MITCHELL DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

I had trouble finding a contractor due to demand with Covid. Whatever you do, don't do what I did! Do not enter any contract with Everett Mitchell Design and Construction! Everett Mitchell, like other reviewers say, seemed reasonable and personable UNTIL the contract was signed. Then the nightmare began. I became physically ill from my interactions with him. Work started Oct. 1. He knew I lived out of state! He knew his project had to be completed before my contract with a siding company could start! It's Oct and siding needed to be completed before Thanksgiving. First invoice demanded payment within 24 hours and said I had to sign and signature meant happy with work. Also, contract did not follow the payment schedule required by MA law - he received payments before the law says he could charge for it. Within the first few days of starting work, he had a 20% increase in the costs of an already expensive project i.e. "extra work orders." I think he knew that this additional work would be needed and deliberately did not include it in the contract. I had no choice. Then because I did not send the additional 20% check overnight he stopped work for 5 days and I did not know if he would return until 10:30 the day he returned. No work being done, construction all over the front yard, the tenants using the back door...5 days! When he changed how the work would be done because of errors caused by his inability to understand the work required (2 half posts against the house were not constructed) and the design had to be changed, I accepted that a lot less work to be done. Frankly, I would have preferred that he complete the work as stated in the contract, but at this point, 2 weeks in, I could not wait for him to be gone! I asked for the credit to be determined immediately , like he asked for extra work order and checks within 24 hours. He said credits would be calculated at the end of the project! Well, it was Everett's way or no way - the credits he provided during his "final contract audit" were, as he would say, a "joke". Everett Mitchell has no employees - everyone was a subcontractor. The only reason the project looks good is because of the skills of the carpentry subcontractor he hired. I had discussed at length that he was planning for more steps than needed to the porch - he charged me for 6 - turned out to be only 3! When I asked him how the walkway would be constructed, I found out that he had not taken into account the slope and sent him calculations showing a step would be needed to have a flat and safe walkway. Well, he demanded a change order and more money to make the walkway safe. At this point I was not going to give him any more money. So he built an unsafe walkway from the porch to the sidewalk with a dangerous slope in winter. He was constantly telling me how wonderful he is and how I was so lucky to have him to do the work. I should be "grateful." With the final contract "audit", when I was supposed to get credits, the credits were ridiculously low. I think the credits for work not completed were much more money than the small payment that he had scheduled at the end (less than $2000.) I agreed to send him more money, but not the amount he requested which was $3,500 !?! I had spent 3 hours writing up my explanation of the amount of money I was willing to pay to get this behind me - his response that it was a "joke." Then he told me he had not paid the mason (note another reviewer said the same thing.) Property owners have to pay subcontractors when contractors do not. He also said he'd put a LIEN on my property. I became so stressed that I began to become physically sick whenever I interacted with him. It was always "his" way and you are expected to be grateful. I was way out of his league. And, the sad thing is, he knows what he is doing, it is deliberate and he is happy to do it! Apparently he has been able to get away with it. Don't become the next victim! I do not recommend that you hire Everett Mitchell Design & Construction.