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Avatar for Focal Point Landscaping Inc

Focal Point Landscaping Inc

4.97(
288
)

Focal Point Landscaping Inc

4.97(
288
)
Customers say: Super punctual
Recommended by 99% of Angi customers
Recommended by 99% of HomeAdvisor customers

Focal Point Landscaping Inc is a residential landscape design and build company serving North Dallas and Collin County. Focal Point is family owned & operated since 2000 and provides second to none customer satisfaction. Services include landscape design and installation, stone work, drainage work, retaining walls, pavestone patios and walls, landscape lighting, cedar arbors, outdoor kitchens and living spaces. Focal Point is owner operated and employess 5-8 employees. We can be reached at 972-877-0320 or visit us at www.focalpointlandscaping.com. Award winning.

"Ted and his crew were the best!! We totally landscaped our back and front yard, including adding a bocce ball court, fire pit, and new sod. The work the did was top notch, they were very professional, and did it all very quickly considering the amount of work it was! If you are looking for a landscaper, look no further than Focal Point and Ted Nichols. You can't go wrong!"

Daniel D on October 2021

Focal Point Landscaping Inc is a residential landscape design and build company serving North Dallas and Collin County. Focal Point is family owned & operated since 2000 and provides second to none customer satisfaction. Services include landscape design and installation, stone work, drainage work, retaining walls, pavestone patios and walls, landscape lighting, cedar arbors, outdoor kitchens and living spaces. Focal Point is owner operated and employess 5-8 employees. We can be reached at 972-877-0320 or visit us at www.focalpointlandscaping.com. Award winning.

"Ted and his crew were the best!! We totally landscaped our back and front yard, including adding a bocce ball court, fire pit, and new sod. The work the did was top notch, they were very professional, and did it all very quickly considering the amount of work it was! If you are looking for a landscaper, look no further than Focal Point and Ted Nichols. You can't go wrong!"

Daniel D on October 2021


Avatar for Advanced Foundation Repair, LP

Advanced Foundation Repair, LP

4.78(
36
)

Advanced Foundation Repair, LP

4.78(
36
)
Customers say: Quality work
Recommended by 97% of Angi customers
Recommended by 97% of HomeAdvisor customers

Total Texas foundation repair systems include cracked slab repair, plumbing and construction. Working with realtors and commercial property owners. Foundation repairs start with an estimate and come with a lifetime transferable warranty.

"We have been in our current (and first ever) home for just over a year. After tons and tons of heavy rains this spring, hairline cracks and nail pops abounded. I, terrified and generally anxious anyway, assumed the worst: our foundation was in shambles and our house was obviously trying to fall into a sink hole. Fortunately, the previous owners had alerted us to foundation repairs and we were able to get the warranty transferred to us upon purchase of our home. I called foundation who worked with me to schedule an appointment. Carl Adams came out right on time. He explained what he was doing and how his machine worked to measure the level of my foundation. He explained to me the work that had been done previously, helped me identify foundation work that had been done by someone else (oh my gosh) and explained to me where to look with my city to see if a work permit had been filed on my property so I could figure out when those were done. He was not only extremely professional and knowledgeable, but was personal and kind in assuaging my greatest fears. My house is fine. He took the time to really explain things, he made notes of what other information to send me (real signs to look for, how to care for my foundation, etc.) I cannot emphasize how my anxiety I had been experiencing over what (thankfully) amounted to nothing. I sincerely appreciate the time and kindness and feel that he went beyond expectations to take a little extra time to teach me how to be a sane and competent home owner (at least when it comes to foundations!)"

Sara W on July 2019

Total Texas foundation repair systems include cracked slab repair, plumbing and construction. Working with realtors and commercial property owners. Foundation repairs start with an estimate and come with a lifetime transferable warranty.

