ComplaintsforStark Remodeling Team, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  06/14/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  I hired ***** Remodeling Team in December 2021 to demo and rebuild my home that had been destroyed in a house fire. Building permit was not obtained until May 2022, and as of 6/14/2023 only 34% of the work has been completed. I have given him 58% of the funds held in restricted escrow, and the loss draft dept. of my mortgage company will not release more funds until more work is completed. I've repeatedly asked Mr. ***** for an itemized materials list, which he refuses to provide. He stopped all contact 4/4/23 and I have not been able to get a response from him since.

  Business response

  12/04/2023

  Stark Remodeling Team was hired to demo all of the house but the front rock wall was to remain in the original bid( eventually it had to come down as it was not safe to build to as termite damages and structural damage from fire was more pronounced then previously thought. So when we did build this back it was known to be a extra expense added to the total cost of build  As to us missing deadlines we had several discussions about not being able to move forward with project without a permit which required a lagoon inspection to see if we could use existing lagoon   This was to be on the homeowners to get it ready for inspections as it was not in our bid  After waiting several weeks to over a month for them to move on that we were asked to come help get it ready which we spent 4 days with 4 guys and a skid steer to clear brush and cut trees away from it according to MO codes   I then arranged for the inspection and paid for it out of the funds  

         As per her claims about the plumbing  when we finished the under slab rough in plumbing we had cass county out to do the under slab inspection to show it held water in the pipes overnight to show no leaks and that slopes were good.  The only pipes not encased in concrete were where the drains for the tubs and shower P-traps were which is a normal practice  

       The trusses were originally ordered from Now structures in Nevada MO during their production Now Structures had a fire in their facility and that caused production to stop and for them to issue us a refund.  That left us to find another source to obtain the trusses for this job and this was during Covid so the demand for lumber was great and the production times were much slower as most places were way behind  I informed the homeowners of all of this 

   

      I had given ***** a list of the costs by month for her job which i was told was not accurate and that i should not include labor into the expenses for the house but honestly labor is one of the biggest expenses for any  small company  When i finally spoke to the mortgage company about what they needed from us they simply told me they did not ask for that   I asked what draws they had processed and at that point the homeowners had taken draws from the money set aside for construction to buy other items for the home  I remember the lady said one said furniture on the receipt.  They did purchase some items that were considered construction items but they were not items that were needed at the time of purchase. I'm not completely sure on the number but it was around 11-18 thousand that had been processed in draws that SRT did not recieve out of the construction funds  That money could have been used to keep moving forward with HVAC or siding etc.  When we left the job , ***** was trying to get hvac going with some funds that she received on the last draw.  When we left the job the house was considered in the dry.  It had new french doors, 2 new entry doors, all new windows, and it was roofed and had osb with house wrap on it.  The Pex piping was all ran to all areas, and the interior wiring was all ran over to the new breaker box ready to go. 

      Our original bid was 205,000 dollars before we did the front wall demo and rebuild  plus the costs to cover the expenses to clean up around the lagoon area.  ***** has taken to social media and told everyone we have run off with her money and that we left them homeless when the reality is the money she used out of the construction funds could of kept this project moving forward.  There were also a couple draws that i had no idea were even requested that they kept in this time frame  I know this is a lot and i appreciate the chance to write you this.  PLease feel free to reach out to me at ************ if i can help answer any more questions for you 

   

   

   

                                          

  Customer response

  12/05/2023

  
  ********** ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: Mr. ***** has refused multiple requests to provide documentation about material purchases made for our build. We are unable to get money out of escrow, because the company did not increase scope of work proportionate to the money they were provided. They were asked to provide a materials list and receipts for everything purchased at that time. The provided "monthly totals" did not provide any proof that materials were purchased at the cost he claimed. With the continual refusal to provide a materials list and copies of receipts, we had no option but to speculate where the money was spent. The lack of time spent on our project, coupled with the subpar work that was performed, make it seem as if the company is trying to hide something by not providing financial transparency. 

