ComplaintsforMorehouse Construction & Remodeling, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  03/08/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Morehouse Construction provided a contract to perform services at an "estminated" $85k, for basement renovation, upstairs bathroom remodeling, and a few other services, such as dishwasher installation, and adding a smaller kitchen cabinet where the dishwasher was installed. Timeliness was set to have the work performed within a matter of months. Work did not complete until 10 months had passed. The subcontractors they hired to perform the framing walked off the job, shortly into the process, as well as the subcontractors who were meant to perform the downstairs bathroom install. We had been strung along ever since. Expectations to the basement floor epoxy were not met. A thin layer, plus gloss coating has been placed AFTER the framing went in. At one point children had been involved in some of the work. Contractor did not perform the upstairs bathroom install. PERMITS WERE NOT OBTAINED. INSPECTIONS DID NOT OCCUR. After the contractor informed us they would not be performing any more work, a bill of $99k was presented, though with "discount" for aspects of waiting on the work to be completed well after expectations - we have been supremely patient in working with the contractor. Keeping in mind that the $85k was an estimate, at no point did this contractor inform us of the increase to the work fees, or that we had gone beyond the estimate. Neither were we given an itemized list of the work expectations, even though we asked for them (verbally) at the start of the work. On top of that, the bathroom was not performed, so we could have expected a cost of more than the $99k. We have reached out to the contractor to discuss the charges, the lack of permits/inspection, and breach of contract, but have not yet heard from them to resolve the issue. It is likely we will see them in court. I went to the Building inspectors yesterday to make sure I covered any permits that needed to be obtained and scheduled a visit to inspect the work.

