ROSA CONSTRUCTION CORP

Garage was built on property in 2010, 2 years prior to home being built. We were dealing with this man long-distance, as the home site was in the upper peninsula of MI and we were living south of Detroit in the lower peninsula. Contractor estimated garage at $26,000--actual cost was over $50,000 (and neither siding nor roofing was done at that time). Contractor also built first basement wall at that time backing up to garage and did not waterproof wall (which we discovered later). Our home is approximately 1652 sq. feet. We also have a loft and 3-season room on stilts, not heated. Home construction began in April/May of 2012, starting with the construction of the rest of basement block. We were promised a finish and move-in date of November 2012. We barely had a roof on the house by that time--roof finished in November 2012. Contractor had only one full-time worker during entire construction period. Had a couple of extra workers, but only lasted for a couple of months each during construction period. Contractor claimed he could not find workers in the area. Contractor finally found two additional drywall installers who worked with his one full-time worker. Drywall installation took nearly 4 months, as additional installers were called back to their regular jobs, so we were back to one guy. We hired a painter ourselves, who also finished moldings, as contractor had only one worker--we were tired of renting and wanted to get into our home. Permanent stairs and bannisters were finally installed to loft and basement in June of 2013 after the inspector fell through the temporary basement stairs. Thankfully, inspector granted us a temporary occupancy permit on the condition contractor would install permanent stairs and bannisters. We moved in on July 12, 2013, even though there were many unfinished projects. Contractor was still installing moldings, interior doors, deck railing, loft railing, steps from garage into house (we used cement blocks as steps from start of building until September of 2013) and steps down from deck to ground level. Work was going very slowly. Contractor pitched in on some of the jobs, but his worker was on his own for most of the time.. It took approximately 19 months to just about finish our home--and it still wasn't finished. We finished the stairs, bannisters interior and exterior doors ourselves. We will also finish deck ourselves. 1. I would not recommend this contractor (Rosa Construction or Daniel Peterson, formerly of Marenisco, MI) to my worst enemy. He has not, to this day, returned our deposit made in 2010, which, by contract, was supposed to be credited to our final bi-monthly bill. He claims he credited it to our account along the way, which he did not do. We have binders with every billing and every canceled check we gave him since garage construction began in 2010. No credit. We also understand contractor did not file an annual report from 2010 - 2013, the period our home was being built. Corporate status has expired. 2. The man cannot estimate a job. Garage cost about $25,000 over estimate. House cost $132,000 over estimate. Builder required payment every two weeks for previous two-weeks' labor and material. We never knew what our charges would be during any given billing period. 3. House far from turn-key construction he promised. 4. Contractor was not organized, as far as materials. His worker was visiting lumber supplier to pick up building material, often times 5 consecutive days of any given work week over nearly two years--and being paid labor for each of these multiple visits. 5. The walk-out basement leaked from the time the home was finally enclosed from the elements to this day. Leaking was so bad, contractor had to dig up foundation, drill two 8-inch diameter holes in foundation to drain all of the water trapped under the basement cement floor. Prominent basement leaking is still occurring from the wall below the back of the garage--the wall they did not waterproof when constructed in 2010. Any remedial work contractor did was at OUR expense--not his. 6. Our interior walls were gouged in various areas around the house. Stain dripped on walls, as well. Never repaired, even though we mentioned these areas. 7. We experienced roof leaking down a wall of the garage a couple of months ago (early 2014). After notifying contractor, he told us it had to be because of shingle damage and that we could call the roofer ourselves. The damage was of a structural nature--not roofing shingles. 8. This man, I believe, as absolved himself of any and all responsibility for any damage or deficiencies in our home. He has relocated to Minnesota. We have cracked seams on drywall, nail pops in areas of drywall, creaky wood floors. Contractor claimed "a Rosa home is a perfect home." Our home is far from perfect. Needless to say, we are disappointed. We trusted the wrong man.