BETTER HOMES REMODELING INC

They cheated me at every step of the way. It was supposed to be a six to eight week job. A year and a half later, I fired them for a third time. It is a total disaster. The first day they arrived they built a shell on the ground to support the new room above it. 12 months later, they were made to tear it down because they tried to get away with using my little patio instead of pouring a proper floor with footers. They installed electrical switches inside the shower room, against code and common sense. They built the floors of both new rooms too high, not as ordered, to be on grade with the adjacent rooms. They forgot 2 of the six skylights in the sunroom, and we have four leaks. They did not install automatic rain sensor skylights as ordered. When they installed the 5th one, they failed to flash it properly, it leaks. In a 2 day rain storm it floods. They have been made to fix it twice, but they simply added black caulk instead of installing flashing. They used non-licensed subcontractors to do work as well, did not oversee them properly. Subcontractors used unskilled and untrained workers. Some were reportedly illegal aliens. The mudroom also floods during a 2 day rain. The brand new bathroom with the new roof is above this, and causes this. They refused to finish the roof job though they were paid in full. For the two new rooms we paid 74% percent of the contract, and only about 50% of the work is done; much of it not according to code. They have done $20,000 of damage to adjacent rooms, floors, walls, ceilings etc. We were to have choice of bathroom fixtures but they installed a whirlpool bath while I was on a business trip. Also, they installed the faucets and spray on the wrong side of the unwanted tub. I found out he got this cheap at a builders auction. $26,000 was bid for roof, but after winning the bid bumped it up to $27,900. Cost reflects this and the rooms. The roof, not done correctly, has damaged much hardwood flooring. Nails were found more than fifty feet away from jobsite. This caused us 3 flat tires, and to walk our horses elsewhere. They installed a new window in the basement. Left more than a one ton slab of concrete in front of it. They refuse to move it out of there (3 years gone by). Cost would have been a B if job had been done honestly, to code, and without causing other damage to the home. I would hire them again if they were able to commit to a quality of work, inspections, etc. They seem fully capable of completing the work, but seem to want to cut costs and corners for a larger profit.

The company priced the project very well. The project began well enough, but by the end, we lost faith in BHR. Had problems with some billing, some quality issues, responsiveness and follow through from company.

Contracted summer 2004. first salesman defrauded customers & left. Worked with prj mgr #2. Subcontractor did siding & gutters to our satisfaction. Another crew did a poor job on the porch & pillars using defective pillars & deck materials from different colored lots. Salesman #2 left the company. Larry Etman tried to renig on job details salesman #2 had agreed upon, then Better Homes abandoned job for 3 months (illegal under Virginia law): no porch decking; handrail on stairs, rotted pillars supporting roof. We got a lawyer & negotiated completion date. Better Homes did not order materials until after that date & then did not complete job. We had credit card company return all money paid. Four months later, Larry Etman called, was very angry and threatened to place lein on house. As of March 2006, subs have not been paid fully by Better Homes and won't work with BH again. They also said a subsequent sub ended BH relationship. DO NOT HIRE Better Homes run by Larry Etman.