Integrated Development Services

A bid for $14500 was presented by Tony at IDS to remodel a bathroom and a closet into a larger bathroom. It also included turning a closet in the hallway next to the bathroom into a laundry center for my stackable washer and dryer. The cost included the design ($1100) as well, so labor and materials would be $13400. This bid was one of 3, all of which came in at around the same price and I selected IDS. I told Tony that I wanted to use my own electrician and purchase my tile separately. As the project progressed, language in the original bid changed, i.e., the custom fixtures and bowl and counter in the bid was changed to standard fixtures in subsequent invoices. Emails were exchanged where I was selecting fixtures and countertops but was never informed that these items were not within the budget. The cost for fixtures rocketed up from the budgeted $2700 to nearly $5000. As I studied the ever-increasing project costs, I saw that he was adding the cost of purchased items to the budgeted amount, basically padding the bill. I got an email from Tony with the subject of "final budget" and it was up to nearly $18000, not including electric and the purchase of tile. I was adamant from that point on, we must stay at this amount. A few weeks later I get another invoice and it's up to $19990. I told him that I would be seeking legal advice. He reacted angrily and sent another invoice within a few days saying I owed $20500. I stopped the project and had my attorney write a letter saying that I wasn't going to pay another dime (at this point I had already paid $16900). Tony then put a mechanics lien on my house in February 2007 and stated that the project cost $22500+, a figure that I had never seen before. I still had no shower enclosure, but was charged for it. In fact there were several items on the invoice that I hadn't seen or for work not yet done. Additionally, the toilet leaked into the downstairs hallway causing ceiling damage. I had to hire another contractor to fix the ceiling, placing drywall etc. And I had to hire a plumber to properly install the toilet. We went to mediation this week and I ended up paying Tony another $3000 to get the lien off my house.