"We have been in our current (and first ever) home for just over a year. After tons and tons of heavy rains this spring, hairline cracks and nail pops abounded. I, terrified and generally anxious anyway, assumed the worst: our foundation was in shambles and our house was obviously trying to fall into a sink hole. Fortunately, the previous owners had alerted us to foundation repairs and we were able to get the warranty transferred to us upon purchase of our home. I called foundation who worked with me to schedule an appointment. Carl Adams came out right on time. He explained what he was doing and how his machine worked to measure the level of my foundation. He explained to me the work that had been done previously, helped me identify foundation work that had been done by someone else (oh my gosh) and explained to me where to look with my city to see if a work permit had been filed on my property so I could figure out when those were done. He was not only extremely professional and knowledgeable, but was personal and kind in assuaging my greatest fears. My house is fine. He took the time to really explain things, he made notes of what other information to send me (real signs to look for, how to care for my foundation, etc.) I cannot emphasize how my anxiety I had been experiencing over what (thankfully) amounted to nothing. I sincerely appreciate the time and kindness and feel that he went beyond expectations to take a little extra time to teach me how to be a sane and competent home owner (at least when it comes to foundations!)"

Sara W on July 2019


Avatar for Escobar Handyman Services

Escobar Handyman Services

5.00(
9
)

Escobar Handyman Services

5.00(
9
)
Customers say: Quick response
Recommended by 100% of Angi customers
Recommended by 100% of HomeAdvisor customers

Welcome to Oscars handyman services, with 16 years of experience. We offer a wide variety of handyman services. Our team provides quality workmanship and excellent customer service to ensure your home is well- maintained and fully functional. We construct your vision. We've been in business for a long time because people love our work and trust us!Your satisfaction is our goal. Your vision is our business.We provide quality construction for every project.

"They were very friendly and quick with getting the job done! We love the final outcome!"

Merissa B on November 2023

Welcome to Oscars handyman services, with 16 years of experience. We offer a wide variety of handyman services. Our team provides quality workmanship and excellent customer service to ensure your home is well- maintained and fully functional. We construct your vision. We've been in business for a long time because people love our work and trust us!Your satisfaction is our goal. Your vision is our business.We provide quality construction for every project.

"They were very friendly and quick with getting the job done! We love the final outcome!"

Merissa B on November 2023


Avatar for TAA Group

TAA Group

5.00(
6
)

TAA Group

5.00(
6
)
Customers say: Quick response
Recommended by 100% of Angi customers
Recommended by 100% of HomeAdvisor customers

With 25 years in the industry, we have the experience and dedication to bring your dreams to reality! We guarantee your satisfaction, and we won’t leave until the job is done right. Call or click to schedule a FREE estimate today!

"It went according to specification, a perfect job well done."

Supo L on February 2021

With 25 years in the industry, we have the experience and dedication to bring your dreams to reality! We guarantee your satisfaction, and we won’t leave until the job is done right. Call or click to schedule a FREE estimate today!

"It went according to specification, a perfect job well done."

Supo L on February 2021


Avatar for Cody Ray's Construction & Roofing

Cody Ray's Construction & Roofing

5.00(
6
)

Cody Ray's Construction & Roofing

5.00(
6
)
Customers say: Quick response
Recommended by 100% of Angi customers
Recommended by 100% of HomeAdvisor customers

We are a full line CONSTRUCTION & ROOFING company here to serve you. We have been in business since 2007 but family has been in this industry for decades. No job is too big or too small, 1 call does it all. We offer the best prices in DFW and will match or beat any reasonable estimate you have from another company. We offer discounts for the elderly and veterans.

"We are very pleased with our bathroom shower remodel. We had a bench moved and 2 nitches added for shampoo and soap. We were pleased with how quickly they were able to get us on their schedule because our repair was urgent.The crew was able to do the work as scheduled. They were also very kind, respectful of our property and did a great job cleaning up when they were all finished."

Cindy K on January 2022

We are a full line CONSTRUCTION & ROOFING company here to serve you. We have been in business since 2007 but family has been in this industry for decades. No job is too big or too small, 1 call does it all. We offer the best prices in DFW and will match or beat any reasonable estimate you have from another company. We offer discounts for the elderly and veterans.

"We are very pleased with our bathroom shower remodel. We had a bench moved and 2 nitches added for shampoo and soap. We were pleased with how quickly they were able to get us on their schedule because our repair was urgent.The crew was able to do the work as scheduled. They were also very kind, respectful of our property and did a great job cleaning up when they were all finished."