  Once ***** Remodeling Team provides us with proof that the insurance money was spent on our project, I will believe it. Until then, the continued refusal to cooperate only raises red flags for me. 

  
  ********** ***** *******

  Customer response

  02/02/2024

  Mr. ***** did not provide a monthly breakdown of cost. What Mr. ***** provided was totals to date, grouped into random totals. I had repeatedly asked for a materials list, and explained that it was needed to verify expenses so the loss draft department would issue another draw.
  On December 13, 2022, we had received an inspection report back as 20% complete. I told him, “Might help if you have a receipt for the trusses I can submit since they cost more than what was on the bid.” He made no effort to provide a receipt or proof of purchase.
  On December 16, 2022, I asked “Did you get any sort of timeline from your accountant when she can have the materials list and labor report ready?” The response I received from him: “Apparently she [accountant] is off on vacation for the holidays. So I’ll round stuff up. I replied with “Ok. Just get as many receipts as you can documented and I’ll submit it all as soon as I get it.”
  On December 20, 2022, I reached out and asked “Have you been able to work on getting receipts? I’ve already sent mine in.” His response: “Yes, I’m in the middle of it. But there was some from last year I’m looking for as they were filed on last years stuff. Good times.”
  On December 27, 2022, I reached out lightheartedly: “Hiya! Just checking in to see where you’re at with the materials list?” No response.
  On January 3, 2023, I reached out again. “Just letting you know I haven’t received the materials list yet, so this draw is still pending the receipt and review by mortgage company. I’m really trying to get y’all more money as fast as I can but I can’t until I get that submitted. If you’re still waiting on your accountant, I understand but let me know if that’s the case and I won’t bug you so much about it.” Response: “Yea I was hoping she’d get me the stuff from last year.” I replied, “Ok. Do you know roughly when you can get it?” No response.
  On January 12, 2023, I reached out AGAIN. He replied that he was almost done, and hoped to be roofing the next week.
  ******* *** **** ********* ********* * ****** *** ***** *** ** ****** ***** *** ********* **** ** ********* *** ******** ** *** **** ***** ***** ** ***** ** *** *** * *** ** ** ********** ******* **** ***** ****** *** ** ****** ** ********* ******* *** **** **** ***** ** **** *** ******** **** ** ****** ** * **** ** *** ********** ***** *** **** *** ** ******** ******* *********** *** ** **** ** ******* *** ****** **** ***** ******** ** ********* ******** ** **** ****** ***** ******* *** *** *** ** ** *** ** *** ********* ******* *** ********* ***** *** **** *** ****** ******* ** ** ********* ***** **** ****** ** **** ** ***** **** ** ** ** ** ********* ********* **** *****
  ******** ** **** **** *** ********* **** *** **** *********** ** ********* ******** *** **** “Any word on the materials list? Or when I could schedule another inspection?” Response: “I’ve got totals on materials per month. I’m not sure about what you mean by list of materials.” (Please note how many times I previously asked for a materials list or list of materials to verify expenses. If it were me, I would have asked a long time ago if I didn’t know what it was….) I explained that they needed “a breakdown of what was purchased and how much was spent, so they can total it up and calculate the % complete based on that, then issue another draw so I can pay you. He replied “Lol ok well I’ll get pics of all the totals. Cause just giving you materials don’t cover labor.” I responded with “If you have totals of both PLUS a breakdown of both, that would be great. Materials alone might get us where we need to be for a draw, but I’m not sure.”
  February 15, 2023 “Did you ever send anything? I’ve checked my email and messages, don’t have anything from you yet.” He said “yes, let me see our internet sucks”
  February 16, 2023 “Heya, still haven’t received an email. Also, once I can get some funds to you, do you plan on working on the house consistently? Or are there going to be more months of no progress in a row? Also also, let’s concentrate on getting a certificate of occupancy and worry about the “finishes” after the fact. We are 110% over being in a camper, and I’m operating at 150% over my patience capacity. If any of this is going to be a problem for any reason, let me know. I really need you to communicate with me because I’m getting very very very frustrated and need to know what is actually going on??!” Response: “Hey I’m sorry, I had to hop on a flight to North Carolina. Once of my best friends is passing.” (Note: I sincerely hope that he was actually in North Carolina, because it’s an awful thing to use the death of a friend as an excuse if he wasn’t.) I even offered to drive to his house and pick up a copy from his wife if she could print it. No response.
  On February 23, 2023, I received the following email:
  “Expenses to date
  
