Lack of communication from GC/PM
This is our first time flipping a house, and I’m not sure if what we’re experiencing is normal or if we’re just dealing with a bad contractor/project manager.
When we signed the contract, we thought the general contractor (GC) would also be the project manager. After signing, he basically handed the project over to someone else, which wasn’t explained in the contract. We still have to pay the PM a fee, and he pays the GC and the subcontractors from the total remodeling budget. (So double payment from us ti to the PM and I don’t know how much is making the GC from the remodeling total cost).
The project manager has been terrible at communicating. He often ignores our texts, and when we ask for invoices or receipts showing where the money is going, he says he’ll send them but never does. The project has been delayed and he’s asked us for more money, which we’ve paid.
We only ask for a few minutes every couple of weeks for a progress update, and even that is difficult to schedule because he’s so flaky. He also promised things like drawings and design plans, but never follows through. It often feels like he’s making design decisions on his own instead of discussing them with us.
When we visit the house, people are working and progress is being made but however he likes, he ask us questions sometimes but when we say our opinions immediately he said no and he does what he wants at the end of the day, sometimes I wonder why would you ask us if we want this design when at the end you don’t give us the freedom to choose is ether his way or he said we have to pay him more , so it’s not like nothing is happening. But the lack of communication and transparency is really frustrating.
The worst part is that we met him through a group of friends. We actually became friends before hiring him, and now I just can’t wait for the project to be over.
Is this normal in the remodeling/flipping world, or are these major red flags? I’d really appreciate hearing from people with more experience.