Cindy K on January 2022


Avatar for Level X Construction

Level X Construction

4.89(
9
)

Level X Construction

4.89(
9
)
Customers say: Quick response
Recommended by 100% of Angi customers
Recommended by 100% of HomeAdvisor customers

At Level X Construction, we believe in the power of personal connection and clear communication. We would love to arrange a face-to-face meeting with you to discuss the specifics of your project, understand your vision, and to offer our professional insights. We find that such in-person conversations help to establish a strong foundation for a fruitful collaboration. We take immense pride in utilizing state-of-the-art technologies like Computer-Aided Design (CAD) in our planning and execution process. This advanced technology helps us generate accurate and comprehensive designs, allowing our clients to visualize their projects before they are brought to life. It ensures a seamless transition from the planning stage to the actual construction, reducing potential errors and discrepancies along the way. Further, at Level X Construction, we consider it our honor to be recognized as a Woman and Minority-owned company. This isn't merely a title for us; it reflects our unwavering commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and equality in the construction industry. We firmly believe that our unique background and diverse perspectives enrich our work, inspiring us to deliver exceptional services to all our clients for both residential and commercial. We are genuinely excited about the possibility of working with you. Our team is committed to providing you with top-quality services, ensuring your project is completed to your utmost satisfaction. We understand the importance of your construction project and assure you that we will treat it with the care, professionalism, and attention to detail it deserves. Once again, thank you for considering Level X Construction. We look forward to the potential opportunity of bringing your construction project to fruition, transforming your ideas into a tangible reality that exceeds your expectations. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or if there's anything more you'd like to know about us.

"Thank you for walking us through one of the largest project and purchases we have made for our home. You guys have exceeded our expectations and we highly recommend Level X Construction to anyone who wants their remodel done the right way!"

Chris B on May 2023

At Level X Construction, we believe in the power of personal connection and clear communication. We would love to arrange a face-to-face meeting with you to discuss the specifics of your project, understand your vision, and to offer our professional insights. We find that such in-person conversations help to establish a strong foundation for a fruitful collaboration. We take immense pride in utilizing state-of-the-art technologies like Computer-Aided Design (CAD) in our planning and execution process. This advanced technology helps us generate accurate and comprehensive designs, allowing our clients to visualize their projects before they are brought to life. It ensures a seamless transition from the planning stage to the actual construction, reducing potential errors and discrepancies along the way. Further, at Level X Construction, we consider it our honor to be recognized as a Woman and Minority-owned company. This isn't merely a title for us; it reflects our unwavering commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and equality in the construction industry. We firmly believe that our unique background and diverse perspectives enrich our work, inspiring us to deliver exceptional services to all our clients for both residential and commercial. We are genuinely excited about the possibility of working with you. Our team is committed to providing you with top-quality services, ensuring your project is completed to your utmost satisfaction. We understand the importance of your construction project and assure you that we will treat it with the care, professionalism, and attention to detail it deserves. Once again, thank you for considering Level X Construction. We look forward to the potential opportunity of bringing your construction project to fruition, transforming your ideas into a tangible reality that exceeds your expectations. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or if there's anything more you'd like to know about us.

"Thank you for walking us through one of the largest project and purchases we have made for our home. You guys have exceeded our expectations and we highly recommend Level X Construction to anyone who wants their remodel done the right way!"

Chris B on May 2023


Avatar for Designs by Darrion

Designs by Darrion

5.00(
4
)

Designs by Darrion

5.00(
4
)
Customers say: Quick response
Recommended by 100% of Angi customers
Recommended by 100% of HomeAdvisor customers

Designs by Darrion, a Driven Gold LLC company, is your go-to destination for expert landscape and interior architectural design services that help bring your dream vision to life. Our team of design specialists is dedicated to getting to know you and your unique needs, ensuring that every detail is taken care of to create a space that is truly personalized.

"Excellent first time experience with Darrion. He was very patient and detail oriented with my wife and I, as we had so many ideas. He was always super responsive and did a great job communicating expectations with us. The best part is his sparking personality during each interaction. Never a dull day, so each visit was productive and fun. I would give more than five stars if given the opportunity."

Ja'Von A on May 2023

Designs by Darrion, a Driven Gold LLC company, is your go-to destination for expert landscape and interior architectural design services that help bring your dream vision to life. Our team of design specialists is dedicated to getting to know you and your unique needs, ensuring that every detail is taken care of to create a space that is truly personalized.

