Client ghosted me after I finished a $6,200 bathroom reno in Phoenix

Finished the job on a Friday. Tile work, new vanity, fixtures all done. Sent the invoice that same night. Now it's been 3 weeks and the guy won't answer texts or calls. I even drove by the house and saw his truck in the driveway. Has anyone else had to put a lien on a house over something like this? How long did you wait before filing?

2 comments

2 Comments

rosepark6d ago

You even drove by the house and saw his truck in the driveway" yeah that's the worst feeling, like they're actively dodging you. I've been there with a smaller job but same nonsense. I waited about 4 weeks before I filed a mechanics lien, mostly because I wanted to give them one last chance. The lien paperwork isn't that hard in Arizona - you can find the forms online at the county recorder's office or use a service like LienItNow. Just make sure you file it within 120 days of finishing the job or you lose the right. Once you file, send him a copy with a final notice that the lien will show up on his title and block any sale or refinance. That usually gets them paying fast (like within a week) because nobody wants that mess when they try to sell or borrow against the house.

the_laura6d agoMost Upvoted

The 120 day rule is something too many people don't know about and it's wild because you can just lose your right to get paid if you snooze on it. I feel like this whole situation points to a bigger thing in life which is that people think ignoring a problem will make it go away but it never does. Whether it's a contractor dodging a homeowner or a friend avoiding a tough conversation, the tension just builds and makes everything worse in the end. The guy with the truck is probably sitting in his house knowing you drove by and still hoping you'll just give up and go away. That's human nature I guess, but it's also why a simple legal document like a lien can cut through all that nonsense so fast. Once there's a real consequence that hurts their wallet or their ability to sell a house, suddenly they want to talk and pay up.