  ***** ***** ************************ *** *** ***** *******
  
  to me
  
  Arch   $5500.00
  Foundation inspection $800.00
  Sewer inspection $600.00
  Permits  $2200.00
  Fuel  $500.00
  Trusses  $21,375.00
  Misc material/supplies  $32,108.53
  Front wall demo and rebuild (not on original bid)  60 2x6x10; 15 2x6x12 treated; 20 3/4 sheets osb; roll of tyvek; misc nails, supplies and labor  $7200.00
  4 days lagoon work - 4 guy and machine (not on original bid)  $2800.00
  Run temporary power to camper - material/labor  $400
  Labor $43,550.00
  
  Total  $117,033.53”
  End email.
  Please note that there is no breakdown, any contractor worth his salt knows what a materials list and that this is not it. Also please note the miscellaneous line, where he knew to the penny what was spent but can’t (won’t) say what was purchased.
  Sometime after February 16, my fiancé fired Mr. Stark. I believe it was within a day or so of receiving his “expenses to date”, which raised a lot of red flags for us. Not knowing what else to do, and relying on him and his “materials list” to get funds out of escrow to finish the rebuild, I re-hired him. My fiancé was not on the contract and is not on the deed or the mortgage, so Mr. ***** was not actually fired at any point. But we did express our dissatisfaction with his quality of work, the speed of his work, his lack of communication, and the fact that he still refused to provide what I’d repeatedly requested to be able to pay him. From March 1, 2023 – April 4, 2023, Mr. Stark’s crew (and possibly Mr. ***** himself) were working on my home. April 4th was another inspection to determine % of work complete.
  April 15, 2023 “Don’t forget about the list of materials, if you have time this weekend I’d appreciate it!” No response.
  April 24, 2023 “Good morning! Were you able to get an estimate completed for the remainder of the build? Also, please have your drywall guy put together a formal bid so I can get it submitted.” No response.
  April 27, 2023 “Just emailed that inspection [report]. If you look at the vendor comments at the bottom, it lists what is remaining. Call you accountant ASAP please. Have her gather up all the receipts and make a spreadsheet for material costs for this job to date. No need to do labor or permit fees, they’re only looking at material costs. Let me know what she says. Might be easier to have you Home Depot gal pull previous lumber prices and do the materials list for previous AND future, instead of just future. I can’t go any further with mortgage until we have those documents so the sooner you can get them to me, the better.”  I also asked if he could log into his Home Depot account and start sending receipts for the higher dollar purchases, as well as a receipt for the trusses. I reiterated that his accountant needed to compile a materials list for expenses incurred on this job.
  May 2, 2023 I filled out the necessary paperwork and gave him the contact information for the loss draft department so he could talk to them himself. I never knew he had even called until I read his response. June 12, 23 I reached out to ask for my blueprints and anything else he may be in possession of that should be on the job site, rather than in his possession.
  I’ve reached out a few times since then, halfheartedly as I know I’m not going to get a response. So, from the summary of conversations above, you can tell that Mr. ***** had ample opportunity to ask what a materials list was, or Google it, months before he submitted his email. With his lack of transparency, his tendency to play dumb, and his obvious lack of integrity (he was unfaithful in his marriage at the same time he was leading us along), I have no choice but to assume that he spent my insurance money on something he shouldn’t have. I, and the loss draft department of my mortgage company, need to know what he spent the money on. If he can prove that he DID spend it all on my home, then I know he’s just a bad contractor that overcharges for negligent work. If he can’t, then I know he’s a bad contractor that overcharges for negligent work AND steals from a young family left homeless from a fire.

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