Home Improvement Solutions

He gave me an original estimate that included paint and most material of $2925.  My problem with him was that he never showed up to do the work.  When he did show up, he would work a couple of hours and then leave.  The job was never completed and I needed to get this house on the market to sell.  He was giving me excuses, such as needing to allow time for the paint to dry.  He completed the painting, but there were other jobs that were not completed.  I had paid him for everything.  Not only did he not complete the job, he didn't clean up, nor did he return the keys to me.  I ultimately told him that I was done working with him and that I was putting the house on the market.  He never finished numerous jobs.  I would constantly call him only to receive his answering machine.  He told me it would take 3weeks, and in 2 months very little was completed.  I do not want my money back, but I want everyone to know that he is not a man of his word, and I would not recommend using him.  It was a very bad experience.

Last year my wife and I had been toying around with the idea of puting an addition on our house.  We live in a brick ranch, have 4 girls, and are quickly outgrowing our current situation.  I have always wanted a garage and she just wants room, so I did some drawings and finally came up with a plan that both of us loved.  December of 2011, we finally decided to do the addition.  My wife was so excited, she announced to the entire family on Christmas Day that next year would be held in our new 24x26 oversized family room.  After the first of the year, we started looking for contractors, and asked everyone we knew for referals.  That is when we were introduced to Joe Jones, owner of Home Improvement Solutions.  Joe was the husband of one of my wife's clients and came highly recommended.  We checked out some of his other projects, and after getting and reviewing 4 other bids for the addition, we opted to hire him.  From March until May, Joe was very understanding and patient.  He was quick to answer when we called or returned phone calls promptly if he did have to miss them.  I wanted to finish the interior myself and help elsewhere where I could, to save some $, and he was more than willing to work with me.  After numerus back and forths, we finally decided on a plan of attack and a price.  He asked for half as a deposit, another quarter after the framing was done, and the remainder after the job was completed.  I watch enough DIY Network to know better, but given that my wife had known his for over 12 years, we did a stupid thing cut him a check for $17,000 so we could get started.  That was May 10th.  So we started the countdown.  We were going on vacation the last week of June, and Joe assured us it would be done by then.  I needed to have some other grating done in my yard so I went ahead, with Joe's permission, and had him dig out for the foundation.  After a week of no commuication, I placed a call.....  3 days later it was finally returned.  He said the architect was progressing with the drawings but needed to get some futher information.  After 3 more weeks of the same excuse, and numerus phone calls, he finally informed us the drawing were complete and he would them submit them for permits.  I always had to call him for some reason, to check up on him.  My thinking is if you have that much of my money, you better be calling me every day to give me updates.  3 more weeks and many more phone calls later, I finally got ahold of him the day before we were leaving for vacation telling me they wanted to start pouring concrete on Monday.  I told him that was fine, since we were supposed to be done with construction already, and I would be having people check in on him while we were gone.  Monday came and went, then Tuesday.  Neither day had any workers at my house.  On Wednesday, I called Joe.  I wasn't expecting him to answer, by now I already knew he wouldn't answer anyways.  I finally got a call back on Thursday, giving me an excuse about they wont approve the permit because we're in a flood zone.  Now I'm sorry, but shouldn't you have checked into all this before even bidding on my job!!  We tried to at least get the unused portion of our money back so we could try and collect some interest on it and he said that we should be able to start within the next week, so he didn't want to do that.  For the next 3 months, I was calling Joe almost everyday, of course he didn't answer, but he would call back when I finally threatened to pull the plug.  He tryed to explain he was working on it, he's just waiting on a permit from state.  Well that would be a nice excuse if he had actually sent the application for the permit.  He didn't know that by now I was checking up on everything he did or said he did.  End of September I finally pulled the plug.  I told him that 6 months was way too long to be sitting on someone elses money, too much time to begin a project, and too much stress to put on a family of 6 wanting more room.  At this point, it would have been cheaper and easier to move.  I told him I would be at his house at 6pm to pick up a check from him.  He said that was fine.  6  hours later he called me back telling me that I contracted him to do a job and if I was terminating the job then I forfeit the deposit.  Now lets see, I either have to wait god knows how much longer to get this going, or I have to give you $17000 for doing nothing!!??  I don't think so!  So I called a lawyer and now I'm trying to do I myself, only to find out that the architect was never paid from June and  the Building Department was never paid.  Ok, so what exactly was the deposit for, if you weren't going to pay for anything?  As of now we are in litigations with him, still have no work done, other than digging for the foundation which I took care of, and still don't have our money back.  Plus I'm having to pay for a lawyer.  This man is a con-artist!!

Lied to us from the moment he opened his mouth. He doesn't have a license to work in Boone County and has stop work orders on him because for no license. Reasons we hired Joe Jones with Home Improvement Solutions...1. Less than others.2. 2 week completion on project.3. Only works 1 job at a time.4. Giving us his 20% tile discount. Reasons we would NEVER use again or recommend to others...1.   1 months later the job is NOT completed!2.   Won't return phone calls or text.3.   Job not done correctly.4.   Lied numerous times - con-man.5.   Would only work a few hours at a time if showed up at all.6.   Wish we never met this man FRUSTRATIONS NOW...1.   Attoney fees2.   Court cost3.   Cost of material (AGAIN!)4.   Inspector fees5.   Finding another contractor6.   Having to rip everything out and start all overI have contacted him several times to fix things. No carpet padding between carpet and tile. Installed Travertine Tile on 3/4" osb without Backerboard. Painted the Tile, rolled right over the top of it instead of cutting around it.Shower pan holds water, causing mold. Wall is crooked, so the Basco door closes and it is flush to one corner at bottom and 2.5" off at the top.   Cracked ceiling.and not painted Shower handle cannot be mounted a. unlevel both left to right and b  front to back.cracked the counter top.  Had to hire my own plumber to trim out.  and Tile guy to finish the sealant. These are just few things.  
Trouble shooter Howard Ain came out to do interview and was appalled.  3 Hours before the show aired, I receive a call from Jones wanting to meet.  I granted the wish because I'm a nice guy and Joe is a turd.  We asked for a FULL refund.  He said he couldnt do that but He apologized and said he would make it right and wants us to be happy. If we went to court we would probably win the judgement, but he would NEVER pay and we would never collect.  In fact, said he wouldnt even hire an attorney.  We were to make a list that needs to be done and he would take care of it but it would be a few weeks. That was end of July 2012.  He has cancelled 2 appts. and not returned any calls or texts.  We are now in September of 2012, over a year since the project has been completed.  Joe Jones of Home Improvement Solutions is a liar, poor craftsman, and a person.  Most humans in his industry would try to make right out of a wrong, but not this man, he conitinues to lie through his lies.  He will make promises but never deliver.  All we asked for was to make things right and have given several opportunities to do so.   JOE JONES Home IMprovement Solutions should NEVER be hired for anything. 

Joe Jones and Home Improvement Solutions was sued in Small Claims October 2012.  Dave Barnes of Union, KY won settlement of Nearly $2200 plus interest. Not nearly the amount needed but its a start.  Also filed Garnishment of Wages against Joe Jones, he has since informed me he closed the doors to the business and not working therefore I would not be receiving payments.