18 Nov Common Mistakes When Choosing a Contractor: Experiences of People Who Lost Their Money
What are the most Common Mistakes When Choosing a Contractor? Selecting the right contractor is the step that determines the fate of your entire project—you either end up with your dream villa as planned, or with a never-ending problem of losses, delays, and poor execution.
Many people in Kuwait have gone through painful experiences with unlicensed or inexperienced contractors, losing their money and effort due to unrealistic promises and verbal contracts with no guarantees.
Common Mistakes When Choosing a Contractor for Construction:
We will share genuine experiences of people who lost their money and how these mistakes can be avoided by dealing with a licensed and reliable contracting company like ALoda Contracting Company.
Firstly: The Story That Always Repeats — “The Contractor Promised Me But Didn’t Deliver”
One client recounted his story, saying:
“I agreed with a local contractor to build a villa in the Al Mutlaa area, and he promised me to finish the project within 8 months for an attractive price. After just 4 months, work stopped, and I discovered that he had no official license or supervising engineer, and worse, he took the second payment and disappeared completely.”
This story is not an exception; it recurs in many projects. The main reason is reliance on unlicensed contractors or verbal contracts without any written guarantee.
The client here lost more than 20,000 KWD and was forced to hire another company to fix the errors from the start.
Secondly: The Mistake of Very Cheap Pricing — “Cheap Costs You Twice”
One of the most common mistakes when choosing a contractor is being attracted to the cheapest price without verifying the quality of materials or the team’s expertise. A client in the Sabah Al Ahmad area chose a contractor who offered him a bid about 15% lower than the market.
However, after execution, he discovered that the contractor used poor-quality steel and non-compliant concrete. As a result, cracks appeared in the walls less than a year after occupancy.
A low price may seem tempting initially, but it hides very costly future problems. Meanwhile, ALoda Contracting Company adheres to a policy of complete transparency, offering a clear, detailed bid specifying the type of materials used and their prices accurately, with a written warranty extending up to 25 years on the work and materials.
Thirdly: Never Sign a Verbal Contract
One of the biggest mistakes people make when choosing a contractor is relying only on verbal agreement without an official contract. Verbal contracts are not legally binding on the contractor, and they cannot be referenced when a defect occurs. In contrast, ALoda Contracting Company is committed to officially documented and licensed contracts that precisely define:
- Start and completion dates.
- Material types and specifications.
- Payment stages.
- Post-handover warranties.
In this manner, the client is completely safe, as everything is written, clear, and signed by both parties.
Fourthly: Stories of People Who Lost Their Money Due to Fleeing Contractors
Painful stories about unserious contractors are rampant in the Kuwaiti market. Among the most highlighted stories documented through social media:
Client from Abu Ftaira Area: Paid 40% of the contract value to a contractor who promised a Super Deluxe Finishing within 6 months. After just two months, the workers stopped showing up, and the contractor shut off his phone. The result: The loss was 18,000 KWD.
Client from Al Qurain Area: Hired a contractor recommended by a relative, without an official contract. After completion, she discovered that the internal pipes were not insulated, causing water leakage inside the walls. Repairing the damage cost her more than 3,000 KWD extra.
Young Man Who Built in Al Mutlaa: The contractor used unqualified workers and left the columns without sufficient curing. After the first rainy season, clear cracks appeared in the structure, and the young man was forced to rebuild from scratch.
All these experiences highlight the importance of dealing with licensed and reputable contracting companies like ALoda Company, which possesses a clear engineering record and approved references from real clients.
Fifthly: Absence of Engineering Supervision… A Silent Disaster
Many people think the contractor alone is sufficient, and there is no need for a supervising engineer. But the truth is that the absence of engineering supervision leads to serious structural errors that only surface after a period. The supervising engineer is the one who verifies the concrete mix ratio, the foundation level, and the integrity of the steel.
At ALoda Contracting Company, every project is supervised by specialized engineers from the Ministry of Public Works, ensuring that every stage adheres to official Kuwaiti specifications.
Sixthly: Delays in Handover… The Hidden Reason Behind Problems
Delivery delay is one of the most common complaints from clients in Kuwait. The reason is usually that the contractor takes on more than one project simultaneously, leading to scattered workers and continuous work postponement.
However, at ALoda Contracting Company, a precise project management system is in place, where an independent work team is assigned to each project with a clear, written schedule. Periodic reports are also sent to the client about the completion percentage, including photos and location tracking, ensuring complete transparency.
Seventhly: Promises of Luxury Finishing at Low Prices
Some contractors exploit clients’ inexperience by offering bids under the slogan “Super Deluxe Finishing” at very low prices. But during execution, they use medium-quality or non-compliant materials.
The result: The client loses the quality of finish they were promised and cannot object because the contract is vague.
In contrast, at ALoda Contracting Company, specifications are clearly defined from the start:
- Type of ceramics used and the price per meter.
- Type of doors, windows, and paints.
- Plumbing and electrical specifications and insulation.
Every item is documented within the contract, allowing the client to know exactly what they are paying for and what they are receiving.
Eighthly: How to Avoid These Mistakes?
To avoid falling into the same mistakes that others did, follow these tips:
- Choose a company that is officially licensed and known for its track record in Kuwait.
- Request to see contracts, designs, and blueprints before signing.
- Ensure there is a certified supervising engineer from the company monitoring the project.
- Request a written warranty on labor and materials of no less than 10 years.
- Never pay the full amount upfront; divide payments according to completion stages.
- Review the company’s previous projects to ensure the quality of the finishing.
These steps ensure your project proceeds steadily, without surprises or financial losses.
Ninthly: Why is ALoda Contracting Company the Safe Choice?
- Over 18 years of experience in the construction and finishing field in Kuwait.
- Official, documented contracts compliant with Municipality regulations and Kuwaiti law.
- Long-term warranty on work, reaching 25 years.
- Price transparency: No hidden fees and no increases after signing.
- Integrated engineering team of specialized engineers, supervisors, and technicians.
- Outstanding customer service that follows up with you step-by-step from the beginning of the project until the final handover.
All these advantages make the company the destination for clients seeking safety, quality, and commitment in executing their projects.
Tenthly: Summary of Experiences and Lessons Learned
Through the stories and experiences of clients who lost their money due to unprofessional contractors, the most important points can be summarized as follows:
- Never trust a contractor who does not provide a written contract.
- Do not be lured by a low price at the expense of quality.
- Do not start your project without certified engineering supervision.
- Only deal with an officially licensed and reputable company.
And when you seek quality and continuity, remember that ALoda Contracting Company does not just provide construction; it provides an integrated project with guaranteed quality that reflects your vision and taste with complete confidence.
Conclusion
The Common Mistakes When Choosing a Contractor could cost you double what you expected, whether in your time, money, or peace of mind. However, avoiding these mistakes is very possible when you choose a reliable entity that has a clear track record, official contracts, and written warranties.
In the end, the difference between a successful project and a failed project is choosing the right contractor. And with ALoda Contracting Company in Kuwait, you are dealing with 18 years of trust and quality that guarantees you peace of mind before and after handover.
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