An Oklahoma family says a contractor took more than $60,000 for major home and shop work, left them with a project that failed inspection, and plunged them into debt after they moved across the country in search of a better life for their children, KFOR reported.
Here's what to know
After relocating from California, Tanya Hunsaker and her husband bought a home in Blanchard with plans to renovate it and add a shop with living space.
They hired Julian Collins of JC Construction, paid more than $20,000 to start the shop project, and eventually spent close to $70,000 overall.
While Collins initially gave her confidence, Hunsaker said that changed once she returned to California to tie up unfinished matters.
"He had talked to us about everything, and he sounded very knowledgeable," she told KFOR. But the progress Collins described in updates did not match what relatives in Oklahoma were seeing at the property.
According to Hunsaker, Collins later stopped showing up at the site, and the work that was done could not pass city inspection.
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The fallout forced the family into two loans, kept her husband in California working to pay them down, and left her struggling to cover everyday expenses alone.
"I have 300 and something dollars in my account," Hunsaker admitted. "I'm out of money."
Collins disputed that account.
"I thought everything was done. We bought all the metal, and then she ended up hiring a company because we were running way behind, so it was taking a little bit longer, and they hired another company to finish the job," he told KFOR.
"I mean I would have liked to finish the job," he added, and claimed it was the first complaint he has received.
More background
Hunsaker said the move to Oklahoma with her husband and their five adopted children was meant to be a fresh start, but instead they ended up living paycheck to paycheck because of a project they believed was nearing completion.
She described the emotional strain starkly.
"It's hard, extremely hard, not being able to sleep at night. I was begging him to just do the right thing."
A City of Blanchard official said the family filed a police report, that it was forwarded to the District Attorney, and that the District Attorney then recommended it to the state. The State Attorney General's Office had not confirmed whether it had received that referral.
Hunsaker told KFOR she has heard from other people who say they had similar experiences with Collins.
What's being done?
To salvage the project, Guss Elyassir of Guss Construction and Remodeling stepped in and told KFOR he is finishing the job at his own expense.
He said major problems from the earlier work must be fixed before it can be completed.
"I ended up buying a lot and then whatever he sent we had to work with," he explained. "We cut a lot of concrete and started to fix all the plumbing. But this is not right, and then the finish of the floors."
Elyassir acknowledged that many people urged him to walk away, but he stayed anyway.
"I mean, nothing is impossible. I love this. I love making people's dreams come true," he said.
Where can I learn more?
Homeowners in situations like this often end up dealing with bad work, surprise costs, and a lot of uncertainty about what happens next. Other recent stories look at failed inspections, contractor messes, expensive fixes, and similar fallout from work gone wrong.
• A homebuyer sought legal action after an inspector's $12,000 mistake left the house without heat.
• A homeowner faced a 'toxic' mess after hired contractors dumped paint outside the home.
• Trusting a landscaping company turned one yard into an oven, a homeowner said.
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