A complete description of the alleged violation (s)
Complaint against Building Performance Solutions - Horizon Associates
8692 Pine Rd.
Crandon, WI 54520
715-478-3051
www.buildinggeek.com
Owner-Tim Reeder
I hired Tim Reeder, owner of Building Performance Solutions and Horizons Inspections to do an air quality test, and tests to check the heating ducts for leakage in my mom's vacation home. The reason for the air tests were because of health problems I've been having. I wanted to eliminate the possibility of air borne particles. I explained my symptoms to him and asked if he thought it might be toxic mold.
He performed the air test on 2/16. He then emailed me on 2/24 and asked me to get the makes and model #'s off the air handler and air conditioning unit. He then emailed me again on 2/24 and asked me to check the model # on the air handler because he could not find any information on it. Once again on 2/26 I received another email asking for the make and model of the boiler. All of this was his responsibility but I gladly tried to help him out. On 2/23 he returned to do the duct leakage tests and gave me the air quality test.
The air quality test showed no signs of mold, but did indicate the presence of Cellulose. Our insulation is blown in Cellulose. His report included numerous pages about toxic mold and nothing about the hazards of Cellulose. Since their was no mold, he didn't have to include the information. He also stated in his report that since their was no mold, my health problems must be caused by another reason. He's right, the problems are being caused by the Cellulose but he fails to mention it in his report. He also states that the Cellulose readings may be a result of him opening the attic doors prior to doing the test. It may have been picked up from his clothes. He never offered to re test.
He initially states in an email sent on 2/24 that "if there is excessive duct leakage..." If? This is what he was hired to find out. I need to know how much Cellulose is coming through those vents and how much leakage their is. Then in an email on 3/2 he states that Cellulose is a "common indoor particulate in some capacity" Again, this does not answer the question as to how much is coming through the ducts.
As far as the duct testing, no one can make any sense out of his report. I showed it to people in the business and they all agreed, his report is useless. When he initially did the test he stated that he could not get an accurate reading. We both walked through the house to make sure we didn't overlook any vents that needed to be sealed. He then consulted what looked like directions and made some adjustments to his equipment as well as remove the air filter. He then re did the tests and said it was working. I watched his gauges when he did both tests and did not see any difference in the readings from when he claimed it wasn't working to when he claimed it was working.in his report he states that the vents need to be sealed and that I should consider doing another test afterwards. He should not have done the test based on this fact.
He states in his report that he could not inspect the heat ducts. I asked him why he made this claim which isn't true. He stated that he does inspect ducts in attics that have blown in insulation because disturbing it would require replacement or repair. He mentioned this in his last email. He never mentioned it when he was here. If he had, I would have explained to him that all the insulation was going to be redone anyway, so he would not cause any problems by going into the attic. Had he gone in the attic, as I believe he should have in order to do his job, he may have found the problems and I would then hire someone to repair them. When I first talked to him he mentioned that he has a machine that could blow smoke through the ducts and then he could locate the leaks based on where the smoke was escaping from the ducts. If he doesn't go in the attic and the ducts are covered with insulation, how could he see where the smoke was?
When we were taking down the plastic used to seal the vents, he called me over and pointed out how much cold air was coming through the vents. He didn't mention this very important fact in his first, but he did send me a revised report which included this, after I asked him about it.
I emailed him on 3/2 and questioned his findings and explained that no one could understand it. He simply replied that he worded his report with the intent that I could understand it. No one can understand it because the tests were not performed correctly and he made it confusing on purpose. I believe he included all the useless information to puff up his reports and make them appear legitimate.
In his response on 3/2 he states "you requested a run of the mill test" and then states "other tests can reveal useful information... But you chose not to do this type of testing". He never mentioned any other tests. I would have told him to do them. I was led to believe that the tests he would do were all I needed.
I called Tim after reading an article about his company and the services he performed. At the time he first came over, I didn't realize that he was the same man that used to take care of our lawn and that he did our first home inspection when my mom built this new home. We talked quite a lot while he did the air tests and talked about all the problems we were having with the builder. I also mentioned that we were going to arbitration with the builder, but he would not be involved and that these tests were for my information only. He never said anything about having been here before or working on our lawn, When Tim did our first inspection in 06, he missed alot of items. I had to point out some of them to him, and other inspectors found hundreds of other, more serious, problems. At The time, I thought that he was just inexperienced, or he was protecting his friends at Cornerstone Custom Builders in Eagle River, Wi. I now know that he was protecting his friends. I have also found out that he has talked to Cornerstone about me and his report.
Since Mr. Reeder repeatedly claims that I am going to use his reports in arbitration, I'd like to comment. If I was planning on using his reports, I couldn't. First is because they are useless. Secondly is the fact that he is friends with the builder which violates many rules, ethics, and possibly state laws. Third is because he has talked to the builder and given them copies of his reports. Again, this violates ethics.
My mom was the one that reminded me who Tim was, an old friend. When I asked him why he didn't say anything, he replied that he thought my mom had sold the house to me, and that he had never met me. I have met Tim on several occasions, once while he was working on the lawn, and when he came over to go over his first inspection in 2006. The fact that he did not just mention that he'd been here before and used to work for us, regardless of whether I was a new owner or not leads me to believe that Tim has lied in his reports to protect his friends, the builders. Other honest people that are helping us prepare for the arbitration agree.
I emailed Tim and asked for my money back, $850, and told him that I will file a claim in small claims court. He refused. This is my mom's house and I have power of attorney because she could not handle any more of the fighting with the builder. This has been going on for over 2 years. I hired Tim and I paid him. Despite this, on 3/3 he called my mom at 7:30am, woke her up and proceeded to yell at her. My mom explained that he should deal with me, so he hung up on her. This is unacceptable behavior for a grown man.
My mom called me and warned me that Tim did not sound rational and that she feared he may show up here. My mom is 76 years old and like I stated earlier, has been suffering for over two years since she retired because of this house. He had absolutely no right to do what he did, and in my opinion, this action alone should be enough for someone to do something.
I believe that Tim was more interested in protecting his friends and therefore did not give me an accurate report or service. Even if I wanted to use his report in the arbitration, I couldn't. HeThis poor service may also be because Tim is new at providing these types of services. Either way, I am now forced to spend more money hiring someone else to re do everything. I belive that Tim is nothing more then a con man preying on innocent people.
In his response to a complaint I filed with the Wi. Dept. Of Consumer Protection, he has responded with no proof, name calling, and flat out lies. This is his only way to defend himself. He is desperate and therefore is trying to discredit me and make himself appear legitimate.
Thank you
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