Questions property owners ask us.

Terrible Contractor is a service of Assured Law, a Nevada law firm. We help property owners understand and resolve disputes with contractors and builders: unfinished work, defects, code problems, overbilling, and broken contracts.

Property owners only. That includes homeowners, owners of rental or commercial property, and homeowners associations. We do not represent contractors or subcontractors under this brand.

Complete the online case review form. It takes about ten minutes and asks for the facts that matter most: the contract, the contractor's license, what went wrong, your proof, the amount at stake, and the outcome you want.

We review your submission before anyone calls. You will receive an email, which may list a few items we still need. Once the file is complete, a case manager contacts you to schedule a 30 minute case review.

Yes. The initial case review is free. It is a review of your facts and documents and an explanation of the options that may fit. If you later hire the firm, the fee and scope are set out in a written agreement first.

A case manager confirms your file is complete and schedules your review. The review explains the claims that may apply, what has to be proven, and which of your facts prove it.

Contractor disputes involve a lot of detail, and the details that decide the outcome are usually in the documents. Reviewing the file first keeps the conversation focused on your options instead of retelling the story.

No. An attorney-client relationship is created only when you and the firm sign a written agreement and the firm is retained. Submitting a form, chatting, or calling does not create that relationship.

Four facts matter most: whether there was a contract, whether there were plans or specifications, whether there is a code or permit violation, and whether the work falls below accepted industry standards. The amount at stake and whether the contractor is licensed matter too.

We generally take on disputes of about $7,500 or more. Below that, small claims court is usually the better route because you do not need a lawyer and attorney fees are not awarded there. In some smaller disputes, a fixed-fee Contractors Board complaint can still make sense.

Usually not. When the contractor is unlicensed there is no license bond and no access to the Residential Recovery Fund, so recovery depends on whether the person can pay. If they can, small claims court is usually the best route. You should also report unlicensed contracting to the State Contractors Board.

Possibly. Oral contracts are enforceable in Nevada, but they are harder to prove and the deadline to sue is generally four years instead of six. Texts, emails, estimates, and payment records help establish what was agreed.

It depends on the claim. Deadlines range from two to six years, some run from when the problem was discovered, and construction defect claims have an outer limit of ten years from substantial completion. A claim on the contractor's bond must be brought within two years. Send us the dates and we will tell you which deadlines are in play.

Possibly. A license bond may still be in place, the contractor may have had liability insurance, and owner-occupants may qualify for the Residential Recovery Fund. These have strict deadlines, so act promptly.

Not necessarily, but it can make the claim harder to prove and some remedies require giving the original contractor a chance to inspect or repair first. Photographs, the repair invoice, and any report made before the repair are important.

Our attorneys are licensed in Nevada. You can still submit your information. With your permission, we may connect you with an independent attorney licensed in your state.

Yes. Associations can bring construction defect claims for common elements and areas the association owns or is required to maintain. Board members and managers can use the same case review form.

New homes come with a builder warranty of at least one year, and defect claims are governed by NRS Chapter 40, which requires written notice and an opportunity to repair before any lawsuit. The outer deadline is ten years from substantial completion.

Without one, most disputes come down to your word against the contractor's. A written report from a neutral inspector or engineer identifies what is wrong and which code, plan, or standard it violates. It is usually the most important document in the file.

The owner hires and pays the inspector directly. Reports typically start around $400 and cost more for larger or more technical problems.

A repair bid from another contractor is useful for showing cost. But a contractor who would be paid for the repair can be seen as biased, so we prefer the defect findings to come from an inspector or engineer who is not bidding on the work.

Possibly not. Upload it with your case review form. We will tell you whether it covers what is needed.

The contract and any change orders, plans or specifications, proof of payments, dated photographs, your messages with the contractor, any inspection report, any repair bids, and permit or inspection records.

Send what you have: estimates, proposals, invoices, texts, and emails. Together they can show what was agreed.

Take a wide shot showing where the problem is and a close shot showing what it is. Include a tape measure or level when size or slope matters. Keep the original files and do not edit them.

