Complaint / Review
The Improvinators, LLC
Nick Renna Deceived, Misled, and Stole Tens of Thousands of Dollars from Homeowner

Beware of hiring Nick Renna and Geovane Lemond as General Contractors in the Union County area, for the following reasons:

Paid Nick Renna directly for town permits, check was cashed, but the town was not paid.

Paid Nick Renna directly for electrician, check was cashed, but Electrician was not paid for his work.

Paid Nick Renna directly for plumber, check was cashed, but plumber not paid for his work.

Paid Nick Renna directly for dumpster, check was cashed, but dumpster fees were not paid.

Paid Nick Renna directly for roofer, check was cashed, but roofer was not paid for his work.

Paid Nick Renna directly for masonry, check was cashed, but mason was not paid for his work.

After demolition, the house was abandoned for 6 weeks with a full dumpster of debris. I confronted the workers and asked where they had been, and they said Nick and Geovane never paid them "because the homeowner never paid." It is clear that this is a lie, and I showed them cleared checks.

Paid Nick Renna directly for materials (windows/doors/siding) when he supposedly ordered the materials. Nick Renna and Geovane Lemone repeatly assured me that everything was ordered. 5 weeks later, they admitted they lied and no order was ever placed, and they needed more money to really place the order. Since this is consumer fraud (misrepresenting where consumers' funds are going), I immediately sought legal council, filed a complaint with the BBB, as well as the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs.

Often, Nick and Geovane's strategy is to underbid the project (so they are hired), demo the house, (so you see work being done), ask for money for services/materials, pocket the money, never pay the sub-contractors, and then the house is abandoned for more than a month (because workers are not being paid).

Beware that just because work is being completed, does not mean workers are being paid. The sub-contractors have a legal right to put a lien on homeowners' properties for the amount owed to them (when they are not paid), so homeowners may have to pay twice, which may end up being tens of thousands of dollars, like me. We are aware of numerous other homeowners in the same situation with the Improvinators.

If you are currently in a project with them, I recommend asking for proof of payment to the workers for any completed work. Also, never pre-pay for materials. (Pay when they show up with materials).

Hope this report saves time, money, and stress for other homeowners.