JDI Custom Remodeling LLC

The remodel project is beautiful. I enjoyed working with Justin and his sub contractors. The work was done very well, and the house was kept at a minimum of disruption. Justin listened to my ideas, improved some of them, and saw to it that everything was to my satisfaction. 

Justin was very attentive to us and to detail until he received the first check and signed contract, after that I had to refuse to pay for him to come by the job site. We were given an estimated total for the work of $34,000 at the completion of the job we had paid over $43,000.  Although the two JDI employees were usually available to answer questions or do work his sub-contractors were a problem. The cabinetry is well built and beautiful, but was installed before the room was ready for it causing complications for painting and especially flooring. There is still a hole under the cabinets where ants come in because the cabinets were installed over the open trench in the slab floor to run electrical to the island. We had detailed plans for wiring that were either ignored or never given to the electricians because several items of importance to us were not done. The Granite Composite countertops are very nice but the joint in the middle of the sink is obvious and looks bad. The flooring is a nightmare, the company has been out six times to correct problems but the seams still look bad and it bubbles up around the edges. We did the painting ourselves but we were given the job to do at 4:00 pm with ceiling texture and drywall seams still wet and were told that cabinet bases would be installed the next morning at 9:00am and the half of the room that was ready for paint needed at least two coats of primer and finish paint ready by then. (Just a note it was -7degrees at the time)  Justin has to this date refused to give me a detailed cost lit so I would know how much I paid whom for what. The only things I know the cost of were items I bought myself, or purchased through JDI at exorbitant extra cost.

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But we did A LOT of work to keep the costs down - we did all of the demolition, including pulling up the floor, ripping out the cabinets, and pulling down the drywall to the studs. Any complaints were with the details of the work and with the communication. We went over the contract with one person but the actual work was managed by another person - and it seemed as if satisfaction we had promised by one of the managers wasn't communicated to the other. We would recommend that anyone doing a major remodeling job really think about the details of the job and make sure that those details get entered into the contract. For example, we assumed that since we were paying for custom cabinets that the shelves and drawers would be maple or birch plywood. But the "standard" is melamine on particle board, which we considered substandard. So, we ended up paying $900 more to get the plywood. Get everything in writing and make sure that you check out the work done each day. Insist on frequent communication - that's important!

We were pretty satisfied with the overall results of the remodel work. But some details that didn't get completed to our expectations continue to bother us. We did a lot of the work ourselves to keep the costs down. We pulled up the flooring, ripped out the cabinets, tore down the breakfast bar, and pulled down the drywall to the studs. JDI helped us out by providing a trailer to put the waste in so we didn't have to rent a dumpster - that was great. We also did all of the painting after the drywall was in. It was an advantage to be able to do some of the work ourselves. However, we went over and signed the contrast with one of the principle owners - but another principle was in charge of the day-to-day work. This was one of the biggest reasons that we had problems. When we signed the contract and asked about the details, we were told - we'll make it right by you or we'll do a good job. But the actual work was so much more disjointed. For example, we got custom built cabinets and assumed that the price were paying would include birch or maple plywood shelves and drawers, etc. But we were told that the "standard" is melamine on particle board (which we think is crappy). So, we ended up paying $900 more to get plywood instead of particle board. In addition, we assumed that replacing the cabinets in the repositioned laundry room were included in the contract, but they weren't. So we had to go out and buy cabinets (cost a few hundred dollars). And some of the details we actually discussed when we signed the contract didn't get communicated to the person in charge of the actual remodeling. So we had to have some work redone (such as a decision to have a half-wall in a place that a full wall was framed in and had to be re-done). It's difficult to know all of the details you need to convey when you decide to do a major remodel - especially if you haven't done it before. But be sure to think about as many details as you can before you sign the contract.

We chose JDI because - out of the three remodelers we interviewed - they were the only ones who looked at the trusses in the attic and checked the electrical box - which indicated they were interested in more than the cosmetic changes. And they had some ideas that we hadn't thought of. But overall we felt that the person we initially dealt with wasn't in step with the person in charge of the day-to-work of the project.

So, ask a lot of questions. Make sure the contractors know exactly what you want. Try to decide on as many details as you can anticipate before you sign the contract.

They did a really good job. I wasn't dissatisfied at all. They're on it and they were responsive.

I was very, very pleased with the experience I had with JDI Custom Remodeling, LLC. They were very professional and did everything they said they would do. The communication was great. The owner was on site every day to check on the progress. They didn't try to raise the bid on me. So, overall, it was a very good experience. I don't think the were the cheapest but they're reasonable. The subcontractors they used were top notch.

Owner Mark Jenson acted as our general contractor and his team of trades was amazing. Everyone was very punctual and professional. There was clear communication and responsiveness at every stage of the project. The price estimates were adhered to so that there were no surprises. There was a slight delay due to receiving a product from a supplier but they went above and beyond to minimize the impact. (They even did a temporary install of the toilet to ensure we'd have a second bathroom during holiday entertaining.) The final day when Josiah came to do the finishing touches he even shoveled our front walk before he came to the door. I can recommend JDI unreservedly.