From the beginning, I stressed to Gil Hinton that I had issues with contractors who were undependable, and tell you tell would complete the work and then after they were paid, either did not complete the work, or would complete the work on their time. He stated he was not like that. I met him as he was completing work at a neighbor's house. He came to my house and gave me a verbal estimate for a deck extension, underdecking and installation of a ceiling fan/with painting of the new deck. The estimate was at first $2500.00 for parts and labor and then he stated between $2500 and $3000 as he needed to leave a "window" open for excess just in case.
So he came over do we could go to home depot to get the parts. When he came, he left the other man's work undone so that he would start mine. He told me that my work was small and would only take three days. I went with him and purchased the materials and then he stated he needed some money. I told him I needed the contract he stated I will have my daughter to email it.
So on June 11th we went to get the supplies and I gave him cash $600.00 from the ATM as he told me that he wanted me to go to the ATM so that I could provide him cash. He put the supplies on next day pick up at home depot.
On June 12th, he did not call, so I called and texted him that afternoon. I also texted him my email address so that he could send the contract and as of yet still no contract. We met at home depot to pick up the supplies and he asked me for another payment so that he could pay the guy that was going to assist him. At that time I gave him a check for $400.00, for a total of $1000.00 that he was paid and the job had not started.
He finally over on Jun 19th to start the work. He worked for about three days (with two other workers adding to the deck.) Then on Jun 22 everyone completed the major work with the deck and wiring for the outdoor ceiling fan. How he had not touched the deck underceiling work or the painting of the deck and underdeck.
Gil Hinton then stated I will be back and it will take me a day to complete the remaining work. He asked me for the remaining money. I maintained a spreadsheet and told him that with the parts that I paid for and money already given, he had been paid 2144.00 of the original quote of 2500.00. He stated, well you know I mentioned that cushion, so I am going to needed that extra money. I was like fine, and told him that I needed everything completed prior to Jun 27th as I was going out of town. He asked me for the final check as he wanted to pay the guys and I told him that I was not giving him any additional funds until he completed the work.
Then on June 25th, after I got home from class he was at my home stating that he had did some other work that we discussed (putting bird covers over my exhaust vents. He told me that he was going to complete everything and that we needed to go to home depot to get the paint for the deck so he could start painting. He asked for the check since I was not going to be at home and since I was going out of town I gave him the final check for 400.00 which was final payment for re-staining the new part of the deck and paining the under deck.
Totally I have paid Mr. Gil Hinton cash or check in the amount of $2400.79 and I also paid in good for the supplies in the amount of 747.21.
The issue is not so much the money, but he is not trustworthy. A job that was suppose to take three days is now into its third week. He does not call me and say he is not coming and shows up when he feels like it. He hounded me to be paid making statements like he needed to pay his mortgage, but now that he is paid, his comments to me is that I will finish it in the next two or three days.
Just this morning he came to my house and stated I thought you were out of town. Well I will be done in a day, or two or three. I told him that that was my issue with giving all of the money as people has no incentive to complete the work, now that they have all of the customer's money. He was here one hour. I left to meet someone and when I came back at 10:10 am. He was gone and did not return. However he did, as usual leave my back porch in a mess with saw dust and things everywhere from the 30 minutes of work he did complete.
So if you want to give your money to a person that undependable, then he is your person. However if you want a dependable person, please do not use this guy. Overall the work is good, but he does not call the client to give feedback if he is not going to be on site, he is not a man of his word and does not clean up behind his self. Then once he gets your money, he will leave your work undone, until he is ready to complete it. RP Ellis
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