Overview of Our Amish Contractor Keeps Missing Deadlines For Our House (Ramsey Network)
A couple hired an Amish contractor/crew in Indiana to build a large home addition (~$313,000) starting in July. The project was supposed to be finished by Thanksgiving but remains far from complete. They’ve paid roughly $300,000 with about $11,000 retained. The contractor communicates and shows up intermittently, offering a variety of reasons for slow progress (including “butchering days” and vehicle problems). The homeowners asked Ramsey Network for advice on how to force progress or recover money.
Key facts & timeline
- Project price: ~ $313,000
- Start: July (previous year)
- Promised completion: Thanksgiving
- Current status: Not close to finished; months overdue
- Money paid: Approximately $300,000 paid; $11,000 retainage remains
- Contractor: Uses an Amish crew in Indiana; attendance and schedule are inconsistent
- Homeowners’ options being considered: sign a new contract with firm deadlines or hire an attorney to recover funds
Main issues raised
- Missed and repeatedly extended deadlines with no consistent finish date
- Inconsistent crew attendance — shows up sometimes, skipped other times
- Contractor provides varied reasons for delays (cultural/seasonal reasons, equipment/car problems)
- Homeowners feel stuck because most of the contract amount has already been paid
- Communication exists (not ghosting), but it hasn’t solved the timeline problem
Advice given on the show
- Prepare a new, clear contract with concrete new deadlines and expectations. Have the contractor sign it.
- Tell the contractor you’re close to calling an attorney to recover money to hire someone else if the new timeline isn’t met. That establishes seriousness and leverage.
- If the contractor refuses to sign or continues to miss commitments, be prepared to pursue legal action (consult an attorney).
Practical next steps and recommendations (actionable)
- Draft a new written contract/amendment that:
- States new completion dates and interim milestones
- Specifies remedies for missed deadlines (e.g., financial penalties, right to hire subcontractors at contractor’s expense, withholding final payment)
- Clarifies responsibilities for materials, crew size, and expected days on site
- Document everything: text messages, emails, attendance dates, excuse descriptions, and payments made. This will help an attorney or mediator.
- Use your retainage ($11k) as leverage, and require lien waivers for completed phases before releasing final funds.
- Demand a detailed crew schedule (who, when, for how long) and references from other local jobs if you’re unsure of reliability.
- If the contractor refuses to commit or perform, consult a construction or contract attorney about breach-of-contract remedies and recovering funds. Consider mediation or small-claims/civil action depending on the amount and local law.
- If you rehire, get clear contracts up front and consider phased payments tied to verified milestones.
Notable quotes / insights
- “We’ve given you $300,000. This job is now going on three to four months overdue. I’m very close to calling an attorney to get this thing settled and get my money back so that I can go hire somebody to do the work.” — Host’s recommended script to convey seriousness.
- Host observation: communication alone isn’t enough — require commitments and consequences.
Caveats & cultural note
- The homeowners hired an Amish crew; the contractor cited cultural or seasonal reasons (e.g., “butchering days”) for absences. The host acknowledged this as a potential factor but emphasized that hiring a contractor obligates them to meet agreed deadlines — cultural explanations should be considered but don’t substitute for a signed agreement and enforceable schedule.
Sponsor mention: episode includes ads for the EveryDollar app and Boost Mobile.
Summary takeaway: Move from informal promises to a new, enforceable written agreement with specific deadlines and remedies; document everything; use your remaining retainage as leverage; and be prepared to consult an attorney if the contractor won’t commit.