the payment schedule, and every change order, signed or not. Payment records, including cancelled checks and receipts for deposits, matter. Photographs of the work at different stages, dated if possible, are often the clearest evidence of progress and defects. Save texts and emails with the contractor, since many changes are agreed informally. If the contractor has filed or threatened a mechanic's lien, keep that notice and note when you received it, because lien disputes carry their own deadlines.
Finishing the job or ending it
Our first conversation checks whether the contract meets the legal requirements, how much has been paid against the work completed, and whether the dispute is really about scope, quality, delay, or payment. Each points to a different solution, from a negotiated completion schedule to a formal notice of default under the contract. Terminating a contractor without following the contract's procedures can turn a homeowner's strong position into a weak one, so hold off on locking out the contractor or hiring a replacement until the steps are clear. For builders, we review whether lien rights, a payment claim, or a demand for arbitration fits the situation. A complaint to the local licensing agency can also be part of the picture.
