Clinton Hill Design Build

We signed a contract with the company in January and gave them a deposit. Work started in earnest by the end of February, and we were told we'd be in by March 15th. I knew this wasn't going to happen, but kept being reassured by the GC that that date was firm. Needless to say, we were not moved in until May 1. The lateness wasn't the problem: it was the complete lack of communication from the GC. We had a plan, and the GC seemed unable to stick to it. As a result small mistakes kept being made that added up: wrong paint on kitchen cabinets (had to be redone), wrong toilets being installed (toilets are 4" away from the wall as a result). The range vent hole was closed up, even though I said over and over that I wanted to keep it (they had to reopen it and install my range hood). The only time I got updates/got my phone calls or emails answered was when the GC needed money--which we paid on time, with every invoice. In the beginning we were making out the checks to the subcontractors individually. We were able to see where our money was going on every statement. Then the requests were to make the checks out to the principals and to the company. Seeing the statements, everything seemed to be ok. Then we moved in and it became clear: the workers cleared out, even though there was tons of work unfinished (the basement, the laundry room, the island in the kitchen, some electrical work outside, the front roof and railings, the air conditioning). We were told they'd be back, don't worry! We had to beg and plead to get the airconditioning subcontractor in to finish the air. Dates came and went, and I finally called the sub directly. Turns out the GC had stopped paying him, and he was owed over $3000, and wouldn't come back to finish the work. I blew my stack and ended up paying $2000 of the $5000 we still owed the GC to have the airconditioning sub come back to finish the job. When he did, he pointed out that the breaker boxes were still not updated, and so we would only be able to run one or two AC units at once without blowing breakers. He also pointed out that some plumbing things were not finished--that the condensation for the AC would pour out onto the basement floor. Calls to those subs revealed that they, too, had not been paid and refused to come back. After much begging and pleading, they finished the work. At this point we started threatening the GC in order to get things done. He sent our former lead carpenter back to assess the situation, and we got our island in the kitchen. But still to be done? The basement, the laundry room, the roof, the stairs. We finally gave up and severed ties, and hired another contractor to finish the work. He pointed out several things that had been done wrong and/or dangerously and had to be fixed.. So we basically paid twice for some of the work. We've been in the house 6 months and are still finding things that are wrong. Our new gas furnace was piped completely incorrectly, and will need to be fixed, at a cost of several thousand dollars. The plumber who came to evaluate the system actually laughed and took pictures to text to his plumber friends--apparently our furnace is now a source of much merriment in the plumbing world. I have NO IDEA how it passed inspection. Bottom line: DO NOT HIRE THESE GUYS FOR A BIG JOB. Maybe to renovate your kitchen, but not your whole house. There was NO SUPERVISION of the workers, no accountability, and terrible communication. What did they do well? Their paint/plaster/carpentry subs were AMAZING and our walls and floors look beautiful. But even so, things had to be redone. And those subs don't work for them anymore because guess what? They didn't get paid EITHER.