Sam Schuyler Designs

Sam Schuyler Designs worked on 4 projects (5 were planned). We found his workmanship adequate, but ran into long delays, many errors, with one project still not completed. He started with a crew of six but is now down to one worker plus a helper. Sam is very hard to contact (no office staff); we had to chase him by email till we got a response. Our mistake is we prepaid for the 5 projects. We ended up not using Sam Schuyler Designs for the kitchen (the 5th project) for two reasons. First, his price for the kitchen was $13,000 more than a competitor (Deem's) using the same plans and materials. And second, with the long delays, and dwindling staff, we felt the company was not viable long-term. We are now suing the company for the overpayment (over $12,000) for the kitchen. Sam had agreed to apply the overpayment to future projects which we were willing to do, but then he decided that only 50% could be applied. When I refused, he put a one-week time limit on using the remaining money for any other projects. My suggestion: there are other companies that are far more competent, reliable, and ethical (and probably at significantly lower prices) than Sam Schuyler Designs. One other consideration: Sam is the sole owner of this company. If something happens to Sam (or the company), the money you've paid Sam is not only at risk, but any materials or services Sam ordered for your project from a third party (that he did not pay) becomes your liability (i.e., it does not matter that you paid Sam, you will still be responsible for third-party unpaid bills). This may not seem fair, but it is the law in Florida.

Sam Schuyler Designs worked on 4 projects (5 were planned).  We found his workmanship adequate, but ran into long delays, many errors, with one project still not completed.  He started with a crew of six but is now down to one worker plus a helper.  
Sam is very hard to contact (no office staff);  we had to chase him by email till we got a response.
Our mistake is we prepaid for the 5 projects.  We ended up not using Sam Schuyler Designs for the kitchen (the 5th project) for two reasons.  First, his price for the kitchen was $8,000 more than a competitor (Deem's) using the same plans and materials.  And second, with the long delays, and dwindling staff, we felt the company was not viable long-term.
We are now suing the company for the overpayment (over $12,000) for the kitchen. Sam had agreed to apply the overpayment to future projects which we were willing to do, but then he decided that only 50% could be applied.  When I refused, he put a one-week time limit on using the remaining money for any other projects.
My suggestion: there are other companies that are far more competent, reliable, and ethical (and probably at significantly lower prices) than Sam Schuyler Designs.
One other consideration: Sam is the sole owner of this company.  If something happens to Sam (or the company), the money you've paid Sam is not only at risk, but any materials or services Sam ordered for your project from a third party (that he did not pay) becomes your liability (i.e., it does not matter that you paid Sam, you will still be responsible for third-party unpaid bills).  This may not seem fair, but it is the law in Florida.