construction lien

We have a neighbor who is a licensed pool contractor who offer to do us a favor by helping finish our pool when the previous contractor left without notice. There was no formal contract and no final price was mentioned. We purchased all the materials and he brought in an electrician and plumber to finish up what was left and then he did some tile work. He had mentioned prior to finishing that he wanted 10 to 15% as a contractors fee for the labor and supplies of the pool. My husband said he would have to look at the budget. The pool was finished but had not had the final inspection yet and the neighbor was going to vacation and asked for his fee which he said was 20%. We did not want to pay him in full no matter the percent since the inspection was not final. We said we could only give him $2000.00. When he came back from his vaction and the inspection was complete he stated we now owe him $4000.00 for his fee. We stated we already paid him $2000.00 and so paid him another $2050.00. He took that and then came back and siad we still owe him another $2000.00 because the first $2000.00 before his vaction was for labor not his fee. He has now contacted our realtor threatening to put a lien on the house because he knows we are trying sell. He has not notified us yet. What is our best course of action at this point?

As a fellow Contractor,

This contractor had better not file any sort of lien any ware. As a Contractor he is supposed to have all work in writing and is supposed to have all insurances ETC.

If he does file a lien you will have many resources such as filing a fraudulent lean and being sued for holding up the sale of your home stress ETC

I suggest you speak with a real estate attorney or construction or contract attorney.

By the way did you get lean releases for all the people who did work?
Where they licensed did they have the necessary insurance ETC.

(DO NOT PAY HIM ANY MORE UNTIL YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO AN ATTORNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!)