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Review 1/26/2010
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WATCH YOUR BACK!! If doing something basic, their construction is adequate. However, if you are doing a moderate to large remodel, MAKE SURE you get EVERYTHING in writing BEFORE they start construction - make sure they are SPECIFIC - if he quotes a door, ask what door; if he quotes a fireplace, ask what model/brand/size/color, etc. During your initial meeting, you will be impressed by his "old man, fatherly, trustworthy demeanor" but don't be fooled. He's been screwing with peoples dreams and taking advantage of homeowners for 35+ years.
*DO NOT let them get more than 10% down payment. He took 20% from me because I didn't know better.
*DO NOT let them start demolition without an approved DETAILED bid, and approved detailed drawings. Once demolition is done, you will owe them MORE money!
*Get your drawings/plans drawn up by a professional architect and then have many GC's bid out your project. Don't want to pay for an architect?? Once you get a GC, you will anyway, so just take more control early. PLUS, that architect will refer you to other GC's that are reputable.
*If he charges you for drawings, engineering, permits get those drawings BEFORE construction/demolition. In my case, he went to the city and claimed that my project was a repair (it was a complete demolish and rebuild) to avoid paying for permits. Then, his initial engineering docs to me were for someone elses job (but passed off as my job). Then, he commissioned an architect and when the drawings were done he stated his architect didn't draw what he bid......why not?
*GET ALL CHANGE ORDERS IN WRITING!! They are quick to build something NOT on your plans and then charge you an exorbitant amount for the change. Then, if you don't want the change, they will charge you an exorbitant amount to demolish and resume according to your plan. They're not allowed to do this, but if you aren't versed with the law, you won't know better.
*DO NOT let them get ahead on payments. Once you have overpaid, they disappear. And you will overpay - on my $40,000 job, they demanded 20% up front, 8.2% for demo, 10.3% to buy lumber, 9.25% to start installation and 9% to set ceiling joists - TOTAL 56.75% paid and they hadn't really even framed yet.
*CAREFULLY watch all payment sheets (job fund sheets) to ensure you are paying for the correct item - For Example - one day, I received something similar to this sheet.
DESCRIPTION AMOUNT % DETAIL
1. xxx xxx x xxxxxx
2. xxx xxx x xxxxxx
3. demolish patio $1200.00 8 remove old structure
4. install doors $2994.00 12 Install doors
5. install T&G ceiling $694.00 6 install
6. xxx xxx x xxxxxx
That sheet was revised SIX times to better suit the contractor. He would keep the amounts the same, but, for example, he would actually do #3, but then he was unable to install doors, so he changed #4 to something else to get that 2994. etc. Ultimately, he juggled descriptions around like they were going out of style and I wound up paying him a bunch of money and nothing got done.....
This is an example of what it looked like after a month:
DESCRIPTION AMOUNT % DETAIL
1. xxx xxx x xxxxxx
2. xxx xxx x xxxxxx
3. demolish patio $1200.00 8 remove old structure
4. purchase wood $2994.00 12 buy wood to build new structure
5. prepare wood $694.00 6 inspect wood and treat before install
6. xxx xxx x xxxxxx
I'm sure I could go on for days and days, but ultimately, if you want one man's honest opinion about their construction practices, call me.
Secrest is a MASTER at making himself look good. DO NOT BE FOOLED by this man. Any response he posts to this will carefully refute everything I've said above. He will be verbose and add in plenty of fluff so you are distracted from the facts. Bottom line, he can't refute (and he will make no mention of the following) - he demanded 20% up front (illegal), he changed job fund sheets (fraud), his bid was intentionally vague to incur change orders, and he will sit in your home, office, car or wherever until you give him that check (FACT). Then, he will RUN to the bank to cash it to use on someone elses job (FACT).
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