Burn The Contract
A Cautionary Tale for Property Owners
Contracts. They’re supposed to protect you, clarify expectations, and set the stage for a smooth project. Yet, time and time again, I encounter contracts that are little more than empty promises—thin shields that crumble under the weight of real-world problems.
So let me be clear:
Burn the poorly written contract that never should have been signed.
Burn the contract that makes “hope” your only recourse when things go awry.
The Call for Help
I am a Mold Inspector with a specialty in Insulation, Waterproofing, and Building Performance. I consult on new homes, home improvements, and remediations all the time.
Much of the work I do is adversarial. Not by choice, but because property owners call me as their last line of defense. They’ve been burned. They’re knee-deep in unresolved projects, and they feel duped—lost in the murky waters of contractor accountability.
To their credit, it’s not always obvious where one company’s responsibility ends and another’s begins. Was it the roofer? The HVAC guy? The flooring team? When the cracks appear—sometimes literally—people don’t know where to turn.
My goal is simple: find the source of the problem and lay out a pathway to resolution. When I can’t, I bring in someone who can. It’s a straightforward approach, but I have the privilege to be in a position of advocacy. I don’t have to sell, so I don’t have to pretend my product answers all the questions.
Warning Signs in Contracts
Contracts should be your safety net, but too often they’re vague, incomplete, or nonexistent. Here are the red flags to watch for before signing:
No Contract Offered: If a contractor doesn’t offer a written agreement, run. A verbal handshake doesn’t hold up when issues arise.
Lack of Specific Details: A good contract outlines everything—square footage, material measurements, timelines, and more. If it’s missing this basic information, assume the worst.
No Material Details: The contract should specify exact brands, colors, and quality levels of the materials to be used. Without these details, you could end up with substandard products, different products than promised, or mismatched finishes.
Advice is a Dish Best Served Inexperienced
Here’s the quiet truth: you hire a contractor because you don’t know how to do the work. And the friend who recommended them? They likely don’t know either.
Why? Because most people judge contractors based on superficial impressions.
The guy showed up relatively on time.
They cleaned up the site reasonably well.
The roof looks… like a roof! (insert project of choice)
What your friend is really saying is, “I don’t see any glaring issues yet.” They have no idea about the build quality or whether the job was done properly. The truth about shoddy workmanship often doesn’t emerge until weeks, months, or even years later.
Reviews: The Good, the Bad, and the “It Felt Good”
Online reviews are often your only bet for vetting a contractor, but even they are imperfect. Most reviews are based on how the experience felt:
“They were polite and communicated well.”
“The price seemed fair.”
“The job was finished on time.”
Rarely do these reviews reflect the technical quality of the work. A project can feel good in the moment but be riddled with flaws that only surface after the contractor’s check has cleared.
How Did We Get Here?
Let’s be honest: you hired that contractor because you were desperate.
The roof was leaking, and their quote was the cheapest.
The crawlspace was flooded and moldy, and you were in an emergency.
A tree went through the window during a storm and this was the first company to respond.
In those moments, you prioritized urgency over quality, and now your name is on a receipt that represents more regret than resolution.
The Path Forward
If this story feels uncomfortably familiar, know that you’re not alone. The key is to change how you approach contractor selection moving forward.
Demand a detailed, professional contract. A good contractor will welcome the clarity it provides for both parties.
Vet your contractors thoroughly. Go beyond reviews. Ask for references and check their work firsthand.
Take your time. Unless it’s a true emergency, don’t let desperation dictate your decisions.
A well-written contract is your strongest ally in avoiding the heartache of a project gone wrong. Protect yourself. Protect your home.
And remember, hope is not a strategy.
