I called AFFORDABLE HOME REMODELING AND REPAIRS to do an estimate for some tile work. Affordable sent John who represented himself as contractor for AFFORDABLE HOME REMODELING AND REPAIRS. On January 24th he gave me a quote for $3200 to remodel two bathrooms and to tile a kitchen floor. I signed a contract with Affordable and was required to pay them 1/3 at the sign of the contract, 1/3 at the start of work, and the remainder at the end of the job.
I wrote Affordable a check for $1070 and John was supposed to start on February 5th. I instructed him that I would provide all of the materials and they would not arrive until the first week of February. He told me that that was okay, but if I received them earlier to call him. On Tuesday, January 25th, I told him that I had received some tiles and he said that he wanted to start demolition the next day. I agreed.
The next day, he showed up with another guy and insisted that he needed the other check for $1070. It sounded a little shaky but I had agreed to the contract and I was willing to keep up my end of the contract. He started demolition work and tore all the tiles off the wall in both bathrooms and removed both toilets and a sink. At the end of the day, John handed me the original check and asked me to write the check out to him personally. I was upset and I asked him to explain why I was writing the check to him. He explained that he gave me a good price and that Affordable will charge much more. I was apprehensive, but I wrote him a check for $2140 against my better judgment.
After he left, I decided to put a stop payment on the check and I called John back and said I felt uncomfortable. He assured me that I had nothing to worry about and that he would not cash the check. I told him that I thought I was doing business with Affordable and that if something went wrong, I would be stuck. My husband also called John and told him that we were not going forward with that arrangement. He told my husband that he would give me back the check and I could write it to Affordable. He claimed that he called the owner, Mike Lipton, and told him what happened. I was nervous, but I decided to give him another chance.
The next morning he called and said he was on his way, but he was running late. I asked him if he intended to tear up the old tiles and put in new ones, as he initially agreed. He instructed me that it would be too much work and that it would cost extra money. At this point I told him that I did not want to go forward and I felt that he was ripping me off. He misrepresented himself, the company and that he only did $250 worth of work. He went on to say that it was $1000 worth of work and that he did not need the job. He agreed to come to my house and get the tools and I wrote him a check for $250 and we parted ways.
On Friday, January 28, Mike the owner of Affordable called me and asked me to explain what happened. I explained what transpired and he told me that he wanted to win my business. He also said that I signed a contract and he would honor the price and terms. He set up an appointment to meet with my husband and me on January 29 with new contractors. I agreed.
On the appointment day he called and said his son had a game and he could not get a ride. It was important enough for Mike to meet with other clientele in Mandarin and other places, but he could not meet his obligation to us. We signed a contract with his company, his company and subcontractors reneged and he did not have the courtesy to meet us face to face. He sent over the subcontractors and told me that they would do the job at the contracted price and I would not have to pay until the end.
The subcontractors arrived and did an estimate. We were informed that they could not do the job for his price. Now we are in a predicament where we have walls that are exposed, no toilets or sinks in the bathrooms, and now we have to start the process over again.
I am writing this to prevent other people from having to deal with the same experience. We went with AFFORDABLE HOME REMODELING AND REPAIRS because we felt that they were licensed and bonded and that they would meet their obligations to their customers.
I, like so many other homeowners, have been burned by greedy contractors. It is my belief that John lowballed the price to get in my house and then tried to move on with 2/3 of the money without any intention to complete the job properly.
I also blame Affordable HOME REMODELING AND REPAIRS because they did not meet their obligations to me or my husband. If he could not do the job, be man enough to admit it. Don't send subcontractors to do a job that you are too afraid to do. I have seen too many people living in substandard conditions because contractors have ripped them off. All the while, Mike is living large at the beach.
If a contractor asks you for money upfront, beware. After doing my research, I learned that Affordable is the middleman and they pay subcontractors a fraction of the total bill.
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