It’s a story we hear all the time: you hired contractors, progress looked good on paper, and then—suddenly—they disappear or stop responding. You’re left with messy, unfinished code and a product that doesn’t work.

Step 1: Get a Code Audit

Messy code isn’t the end of the road. With the right process, you can salvage most projects without a full rebuild. A code audit acts like an emergency room triage: what’s functional, what’s broken, and what’s missing? This prioritizes urgent fixes and prevents wasted effort.

Step 2: Stabilize the Core

Focus on the must-haves—the critical paths users or investors will see first. This ensures you have a stable demo even before cleaning up the rest.

Step 3: Document Everything—and Prevent It from Happening Again

Future contractors or in-house devs will need clarity. Document code structures, dependencies, and known bugs. Even minimal documentation saves time and money later. 

Prevent it from happening again by: 

• Vetting contractors carefully (ask for code samples and references).

• Insist on regular code reviews.

• Require documentation as part of the contract deliverables.

Takeaway: Messy code isn’t fatal—it’s a setback. With structured triage and cleanup, you can turn abandoned projects into working, maintainable products.