"Excellent first time experience with Darrion. He was very patient and detail oriented with my wife and I, as we had so many ideas. He was always super responsive and did a great job communicating expectations with us. The best part is his sparking personality during each interaction. Never a dull day, so each visit was productive and fun. I would give more than five stars if given the opportunity."

Ja'Von A on May 2023


Avatar for Jim Hill Designs

Jim Hill Designs

5.00(
5
)

Jim Hill Designs

5.00(
5
)
Recommended by 100% of Angi customers
Recommended by 100% of HomeAdvisor customers

We design Custom Homes, Light Commercial buildings, Home Additions, Renovations and Remodeling. As the owner of the business, I have been in the Remodeling business as a designer, contractor or General Manager since 1989. 214-973-0186.

"He was fantastic. It was wonderful. He was dependable. He did a good work."

Marie W on September 2020

We design Custom Homes, Light Commercial buildings, Home Additions, Renovations and Remodeling. As the owner of the business, I have been in the Remodeling business as a designer, contractor or General Manager since 1989. 214-973-0186.

"He was fantastic. It was wonderful. He was dependable. He did a good work."

Marie W on September 2020


Avatar for 41 Roofing & Restoration

41 Roofing & Restoration

5.00(
5
)

41 Roofing & Restoration

5.00(
5
)
Customers say: Quick response
Recommended by 100% of Angi customers
Recommended by 100% of HomeAdvisor customers

Paramount Roofing and Construction specializes in residential and commercial roofing, roof leak repairs, windows, gutter, siding, decks, remodeling, new builds, fences and more. Our services might be varied, but they all come with the same promise of quality, dedication, and durability. Paramount Roofing & Construction is dedicated to delivering top quality services and products.

"Gutters look great! Installed super fast and match house well. Brandi was very responsive and helpful throughout."

Tiffany L on September 2020

Paramount Roofing and Construction specializes in residential and commercial roofing, roof leak repairs, windows, gutter, siding, decks, remodeling, new builds, fences and more. Our services might be varied, but they all come with the same promise of quality, dedication, and durability. Paramount Roofing & Construction is dedicated to delivering top quality services and products.

"Gutters look great! Installed super fast and match house well. Brandi was very responsive and helpful throughout."

Tiffany L on September 2020


Avatar for GRS Pros

GRS Pros

4.56(
9
)

GRS Pros

4.56(
9
)
Customers say: Quick response
9 years of experience

Since our humble beginning nearly 20 years ago as a regional disaster response unit, GRS Pros (Greenlight Restoration Solutions) has transformed into a full-service construction, remodeling, remediation, and restoration company. Whether you are planning a complete home remodel, refreshing an outdated bathroom into your dream retreat, building a gourmet kitchen on a budget, restoring your home after a fire or flood, adding an addition to your home, or better utilizing your outdoor living space, we are committed to providing the utmost integrity, quality craftsmanship, and constant communication and follow-up throughout the process. Built on Trust is not just our motto, it’s how we do business. Let us be the ones to earn your trust.

