Lara Masonry & Pools

*******WARNING********HORRIBLE CONTRACTOR ALERT********* DO NOT HIRE: LARA MASONRY & POOLS, FERNANDO RAZO LARA, or ANDREW AGUIRRE!! We hired Lara Masonry & Pools, located at 82373 Kenner Avenue, Indio, CA 92201, to remodel our backyard and existing pool. We signed a contract for $51,725.00 that was to include everything listed above. Demolition began on September 11, 2011. We were told that the job could possibly be completed by Thanksgiving, November 24, 2011, but would definitely be completed within 90 days, December 10, 2011. ( We were told the average Lara Masonry & Pools project of this size took 72 days) Lara Masonry & Pools stated they needed the payments UP FRONT for each portion of the contract in order to pay for the material and labor. The following payments were made to Lara Masonry & Pools upon request 09/10/2011 $ 5,172.50 (check # 3080) Down Payment 09/14/2011 $17,457.00 (check # 3081) Partial Payment (to cover all steel, excavation, rough plumbing) 10/25/2011 $14,138.13 (check # 3090) Partial Payment (to cover gunite) 11/26/2011 $ 7,000.00 (check # 3094) Partial Payment (to cover rock coping) 12/02/2011 $ 6,138.13 (check #3096) Partial Payment (to cover final plumbing, equipment and equipment installation) Total contract payments made directly to Lara Masonry & Pools $49,905.76 This left only $1,819.24 owed on our contract to be paid when job was completed. (to cover Pebble Sheen and all other items not previously specified which are included in the contract) December 2, 2011 was the last time we saw our contractor. ** They had taken our money and run!** Lara Masonry & Pools refused to take our calls for over a month. We called both the home office and cell phone numbers. When we finally heard back from Lara Masonry & Pools, it was only to inform us that they had underbid the job and would not compelete the work. The fact that we had a signed contract and had paid them 'in advance' for much of the work to be done' did not matter to Lara Masonry & Pools. They made excuse after excuse why they were not going to complete our project. We were left with the following work on our contract that still needed to be completed: Purchase all of the equipment and misc parts and material needed. (Additional expense $ 7,551.08) Pay the concrete pump company because Lara Masonry & Pools check bounced (Additonal expense $325.00) Pay for the installation of the equipment, (valves, gas connection at heater) (Additional expense $ 1,750.00) Pay for the electrical (wired pumps, heater, pool sub panel, and pull and connect lights, main run) (Additonal expense $ 1,750.00 Repair the spa bench that was not installed according to plan (Additional expense $ 150.00) Pay for the installation of the Mini Pebble and finish work (Additional expense $ 4,100.00) (NOTE: Lara Masonry & Pools discussed the product "Pebble Sheen" during the bidding process, but did not install that name brand when it came time to do the work.) Pay for the design, formation, paint, and sealing of the rock coping (Additonal expense $ 4,000.00) Total additional money's paid directly to subcontractor and vendors out of pocket $ 19,626.08 Less balance of contract with Lara Masonry & Pools < $ 1,819.24 > For a total cost out of pocket in order to complete the project (above our contracted amount) $ 17,806.84. Our project was supposed to be completed by December 10, 2011. Actual completion date January 14, 2012. We have left several messages with Lara Masonry& Pools, all of which have gone unanswered. We have begun the process of filing a claim with the Contractors State License Board, as well as a claim against their Bond. We plan to make a video and upload it on You Tube as a warning to any future customers of Lara Masonry & Pools. We want them to know what they did to us so that they can make an informed decision as to whether or not they want to use Lara Masonry & Pools to do their work. It is my hope that Lara Masonry & Pools lose their contractors license and can no longer do licensed work in Calfirornia. But, honestly, in my opinion, I don't think the loss of their contractors license would deter Lara Masonry & Pools from doing unlicensed work! DISCLAIMER: The above statement may or may not include all details of our experience and should not be considered as evidence for any pending or future court cases.