ELITE BUILDERS & DEVELOPERS INC

Randy Mathews of Elite Builders was referred to us by our former cabinet maker (he built cabinets for our two bathroom remodels). We met Randy early in the design phase of our kitchen remodel (we hired a designer) and we were quite impressed. After deciding on a design, our cabinet maker told us he didn?t want to take on the project because of the complexity (inset cabinets and glazed paint/stain). So we checked with several cabinet companies and decided on Country Classics, Brookhaven/WoodMode cabinets. Since we had already met Randy and were quite impressed we decided to hire him (Country Classics is also a construction company). The remodel started in September, 2014 with the demolition of the existing kitchen including removal of two wall partitions and a wet bar. The demo went pretty well except his subs removed all the door moldings for no reason (not involved in the demo or remodel). This would become a real problem on reinstall trying to match the other stained trim. Anyway, the demo was completed and the plumber came to move the water and drain line for the new locations of kitchen and wet bar sinks. This went well except for blowing out (with the jackhammer) the side wall of the house for the kitchen sink (would become a problem later). Location for the new window was framed and all the other framing and wall installation was completed ? okay where except the window frame had to be moved slightly. After framing the electrician sub came to install/relocate the lighting and appliance wiring. They did a very nice job. Good sub here. Things began to slow down a little after this as Mr. Mathews apparently got some other work. He started not answering or returning my calls for days at a time. When he did finally call me back, he told me he had taken on too much work and he was spread too thin. As a customer/client it made me feel good when he worked on other jobs and not mine. He used this excuse several times subsequently as I tried to get him to finish the work. His subs came sporadically and it took weeks after our cabinet and countertop installs to get other things done by the contractor and his subs. The plumbing sub didn?t take quite that long and I?ll admit the plumber did an outstanding job ? no leaks. Then the painter sub ? ouch! Don?t come back here. The final straw (there were too many to list them all) came when the backsplash was completed (by someone we hired, not through Randy). We had purchased molding through Marvin to match the stain on the window. Randy had suggested early on that we should build up the window (a large three-pane Marvin window) frame so the final trim work would have definition (not butt up to the backsplash but rest on top of it). He said he would measure for the size of the molding and have his cabinet guy match the stain; then, he would install the final trim work since we only had one shot at that. This is after I told him I didn?t want his subs doing the final trim. He told me he was coming on a Wednesday to measure and get a piece of the trim to match. Well, he didn?t come and he didn?t call. He finally called the following Sunday morning and apologized saying he had been on another job (again) and he?d like to come by to do the measurements (I guess he didn?t even have time to call). I told him never mind that I would have Country Classics do it. I stained and put two coats of polyurethane on the ?build-up? trim and Ron from Country Classics did an outstanding job of installing that trim and the final outside trim we purchased from Marvin. Following is the letter (with some names omitted) I wrote to Randy and with which I enclosed his final payment. I never heard from him but it didn?t take him long to cash the check. March 30, 2015 Randy Mathews Elite Builders & Inspectors, Inc. 14206 Briarthorn Dr. Tampa, FL 33625 Dear Randy: I just wanted you to know the concerns/comments my wife and/or I have over the kitchen remodel work done by your company and your subcontractors. Most of this has transpired since the last time you were here to check on the work done by your subcontractors: 1. I had to finish patching the exterior wall even though I asked you about it several times. After Jimmy left the last time there was still a two inch gap/hole at the bottom. I cut a piece of wood to fit and jammed it in to close the hole. I then had to apply stucco in several coats to build up to grade. I then painted the entire exterior wall with the correct kind of paint, a stain. 2. I made numerous repairs to the kitchen ceiling and the new side walls. There were a number of cracks/gaps/holes/air bubbles in the finish left as ?final?. A lot, but not all, of the problem areas were where the ceiling met the side walls. I also had to add texture. 3. I had to apply caulk to the kitchen ceiling light cans which were repaired due to excess size of hole. They were never caulked or textured. Even your painter commented on the texture on the kitchen ceiling being irregular. I repainted the kitchen ceiling but it still looked awful. So when we hired painters we had them apply two extra heavy coats to the kitchen ceiling. We thought it was going to have to be retextured but it finally looks decent. 4. The painters we hired had to ?knock down? the texture on the living room side wall where the plastic barrier had been taped to the wall. They said it was obviously nothing like the original texture. They applied two coats to the ceiling and the walls. 5. I had to fill all the nail holes in the door trim and baseboard installed by your subs with dark putty. Had to countersink a lot of nails as they were protruding. I still need to replace one area of baseboard which was cut short. 6. I still need to patch all nail holes and repaint the exterior siding where the failed attempt was made to repair the sliders. I?m pretty disappointed with this one since you told me you?d fix it. It?s better but still not good. I know you traded off the painting of the living room for the fact the sliders were not totally fixed, but I?m not sure how that factors in since half of the living room would have had to be painted due to the barrier and repairs. Even at that, your painters only applied one coat to the living room walls. 7. I stained and put two coats of polyurethane on the additional trim wood for the window. We appreciate you telling us what you had in mind for this to give it definition and the window is absolutely beautiful. Overall, we are happy with the kitchen and you had a big part in that. We were really impressed with you and your subs in the early stages and appreciate what you did do. What we don?t understand is the lack of overall supervision or review of the quality of some of the work done. My other concern is this: I can?t count the number of times I was told other jobs kept people from working on our project and/or keeping appointments. I heard this from you several times but it wasn?t just you telling us this. If you put yourself in our position as a customer, is that really what you would want to hear? Enclosed is your check for the final payment less the $100 I gave Ron for trimming the window. Sincerely,

It is a small outfit and the owner of it is Randy Mathews. He did an excellent job. The price was very good and we highly recommend them. He was very compulsive about doing a really good job. We really appreciated it. Our overall experience with them was very good. We liked the quality of the work and the honesty and the ability to follow up immediately on any kind of problem. I would tell anybody to use them. I certainly would use them again.

He is very reliable and honest. Really efficient and stays on track. We would recommend him to others.