This matter concerns property in Philadelphia, PA. On December 16, my 69 year old mother, contracted with Dixon Contractor and Company to add two additional rooms on to her house and expand her upstairs bathroom. At that she explained to him that she had custody of three (3) of grandchildren. Of which, all three (3) were in college. Her objective was to add the two2 (2) additional rooms before they came home for the summer break. She realized with the number of loans that they had for college they would need to live with her until the loans were paid off. Mr. Dixon assured her that this target date would not be a problem. The contract indicated that the work would be completed within 9 week from the start of the project.
The contract called for a $10,000.00 down payment to secure the proper permits and plans, which she gave to Kenneth Dixon on December 16. He presented her with plans and she received two letters from License and Inspection regarding the permits. After obtaining the permits, the contract called for another $12,885.00 to be paid which she also paid to Kenneth Dixon on February 4. After my family and I remove all the items from the existing bedrooms on the second floor, Mr. Dixon proceeded to gut out the entire upstairs.
On February 17, my mother passed away. As the executor of the estate, I assumed the responsibility of the house. My mother's funeral was held on February 25. Mr. Dixon came to my house two (2) days before the funeral, February 23, indicating that I had to sign a new contract for them to continue the work. I located a contract in my mother's papers with a price quoted a 42,885.00. Mr. Dixon gave me a document quoting that the agreed upon price was 49,885.00. He said that my mother wanted additional work done and that was the agreed upon price. On February 23, I signed an agreement for the 49,885.00 to get the work completed.
Mr. Dixon proceeded to tear the complete roof off the house in February. The house remained without a roof until May 27. While the roof was off the house, the house sustained substantial water damage that he indicated that he would repair. His crew also removed a beam that caused the ceiling in the living room to fall. The following would now have to be done because of Mr. Dixon's crew actions:
Repair walls downstairs bathroom - The downstairs bathroom was damaged because they failed to cap the pipes in the existing upstairs bathroom when they removed the fixtures.
Repair walls downstairs bedroom The walls sustained water damage because they failed to put the roof back on the house from February to May 27.
Install carpet downstairs bedroom The carpet in the downstairs bedroom became water logged and began to grow mold and smell up the entire house. This occurred because they failed to put the roof back on the house from February to May 27.
Install ceiling downstairs bedroom The downstairs bedroom ceiling became water logged and eventually caved in and fell. This occurred because they failed to put the roof back on the house from February to May 27.
Apply popcorn ceiling down stairs bedroom - The downstairs bedroom ceiling became water logged and eventually caved in and fell. This occurred because they failed to put the roof back on the house from February to May 27.
Repair ceiling downstairs living room The living room ceiling fell because Dixon's crew remove a joist beam.
Apply popcorn ceiling down stairs living room - The living room ceiling fell because Dixon's crew remove a joist beam.
Clean carpets for stairway, downstairs living room, dining room and hallway This occurred because living room ceiling fell and the water damage in the other areas of the house.
Repair tears in window screens located in the first floor bedroom and front living room This occurred because as they tour the roof off the house the screens were torn.
On May 27, Mr. Dixon placed a roof onto the house. He assured me that the roof was on and no additional water would come into the house. It was not until recently, when water started coming in again that I realized it was not a complete roof. To this date he has not repaired the damage that he has caused nor has he completed the roof, nor has he completed the work that he was contracted to do. Mr. Dixon has not communicated with me or returned my calls since August 8.
Water still continues to come into the house when it rains and is continuing to cause additional damage, include mold growing in the walls. The contract also called for an additional payment of $17,000.00 when the framing inside of the house was completed. Mr. Dixon did the framing inside of the house and an additional $17,000.00 was paid to him.
The contract called for a payment of $5,000.00 when sheetrock was to begin. I assessed the damage of the personal belongings that was in the downstairs bedroom. These items included the three (3) beds that belonged to my nieces and nephew. We had placed the beds in that room while the work was being done. All of my nephew's clothes shoes and items that a 20 year old would have in his room. Items that could be priced came to $2,314.00. Mr. Dixon accepted a payment of $2,686.00 for this phase of the project. ($5,000.00 less $2,314.00). This was the $5,000.00 minus the cost of the personal items that was damaged.
On August 8, a notice from L & I was received indicating that the proper permits were not secured to do the work on the house and the house was in violation. At that time, Mr. Dixon indicated that he was going to court to appeal the notice and he assured me that permits were received. I called L &I and was told by the inspector, that as of September 19, the permits were never requested and that the owner was assessed with the violation.
During this entire time, the house could not be occupied and the mortgage still had to be paid. Mr. Dixon said that he pay the mortgage for the month of May because of his delays. He never did. Then he said to deduct the $1,095.00 from the remaining payments that were due upon completion. When I talked to the person working on the job (foreman), on August 8. He told me that Mr. Dixon said to deduct the mortgage for the month of September, $1,095.00, from the remaining payments that were due. My mother had custom made drapes that were sent to the cleaners because of the water damage and the ceiling falling. Early on Mr. Dixon said to have them cleaned and he would reimburse me. The cleaners indicated that the drapes could not be cleaned and that they were completely ruined. Mr. Dixon said to deduct the value of the drapes from the remaining payment that was due. Well now after all these deductions, there are no remaining payments due Mr. Dixon. Now I fear, he has abandoned the job. Neither Mr. Dixon nor his Forman has communicated with me or returned my calls since August 8.
The remaining items from the original contract that still is yet to be done include the following:
Outside:
Complete the siding
Install the flashing on the roof?
Install shingles on the roof
Correct the siding to be one color (this really upsets me because Mr. Dixon purchased the wrong color. Now the siding on the house that was there before Mr. Dixon started the project (in the back) is grey. He put white on the front. He told me they would paint it one color.
Inside:
Install upstairs bathroom on 2nd floor - Tub, 2 pedestal sinks, toilet, Showerhead, tile, floor and all associated plumbing
Sheetrock, install closets, install ceilings - This all has to be redone because what was done has now sustained substantial water damage.
Paint walls and ceilings upstairs
Install carpet upstairs
Lighting fixtures upstairs
Through all of this my nieces and nephew were left without a home to live in and the, loss of their personal possessions. They lived with my mother because their father, my brother, had passed away. Then their primary caregiver, their grandmother, passed away. Now due to Mr. Dixon they have lost their home.in November the housed was appraised at 226,000.00. Now it is a valueless shell destroyed by Mr. Dixon.
Additional addresses used by Mr. Dixon:
605 Christina Pl
Philadelphia, PA 19139-2806
PO Box 8076
Philadelphia, PA 19101
Additional Telephone numbers used by Mr. Dixon:
215-778-9514
267-974-8708
0 comments