TOM GATES HOME WORKS

Tom showed up right on time with a hand shake and it's great to see you again. He got right to work and showed and explain to me what he was doing.

We contacted Tom in June 2013.  We were interested in having him install replacement windows, change entry way (inside and out), and remodel basement.  He stated he was working on a project and would not be able to start until November or so.  Windows measured twice--final measurement in September--and ordered.  In November, we paid for all of the windows which had been ordered from Star Lumber in Salina.  The work finally started the mid February.  Within the first week, Tom and his helper, would be gone constantly either for vacation, or " a small job somewhere else."  In the middle of doing the windows, I pointed out that they had not obtained two exterior doors, which we had told them we were also replacing.  Tom QUICKLY got the doors ordered.  MOST of the windows were completed by the end of March (14 windows).  When I paid for the doors, I noted that they seemed quite expensive--"Yea, that's what they run."  As we started the basement, there were constant delays--mostly due to the poor organization of the subs.  (As we have gotten to know these guys, and spoken with other contractors, we realized the problem was that they were never called ahead and scheduled.  Finally, the work in the basement began--generally with the helper.  In the midst of this, we decided to go ahead and do the kitchen also.  Tom was VERY excited!  It would mean ordering more materials, and he stated he would like us to work with Custom Wood Products out of Topeka.  When I asked this person about a manhattan showroom, she stated they only had showrooms in Great Bend and Topeka.  Turns out Manhattan is the company--just a different salesperson.  The drawings were poor.  Tom wanted to "sit in" on the planning.  When I would ask about things regarding prices, I could never get an answer--just I will have to check on that.  The Manhattan showroom had two exhibits--High End Cabinets with a certain # of linear feet and Lower End Cabinets with the same # of linear feet as a nice comparison of cost.  The bid we finally got, which entailed FEWER Linear feet than the displays, and Cabinets that were mid range between High End and Lower End--came in around 30-35% HIGHER than the cost OF THE HIGH END DISPLAY!  Interestingly, both the first words from Tom and the sales person from Topeka were , "I am not making anything on this."  In doing the kitchen, we would be changing two windows and a sliding door.  I ended up calling Star Lumber to make sure a change we mentioned to Tom had been communicated in getting the price.  It had, and the bid was ready.  Over the phone, Paul (star lumber), told me the price.  One of the windows, was almost the exact same size as another window we paid for in November--only know $800 higher!  When I asked, I was told Anderson had raised their prices.  The next day, Tom arrived stating he had negotiated 2013 prices.  We checked prices for the three items at a comparable lumberyard--their 2014 price for the exact same Anderson products was $1600 less than the "negotiated 2013 price Star Lumber and Tom put together."  The original price, had I not questioned would have been $3000 more--a whopping 30-35% uncharge!    In addition, we started keeping track of hours--for his last invoice, he had padded with at least 15 hours.  In SUMMARY, you will get with this guy:  1.  Quick to order materials with a 30-35%  upcharge 2.  Not as motivated to work the hours to do the project--charges by the hour and is slow (8 months after he started, the only thing he had only put in windows, without finishing inside trim on 1, framing the basement.)  3.  Poor quality work (Our newly framed walls are not straight, doorways had to be redone, poor coordination with sub-contractors (Electrician, plumber, sheet rock contractor.)  We will not recommend him, nor ever hire him for anything again.