MARCOPLOS CONSTRUCTION

We interviewed several builders and Mark came out on top. No extras -- just build the house from the foundation to the roof. Mark worked out an estimate which we carefully reviewed and it became a working budget.The cost was reasonable and we never had any disputes about cost -- just project management, and on occasion a push for higher quality materials -- Mark was always out to save money. I felt that our 1,650 sq. ft. home could be completed in about 6 months, We had already cleared the lot, staked out the site, installed the well. Mark refused to set a timeline in the contract, stating that weather could be a significant factor. It was not. We had a drought. Had the crew stuck to the job, it would have been done in 6 months. We broke ground in March. Materials arrived on time and everthing progressed until summer when the delays started due to another project (see other report). I complained to Mark that my only concern was MY house and I wanted uninterrupted progress by the original crew. Our construction loan was ticking, and we were renting. Mark always showed on time for weekly status meetings and tried to explain the delays but it was clear he didn't have enough good people to work two jobs simultaneously. Fall came and we had a few glitches, but none that should have delayed the the project for 3 months. The electrician's helper died suddenly. A front window was off center etc. By November I was angry and set a deadline of mid-December or else... and we moved in just before the holidays. Quality wise, the construction and work performed by Mark's main crew, particularly TJ was first class. The project was always about energy-efficient construction and the team was well versed in insulation, passive solar design and all the other features specified by the architect. Materials were chosen based on cost and durability and there were no substitutions. However, when it came to subcontractors, the quality dropped off. The young man who installed the hardwood staircase was inexperienced and lacked finesse. He pieced together boards leaving gaps and seams -- this still bothers me when I walk the staircase. The tile installer was a friend of Mark's. She supposedly had some experience in countertops but she had no business tiling a bathroom shower stall -- and it looks as if it was her first. Someday we'll have to have it redone. The electrician was very pleasant but couldn't figure out how to wire ceiling fans which had remote controls. He was working part time. Neither the electrician or the plumber showed up when called for repair work.

The project started on time but took twice as long as Mark, the general contractor, had estimated; 4 months instead of 2 months. Mark didn t do any of the actual work. The crew was usually one person (but sometimes 2 others) plus occasional visits from a plumbing subcontractor and an electrical subcontractor. The crew members were very professional, considerate and trustworthy. The plumbing subcontractor was often the hold-up and, overall, probably delayed the project by about 2 weeks. While we are happy with the result (the space is beautiful and much more functional than the old space) the contractor, Mark Marcopolis, has proven to be dishonest. With a final accounting that includes a number of outright lies, he claims we owe him for allowance items that we bought. For example, we bought all of the tile at the home improvement store ourselves except for 22 pieces a crew member bought in the course of the job. Mark is claiming he spent $4837 on tile. He claims he spent $2419 on glass block that we priced at $1320 retail. Mark didn t buy or install any bathroom accessories but claims he spent $235 on bathroom accessories. We bought all of the laminate flooring for less than $1000 but Mark says that he spent $1674 on laminate flooring. Fortunately, we saved our receipts for all of the items we bought. Mark has not produced receipts for anything yet. In addition, we verbally agreed to pay Mark $800 for a bathroom sink cabinet, 19 x 76 . We supplied the wood for the cabinet front, the handles, countertop, sink and faucet. The countertop and sink were installed by the countertop supplier and we sanded and finished the cabinet front ourselves. The only thing Mark supplied was the plywood and screws for cabinet box and the labor to build it and its drawer fronts. Mark is now charging us more than $1800 for this! It s difficult to provide grades for this project because we are happy with the result and we're pleased with the crew but are stunned at Mark s dishonesty.