John Harris

We hired Mr Harris to build our house because he was local and we knew of him. We didn't know him well but had never heard of anything bad about him until after our unforunate experience. The work wasn't started for approximately 2 months after it was suppose to be done. We were told it would be finished by fall of 2004. that time came and went and we thought spring of 2005 again that time came and went. In July of 2005 Mr. Harris walked off the job taking all of his tools and some of the material for the job claiming it had not been paid for. He took the garbage disposal, interior door door handles, keys for exterior door handles, porch post and railing. We felt everything was going fine, slow but fine, didn't realize there was a problem. He said he was moving his truck etc. saying he was making room to bring in the cement truck because the cement was being poured the next day. We handed him the last check that we had received and the next day was when he walked off the job. he claimed we fired him and he put a lien against the house. He actually ended up being over paid by approxiamtely $20,000.00 the bank would not put a stop payment on the check because they said that was for work that had been done not work that was to be done but, when the attorney checked over the estimate and the attorneys and judge went through the house to see what had been done he agreed that with what had been done compared to what he had been paid there was $20,000.00 he had to the good. We never had asked many questions but if we did see something that didn't look right such as all of the outlets being put in sideways he would say they would fix those when they did a finale walk through. We wondered why wouldn't you save yourself work and do it right the first time. Turns out he had no intentions of redoing it and the work they did was just how they do their work. We found out after it was to late that he had done this to several other people as well. Started work and didn't finish. but it just wasn't worth it for people to persue it so it didn't go any further. We were told by our attorney, even if you win which you probably will, you aren't going to get anything because he doesn't have anything to take. His house that was built at the same time he was building ours was put in his wifes name who was not his wife at the time. the house he was in at the time was also in her name so nothing could come back on him. We did our own painting. Us along with our kids who were very excited about their new house. We did this to save some money plus to have done some of it ourselves. We already had the well and septic put in before we hired him but he figured those in the price anyway because he always figured for them and said this way this would be extra money for us incase we wanted to up grade anything we would be able to without any extra expense. but then he would tell us that we were over budget on some things. the front porch never got done, decks were not put on, basement and garage were not poured, kitchen wasn't finished. There were several things not done or not done correctly and he worked on it for a year (well, on and off) when he orinally said it would take approx. 4 months.