Client is flipping house. Hired me as the General Contractor's to completely remodel home. ( I am self-employed and a have a very small remodeling company; myself and one employee) Client paid ½ at beginning of job. (Contract asked for 1/3 at start of job; 1/3 half-way and balance due upon completion.) Project has been completed as of the end of February. Client given invoice and has yet to pay. The house is now on the market for $220,000 more than purchase price. Client had stopped returning phone calls and then suddenly calls to say she will pay amount owed ($13,000 +/-) around April 30th. She tells me that she is in the process of buying another house and she's waiting to see what kind of money she has available. Note- this woman serves on the town's school committee which is responsible for balancing a complex budget yet she cannot balance her own checkbook. She understood the amount this was going to cost her from the beginning. In addition, her husband is self-employed with his own tile company so she knows how this works.
Question: If we hire an attorney to assist us with a mechanic's lien and perform any and all necessary tasks to collect this debt, can I collect the additional money I am out from her along with the initial amount owed?
Question: If we hire an attorney to assist us with a mechanic's lien and perform any and all necessary tasks to collect this debt, can I collect the additional money I am out from her along with the initial amount owed?
