Is this a contract?

[scifiguy]

we're in Maryland. a contractor agreed (this is all verbal) to do some remodeling in our kitchen for a specific price. as he got into the job, he said it was more complex than he thought, so would cost more. My wife said 'OK' and without ever discussing a price, he completed much (though not all) of the job. so, what now? has my wife entered into a contract where the contractor can charge whatever he wants? btw: his people cut the phone cable to our house, stepped through the floor breaking the ceiling below, and broke a painting - all we had to pay to get fixed. that's just icing on the cake

 

[quincy]

we're in Maryland. a contractor agreed (this is all verbal) to do some remodeling in our kitchen for a specific price. as he got into the job, he said it was more complex than he thought, so would cost more. My wife said 'OK' and without ever discussing a price, he completed much (though not all) of the job. so, what now? has my wife entered into a contract where the contractor can charge whatever he wants? btw: his people cut the phone cable to our house, stepped through the floor breaking the ceiling below, and broke a painting - all we had to pay to get fixed. that's just icing on the cake

Home improvement contracts in Maryland must be in writing and signed by both parties.

Your wife should not have okayed the additional work without discussing a price, and neither your wife nor the contractor should have let the work continue without putting the new terms in writing. Whether you honor the oral agreement that was made between your wife and the contractor and pay for the contractor's added costs in completing the job (minus, perhaps, the damages done to your home) is a decision you will have to make.

https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/mhic/mhiccontracts.shtml

https://www.peoples-law.org/contracts-0