Investment Property Contractor Difficulties: What would you do?

Hello All and Merry Christmas, coming on here to get some advice about a contractor.

A little backstory, I just turned 24 years old and first time property investor, in a southeastern city.

I bought a run down 2B2B condo in October in a growing part of my new city. $110,000 sales price, 25% down (PITIA = $689, Rental Estimate when fixed up= $1200). The other finished condos in the complex were selling at $140k at the time (much higher now, there is no supply). After closing, there was a lot more work than I anticipated needed to be done on the property before being rented out. I was getting quotes for the ceiling alone for $10k and the lowest all in quote that I got was $15k. That was before the contract I chose offered to do it all for $4500.

After months of dragging his feet, raising his estimates and being an overall nightmare to work with, the property is finally done. A lot of the times he would tell me a section was complete over the phone and I would go to the property that night or the next morning and it would not be complete. I live 30 minutes away from the property so I could not be there during work. End date on the contract was 10/10, he actually finished 12/24. Ended up paying him $9k in total. Still cheaper than any other estimate that I got and the work is actually quite decent, but not worth the headache at all.

Either way, he met me outside of my primary residence yesterday, told me he was done, and his stuff is removed. I couldn't meet at the property because I was working. He gave me the keys back and I gave him the final check. I go to the property and there are tools & materials all over. Power drills, contractor cover up clothes, mixing set ups, excess paint cans, hammers, & ETC. It's a lot. The property is finished but there's all this crap.

What should I do? I think he just lied again, saying he removed his stuff when he didn't. I hate not giving the benefit of the doubt but after the 25th time... Can i throw it out, would I be liable for that? I was thinking of giving him a time slot tomorrow to come get it or I'm disposing of it. Also, he knows where I live and I'm new to the city, so there are some safety concerns if he feels slighted. I have someone who would like to rent out the property on January 1st. What would you do?

Thanks!,

submitted by /u/RealEstate_Head
[link] [comments]

source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/rofjs0/investment_property_contractor_difficulties_what/