Brazen Builders, Inc.

Not sure where to start. This was a doomed project from the start. Roy with Brazen builders (lead foreman - right hand man to Doug, the owner) showed up for a quote in January. He said all the right things, smiled, shook my hand, promised me a quick build, great quality work, and that he would be there everyday to supervise the crews and make sure I was happy the whole way. I even asked if they used subcontractors and Roy answered no - only his crews and they all speak English (this was a flat out lie as I later find out). After getting quotes from other contractors and checking ROC records (all clean), I chose Brazen Builders which was the middle bid in terms of cost. The project was supposed to take 4-6 weeks and cost about 43,000 to do. The first three weeks went great! I was to pay them in in four installments, whereby 90% was paid to them by the time framing was done (e.g. the third 30% payment). This is where I made my mistake - the draw schedule. They had it framed in three weeks and had collected 90% of the money from me, then ALL the problems started. They had no motivation to show up and finish the rest of the work for the remaining 10%. It took another (and this is not a typo) 12 weeks to finish the job. 15 weeks total - nowhere near the 4-6 weeks they promised me. I made dozens and dozens of phone calls and texts to Roy and a few to the owner Doug (a very rude man BTW who actually told me he didnt care about finishing my job because he lots of other jobs to get done - he hung up on me and my attorney -- see next). I even had to get my attorney involved, in order to get this project done. In the end, they finally completed the work, but the results are a real problem. the interior paint is terrible, the side door sticks, the roof leaks badly and was done completely wrong, they never installed one of the interior doors, and along the way, a lien was filed on my house by one of their contractors that never got paid for some rock work that was done. I had to pay the $1400 bill in cash to clear my name with the rock vendor even thought I had already paid Brazen for the rock. Roy was NOT onsite everyday his crews were here (lie #1), the used all kinds of subcontractors (lie #2), the project was not done in 4-6 weeks (took 15 weeks and my attorney to get it done - lie #3), and they wont call me back or show up to fix the roof leak which is going to cost me another 1,700 to have fixed and done right. I lost track of how many times Roy said he or his crew would be at my house to work the next day or on a specific day and time and they never showed and never called me to reschedule. So If you want to know if I would recommend them? Not a chance. Stay away. Hire someone else. These guys are terrible. How they stay in business I have no idea. How their ROC record is clean, I have no idea. My next letter is to the ROC to complain about the roof work and leak, and no warranty work being provided even though I have been trying for over a month now to get them back out here to fix it. I'm probably better off hiring a real, qualified roofer to fix the leaks and reinstall the Cricket between the two garages properly. What a mess.
Follow-up: 10/15/2012: The owner, Doug Green, finally called me this AM - not sure if it's because of the complaints I've logged or the letter I sent to him. He apologized a number of times today on phone and made excuses that Roy, his foreman, is the problem. I told him again how many times I've tried to contact his company and how many times I waited for his company to show up and work and never did. I told him how I gave up on them and hired a licensed roofer to fix the leaks. He said he would get back to me in a bit to work something out. I don't know what that means, but we will see.
Follow-Up: 4-29-2013: After months and months of hassle, calls, texts, emails, letters, etc... I finally have a resolution to this matter. I had to get the local registrar of contractors involved and have them investigate and ultimately issue a formal demand letter to this builder. Magically, I received a full reimbursement from the owner of Brazen Builders within a week or so after the demand letter was issued for the roof damage and drywall repairs. $2200 total. Obviously, I would never recommend this builder to anyone. Stay away. Chose someone else.