What to Do When Your Contractor Stops Showing Up

When Your Contractor Disappears

Your kitchen is torn apart. The old cabinets are gone, the plumbing is rough-in only, and plastic sheeting separates your dining room from a construction zone. Your contractor said he would be back Monday. Monday passes. Then Tuesday. By Wednesday, his phone goes straight to voicemail.

This scenario is more common than most homeowners expect. The CSLB receives thousands of complaints each year related to contractor abandonment and project delays. The experience is stressful, but it is not hopeless. California law provides real protections for homeowners, and there are clear steps you can take to resolve the situation and get your project back on track.

Warning Signs That a Contractor Is About to Disappear

Contractor abandonment rarely happens overnight. In most cases, there are warning signs weeks before the contractor stops showing up entirely.

Gradually Reducing Presence

The contractor who was on site every day starts showing up three days a week, then two, then one. Workers arrive later and leave earlier. Progress slows noticeably.

Communication Breakdown

Calls and texts go unanswered for longer and longer periods. Promised updates do not arrive. Questions about the schedule receive vague or evasive answers.

Requesting Larger Payments

A contractor who suddenly pushes for a large payment ahead of scheduled milestones may be experiencing cash flow problems. This is one of the biggest red flags, because it suggests the contractor may be using your money to fund other projects.

Subcontractor Issues

If subcontractors start complaining about unpaid invoices or stop showing up, your contractor may be in financial trouble. Subcontractors who are not being paid will not continue working, regardless of what the general contractor promises.

Excuses About Materials

Repeated delays attributed to material shortages, back orders, or supplier problems may be legitimate, but they can also be a cover for cash flow problems or poor project management.

Why Contractors Stop Showing Up

Understanding the cause can help you decide your next steps.

Over-Committed

The most common reason is that the contractor has taken on too many projects simultaneously. Your job gets deprioritized in favor of a larger or more profitable project, or a project with a more pressing deadline.

Financial Problems

Contractors who underbid projects, mismanage cash flow, or face unexpected personal expenses may run out of money mid-project. Your deposit may have been spent on materials for another job or on overhead costs.

Personal Issues

Health problems, family emergencies, or substance abuse issues affect contractors just like anyone else. While these situations deserve empathy, they do not release the contractor from their contractual obligations.

Avoiding a Problem

Sometimes a contractor discovers a problem (structural damage, code violations, a mistake in their own work) and avoids the job site rather than confronting it. This avoidance makes the problem worse over time.

What to Do: Step by Step

Step 1: Document Everything

Before taking any action, document the current state of your project thoroughly.

• Photograph the entire job site, including completed work, incomplete work, and any areas of concern
• Note the date of the contractor’s last day on site and every day of absence since
• Save all communication (texts, emails, voicemails, notes from phone conversations)
• Gather your contract, payment records, and any change orders signed during the project

This documentation will be essential whether you resolve the situation amicably, file a CSLB complaint, or pursue legal action.

Step 2: Communicate in Writing

Send a formal written notice to your contractor via email and certified mail. The letter should include:

• The date work stopped
• A summary of the work remaining
• A request for a specific return date
• A reasonable deadline for response (typically 5-10 business days)
• A statement that you will consider additional remedies if the contractor fails to respond

Keep the tone professional and factual. Avoid threats or emotional language. This letter serves as evidence that you gave the contractor a reasonable opportunity to return before taking further action.

Step 3: Review Your Contract

Your contract should include provisions for:

• Project timeline and milestones: Has the contractor violated the agreed schedule?
• Termination clause: What steps are required to terminate the contract? Most contracts require written notice and a cure period.
• Payment terms: How much have you paid versus how much work has been completed? California law limits home improvement deposits to 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less.
• Dispute resolution: Does the contract specify mediation, arbitration, or litigation?

Follow the contract provisions exactly. Skipping required steps could weaken your legal position later.

We are not attorneys. Consult a licensed attorney for legal guidance specific to your situation.

Step 4: Verify the Contractor’s License

If you have not already, check your contractor’s license status at cslb.ca.gov. Confirm that the license is active, the bond is current, and workers’ compensation insurance is in place. If the license has expired or been suspended, this changes your options and may provide additional grounds for a complaint.

Step 5: File a CSLB Complaint

If the contractor does not respond to your written notice within the specified timeframe, file a complaint with the California Contractors State License Board. The CSLB can:

• Investigate the complaint and contact the contractor on your behalf
• Mediate the dispute to reach a resolution
• Order restitution if the contractor is found to have abandoned the project
• Take disciplinary action against the contractor’s license, including suspension or revocation

You can file online at cslb.ca.gov or call 800-321-CSLB (2752). Have your contract, payment records, photos, and communication records ready.

Step 6: Assess Whether to Hire a New Contractor

If it becomes clear that your original contractor is not returning, you will need to hire someone to finish the job. Before doing so:

• Get an independent assessment of the work completed so far. A new contractor should inspect the site and identify any deficiencies in the existing work.
• Obtain a detailed scope for the remaining work and a written estimate.
• Understand that mid-project takeovers are more expensive. A new contractor is assuming risk on someone else’s work, and the price will reflect that.

How to Prevent This from Happening

Verify Before You Hire

• Check the contractor’s CSLB license status online
• Ask for and call at least three references from recent projects
• Visit a current or recently completed job site
• Verify workers’ compensation and liability insurance
• Search for complaints on the CSLB website, Better Business Bureau, and review sites

Watch the Deposit

California law limits home improvement contract deposits to 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less. A contractor who asks for more is either uninformed about the law or deliberately violating it. Either way, it is a red flag.

Establish a Payment Schedule Tied to Milestones

Never pay ahead of completed work. Structure payments around completed milestones: demolition complete, framing inspection passed, electrical rough-in approved, and so on. Hold a retention (typically 10%) until the project is fully complete and you are satisfied.

Communicate Regularly

Establish a weekly check-in schedule from day one. Regular communication makes it harder for problems to hide and easier to catch warning signs early.

When to Consult an Attorney

Consider consulting a construction attorney if:

• The contractor has received a substantial portion of the contract amount but completed little or no work
• You suspect the contractor is using your money on other projects
• The contractor’s bond or insurance has lapsed
• The total amount at stake exceeds your comfort level for CSLB mediation

A construction attorney can advise you on breach of contract claims, mechanics lien issues, and the most effective path to recovering your money.

How Design-Build Prevents Contractor Abandonment

The design-build model provides structural protections against the kind of contractor behavior described in this article. At Custom Home Design and Build:

• We operate from a physical office, not a truck. Our clients can visit our showroom, meet the team, and see our work in person.
• Our project managers maintain daily communication with clients and provide weekly written progress reports.
• Payment milestones are tied to completed and inspected work, so you never pay ahead of progress.
• We manage all subcontractors directly, ensuring they are paid on time and accountable to the project schedule.
• Our reputation is built on completed projects. With a portfolio of Bay Area homes and verifiable references, we have every incentive to deliver on our commitments.

Get Your Project Back on Track

Dealing with an absent contractor is stressful, but you have options. Document the situation, communicate in writing, know your rights under California law, and do not hesitate to involve the CSLB when necessary.

If you are ready to start fresh with a team that shows up every day and finishes what it starts, we would be glad to help.

Contact Custom Home Design and Build to discuss your project and learn how our design-build process keeps your renovation on schedule, on budget, and fully accountable.