Unfinished or abandoned work
Compare the promised scope and schedule with what has actually been completed. Record missed appointments, unresolved requests, payments, and the company's explanation for any delay.
For homeowners
Contractor & Warranty Claims
The work should match the agreement.
Understand your position
A clear look.
A practical next step.
You hired a company to complete a job, solve a problem, or deliver a working system. When work stalls, defects remain, or warranty requests go unanswered, an organized review can separate the agreed obligations from the disputed performance. The details of the contract, written changes, payment history, and project condition all matter. Clear documentation gives the reviewing attorney a stronger basis for discussing the available paths forward.
Workmanship and installation problems
Photographs, inspection findings, and independent repair estimates can help explain what needs correction. Identify who performed each part of the work and when the condition appeared.
Warranty promises without follow-through
Read who issued the warranty, what it covers, and how claims must be submitted. Keep service requests and responses so the history is easy to assess.
Put your goal in focus
What could moving
forward look like?
Explore the questions and possible objectives that can shape a useful case review.
Compare scope with completed work
List what was agreed, what changed in writing, and what remains unfinished or defective. Separate the original scope from later additions. This helps explain whether the issue concerns the quality of performance, missing work, disputed charges, or the timing and conditions of completion.
Useful starting point: the contract, plans, change orders, and a concise list of outstanding items.
Preserve the project condition
Dated photographs, inspection reports, and repair estimates can help explain the condition of the work. Keep a record of visits, service requests, and responses. If emergency work has already been performed, retain the original photographs, invoices, and the explanation for why the work could not wait.
Useful starting point: before-and-after documentation and any independent assessment.
Review the available routes
Potential approaches may include discussing corrective work, reviewing warranty obligations, examining a licensing or bond process, or considering a contract dispute. These routes have different purposes and requirements. A review should connect the proposed step to the actual problem and the party responsible for addressing it.
Useful starting point: the contractor’s full business name, licensing information, and warranty terms.
These are possible review objectives, not predictions or guarantees. Available rights and remedies depend on the facts, agreements, deadlines, and applicable law.
Start with what you have
The right details
make a difference.
You do not need a perfect file to ask for help. These records can make the first conversation more useful.
How to prepare for a case reviewYour preparation checklist
Check off the records you have ready. You can still ask for help if something is missing.
0 of 4 ready
Keep originals. Share only a brief summary in your initial inquiry; an appropriate way to provide documents can be discussed afterward.
01
Establish the agreed scope
Gather the original contract, specifications, written changes, and any completion records.
02
Document the outstanding work
Create a concise list of defects, missing items, disputed charges, and attempted solutions.
03
Evaluate the resolution routes
Review the contract, licensing information, and possible repair, claim, or dispute procedures.
Good questions. Clear answers.
Before you take
the next step.
Is a licensing complaint the same as a claim for compensation?
No. Licensing enforcement, a bond claim, arbitration, and a civil case can involve different procedures and objectives. The appropriate options depend on the facts.
Does a contractor's license bond guarantee repayment?
No. A bond claim is submitted to the surety and is subject to its requirements. The CSLB cautions that financial recovery is not guaranteed.
Can I request a review before the project ends?
Yes. Explain the current condition, what remains unfinished, and any upcoming payment or inspection dates. That helps focus the discussion on the decisions in front of you.
Further reading: CSLB resource · CSLB resource
General information only. Rights, deadlines, available remedies, and eligibility depend on the facts and applicable law.
The bigger picture
Related solutions.
01Homeowner Disputes
Protect your investment when contracts and property projects unravel.
Explore this service
02Solar Panel Disputes
When promised savings turn into costly problems.
Explore this service
03Financing & Loan Disputes
Understand the terms. Question unexplained fees and financing.
Explore this serviceYour next step
Tell us what happened.
Start a conversation about your contractor & warranty claims concern and the options worth exploring.