Contractor Investigated For Fraud Homeowners, Subcontractors File Liens For Little Work, No Pay

A contractor accused of bilking three homeowners for thousands of dollars is under investigation by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department.

Two Hayden residents and one Spokane resident told the sheriff’s department that Builders Northwest, owned by Connie Ulrick, failed to either finish jobs that it started or failed to pay subcontractors.

Most of the victims reported that their business dealings were with Brian Slate of Builders Northwest.

Slate is wanted on an outstanding warrant for failing to stop at a weigh station, according to the sheriff’s department.

William Vorhauer of Spokane hired the contractor in July to build him a home in Spirit Lake, but only 25 percent of the work has been finished.

Several subcontractors have filed liens against Vorhauer because they haven’t been paid for their work.

Marilyn Sue Healey of Hayden had a similar problem. A plumbing and a heating company both filed liens against her after Builders Northwest failed to pay them.

Healey wanted a bedroom and a handicapped-accessible bathroom built onto her home, and it was supposed to be finished in July. By October, only the drywall was finished and the builder disappeared.

“They disconnected their phones,” she said. “They got away with $13,000 of our money.”

Builders Northwest is listed as a Coeur d’Alene company, but the phone number does not work. The company is not a member of the North Idaho Building Contractors Association.

Lori Barnes, executive director of the association, said she had no information on the company. She regularly advises buyers to check out contractors thoroughly before hiring them.

The association suggests that consumers should check the previous work and references of builders, check with the county to see if any liens have been filed against them, and make sure the builder is bonded and insured.

, DataTimes