Building a Home in Ghana? 7 Warning Signs That You Chose the Wrong Contractor

Choosing a contractor to build a new home in Ghana can be a difficult task. There are a variety of slick-talking people who you may have confidence in during the initial stages of the process, but often turn out to be better con-artists rather than contractors. Sound familiar? Following are 7 warning signs that you chose the wrong contractor.

1. The deal sounded too good to be true. As with most things in life, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

2. The project is behind schedule and over budget. Many contractors promise unrealistic timelines to get a job, then under-deliver on those timelines. If you are making a lot of changes during the construction process, this can legitimately cause setbacks and overages; otherwise, you should find a new contractor.

3. The contractor is overcharging for materials. You should always ask to verify receipts for material purchases throughout the process to ensure that you aren’t being overcharged. Better yet, get a “written-in-stone” quote. With a full house plan, most contractors can give a final quote based on a bill of quantity.

4. You suspect he is using stolen goods. If your contractor tries to convince you to use different building materials than originally agreed upon, saying things like the materials were “left over from another job,” this is a pretty good indication that he is using stolen goods.

5. He did not ask for the proper permits. It is important that your home is up to code. Different municipalities have different building codes—and for good reasons. If your contractor did not ask for a building permit or refuses to comply with the permit process it usually means that he is taking shortcuts on the quality of the craftsmanship and your home may even be unsafe or be demolished by the city authorities.

6. If he tries to pay off authorities during inspections. This is a tell-tale sign that you have hired the wrong contractor. It usually means that he does not have the proper credentials or has violated the building code and process with the city in the past and is on probation or just doesn’t want them to uncover his shoddy work.

7. You simply don’t trust him. Never underestimate your own intuitions. If you feel uncomfortable with your contractor, there is probably a good reason why.
If you feel that you have chosen the wrong contractor, don’t despair. Ghana Homes Group has a long standing reputation for reliability and can help you. They have knowledge and expertise to guide you through the home building process with honesty, ease and understanding.