My Handy Mate LLC Improvement & Remodeling

From the start, workers were consistently late if they showed up at all the first week, didn't know what they were supposed to do and were not familiar with the project. They did not clean up or seal off areas effected by the work resulting in plaster covering the entire first floor of my home that I am still trying to clean up.  When I asked about the timeline for the project and expressed concerns about the progress of the remodel, the owner, Jassen, would add an additional week onto the estimated time it would take to complete the job each time asked.  We went from 7-10 days to 10-15 and then a quoted 15 day minimum on day 9 with no apparent completion date in sight and little progress so far.  Jassen only stopped by twice during the entire 8 days of work actually being completed after picking up the deposit. When the plumbing was completed, he said he did not come personally inspect the plumbing but approved it through pictures.  This is unacceptable.  I had also asked about getting a new estimate in the first week since we had removed the tile floor portion of the project when we found hardwood floors in good shape underneath the existing tile.  He didn’t want to provide a new estimate.

Discussions about waterproofing the shower surround and permits escalated to him sending me a series of emails from DIY chat room website threads as his authority on the subject and misleading and deceitful explanations of Ohio code as well as unprofessional phone calls with the city.  He argued at one point that he had never heard of using a vapor barrier at all even though they purchased one as part of the materials for my bathroom. After following up with the city and finding out we needed a permit all along, he became very argumentative when I informed him that I was going to apply for the required permits and continued to insist we didn’t need one. He then informed me in an email that this would be a change in scope and would result in a price increase.  I questioned his motives in charging me more now since the items that required a permit were on the original estimate.  He later backtracked and stated that it was to cover the cost of the $75 permit. However, I had already stated I would pull the permit, so the cost would be paid directly by me and would not be an additional cost to him.

After all this and more, I informed him that I no longer wanted to work with him and asked for a refund minus the work they had already completed.  Jassen was agreeable to no longer working together and issuing a refund minus charges of plumbing and demo, but was subsequently unresponsive to requests to try to get my refund. It took 10 days for him to respond that they had “gathered all information.” I had to repeatedly request copies of receipts and follow up.  Once I got them, it was clear they overcharged me for items like trash bags, trash cans, tape, wrenches and likely other items I didn’t identify. The plumbing supplies and labor charges were extremely exaggerated at approximately triple the estimated cost.  At no time did Jassen ever make me aware that they were that far off the estimate. I find it interesting that he threatens me with a change of scope and price increase for getting a $75 permit, but does not feel the need to inform me that they had gone way over on the plumbing estimates until I was owed a refund. He also subsequently argued that a “change faucet” charge  included in the final invoice was not for the installation of a new faucet on the sink as previously discussed and never completed, but was actually for a shower valve. However, the plumbing charges for the shower were a separate line item already, and they were supposed to change out the faucet on the sink. I think this was punitive.

For the work actually completed, the estimate was for a total of $1,164 for plumbing and demo including labor and material allowances, but he charged me $2302.  (I had paid a deposit of $3902 for a job that was estimated at $6639, including material allowances and labor.) It took over two weeks and lots of follow-up to get refunded only $1600 and be left with a demolished bathroom. They never even attempted to complete the work on the estimate outside of the bathroom.

In the end, the plumbing work they did even failed inspection.  When I notified him that the plumbing failed inspection, his response was that it was ill-timed.  The tub drain leaked, the tub drain was not connected properly to the tee and no shower shut off valves were installed. Also, the type of pipes and seal used were questionable and not standard.

Additionally, this contractor holds himself out on his website as having a Franklin County General Contractors license which doesn't exist.  His estimates also are misleading as his disclosures are cut off in various sections of his estimates which is why I was shocked to receive an email asking for so much money upfront. He does not appear to have sufficient knowledge of the requirements in Ohio for permits or residential building codes. I would not hire or recommend.

They were quick to respond to our request for a quote and were able to schedule us in for the tiling work within a week of our giving them the go ahead.  They did an amazing job with the backsplash - encompassing the wall behind the sink, small countertop area around the fridge and the desk area wall.  A lot of small cuts and the result is amazing.  They put down covering on the floors before starting and cleaned up afterwards - couldn't ask for a more professional crew.  Also did a great job on the cut ins around the electric outlets and mounting back the face plates properly with the extensions - no fuss!

When I asked them about the spackling, they were able to complete that as well - I highly recommend them!

Custom cabinetry done very well.  Scratch built cabinets to match the vanity I bought at Lowes.  In the course of installing they ruptured a pipe, caused cosmetic damage to LR ceiling below.  Also shower not laid flat nor secured to wall so it did not completely drain.  They came back and fixed to shower to about 90% of what I expected (not perfect but I can live with it).  Took no action on the ceiling although they said they would.  Crew was very friendly, communicative, and professional, and normally I wouldn't hesitate to work with this company again EXCEPT that their work was not done correctly the first time.



UPDATE: It's been less than two years since the contractor performed the work, and the shower is beginning to fall apart.  With the sections separating from each other and pulling away from the wall, I can now see that the shower was not installed correctly in the first place.  Given that they never fixed my LR ceiling and the shower is failing because of their faulty installation work, I am downgrading them from a C to a D.

Overall it went well. I asked for a quote and he arrived on schedule. They worked with me on the install date & time. They showed up about 30 minutes late but they did call ahead to let me know (much appreciated).

The crew was professional and worked quickly & did not sacrifice quality.

I asked them to come back out a few days later to re-inspect the screen door.

They did with no problem and made an adjustment that worked.

Overall I was happy with them. I would use again and would recommend.