When a previous contractor's work violates a local building code, the recommended response is to provide the owner with what?

When a previous contractor's work violates a local building code, the recommended response is to provide the owner with what?

• A. A list of potential penalties for the previous contractor
• B. An estimate for the needed repairs
• C. A request to void the contract
• D. Immediate legal action

Answer: (B)

When a project shows code violations from prior work, it’s essential to be transparent about what it will take to fix them. The best move is to provide the owner with an itemized estimate for the repairs and any required compliance work, including permits and inspections if needed. This gives the owner a clear view of the financial and scope implications so they can decide how to proceed—whether you’ll handle the corrections, how much it will cost, and how it affects the contract going forward.

This approach isn’t about assigning penalties to the previous contractor or taking drastic steps like voiding the contract or suing right away. Those actions aren’t the immediate remedy; first, the owner needs a concrete plan and cost to bring the project into code compliance.