Let's Work Together to Put an End to Renovation Rip Offs!
The current real estate market has created opportunities for the unqualified and unscrupulous to take advantage of homeowners attempting to upgrade their most important investment.
DO ANY OF THESE SOUND FAMILIAR ......
Poor workmanship Substandard materials Fake references Inflated prices Code violations Incomplete work Ignored time lines Huge pre-payments Partial action No action!
The police can't stop them The courts can't stop them The Better Business Bureau can't stop them
Together, we can put them out of business Tell us your story.... snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com
You asked for this before but never answered my question. What happens to the story? How will it be used? How much money will you make from OUR stories?
"Reno Rant" wrote in news:1153858691.971009.217910 @i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
Yes.
OK
I buy HUD/VA wrecks. I restore them (not patch and hide). I sell them. That's all you get for free.
For more details, I want $25 an hour for my time, all rights retained and a percentage of what you market it for, tangible and intangible, until the end of time.
Have you ever noticed that all of these posts and TV shows "Holmes on Homes" only listen to one side of the story? Has anyone every ask the contractor why they did it that way or why they need the "Huge" downpayment? YES there are some bad contractors but their are great ones that have been screwed by "BAD" home owners... OR home owners that can only afford the "Quick fix" what would you do as a contractor leave the roof leaking until they get the money to fix it or do a quick patch and hope they have the money by spring..... You want a story??? How about the multiple times I've been called by "DIYs" that want me to quote a job explain the process and then screw it up themselves, and then tell their neighbours how I suggested it be done that way... or want me to come and fix it for cheap since they have done 99% of the work....
"See it's drywalled and painted but the wall is leaning can you just fix it quick I've already done 99% of the work....."
Want a bad contractor story? While on vacation my older, single neighbour lady wanted to start construction on her kitchen, opening it up to the livingroom. She lives in a huge 7000 sqf house, 20 years old. This involved removing one (Non supporting) wall two outlets and a stove plug. The contractor doing the work had already quoted the construction and said that he would get his "friend" to do the electrical at extra cost. The quote for the construction part was OKed after I went over it with her... The "friend" of the contractor was going to start work on the electrical the next day, BUT WHAT WAS HE CHARGING. I made the neighbour press him until she had a quote in writting...... $17'500... He saw a little old lady with lots of money.... Thats all I can say.....
We are a group of people with a history in the construction industry who want to get to put an end to the rip off artists that cause so much ill will throughout the industry. Many of the home renovation shows on TV offer a skewed vision, placing themselves at the center as savior.
There must be a better way. We are hoping to collect these stories and give people about to do renovations a heads up on what is required (permits) what kind of cost they are looking at, how to pick a LEGITIMATE contractor, and how to measure the standards of work.
Some outstanding perspective from the other side of the renovation discussion. However, as you pointed out, there ARE scam artists taking advantage of people with more dollars than sense.
We are aiming to identify them and put the word out that these guys are one the prowl and not to be trusted.
We are hoping to build a consumer community to look out for one another.
However, I don't think you've grasped the point we are trying to make. The police have not interest in assisting, their references are false, and small courts offer no protection. I have no doubt you are reputable contractor, but you know many who are not.
We are a group of citezens who believe all of us together can get the word out on these guys.
Any thing you could offer to help would be welcomed.
All right so I gve you the name of a crook contractor with over 14 judgements against him that he wont pay, what are you going to do about it now, absoutly nothing, you are all talk of something you cant comprehend. Oh the BBB is worthless-toothless, they also ripped off the public in 85? they took millions for their own phone book they never published, you seem more ignorant then them.
"Reno Rant" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@s13g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
Gotcha. Sorry for the misconception on my part. My bad as the youngin's say.
Well, I'm not really a contractor. I just do it for myself. I do all the work in all fields except where impractical like something very infrequently done that requires a bit more expensive equipment like HVAC work.
I usually am up front on these NGs and state "I'm a professional Wanna- be...and a damn good one":-)
Since I do everything myself, the only one I know is the HVAC company. Owner is a straight shooting honest ace. Check this out.
When I bought that place I was out of state. The realtor referred me to him when I asked her to have the HVAC checked out before purchase. It was good at the time. Some time later when I was at the house the heat heat pump seemed weak. So I called the same place and they sent out a tech. He said I needed a new coil. Turned out it was an oddball expensive one. Coil alone cost as much as a typical one of that size parts & installed. This oddball coil ended up being $800 parts and installed. ughhh!!!
So he replaces it. No change. No better, no worse. Owner comes out. In fact he came out like 4x trying different things and never charged me. When it was all straightened out, HE OFFERED to take out the new coil, put the old one back in and refund me what was charged.
As far as the tech, I was told at a later time he was fired for screwing up jobs but the straw he got fired for is he was taking his personal vehicle to the gas station and filling it with the company card.
Not the story you were looking for but let the good guys have some NG time.
You raise an very good point. In the name of fairness, I think it is important to not only supply a resource for people who have had issues with contractors, but also give an opportunity for the builders to respond to unhappy customers.
This way, misunderstandings can be seperated from specific and clear attempts to decieve...your thoughts?
The information you have about good, consciences contractors is EVEN MORE valuable to people researching their renovation as identifying the poor contractors.
This sounds like the kind of person that does it right, and if it goes wrong, stands behind his word.
I would really appreicate if you provided some information on them for others in your area
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