"TLDR: GRS Pro’s lied to us for over a year about starting our project, tried to knowingly submit fraudulent plans to the city, and has failed to provide a refund for 4 months. Stay far, far away from them. Full story: Our experience with GRS Pros has been embarrassingly bad. Like, "you couldn’t make this up if you tried" bad. If you expect any form of honesty, communication, or even work from the companies you hire, stay far, far away from GRS Pros. You’d be better off giving your money to a homeless shelter, at least then it would do some good. We hired GRS Pros, or Greenlight Restoration Services based in Flower Mound Texas around December of 2020 to build an addition onto our home. My elderly mother-in-law moved in with us and needed an area to live/sleep in since she’s still independent and doesn’t have other options. They were quick to come over, take their measurements, and tell us all about how they would take great care of us. They are very proud of their 3-Right Guarantee, turned out to be nothing but a line. We signed a contract with them around December of 2020 and they told us that we should expect them to be done around April of 2021, give or take. We wrote them a check for a deposit and they were on their way. On January 12th the project manager told us he was going to the city to get the permit process started. We assumed it was under way and would be done soon. 2 months later we had to ask again and received a message that he’d been “bugging the city” to get it done, and that he would "stop by in person tomorrow to see what I can do”. For the next 2 months, we were fed a steady diet of same story over and over again. “The city is being slow, you know how hard they are to work with” (turns out our city is fantastic to work with), or “we have someone going there in person to sit outside the city offices to get things done”, or “someone is coming by later today to measure something, don’t worry, we are almost ready”. He must have gotten tired of coming up with new excuses, because after 3 months of this the excuses stopped and they just resorted to ignoring our messages for a few weeks at a time. Must be a company theme because first the PM did it, then the company Ops director, and finally the owner. Around May they started to blame someone new. I guess the same old excuses get boring for those with their pants on fire too. For the next few months it was all the architects fault because they didn’t do the drawings right. “They will be done with the drawings in a week, and then we will have permits a couple weeks after that”. “I’m supposed to have the drawings today, I’ll keep you updated”. “It’s all looking good, I’m getting the schedules all put together for the subs”, and finally “I’ll go to the city tomorrow in person, they will look the plans over, and then they will approve them in person”. Around the beginning of June I finally decided it was time to check with the city and get some things confirmed. After all, if the city was responsible for all these delays maybe a citizen could help move things along, right? So I called the city, and guess what?!? THEY HADN’T EVEN REGISTERED WITH THE CITY!!! THEY HADN’T EVEN STARTED THE PROCESS!!! THE CITY HAD NO IDEA WHO GRS WAS!!! About this time the story really changed. I had misunderstood them, our PM said. "It wasn’t the city who was being slow, it was the architectural firm who hadn’t sent the drawings over". "Well, they sent the drawings, but they didn’t do it correctly". On, and on, and on… Now they started telling me they needed to spend more money to get the plans re-done. The architects drew up the plans wrong and were refusing to get them fixed. The architects really screwed up, and were ignoring them and not responding to their emails (man, GRS must really have it tough to be surrounded by so much incompetence). The plans they sent over weren’t good enough, and didn’t have what was needed. They needed to spend more. Well guess what? I called the city again, around Halloween, to check on their story and confirm that they had actually been working on the permits. GRS finally registered as a contractor with the city (the very first step) 4 days before I called and had just submitted plans to the city. ALMOST 1 YEAR AFTER THEY SAID THEY HAD!!! I was expecting to get all kinds of run-a-round from the city based on what GRS had told me. Nothing could be further from the truth. I called the city and within 2 hours the guy responsible for approving permits had called me back on his personal cell, making sure I knew he was available to help. He explained that GRS had just registered with the city and had submitted plans that were nowhere near complete. This is where it gets good (maybe even criminal). We were building an addition that would include a bedroom, bathroom, laundry room, and small kitchenette. GRS told us our city didn’t like those, so they would have to be careful with getting it approved. I had no idea what that meant, they were the experts, right? So I went along with what they said. Turns out “being careful” meant submitting plans to the city that were fraudulent. They intended to build out the shell, not tell the city about the water and power lines, then come back after the city had approved it, tear the walls open, and install the electric and water lines after the fact! Careful, fraudulent, more or less the same thing apparently! So when the city permit guy got these lame plans, he knew something was wrong. He asked a few questions like “what’s the purpose of the addition” and other reasonable questions. Well GRS promptly threw this guy under the bus saying he was being ridiculous, and that they had never had so many issues getting permits or that they had never been asked these questions before. Apparently the reason the plans were wrong was that they didn’t include any of the necessary info, like where the plumbing or electric lines would be! Imagine that! The ironic part here is that the city has absolutely no problem with the kind of addition we were planning on doing. So GRS lied to us and made life harder for everyone for no good reason! I’m not sure what GRS’s end game was here, but they chose to lie to us for months about the permits, the plans, what was going on, and who knows what else. At this time, I’d finally had enough. I demanded a refund in mid November. Now the company Ops director steps in to handle things. He calls me directly, telling me that they had “not mismanaged things” and that was a “sword he’d die on”. He wasn’t willing to provide a full refund since they had already spent money on plans and some landscaping (they paid a guy to come move some sprinkler lines as some token work. He disabled our sprinkler system, removed some pieces, and said he couldn’t do anything else at that point). Since they were almost done with the plans, he would see that they were finished, give them to us, and then refund the rest of our money. That was almost 4 months ago and guess what still hasn’t happened yet? If you guessed getting completed plans or a refund check, you are right!!! He was kind enough to call me and try to persuade me to take over the permitting process though. It would be better and faster he said. Hah! At this point I don’t trust any of the work they have done. I don’t believe the plans will have any value and I certainly don’t want them working on my house. I want a full refund, and I want them to get my sprinkler system fixed (the sprinkler guy seems like the only one who knows what he’s doing). What I think happened is they quoted us a price, then realized that costs were going up and decided they either couldn’t do it or wanted to do more profitable jobs. Now it’s been a full year since they were supposed to have started, they have a large deposit check, and now as we are looking for other contractors we are getting quotes that are 2-4x higher. Yes, 2-4 times more, which is way out of our budget. Thanks to their negligence we are now priced out of an addition and having to scramble to fig"

