What counts as project abandonment?

Work it through

You're the contractor. Pick what you'd do, then see how each choice plays out.

Sarah Mitchell

First-time homeowner who wants a kitchen renovation

Listen

1. AGet a crew back on Sarah's site this week. Project abandonment is one of the most serious MHIC violations. Communicate a revised timeline and stick to it
   Correct

   Project abandonment — failing to perform work without justification for an unreasonable period — is among the most common and most serious MHIC complaints. Three weeks without progress on a kitchen renovation (where the homeowner can't cook) is approaching abandonment territory. Restart immediately, communicate honestly about the delay, and adjust your project scheduling so this doesn't happen again.

2. BSend Sarah a text saying you'll be there 'soon' — you need to finish the other job first
   Approaching abandonment

   Vague promises with no action is textbook abandonment behavior. Sarah has a torn-apart kitchen, paid you money, and hasn't seen progress in three weeks. If she files an MHIC complaint now, you have no defense. 'I was busy with another job' is not a justification for leaving a client's kitchen demolished. This is how contractors lose licenses and face Guaranty Fund claims.

3. COffer to refund the unused portion of her payments so she can hire someone else
   Costly but semi-ethical

   Offering a refund and release is better than silent abandonment, but it's still a failure. She hired you to finish a kitchen, not to take her money for 3 months and leave it 70% done. You may still face an MHIC complaint. The refund amount should cover the unperformed work, and she'll need to hire someone else to finish at potentially higher cost since they're inheriting your project mid-stream.