What are the most important issues to consider when you have to complete project started By another contractor ?

The most important problem is hiding some issues from you which may appear later in a critical time.

In my opinion, first to check the current status of site and verify with the design to find out missing works.

The handover and take-over of official and contractual documents, and to investigation of any hidden points which last contractor will not reveal easily as the project is going out of his hand.

The time remaining to complete the job and hidden issues will affect the project badly.

Existing documents shall be well reviewed, dated & documented.

Agree with Mr. Anwar Ali Shaikh answer. Never accept and start the work based on assumption, you also have to evaluate the quality of the previous contractor's work in details, most of the times u'll find something rejected or u'll not accept to complete the work on it.

In such a case, you need to be very careful and have to follow the contract document with the previous contractor. However, please follow the below steps in General

1.       Send a signed letter to the original contractor, giving the present status of the work and in-completion status, which is a breach of contract. Please provide specific date for reply.

2.       If no reply, then send a reminder for reply with specific date.

3.       If no reply again, cancel the contract as per discussion with Company Lawyer and send the file to Company Lawyer for necessary action as may be determined by the lawyer

4.       Now, check the design and work completion status and quality of work of the previous contractor whether it is acceptable or not., For documentation purpose only, please check the BOQ completed by the previous contractor

5.       If design is OK and quality is acceptable for the work done by previous contractor, please make a revised estimate for re-tendering again and award the work to the new contractor

• List down the complete SOW of the old contractor
• Check and note down the completion/acceptance status of each item of the SOW of old contractor to find out any missing/hidden items as mentioned by other friends.
• Compare the list with you own SOW and get any missing items that you find as a result of step2 in the new SOW
• This is the time to pause and reflect for the owner as well, so make a correct time estimate of the remaining works and intimate it to the owner. If expeditious work is required don't forget to include the extra costs in the contract. Ensure all the points are well understood by the owner and documented.
• Be patient with respect to time and cost calculations and don't repeat the same mistakes that probably the original contractor made in eagerness of getting the contract awarded in his favor.

The two main reasons generally contractor left project are underestimated cost and secondly requirements are not rational. When taking over charge of left-over project, it is essential to gather and review all requirements, understand external/internal stakeholder, review critical path and interact with environmental factors.

1. To estimate in time the remaining works to do.

2. Check the botch have be done and fix them because they will reflect at the end on the account of the        new contractor

3. Try to hire some key staff of the old contractor because the know better the environment and they have to guide the staff of the new contractor   

I would agree with the answers... Variety of helpful info and opinions .... !

Briefly you must:

1. Review Documents

2. Review Strategies and plan

3. Compare "Actual vs. Planned"

Thank you

Agree with Mr. Anwar Ali and Mr. Usman Islam our friends Answers and I have the same view points with regard to this question. Thanks.