Douglas Young Builders

The work this builder has done is excellent in this and other homes we visited. However there was one negative report when I checkd references,but it seemed to relate to stonework by a subcontractor. Everything was fine until the economy started to falter and local construction work dried up. We do not know exactly why this happened; however, suddenly no one was getting paid--the carpenters, or any of the subs and the dumpster was not removed due to non payment by the contractor. We of course asked why and then Mr. Young came down and demanded the next payment for work and promised that if we paid him he would return the next week. He was handed the check in person for $20,000 and never returned or called. He was using our payments to complete his own house or other jobs, the men thought. At any rate, we are acting as our own contractor and have hired a few of his former employees, who were also left high and dry and unemployed, to finish the work. Not to mention he did not pay their insurance premiums and didn't tell them. Douglas Young Builder, Inc. declared bankrupty and we were notified of this because we had a contract with them. We then received several bills from suppliers and subcontractors.They are also being investigated by the Reading PA District Attorney we were told, and a detective called us for details. Their name has disappeared from the Berks Home Builders' Association member list, but they still seem to be open for business. This is because the son, who had not been an officer of the company that went under but only an "employee," has become the new head of the company. I would not recommend dealing with these people but if you do, get a mechanics' lien to avoid getting stuck with bills for work or materials for which the subcontractors never were paid.