Hometown Contractors, Inc.

Met expectations

unknown

unknown

unknown

.

unknown

unknown

Horribly! We had several estimates prior to choosing HTC. Although they were one of the highest priced, the sales pitch on what & how it would go impressed us. We signed the contract 26 Apr 2011 that stated work would begin in 4-6 weeks & completed 3-4 days after that. The contract stated we wanted a 26" knee wall & 60" windows. We were told we would be called to arrange a time for the detailed measurements. About a week or so later they just showed up at our door to measure...no call. Right at 6 weeks they started the process of tearing down our screen enclosure & marking for the bricklayer. I noticed the knee wall height markings were 20" in places & 21" others, not the 26". I called HTC & they came out to check it out. They changed the marking to approx 25" so the 60" windows would still fit. They put the only outlet that we needed in a certain place feet away. They had ordered 63" windows which didn't fit. The 2 seemed upset for us & stated several times "HTC will do you right & take care of you". They stated they wouldn't get paid until the job was completed. They had to re-order the windows which HTC said would take 2-1/2 to 3 weeks. I explained the need to have the room done by 4th of July. They said that would not be a problem as that was still 5 weeks away, but said they would try to put a rush on them to get them sooner.. They left everything in the yard & open room since it would only be a couple weeks. There was 2 work horses in the yard with approx. 15 feet of sharp aluminum across them & the windows were left in the open patio. Because of this delay we had to postpone the installation of the new door leading to the FL room because without the windows it is considered an exterior door requiring a $140.00 permit. About 2 weeks later we noticed the brick was cracking (see pic). We called HTC to let them know & asked about the status of the windows. They said no windows yet & they'd come look at the brick. They never did come. I called again the week before the 4th of July concerned that the room wouldn't be done before the 4th. Still no windows. We had to cancel our 4th of July picnic because the back yard was a hazard. It was over 5 weeks after the windows were ordered that they came in. They said they would be out here first thing, Thursday, Jul 7th to do the brick & windows. I questioned whether they could do both in one, but & they said they would. About 10:30 that morning I called when no one showed up. They said "we were just talking about you". They said they would be out around lunch time. I again was concerned about the brick & asked that someone from HTC come with the bricklayer. Phil Cohron (production manager) came out & saw the large cracks. He said it must be defective brick. They fixed the brick by building a second layer around the cracks (see pic). They also moved the outlet. They said they'd be out Monday, 11 Jul to install the windows. Only one of the first workers was there along with a new worker. They got most of the windows in that day & everything appeared to go good. We asked what they would do with the first windows. They said 'we already have them slated for our next job". The new worker then added "We will build the room around them & make them fit". They came back out the 12th to finish. The first worker showed up with his daughter in our back yard & they seemed to be discussing one of the windows. (we found out later he had been fired a week or so prior to showing up at our house ) We had prior plans for a birthday & had to leave them working that afternoon. When we arrived back home all the windows were in. One window installed on an angle because it again was the wrong size...a couple inches too wide. To make it fit, they had one side meet the post at the back & the other side meet the door frame at the front. We were really dumbfounded that they would think that this would be acceptable!! The new worker made the comment "well it looked straight from the inside". They knew exactly what they were doing & trying pull over on us!!! They cut out a couple inches of the door frame to make it work so that the window overhangs the brick (see pic). On the side wall 2 same sized windows were installed. They installed the middle post approx 3 inches off center. So they had to build up aluminum several inches on one side (along with over 1/2 inch of caulk - see pic) & no aluminum on the other side making the whole side look uneven. The caulking job was horrible. Not only did they use white caulk instead of clear on the brick, part of the room they failed to smooth the caulk with their finger before it dried. So they caulked over the caulk making it worse (see pic). The windows are full of scratches down to the bare metal. They said they would come back & touch them but never did. I asked about the shutters. They told me they had no order for shutters & they called the office. It turns out the sales rep failed to put the shutters on the order. The next thing we know, the sales rep is in our back yard. He comes in & starts questioning/testing us on what our 3 choices were for the shutters. Thank goodness I remembered. So he said, since you remembered we'll 'give' you the shutters! I told him to go look on his notes because I remember he wrote down the 2 amounts for the room & shutters. Sure enough it was there. We were extremely patient with all the errors, mistakes, etc. until this point. I called the HTC office extremely angry about these shutters & the statement 'we'll give you the shutters', when I paid about $2000.00 for them!! I asked Darryl, who I mostly talked to