Expectations for contractors completing work?

put a dollar figure on every day they are over the contract deadline

Get a contract for everything and only pay when the job is done.Put a visible schedule up for all to see. Large companies cost more because of overhead. However these companies will send more people to get the job done and it is in there interest to get the job done fast and keep there labor costs down. Sole proprietors have no one standing over them. I have seen some self employed contractors take so long you would think they are starting a new career at your home. If someone takes to long hire someone else!

Be patient, many re-models can take several weeks even months.

Be nice but be firm, find out what they estimate it will take (time) and add 2 days. I say that only because of things that actually could occur (I have had trucks die, weather complications.etc..) but tell the person that you need it done by this date. If they want the work then they will do what you ask of them.

One other thing that people do not get regarding my business:

If you want a job done cheaply then prepare for this kind of thing to occur because what the contractor may be doing is taking on other "quick cash" jobs to make up for what he's losing on your job.

If someone told me that they would pay me $25 to put in a toilet then I would get there when I could and my heart wouldn't be there to do a perfect job (which is why I never work that cheap) whereas, if someone told me that they would pay me a $1000 to do this job? I would move into the house and I wouldn't leave until that toilet was balanced, blueprinted and I'd turbocharge it just for good measure.

Point is very, very simple....

You get what you pay for.

My sister's boyfriend buys and flips houses for a living, and he's having the same problem you're having. I guess all I can say is to give them an ultimatum -- either finish the work by a certain date, or you'll hire someone else.