ComplaintsforDavid Like New Construction & Remodeling, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  01/06/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We contracted with Mr. **** in November of 2021 to build a small (20'x15') auxiliary building on our property. He advised us that the project would start at the beginning of 2022. Due to delays in him getting the necessary drawings completed and a failure to provide the building department a site plan, the permit wasn't issued until 4/15/22. Construction started shortly there after, but has moved slowly due to poor planning, multiple vacations by the contractor, him seemingly having no standard sub-contractors that he uses regularly, and his inability or unwillingness to use helpers. Additionally, in tracking his attendance on site, he has averaged approximately 2.3 days per week. Now, over 8 months later, the job is still not complete and the building is unusable. The contractor has made promises to have the job done by the first week of January, however he has not been on site since 12/30 for approximately 5 hours and his previous visit was a week prior to that. He doesn't answer phone calls and texts requesting a plan to completion are replied to with short, non-committal answers. We are starting to believe that, now that he has received approximately 90% of the total cost of the job, he was decided to move to another project and leave us in the lurch.

  

  Business response

  01/13/2023

  I'm responding to complaint #********

  

  Business response

  01/14/2023

  Attached are a cover letter and my response to 18694960

  Sentence 1: We contracted with Mr. **** in November of 2021to build a small (2015) auxiliary building on our property.                                                                                                                            

  Sentence 1 Answer: True, contract signed 11/1/2021                     

  Sentence 2: He advised us that the project would start at the beginning of 2022.

  Sentence 2 answer: Half true. What I said was: I should have permit in hand the 1st/2nd week of January.

  Sentence 3 part 1: Due to delays in him getting the necessary drawings completed

  Sentence 3-part 1 answer: The drafting service I use was and probably still is very busy at the time. Theyre not going to stop working on other projects just to satisfy me or **************, you must get in line and be patient. The plan was signed off on 1/21/2022 by ************** after a 72-hour waiting period.

  Sentence 3 part 2: and a failure to provide the building department a site plan, the permit wasnt issued until 4/15/2022.

  Sentence 3-part 2 answer: When we were initially negotiating the project, I told Mr. and *************** they may need to order a new survey/site plan because the one provided was over a your old and that I wouldn't charge for it. I **** the location of the accessory building on the survey/site plan provided just like Ive done for well over 20 years however ********************************** requires the location of the accessory building on the survey/site plan to be drawn electronically by the survey engineer. I told this to ************** and he had it added to the survey/site plan and I submitted to **********************************. I dont control the surveyor the Browns do since they paid them. Another reason for the delay in permitting, the electrical contractor I normally would use was busy, so I had to fine as alternate, I contracted the electrical supply house I use for a referral and was given a name, made contract by phone, submitted the drawings to him, he gave me an estimate and then disappeared leaving me in the lurch. Now I had to find another electrical contractor that didnt charge more than I had in the job for electrical work. After about a 4-week search, I found one, signed them up and applied for the permit on or around 2/15/2022. That was half of the permitting battle it took ********************************** about 8 weeks to issue the permit. In summary of sentences 1, 2 and 3 ************** was aware of the delays with the project, and it didnt seem to bother him since I kept them informed with text messages and he knows it. If he would have offered to pay more for the electrical, I couldve applied for permit sooner, but he didnt.

  Sentence 4 part 1: Construction started shortly thereafter, but has moved slowly due to poor planning                                   

  Sentence 4-part 1 answer: Again, when we were in negotiations for the project, I told Mr. and *************** several times that I do most of the work myself. At that point it was difficult to find subcontractors and help if I could find it. As far as poor planning I have no idea what he is talking about. Work done by contractor: permitting, site work, slab layout, form work, rod busting, framing, set windows and door, insulation, picking up and delivering materials to the job site, clean up and supervision of subcontractors

  Sentence 4 part 2: multiple vacations by the contractor

  Sentence 4-part 2 answer: My mother was in hospice care at my sisters house in ********* ** and eventually moved to ****** House. I tried to see her as often as possible sometimes taking long weekends. Eventually she died and was cremated. Being her son, I had to go to 2 memorials. 1 in ******* and 1 in ******** where were from, I told this to *************** and she said, take as much time as you need. I tried to keep the hospice visits and memorial/vacations as brief as possible since I knew I needed to get the job done however I unknowingly come down with Covid 19 half was through the ******** memorial/vacation. Once back in ******* I took an at home Covid test and immediately tested positive, went to the doctor the next day and was prescribe ********, was told to stay home and rest until the symptoms abated. I flew out of ************************** 7/2/2022 where I most likely caught the Covid 19 virus and returned 7/10/2022 and was back on site 7/13/2022 still with Covid 19 symptoms and testing positive, they were both aware of this, to finish framing the roof. Also, additional vacations were a long weekend for Christmas and the work truck drive shaft rebuild vacation.