on the phone, 'so if I didn't remember the 3 choices you'd rip me off'?. His response "well, it wasn't on the order"! We hear from the workers that the owner is coming out. Apparently the sales rep asked him to because of some of the shoddy work he was seeing being done. When I described the things that had occurred, he showed no real interest nor did he really respond. He just measured for the shutters & left. As the workers were finishing up I asked if they would take bag of garbage they left & a half full bag of mortar left in the middle of our yard. The mortar had been rained on making it extremely heavy. They asked for a check of the balance. I told them I would will pay after I talk to Phil or the owner. They left the mortar & garbage full of ants. The gutter was reattached terribly with makeshift blocks to get it to go over the bricks build up over the cracked bricks, the caulk issue, the side widows that were uneven & an exposed seam on the outside that we were told would be corrected. Phil came out with the workers & did replace the gutter & fix the seam. When I pointed out the scratches & uncentered windows he took out his measuring tape & stated "it's code" & wouldn't address the issue. Phil left & the workers continued. I asked if they would please remove the mortar & garbage. They left without removing either of them. Prior to Phil coming out again, the city inspector had come out to inspect our new pool. He did a pre-inspec of the room while there & found that the space between the screws in the windows was nearly twice the amount than on the submitted plans. He said to let HTC know to fix before the inspection. I let Phil know & showed him what the inspector circled on the plans. He glanced at it & said "this isn't the window the plans show, there is nothing wrong". Phil came for the check. I told him we'd like a discount due to them not meeting the completion date & all the issues. He mentioned something about the loss of the other windows & I stated to him that the workers said they were putting them in another house...his response "they're lying". He offered a $500.00 discount. We were looking at least 10%. I made the comment that I'm sure you talked to the owner about an amount. He said he didn't & then added something disturbing "I've been on enough of these to know $500.00 is all he will do". During this whole thing I kept hearing how all these mistakes are not normal...his response makes me think it's very normal. I asked if the receipt they mail will show the amts for the room & shutters separately. He said it would.. He said he'd call in the inspection that day, Friday, 15 July. The following Thursday still no inspector. I called HTC & was told because of the rain the city inspectors were behind. I knew that wasn't true because our pool enclosure was completed Monday of that same week & the inspector came out the next day. I called them on that & they admitted it probably wasn't called in. The inspection failed as they didn't add the additional screws. The workers came out again & installed the screws. I again asked if they would remove the mortar bag. The new worker said in regards to the mortar "if it's not too heavy to lift". They left without removing it . I guess it was too heavy for them. I had two broken feet & was in casts, yet I ended up lifting it in a wheel barrel to put it in the trash. It killed the grass under it. About a week went by & no inspection for the room. The inspector came out for the final on the pool during that time & I asked if they received a call for the final on the room. They hadn't. He also said that because they hadn't put the screws in after the first time that they would be charged an additional amount for the second inspection. I again had to call HTC to get the final inspection. I received the final receipt & the amounts were not separated. I called & talked to Darryl & he said he would contact the rep & take care of it. Two months later still nothing & I called. Again I was told they would take care of it & get me the corrected receipt. It is now December & still no corrected receipt.

To this date we are waiting for a positive response from the contractor since we still hold 60% of the agreed price.

- Sales was high pressure and routine as far as the salesman and sales manager haggling the price in private leaving the purchaser wishing an end to the conversation. - The windows requested in the beginning with the functions desired and the windows displayed at the sale were not the windows installed. Though the windows installed are a quality window the features given at the sale were not features of the windows installed. - A media presentation of the installation was given highlighting the professional installation team of at least 4 technicians. Our installation was 2 installers in the morning and 2 in the evening. The morning crew left with the building permit, the tax rebate information, and left the windows they installed screenless and unlocked. The afternoon team of 2 was left to install a three section window of length and weight exceeded their capabilities. - Our sales person touted the fact that the installers of other companies break the windows when removing the old for the new and his company carefully removed the windows intact. Our installers broke the windows and used hammers and pry bars to remove the aluminum original windows making them a twisted broken mess. - After 3 non-contiguous days the permit was properly posted, the screens were properly installed, windows were locked, and minus the cost of the windows a lot of money was spent on 13 windows installation that lacked the professionalism promised at the sale.