Maryland - Catalina Builder Went Under and it Seems they are Leaving Customers to Fend for Themselves

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Every customer has a limited amount of patience before they will want to cancel the contract and move on.

If I pay a $20,000.00 deposit and then another $20,000.00 after the hole is dug and then the builder disappears for 6 months, I want the legal right to cancel and move on.

I don’t have to, but I should have that right.

I don’t really care what the reasons are or what the excuses are; that’s not my problem.

In addition, I want compensation for my lost time and effort in the amount of double my money back.

So, if I have paid $40,000.00 and I have nothing but a hole in my yard, I want the builder to pay me $80,000.00.

I want the builder to have a completion bond that will ensure that the full amount is available.

There’s no ambiguity, either the project is on schedule or it is not.

A good builder should be able to control what happens.

If they have no ability to control what happens, then they are worthless and incompetent.
 
JamesW said:
Like what, please explain.

People can give their opinions as long as they are presented as opinions and not as legal advice.
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I could go into detail or cite some examples but I don't feel too inclined. Nothing personal.

As I mentioned, courts are full of construction contract litigants. Of course people can share opinions, but it's too easy to cross the line into legal advice, especially when you are an attorney.
 
If people want legal advice, they should hire a qualified attorney.

In my opinion, as long as the site is not selling advice or presenting it as some sort of legal advice, there should not be any problems.

My main point about contracts is that they should include all relevant details.

Here is a case where a lack of specificity caused the homeowner and contractor to get into a conflict.

 
“Oh really, well if TFP says it’s true then I’ll definitely change my businesses practices …”

- Said No One in the Pool Industry Ever

I don’t think we have to worry about the legal ramifications of giving out advice. It’s pretty obvious we’re just a bunch of pajama-wearing, jobless juveniles living out of our parents’ basements working on our social capital / influencer cred …
 
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JoyfulNoise said:
“Oh really, well if TFP says it’s true then I’ll definitely change my businesses practices …”

- Said No One in the Pool Industry Ever

I don’t think we have to worry about the legal ramifications of giving out advice. It’s pretty obvious we’re just a bunch of pajama-wearing, jobless juveniles living out of our parents’ basements working on our social capital / influencer cred …
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Dang it. Gotta change my cam passwords right away!! o_O
 
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JamesW said:
If people want legal advice, they should hire a qualified attorney.
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Exactly. There's a big difference between writing a list in an internet article, say, about what to look for or try to include in a construction contract, versus posting boilerplate contract excerpts or entire contracts.
 
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ajw22 said:
... enabled OBs for those with the fortitude to manage on their own. With an OB you sut out the middle man and negotiate and contract directly with the peopel who are doing the work. The OB does need to know what he/she is doing or the subcontractors will run then over.
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I read through this thread. I am mortified by a business that would take a deposit, large deposit no less, then after the fact say "sorry we're out of business, you are on your own from this point forward".

I quoted the small portion of your post @ajw22 because out of this whole thread this was the only piece I could attest to. I did an owner build, I cut out the PB (middle man). I did research on each and every one of my subs. I ensured each was licensed by the state of NV. I requested proposals from them and met each of them in advance of their work. No contracts were signed but proposals were agreed upon. Fortunately for me, every one of the subs required payment after the work was completed. The only downside to an owner build, in my opinion, is that I am responsible to look for the appropriate trade if I have a problem down the line.
 
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an1vrsy said:
I did research on each and every one of my subs.
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The most important thing is to deal only with people who are good people with integrity and a good reputation.

A contract can say whatever, but if the person has no ability or intention of doing what they say, then the greatest contract in the world is useless.

A little bit of research can usually tell you plenty.
an1vrsy said:
Fortunately for me, every one of the subs required payment after the work was completed.
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This is important to protect the buyer from contractors doing poor work or taking forever.

When they know that the work had better be done correctly and on time or they get fired with no pay, the contractor is more motivated to do the work correctly and on time.

Of course, the builder is now in a precarious position of doing a lot of expensive work and then getting ripped off by the customer if the customer does not pay.
 
JamesW said:
A contract can say whatever, but if the person has no ability or intention of doing what they say, then the greatest contract in the world is useless.
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Like locks, contracts are for honest people. Crooks can find their way around either...
 
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Getitrite said:
Catalina is almost "just around the corner" from me. Out of curiosity, I'll have to swing by and take a look at the storefront for "signs of life" ... :unsure:
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Good Morning, Did you see any signs of life? They left my job almost immediately after digging a hole, breaking the sewer line and taking my $26k, which I had to spend an additional 12k to fix my like and most recently 4k to cover the hole. I never even got the first letter, but only recently received the letter from the Lawyers.

This is willful and malicious and the attorney general needs to get in volved.
 
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ColeFamily said:
Good Morning, Did you see any signs of life? They left my job almost immediately after digging a hole, breaking the sewer line and taking my $26k, which I had to spend an additional 12k to fix my like and most recently 4k to cover the hole. I never even got the first letter, but only recently received the letter from the Lawyers.

This is willful and malicious and the attorney general needs to get in volved.
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You will end up with nothing from them. Look into the MD contractor general fund for stuff like this I am not sure how though but I heard there is one.
 
ColeFamily said:
Good Morning, Did you see any signs of life? They left my job almost immediately after digging a hole, breaking the sewer line and taking my $26k, which I had to spend an additional 12k to fix my like and most recently 4k to cover the hole. I never even got the first letter, but only recently received the letter from the Lawyers.

This is willful and malicious and the attorney general needs to get in volved.
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Oct 28, 2022
Getitrite said:
Stopped by Catalina this afternoon. Nothing I saw to "advertise" out of business, so I'm not sure if the small red "CLOSED" sign in the window is just part of what they look like during non business hours. FWIW - :rolleyes:

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Mar 15, 2023

I drove nearby a couple of days ago on the main road, but did not stop. However, I did glance and the blinds were still all pulled down. I've been offline awhile, so I can stop again and see if anyone is around.
 
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