  Business response

  03/18/2024

  When communication had began with this customer it was around the end of January 2023, our slow time of the year. After meeting with the customer for an in home visit to assess the work to be done and provide an estimate a contract was then drafted including the work that was to be completed and an estimated price of $85,000. This work was too include making a living area and bathroom in the basement, as well as sectioning off an area for storage and a laundry room separated from the area located at the bottom of the stairs. Other work that was to be done originally was to include installing a dishwasher in the kitchen, tear off and replacement of the asphalt shingle roof of the dwelling, and the replacement of the tub/shower, toilet, vanity, and flooring in the upstairs bathroom and correcting the ventilation issue that was pre-existing in that room as well. The customers had informed us that they were waiting to obtain a loan to be able to finance the project. The down payment and contract signing then occurred during the beginning of April 2023. The customer was then notified that the project would be started after the arrival of materials that were needed to begin which had started to be delivered/picked up near mid April. At that time we had began to pick up with exterior projects, as well as additional interior projects requiring the owner of our company to lead our exterior crew and our most experienced employee to lead *****************. Shortly after our 30 day **** on the project we were not happy regarding the progress of the work at that time and had realized we needed some more people on the job. We then acquired a two person team to complete some of the electrical work that was required as well as the completion of the downstairs bathroom that was to be added. Shortly after they had began helping with the project we then had both of ************ employees walk off of the job leaving us extremely shorthanded. We then had requested that the two person team we had brought on to help with the project to also finish the drywall that had been started, but not finished. These two men had brought many issues and delays to the project including not showing up when they were supposed to be, as well as not making adequate progress on the project, to then leaving to never be heard from or seen again, after we had already paid them beforehand for the work that was to be performed in the sum of nearly $6,000.00. At this point we were now left with myself and one other employee to take on the remainder of the work as our company was now beginning to look at an overall lose on the project financially leaving us unable to seek other contractors to help out. The customers were informed of the issues throughout this time, as well as us paying a month of their *** rental due to the delay making them unable to clean out the *** in order for it to be picked up. Despite all of this, as well as looking at a loss on the project, we still stayed and completed the work that was to be done, even though it had taken months more than had been expected, except for the upstairs bathroom that materials had already been ordered for but then ended up not being able to complete due to me being diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease and being put on work restrictions. Leaving us only one employee that would have been available to complete the work, but was unable to do it solo. As far as the epoxy not being to their standards, or expectations, due to the budget constraints we were left to go with the roll on application of the epoxy versus the pour over epoxy application, as the pour over application would have been looking at a cost in excess of $20,000 just for that part of the project. During the course of the project the customers were sent a list of items for them to pick out with a budget for each item. After being given these, they then knowingly went over budget on a majority of their choices including the bathroom fixtures as well as the shingle style for the roof, increasing the overall total at the end of the project. There was also many additional things that were added on to the project after contract signing that also increased the total such as, but not limited to, the sealing of the bathroom ceiling as well as a drop ceiling added over the sealing, two light sockets installed at the bottom area of the stairs, moving the waste pipe for the upstairs shower, sanding and painting the aluminum basement window frames, the rewiring of their electrical box due to it being a hazard in the condition it was in, baseboard trim, throughout the majority of the basement, the relocation on an interior gas line... With the project taking as long as it did, due to being down to two people, we constantly were trying to keep the customers happy which led to us paying a months rent for the ***, picking up and delivering a house for their outside cats, and not charging them for any of the disposal throughout the entire project. There was also some minor damage done to the newly installed bathroom floor, so they were not charged for the flooring, a window that one of the two person team had installed upside down, they were not charged for. They also commented on us having "children" working there during the course of the project, yes, we did have my teenage son, as well as our employees teenage grandson, help out with painting some of the ceilings on the outside of the living area. These "children" were not forced to work, they were not left unsupervised, they were not in a dangerous setting, nor were they allowed to do anything that required any kind of special skills or talents. One of the main reasons we wanted to start our own company was so that we could instill a good work ethic in our children and to appreciate what you do work for. Towards the end of December/beginning of January we had completed the basement area, the dishwasher install, and the roof replacement. Due to the length of time it had taken to reach this the customers had been heavily implying they no longer wanted us to do the upstairs bathroom replacement. I then scheduled to do a walkthrough with the customers so that we could address any issues/concerns they may have with the end results for the beginning of January. When arriving and conducting this walkthrough they had pointed out a couple of very minor details they wanted corrected/changed, and then informed us that they did then want us to continue on with the upstairs bathroom. They were then informed that before we were to begin the project we wanted all selections of items made and materials onsite for the project before we began. It then took nearly three weeks for the customers to come to decisions on the items they were to select, none of which was something that anyone carried in stock, but rather everything had to be ordered with extended delivery dates, after requesting that they pick items that were in stock so that the project could be completed in a timely manner. Shortly before all items had been delivered my doctor had put me on work restrictions due to my back condition and treatment, leaving us unable to perform that part of the project. I reached out to the customers to let them know we were no longer able to complete that portion of the project and was inquiring as to what they were looking to have done with the materials that were still to be delivered, or that had already been delivered beforehand. They had chosen to keep a medicine cabinet (that was not on original contract as it was asked to be taken out), the flooring for the bathroom and also the toilet, as well as requesting that the other items be returned. After we had been over to correct the issues that were brought up during the walk through, I then completed and emailed them over a final invoice that had came to a total of $99,635.81 which I then applied a 30% discount on all labor, as well as a 7.5% discount on all materials, due to delays and not being able to complete the upstairs bathroom, bringing the total down to $79,360.25, with 10 days to pay that was laid on and agreed upon in the contract. After ***************************************************************** any type of correspondence from the customer another invoice was sent out giving them an additional 5 days to bring their account up to date or else lose the discounts that were applied to it, making the full amount due at that time. After they had received the second invoice is when I had finally heard back from them telling me that we had inflated prices and they didn't think that was a fair price to pay, like it is a negotiation. They were upset at how long the project had taken but had not felt that we had spent enough hours there in order to charge the amount we were asking, which is way lower than they would have gotten from anyone else for that matter. We had never at any point implied or stated that we charge by an hourly rate, we have always done a job rate and was never suggested otherwise. It also surprises me that they now want to try and imply that our workmanship was not adequate, even though they were upset we were unable to do their upstairs bathroom. They had told me that we were "shady" to let them know that if it was not paid in a timely manner that the discounts would be removed, I let them know that it is no different than being accessed a late fee for a bill that is not paid on time. When purchasing materials we applied our discounts to the amount that was billed to them, as well as credits for all mail in rebates on materials that were acquired in order to complete the project, as well as not applying any additional upcharges for the materials that most contractors apply. I do not understand what they think was going to happen after they completely disregarded the initial invoice that was sent to them. Despite the additional work that was added on during the course of the project or the over budget choices made by the customers, we never once asked them for any additional money down during the duration of the project until what we could do was completed, we then gave them discounts in excess of $20,000.00 and yet they still feel that it is an excessive amount they are being asked to pay. 

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