TAYLOR HOMES LTD

We paid Taylor Homes over $19K and one-half of that was labor costs - for project prep/meetings, etc. and less than 3 weeks of demolition work (the remainder was for appliances and building permit costs). We did not sign the written agreement when it was presented December 13, over 2 months after we gave them our $14,000 deposit (10% of initial estimate), and 9 days after demolition began.  There were no controls on the hours spent especially with the laborer (the owner's son) working alone on demolition and there was little to show for it, except over-stated and mis-stated time sheets that were in the owner's handwriting, not the employee's.   We went to small claims court over the disputed timesheets and the judge basically split the difference and admonished the owner about not having proof of employee's hours in employee's own hand or from employee's own email.
As further explanation, we went ahead with demolition without a written agreement as Mr. Raffensperger offered that he could do so.  Since he had our $14K deposit for 2 months and  the final plans from our architect for over 6 weeks, we were anxious to get started.
Lesson to all - even if a verbal estimate is the lowest one you get, don't go forward until you have a written, detailed estimate!  It seems obvious now.  We are glad that we parted ways with Taylor Homes while still in demolition phase and are thrilled with the final results of our renovation.
Thank you, Angie's LIst, for being there!