A demand letter is a formal written notice that lays out the contract, what went wrong, the independent findings, the cost to fix it, and what you are asking for by a deadline. It works best when the breach is clear and the amount is verified. No one can promise a contractor will respond.

For a licensed contractor, the Board can investigate, order the contractor to correct the work or pay to have it corrected, impose fines, and suspend or revoke the license. It is not a court and does not award general damages. Fines go to the state, not to the owner.

A complaint against a licensed contractor must generally be filed within four years after the contractor's act or omission.

No. Many owners file on their own. Some prefer to have the complaint prepared, filed, and followed through for them, which we offer as a fixed-fee service.

Most licensed Nevada contractors keep a surety bond on file with the Board for the benefit of owners and others harmed by the contractor. An owner can make a claim with the bond company or sue on the bond. The bond amount is limited and shared among all claimants, and an action must be started within two years of the act it is based on.

No. Nevada law allows an owner to bring an action on the bond directly, and allows the bond company to pay a valid written claim without a court action. A Board finding can help but is not required.

It is a state fund that can pay up to $40,000 in actual damages to an owner-occupant of a single-family residence who was harmed by a licensed residential contractor. It is not available if the contractor was unlicensed or if the owner pulled the permit. Awards are discretionary.

NRS Chapter 40 is Nevada's construction defect law for residences. Before suing, the owner must send a detailed written notice, allow an inspection, and give the contractor an opportunity to repair. Mediation is required before a lawsuit unless waived.

For disputes under about $7,500, often yes. Nevada small claims court handles claims up to $10,000, you do not need a lawyer, and attorney fees are not awarded to either side.

In some cases. Contracting without a license, diverting construction funds, and theft by misrepresentation are crimes in Nevada. The decision to charge belongs to a prosecutor. Reports go to the State Contractors Board or local law enforcement.

Most do not. Our process is designed to resolve disputes through a demand, a Board complaint, or a bond claim where possible. Litigation is reserved for larger disputes with strong facts.

Fees are quoted at your case review, after we have seen the file. Demand letters and Contractors Board complaints are fixed-fee engagements with a written scope. Contract litigation is handled on a retainer and hourly basis. Qualifying construction defect claims may be handled on a contingency basis.

It means the agreement covers specific work, such as a case review and demand letter, and nothing beyond it. If the matter later goes to court, that is a separate engagement with a separate agreement.

Payment plans are available for fixed-fee engagements. The options are explained at your case review.

Usually not. In Nevada each side generally pays its own attorney fees unless a contract or a statute says otherwise. Consumer fraud claims are one exception. This is one reason we look closely at the amount in dispute before recommending a path.

We do not quote timelines. Every file is different, and timing depends on the facts, the contractor's response, and the agencies or courts involved.

On most residential improvement contracts for an owner-occupied single-family home signed on or after October 1, 2023, the down payment is generally limited to $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less, unless the contractor has posted a special consumer bond. Pool, spa, and solar contracts have similar limits.

Be careful. Withholding a payment that is due can give the contractor an argument that you breached first, and can lead to a lien. Whether withholding is justified depends on your contract and the facts. Get advice before withholding a significant payment.

This happens when the contractor does not pay the people it hired. Failing to pay for labor or materials after being paid is a licensing violation, and Nevada has procedures for challenging improper liens. Lien disputes are time-sensitive, so send us the lien documents promptly.

Sometimes. Construction defect claims under Chapter 40 require giving the contractor a reasonable opportunity to repair, and a Board complaint often results in a notice to correct. Refusing access can hurt your position.

Search the contractor's name or license number on the Nevada State Contractors Board website. The Board can also tell you whether a bond is in effect and its amount.

It can be. On residential improvement contracts the contractor is generally responsible for permits. An owner who pulls the permit or acts as owner-builder is not eligible for the Residential Recovery Fund.

You can share truthful, factual statements about your experience. Stick to facts you can document, and avoid accusations you cannot prove. If a dispute is active, consider waiting until it is resolved.