Jds Construction

John Dale Hebert dba JDS Construction Mr. Hebert just completed a small remodel job me and I found Mr. Hebert to be very unprofessional after we agreed to the contract and work started. Mr. Hebert was hired to partly remodel a bathroom, including the replacement of the original toilet with a high standing one to better accommodate my elderly father that has very limited ambulatory capabilities. I knew working with a contractor would be difficult as I live 300 miles away. Mr. Hebert was aware of that and that I would be making the final payment for the job once I inspected the job a few days after scheduled completion. I relied on family members in the area to assist me. My first indication of unprofessional behavior was in discussing with Mr. Hebert about materials for the job. As we have limited funds, we had already priced the materials needed. Mr. Hebert gave us a quote including materials and when we asked for a quote for labor only, the difference in the prices reflected that he had more than doubled the layman’s retail price for materials. I asked Mr. Hebert about him buying the materials and I would reimburse him so he could use his contractor price and I would pay his labor. Mr. Hebert stated that the local building supply company does not give “contractor discounts”; he would pay the same price we would pay. I knew that was not an accurate statement because my husband earlier this year had received a discount at the local company when we were there doing work. I also called the company and they stated that they do give a contractor discount. Mr. Hebert’s integrity became suspect at that time since he was going to charge me greater than the industry standard for materials. I hired him for labor only. He started a three day job Thursday AM and when the workmen were leaving Friday my family asked them to install the toilet, so our father could use it over the weekend. Mr. Hebert argued with my family telling them that he is not getting paid to install and reinstall the toilet. I had to discuss with him that he knew of my father’s limitations when he accepted the job and Dad could not go all weekend without a toilet. He stated that he was not going to pull and reinstall the toilet five (5) times (where the 5 came from is beyond me) and he stated he was going to charge me extra for installing the toilet. He proceeded to converse in a very condescending manner going over steps of mudding walls, priming walls and painting walls. He stated he has 30 years of experience and I did not know what was involved in the job. I informed him that my husband and I completed (gutted and rebuilt) 13 older homes recently, by ourselves with both of us working all aspects and I knew how to mud, prime and paint. He did put in the toilet for the weekend. My family told me that every time he came on the job site, he never asked them how things were going or if they had any concerns with the work. He just complained to them about something. The next major problem came when I had to remind him that we agreed that I would make the final payment after the job was complete and I inspected the job late Friday or Saturday when I got there. Late Wednesday he informed my family that the job was completed. He complained that I would not drive 300 miles that day to pay him and he would have to wait two to three days for his final payment. When I arrived late Saturday, I saw that the job was not complete as my family had advised me. None of the face plates were put on the plugs/switches, the air duct vent was not installed (there was just a big hole in the ceiling); the grate on the heater had not been re-installed. When he showed up Monday for his money, my family informed him that I would pay him once he completed the work. He immediately called me (8:29 AM on December 26, 2011) and asked me three (3) separate times, when was he getting his money and I responded each time when the job was complete and he had not completed it. He kept stating it was electrical and he does not do electrical. I responded that putting face plates back on that his men took off, the grate and air vent cap were not electrical. He just kept insisting that his money be sent to him immediately. I also address the trash he left (approximately two 30 gallons of trash left in the yard) and he stated that he will not pick-up trash because it cost him $500 to take it to the dump. He also asked repeatedly why I didn’t call him Saturday or Sunday to tell him that the job was not complete. I should not have to tell him that the job was not finished when it was obvious. Additionally, I informed him that since it was Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I was busy with family functions. I let him know how disappointed I was to see that he tried to get paid and walk away from a job without completing it. Never once during our conversation did he say that he was under the impression that the job was complete nor that he would check it out and get back with me. Additionally, he did not ask what I thought about his work; were there any problems or if anything else needed to be done. Mr. Hebert complained to my family that I was difficult to deal with. Well if you call wanting a toilet installed so an elderly man could use it over the weekend and demanding that the job be complete before final payment is made is being difficult; then I plead guilty. Oh yea, the quality of his work would be rated as a C-. I had several other people look at the job and they all stated that the job was just OK. We all have stresses in our lives and having to deal with an unprofessional contractor that does average quality work and puts collecting money ahead of completing the job or ensuring the customer is satisfied should be carefully considered before hiring.