Brandon H on March 2022

Since our humble beginning nearly 20 years ago as a regional disaster response unit, GRS Pros (Greenlight Restoration Solutions) has transformed into a full-service construction, remodeling, remediation, and restoration company. Whether you are planning a complete home remodel, refreshing an outdated bathroom into your dream retreat, building a gourmet kitchen on a budget, restoring your home after a fire or flood, adding an addition to your home, or better utilizing your outdoor living space, we are committed to providing the utmost integrity, quality craftsmanship, and constant communication and follow-up throughout the process. Built on Trust is not just our motto, it’s how we do business. Let us be the ones to earn your trust.

"TLDR: GRS Pro’s lied to us for over a year about starting our project, tried to knowingly submit fraudulent plans to the city, and has failed to provide a refund for 4 months. Stay far, far away from them. Full story: Our experience with GRS Pros has been embarrassingly bad. Like, "you couldn’t make this up if you tried" bad. If you expect any form of honesty, communication, or even work from the companies you hire, stay far, far away from GRS Pros. You’d be better off giving your money to a homeless shelter, at least then it would do some good. We hired GRS Pros, or Greenlight Restoration Services based in Flower Mound Texas around December of 2020 to build an addition onto our home. My elderly mother-in-law moved in with us and needed an area to live/sleep in since she’s still independent and doesn’t have other options. They were quick to come over, take their measurements, and tell us all about how they would take great care of us. They are very proud of their 3-Right Guarantee, turned out to be nothing but a line. We signed a contract with them around December of 2020 and they told us that we should expect them to be done around April of 2021, give or take. We wrote them a check for a deposit and they were on their way. On January 12th the project manager told us he was going to the city to get the permit process started. We assumed it was under way and would be done soon. 2 months later we had to ask again and received a message that he’d been “bugging the city” to get it done, and that he would "stop by in person tomorrow to see what I can do”. For the next 2 months, we were fed a steady diet of same story over and over again. “The city is being slow, you know how hard they are to work with” (turns out our city is fantastic to work with), or “we have someone going there in person to sit outside the city offices to get things done”, or “someone is coming by later today to measure something, don’t worry, we are almost ready”. He must have gotten tired of coming up with new excuses, because after 3 months of this the excuses stopped and they just resorted to ignoring our messages for a few weeks at a time. Must be a company theme because first the PM did it, then the company Ops director, and finally the owner. Around May they started to blame someone new. I guess the same old excuses get boring for those with their pants on fire too. For the next few months it was all the architects fault because they didn’t do the drawings right. “They will be done with the drawings in a week, and then we will have permits a couple weeks after that”. “I’m supposed to have the drawings today, I’ll keep you updated”. “It’s all looking good, I’m getting the schedules all put together for the subs”, and finally “I’ll go to the city tomorrow in person, they will look the plans over, and then they will approve them in person”. Around the beginning of June I finally decided it was time to check with the city and get some things confirmed. After all, if the city was responsible for all these delays maybe a citizen could help move things along, right? So I called the city, and guess what?!? THEY HADN’T EVEN REGISTERED WITH THE CITY!!! THEY HADN’T EVEN STARTED THE PROCESS!!! THE CITY HAD NO IDEA WHO GRS WAS!!! About this time the story really changed. I had misunderstood them, our PM said. "It wasn’t the city who was being slow, it was the architectural firm who hadn’t sent the drawings over". "Well, they sent the drawings, but they didn’t do it correctly". On, and on, and on… Now they started telling me they needed to spend more money to get the plans re-done. The architects drew up the plans wrong and were refusing to get them fixed. The architects really screwed up, and were ignoring them and not responding to their emails (man, GRS must really have it tough to be surrounded by so much incompetence). The plans they sent over weren’t good enough, and didn’t have what was needed. They needed to spend more. Well guess what? I called the city again, around Halloween, to check on their story and confirm that they had actually been working on the permits. GRS finally registered as a contractor with the city (the very first step) 4 days before I called and had just submitted plans to the city. ALMOST 1 YEAR AFTER THEY SAID THEY HAD!!! I was expecting to get all kinds of run-a-round from the city based on what GRS had told me. Nothing could be