  Sentence 4 part 3: him seemingly having no standard subcontractors that he uses regularly, and his inability or unwillingness to use helpers.

  Sentence 4-part 3 answer: False, I have drywall, roofing, and air conditioning subcontractors. My concrete, block and electrical subcontractors are **************, as I stated previously to Mr. and *************** at contract negotiation, I do most of the work myself. I am a small remodeling corporation and have no full-time employees other than myself, I use People Ready for helpers if their available and right now due to labor shortages it is almost impossible to get any one to even show up.

  Sentence 5: Additionally, in tracking his attendance on site he has averaged 2.3 days per week. Now over 8 months later the job is still not completed, and the building is unusable.

  Sentence 5 answer: First off, Im not their employee. To date I have logged a total of 19 off site days + 129 on site days = 148 days and counting. Also, to date I have logged a total of 864 working hours and counting. As for usability I cannot get the final building inspection until after the final termite application. The irrigation system needs to be working, all of the landscaping completed, and the sod laid and that is the owners responsibility not mine so if they can't use the room its their own fault not mine.

  Sentence 6: The contractor has made promises to have the job done by the first week of January however, he has not been on site since 12/30/2022 for approximately 5 hours and his previous visit was a week prior to that.

  Sentence 6 answer: I said that I hope to have the job done by the first week in January, I made no promises. If there is work to be done that, I can do I will be there however I am neither a licensed air conditioning nor electrical contractor. In reference to the week prior electrical work was being done and on 12/30/2022 for approximately 5 hours the mini split air conditioner was installed.  The electrical work has been delayed because the electrical contractor was on a long Christmas vacation in ******** and is back in town now. There are a few electrical issues that need to address, about 2 hours worth which are scheduled for the morning of 1/13/2022. Therefore, for actual working purposes the project will be done Friday, the second week in January, with only 2 final inspections remaining: final air conditioning and building. The final air conditioning will be scheduled for next week 1/18/2023.

  Sentence 7: He doesnt answer phone calls and text requesting a plan for completion are replied with short noncommittal answers.

  Sentence 7 answer: Are you kidding me he or she for that matter have never called me except in the beginning stages. Texting with ************** has been our sole communication stream except for 9/14/2022. I had blood work at 7am and had a meeting at 8:30 at my accountants office to sign my 2021 corporation tax return once completed I went to the job site arriving around 10/10:30. Before I start, I always check my phone for texts or phone calls and ************** text to call him immediately. I made the call and all I heard was complaining about why you are late, we have no confidence in you, you dont know what youre doing, you will never get the job done, dont talk to my wife and on and on. Now you know why he only gets short noncommittal responses! The wheels began to fall off 4 weeks prior to that. I work long hours on site just before **** and work till about 5/5:30 weather permitting and most of the time ************** would be home from work before I left. Well around mid-August the **** started he would come out to talk and just rant on me that the ****** is all over my a** implying that its my fault and this behavior has continued unabated creating a toxic hostel working environment and I ended up falling off the roof. Around the first or second week in December I had enough and told him to Chill Out he came back with a sarcastic remark, and he rarely returns my text and when he does there are just short noncommittal answers. Enclosing I firmly believe that Mr. and *************** are using the Better Business Bureau to do their bidding to scam my last draw of $7,869.00 plus addition material cost. Because the pool contractor they hired destroyed their property at the street on the left elevation resulting in breaking the county 6 sewer clean out that was open for 3 months, cable and power service torn up, I have photos. Apparently, the pool contractor has a clause in their contract that states they're not responsible for those damages, I guess the Browns didnt read the fine print, so what I believe their trying to do is scam the ****** into awarding them my last draw so they dont have to pay for repairs out of pocket or use their insurance company. 99% of everything they said about me in their compliant is a flat out lie. With exception of sentence number 1. Even when I would talk to the neighbors when they would walk by most would say dont you ever take a day off.

  The name of the pool contractor is Ritz Craft Pools #************ CPC 1459267 

  David ****
  

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