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Backing out of contract?

the conservative atheist

the conservative atheist

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Joined
Jun 3, 2020
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I asked a paving company for an estimate to pave my driveway. Weeks went by without them sending anyone out so I wrote them off and signed contract with different company.

Sure enough, not two days after signing this contract, other company finally shows up and quotes $2K cheaper for binder/topcoat whereas other contract is for a one and done asphalt layer.

Looks like I fucked up in my haste. Has anyone tried backing out of a contract for residential construction? Maybe offer them a few bucks for their time and hope they're gracious enough?
 
75cruisin said:
Do you really want to deal with company A that is super slow and nonn-responsive?
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They'll be out trying to pave on frozen ground if they wait much longer.
Paving season is about done here, most gravel pits close by mid October
 
the conservative atheist said:
I asked a paving company for an estimate to pave my driveway. Weeks went by without them sending anyone out so I wrote them off and signed contract with different company.

Sure enough, not two days after signing this contract, other company finally shows up and quotes $2K cheaper for binder/topcoat whereas other contract is for a one and done asphalt layer.

Looks like I fucked up in my haste. Has anyone tried backing out of a contract for residential construction? Maybe offer them a few bucks for their time and hope they're gracious enough?
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I've been there, and I ate it.

I shook hands on the high priced company, and at that point I wasn't backing out.

I also helped justify it as... " I couldn't get a quote when things were good and easy, when things went to shit and got wrong or difficult, they would be impossible to get in touch with or communications with".

Not being able to get a quote is a sign. A red flag if you will. You can choose to ignore it, or you can see it for what it is.

Edit: the question becomes.. Does your word mean something? Or is your word contingent on a monmitary number?

I may break my word over money, but it will need to be a LOT of money for me to be able to live with it.
 
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Breach of contract is part 1, part 2 is damages-- which is the full amount of the cost, minus steps they took to mitigate the damage. Part 3 is the time and hassle of court.

You can ask to terminate, but if they say no and relied on your word, I'd suggest sticking to your word. The juice won't be worth the squeeze.
 
+ whatever on sticking wiht the company that actually showed up. If company #1 couldn't even be bothered with getting back to you when they were still trying to "woo" you over, what makes you think they are actually gonna return your calls/show up once they have some of your cash?
 
Paving contractors are busy right now, late season push. You signed, stick with it.

You won't need binder and top on a driveway.

What depth is the one pull and done laying down and what size aggregate?
 
sounds like company A overheard company B talking at the bar and decided to undercut them...move on, let company B do their thing and be happy.
life is too short to worry about second guessing for a measly couple grand.

obviously company A is slower than molasses in January, they probably take that long to do the work, then half ass it.

everything happens for a reason, even if we dont know what the reason it.
 
Dethmachinefab said:
Not sure how binder+top can come in cheaper.
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That's the only reason I'm considering backing out. The money alone isn't a deal-breaker when this guy has been responsive. He said he still puts down some type of binder, but because it is same-day, more risk of settling as opposed to binder and topcoat a year later.
 
TiTRD said:
Paving contractors are busy right now, late season push. You signed, stick with it.

You won't need binder and top on a driveway.

What depth is the one pull and done laying down and what size aggregate?
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Don't know on the aggregate size. There is existing crushed stone. The contract I signed was for excavation, more stone/aggregate, and 3" of asphalt.
 
the conservative atheist said:
That's the only reason I'm considering backing out. The money alone isn't a deal-breaker when this guy has been responsive. He said he still puts down some type of binder, but because it is same-day, more risk of settling as opposed to binder and topcoat a year later.
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That's odd. Binder and top usually done same day.

We did 4" stone, 3" binder, and 2" top on my driveway apron. I prepared the stone and they layed one right after the other.
 
75cruisin said:
Do you really want to deal with company A that is super slow and nonn-responsive?
Click to expand...

Generally no. To be fair I never reached out after the initial request for an estimate. At that time they said they'd be sending someone out. I just wrote them off after 2 weeks.
 
What is the total cost of the job? Not that it matters since you signed the contract.
 
Proof that there’s two speeds in sales, fast response gets the worm, soonzer is the loser wins an empty can.
 
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