Stengle Remodeling

unknown

He started out well enough, doing a couple of small projects, sloppy, not to my standards but I could clean up behind to some degree and it is hard to get anyone in this area period, so I thought as long as it is structurally sound, just somewhat lacking in quality and attention to detail I could live with it. We agreed to a contract that clearly spells out what he was to do. He was slow, often didn't show up for days at a time, spent more time talking than working, but was not on an hourly wage so I never said anything about it. He was personable and easy enough to get along with. He just did sloppy work and when I would ask it be corrected or done over, he would then get testy and blame everything and everyone to the point I just let a lot go in order to get the job done and figured I'd find some way to cover it up later. He was having problems personally, I think, because he showed up less and less and left his hand to do the rest of the drywalling. Although nice enough, this hand was not experienced enough to do that, was very slow, working alone of course, and most of what he did will have to be redone, will not meet code. When Joe came back an saw that, as well as the issues the code inspector had, he tried to blame it on whoever he could but did agree to fix it all. However he insisted that he wanted to see all the code issues in writing before he would do anything else. He never worked again and in response to my calls, just kept telling me he was waiting for the code inspector's report. He told me that he couldn't get him to furnish the report that had been promised and didn't want to do more until he had that and could follow it exactly, etc. so that he didn't have any more issues come up. Well, that day never came. I had just given him the last draw for 25K the day before the inspector came and cited these issues and Joe has not been back. I have never seen or heard anything from the inspector, only what Joe related which may or may not be completely true. There were numerous inspections prior during other work on the house and everything had always passed with no problem. All I was getting from that point on from Joe was excuses for the delay until he stopped returning my calls and emails completely. Finally, after 4 months, I just gave up calling him. I asked around and found out he is doing odd jobs, installations for Lowe's and such, so he is here in town. He just walked out on my job with my money and left me with something I can't live in or finish myself, so I will have to hire someone else now to do it all over again and am out all the money I've paid him. I could sue him, but I really can't afford to do that now. It would cost me legal fees that I'd have to pay up front. He has nothing, so there is nothing get back. He has spent all the money I gave him, I am sure. He lives from hand to mouth, rents his home, owns nothing but a couple of old vehicles. So it would cost me thousands more to get a judgment and then he'd just declare bankrtupcy and get it written off. No lawyer will take this on contingency because there is nothing there. He said had insurance but he doesn't. I should have asked to see the policy and I didn't. I am just out the money. I was too trusting, he seemed nice, honest and I trusted him. I can't undo that and have paid dearly for my error in judgment, but hopefully no one else will have to do that. He is not trustworthy, will lie to you, does not do a quality job, in fact won't even finish the job. I had heard some things to that effect when other clients had called him to complain while he was on the job here, or when he told me 'his side of the story' about previous clients. I was starting to see the picture but we were already in the contract and I couldn't do much but just hope he got this job somewhat right and completed. I would never use him again to change a light bulb, and I would strongly recommend you don't either. I am most willing to back this all up with documentation and will talk personally to anyone who would like further elaboration.