If there were A+'s to give Penn Carpentry, we'd give all of them we could! We couldn't be happier with the experience of working with this firm, and especially with Tate Smith. The contract called it a "whole house facelift," but it was so much more--it was a rejuvenation of a 1950's brick ranch in a neighborhood of look-alike homes. Greg Penn and Tate Smith came together to walk through and prepare the bid on a beat-up HUD foreclosure that we bought with the intention to rent after refurbishment; they were personable and entirely professional in appearance and demeanor as we discussed possibilities. Their bid was in line with others we received, and their advice was helpful to us as first-time prospective landlords. They listened well, as did we when we checked references (all glowing), and when Tate took the assignment for our contract, he continued to do so. The roof was replaced immediately to prevent further damage to the interior. Then, on their recommendation, we were introduced to an architect (who also listened well to what we wanted and incorporated our ideas) who drew plans for submission for permits, as the work required was structural as well as cosmetic. Once plans were approved, the kitchen and some interior walls were demolished; a sagging floor was shored up in the crawl space; bathroom fixtures were selectively removed; and new spaces were defined and expertly framed. The master bedroom has a new bathroom; the kitchen has a laundry area and gas appliance connections; the living room has opened up to the kitchen in a way that is far more modern than anything else on the street; the hardwood floors are like new (and some of them are new); everything is painted, inside and out; a new air conditioning condenser unit is in place; wiring has been updated and upgraded; and the plumbing has had a complete overhaul. In fact, much of the plumbing has been done twice: when work was almost complete, the cleaners found they had no water to work with. Vandals had turned off water at the street and proceeded to rip--literally, rip--out the copper that had been installed. Tate informed us immediately, and couldn't have been more horrified if it had been his own house. We had to pay for a re-do, of course (in PVC plastic pipe this time), but Tate did not add the usual 20% contractor's fee, saying he "wouldn't dream of profiting from our misfortune." The finished work is simply beautiful--so much so, that our daughter and her family, who have lived nearby for six years, are moving in! This process took several months to get going, but once underway, progress was swift and sure, and the work was done, including the repairs after the vandalism, in about 4-1/2 months. Because we live 3 states away, we couldn't be there often to watch as things progressed, but we had no fears and we have no regrets. The price and terms were fair and reasonable, the workmen careful about cleaning up after themselves, especially outside. Penn Carpentry has our wholehearted endorsement.