There are times when you shouldn't listen to lawyers. I've often found that they know the law, but many know little of business. Regardless of what's agreed to in writing and what local law is, you have to assess your position of strength. You can't know what to do without that knowledge.

Contract and communication is paramount.

A well-worded, comprehensive contract won't make a contractor who is not the right fit for your project something other than what they are. Assessing fit is best done by performing due diligence prior to contract. Ask prospective contractors about the processes they have in place for ensuring your home is constructed as per the plans and specs, on time and on budget. Ask to see examples. Ask others about their building or remodeling experience with a particular contractor. And keep in mind that no projects and no contractors are perfect.

Who owns the lot?

You need to talk to a lawyer that specializes in construction contracts.

People do fire contractors part way through projects, but you need to know your legal rights.

First, what do you think his job is? And why do you think he isn't doing it? A GC is a managerial role, and a large part of that is not going to be visible to a homeowner. If this is a tract subdivision, he also does not work for you, or himself. He works for the tract building company, even if he owns the company. That is a fine distinction to be made, but it well separates him from a sole proprietor as far as legal responsibility.

Also, what would be your desired outcome to your complaints? Complaints without a concrete specificity as to course of correction mean nothing to anyone, least of all any lawyer or judge.

GCs are usually not on site. They hire and schedule the subs, and maybe send someone to check on progress. The subs should not be “managed,” they are separate and independent of the builder.

In my experience, a lot of GCs don't really manage their subcontractors - they rely on them to "follow the plans" and then they assume they did. Even GCs with site superintendents don't always validate execution to plans. And frankly, they appear to "build in" a reasonable amount of re-do's when (and really, if) someone catches the problem.

Your job is to hold accountable. If something is not being executed correctly, document, notify and follow up. If a wall is framed 10" from where the plans say it should be - take pictures, email your GC (along with a text) and say it needs to be fixed.

Keep doing this where things are not being done correctly (and by that I mean not to the plan). Code will take care of itself.

Document, and hold accountable. Either they will redo more, or figure out how to pay more attention.

This all assumes this is a custom home and not a production builder where the contracts tend to allow a lot of "on site variation" and changes to be made without customer approval.

" Your job is to hold accountable. "

Not do it for them. The more you do the more the GC will allow you to do, and he just keeps collecting his dollars. If he is incapable you need to get a construction and figure out how to cut bait.