further from the truth. I called the city and within 2 hours the guy responsible for approving permits had called me back on his personal cell, making sure I knew he was available to help. He explained that GRS had just registered with the city and had submitted plans that were nowhere near complete. This is where it gets good (maybe even criminal). We were building an addition that would include a bedroom, bathroom, laundry room, and small kitchenette. GRS told us our city didn’t like those, so they would have to be careful with getting it approved. I had no idea what that meant, they were the experts, right? So I went along with what they said. Turns out “being careful” meant submitting plans to the city that were fraudulent. They intended to build out the shell, not tell the city about the water and power lines, then come back after the city had approved it, tear the walls open, and install the electric and water lines after the fact! Careful, fraudulent, more or less the same thing apparently! So when the city permit guy got these lame plans, he knew something was wrong. He asked a few questions like “what’s the purpose of the addition” and other reasonable questions. Well GRS promptly threw this guy under the bus saying he was being ridiculous, and that they had never had so many issues getting permits or that they had never been asked these questions before. Apparently the reason the plans were wrong was that they didn’t include any of the necessary info, like where the plumbing or electric lines would be! Imagine that! The ironic part here is that the city has absolutely no problem with the kind of addition we were planning on doing. So GRS lied to us and made life harder for everyone for no good reason! I’m not sure what GRS’s end game was here, but they chose to lie to us for months about the permits, the plans, what was going on, and who knows what else. At this time, I’d finally had enough. I demanded a refund in mid November. Now the company Ops director steps in to handle things. He calls me directly, telling me that they had “not mismanaged things” and that was a “sword he’d die on”. He wasn’t willing to provide a full refund since they had already spent money on plans and some landscaping (they paid a guy to come move some sprinkler lines as some token work. He disabled our sprinkler system, removed some pieces, and said he couldn’t do anything else at that point). Since they were almost done with the plans, he would see that they were finished, give them to us, and then refund the rest of our money. That was almost 4 months ago and guess what still hasn’t happened yet? If you guessed getting completed plans or a refund check, you are right!!! He was kind enough to call me and try to persuade me to take over the permitting process though. It would be better and faster he said. Hah! At this point I don’t trust any of the work they have done. I don’t believe the plans will have any value and I certainly don’t want them working on my house. I want a full refund, and I want them to get my sprinkler system fixed (the sprinkler guy seems like the only one who knows what he’s doing). What I think happened is they quoted us a price, then realized that costs were going up and decided they either couldn’t do it or wanted to do more profitable jobs. Now it’s been a full year since they were supposed to have started, they have a large deposit check, and now as we are looking for other contractors we are getting quotes that are 2-4x higher. Yes, 2-4 times more, which is way out of our budget. Thanks to their negligence we are now priced out of an addition and having to scramble to fig"

Brandon H on March 2022

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Architects questions, answered by experts

Architects can cater to both residential and commercial projects, tailoring their approach according to the specific sector regulatory requirements.

Architects often oversee project management to ensure design adherence, coordinate with contractors, and address onsite challenges.

Hiring a contractor with knowledge about historic renovations and reviewing their previous work is important. You can find a historic home renovation contractor by calling your local historic preservation office, historical society, or any local historic museums nearby. The staff may have suggestions for specialized contractors who have worked for them. You can also ask them about historic home restorations that you have seen and liked in your area to get recommendations for pros.

Yes, floor joists are essential structural components. They support the weight of floors and everything on them, transferring loads to the foundation and walls. Properly installed joists are necessary for maintaining strength, stability, and structural integrity.

Your state’s architect licensing registry is an excellent place to begin when finding an architect. The state must license architects after completing the required education and with a minimum amount of experience. You can also ask other homeowners with similar projects who they used and their experience.

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