Get matched with top energy efficiency auditors in Chestertown, MD

"Excellent work!"

"We had an energy audit done by Kyle Farrell in mid-September, and due to an alleged broken phone, this audit was not fully completed until the end of October. We tried multiple times to reach out and get ahold of Kyle, but he does not respond to messages or answer his phone. When we finally got him to come finish the audit (we had to go through the main company's page to complain to get a response) he told me he trashed his phone playing golf, and that they were "really busy" with other jobs as an excuse. Mind you, this was over a month after the initial audit visit. He then promised us his "window guy" would reach out to start the process to give us a quote. It has been days and we have heard nothing. We were having the audit done to take advantage of tax credits, which expire this year. We lost a month to get the work done due to Kyle's poor time management skills & failure to respond, and we will likely miss out on the tax credit as the timeline is too short. Would not recommend. "

"They did a great Job"

"Beware of hiring Solar Energy World I hope this helps someone else avoid the problems that we have been facing with this company. Initially we thought what is the catch, this is too good to be true... well it is. Our panels were incorrectly installed leaving holes in our roofing which led to water pooling in our front porch ceiling and running down the face of our house. We ended up with warped front porch flooring along with mold and water damage in our finished basement. After almost 4 months of us having to follow up weekly and them coming out to correct their improper installation they are now saying that they are not liable for any of the damages to our home. The manager told me that because we moved forward with the mold remediation that they aren't liable. How can a company expect people to live in a home with mold for 4 months while they "review" the situation. The manager then slipped up and admitted that they never reviewed the photos or invoice that I sent over, they just decided in a brief discussion that they werent liable for the damages. When I asked to please speak to the manager that made the decision I was told that he is a difficult man to get a hold of so that won't be possible. I am just shocked and disappointed in this company. We have been so patient and understanding during this whole process to have them treat us like this. Just go elsewhere if you want a company that will do right by their customers because Solar Energy World is not that company."

"I have used this company for years and been very happy with their work. A tech and his helper recently came to replace a bath exhaust fan. They had to go up to the attic to complete the installation. After they left, I noticed that the helper had put his foot through the ceiling of the room next to the bathroom. I contacted the company and sent pictures. I was told that they did not pay for damage caused by their employees. The gentleman pointed out that ”the crack was not that bad anyway.“ (The crack was three feet long.) The bath exhaust fan works well, but I will not be using them in the future."

"We just finished a spectacular custom home project in McLean, VA and we are so very grateful to Seth Ballard and his team! If you are considering hiring his firm, look no further. There can be no better architect in the DC/VA/MD area – and his pricing is more than fair. We first picked Seth because we loved his architectural style and heard that he had a reputation for ensuring that his plans are executed with impeccable precision and attention to quality. Also, his references were stellar….without exception, his former clients offered glowing praise for his talent, diligence, and follow-through. And now that we are former clients, we understand why. We always knew we were going to have a gem of a home with Seth at the helm. What we did not fully appreciate at the beginning was his proven ability to help us STAY ON BUDGET and his deep bench of connections with first-rate contractors and subcontractors who were prepared to bend over backward to meet Seth’s exacting standards. Here are just a few highlights from our experience: CONCEPT PHASE: During the initial meetings at our home, Seth went the extra mile to learn all about our lifestyle, future needs, architectural likes/dislikes, and budget. During this stage of the process, he would effortlessly make freehand drawings to help us visualize potential styles and layouts. We ultimately elected to go with a craftsman design, with lots of wood features inside and out. PICKING THE RIGHT PROPERTY: Seth joined us for car rides through the local neighborhoods, helping us to scout out the property that was best suited for our construction plans – free of any potential HOA or permitting snafus. DESIGN: With Seth’s guidance, we iterated on different design options. The design phase was high-tech and highly visual. Lots of 2D and 3D elevations, plus 360-degree videos. At each step, Seth clearly identified the estimated construction cost, and we would make decisions about what to dial-up and what to dial-down. For example, we elected to go with a cheaper asphalt roof (rather than slate), but with a more premium window. There were literally dozens of choices like that, and Seth did a superb job of helping us to make the right trade-offs and to “value engineer” the house. PICKING THE RIGHT CONTRACTOR AND SUBS: One of the things that distinguishes Seth from the competition is that he works closely with a handful of contractors and subcontractors who have already been “pre-screened” for excellence. Seth connected us with a general contractor who was not only honest and diligent, but whose carpentry was truly “artisan grade.” Seth also drew upon a stable of outstanding subcontractors – in areas such as HVAC/plumbing, electrical/lighting, structural engineering, cabinetry, tile, drywall/paint, countertops, hardwood flooring, landscaping, etc. It was perfectly clear that these subs were striving to deliver the highest quality and exemplary service. Why? Because Seth was an important source of repeat business for them. This made them extremely responsive. BUDGETING: Seth developed detailed spreadsheets estimating costs for every aspect of the project, as well as options for “enhancements.” Once we made our choices, he was instrumental in securing a FLAT FEE CONTRACT with the builder (inclusive of subs) for everything we wanted. To provide even more control over the cost, the agreement specified that certain items would be “owner provided, contractor installed.” This meant that, regardless of whether we bought pricey appliances or tile or flooring, it would have no impact of the builder’s fees. To his credit, Seth’s estimates were quite accurate, and the project stayed on budget. ARCHITECT FEES: We negotiated a flat fee for Seth’s architectural services, and got way more than we bargained for. We had no idea Seth would stay so engaged throughout the project -- micromanaging every detail, and even offering interior design suggestions (e.g., stains and paints, cabinet and window designs, furniture layouts, etc.). It became clear that, regardless of how much we had agreed to pay in fees, Seth was “all in,” and was committed to ensuring that the end result was perfection. To be sure, in any large construction project, there will be some hiccups. But this was yet another area where Seth shined. Rather than being indifferent, or pointing the finger at those who were actually at fault, he would step up to “own the problem” and take charge until the issue was resolved. In one such case, he developed a design tweak that saved us money and produced a more beautiful result in the process. We never had to stress too much, because we knew Seth was 100% engaged and we could trust that the final work product would be a treasure of a home. One final thought. While Seth’s tremendous talent is obviously perfect for large custom projects, we have no doubt that he can deliver outstanding value for smaller home renovations too. When we did kitchen/bath renovations in our prior home, we naively thought that a “design-and-build” firm would deliver the best solution. With the benefit of hindsight, we could have done so much better hiring Seth as the independent architect and separately hiring a builder who would be accountable to the architect. The result would have been better quality construction, a better value, and far less stress. So whether you are about to embark on a modest remodel or getting ready to “dream big” with a new custom home, look no further than Ballard Mensua Architecture."

"These guys are fantastic. We have used them for several years to power wash, clean windows and wash the patio and walkway. Excellent service"