HIVEX Basement Finishing Co.

To whom it may concern, I would like to take a few minutes and provide my review and experience with the contractor Dee Bee. In short, I would highly recommend Dee Bee to anyone interested in remodeling/finishing a basement. At a minimum I would recommend you seek a quote from this company. My wife and I decided it was time to finish our 1450 sqft basement. Below is a detailed description of our project, contractor research, section determination, building process, and overall of satisfaction of the basement project. Who we are: A couple in our early 40's, two young children, military family of 19 years. I am the son of a handyman and I know a good amount about building, fixing, and repairing homes and cars. I am a DIYer but not afraid to ask questions when I am unsure how to proceed. I am very detailed....my belief is 'the devil is in the details.' My wife and I elected to hire a professional to finish the basement because I did not have the time to devote to a year long weekend project at the expense of my family-time. Scope of the project: Finish a 1450 sqft walk-up basement in a Ryan Home that was built in 2006. The basement had insulation on the 'exterior wall' and was plumbed for a full bath. We asked for: an exercise room....this included a 3'x12' closet (14x12 overall), a full bathroom - double sink and shower (6x11), large L-shaped kids play room (15x12 and 31.5x12) a theater room (14x20), and a wine cellar...okay really a wine closet but you get the idea (4x11). Lastly, within the basement were 6 regular doors and 4 pocket doors. These areas plus a 'game closet', a built-in shelf area for nick-nacks, and a hallway all total to about 1450+ square feet. Contractor Research: We interviewed six different contractors. We narrowed the large pool of available contractors down to a handful bases on research conducted through numerous sources: Angie's List, Better Business Bureau, other on-line research sites, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. We contacted six companies and asked for 'walk-throughs' estimates, all were accomplished over an 8 day period. Selection Determination: There was a lot of information to sift through with regards to the estimates we received. For example, some quotes included insulation in the ceiling and others did not. Some estimates included some flooring work, others did not. Other areas of disparity included finished paint on the walls and HVAC work. I will not pick apart each bid because that would take too much time and space for this article. However, I will give you some wave-tops on the bids. I will note that NONE of the contractors quoted NEW carpet flooring because we had carpet in the basement that was to be reused. With respect to the carpet, I said I would take-on this part of the project because I would only be looking for pad and installation. However, bath floor tile was part of the quotes. Company A: $43,000 total package soup to nuts include ceiling insulation and INCLUDES carpet installation. Company B: $38,000 all work with ceiling insulation (lower grade insulation). Company C: $33,000 all work except HVAC. Company D: $23,000 no insulation in the ceiling, prime/base coat only on the walls. Company E: $25,000 all work no insulation (if I cleared out the basement). Company F: No estimate or returned call submitted after walk-thru. In each case either the owner or senior partner of the company arrived at the house to do the estimate. All of the individuals took notes, asked questions and took the time to answer our questions and concerns. Of the five quotes we received, Companies D and E provided estimates at the time of the walk-through and only Company D gave a written estimate on site. The other companies emailed detailed estimates as promised...except Company F. Although we found all the owners/senior partners to be very polite and professional, I found that the presentation from the owner of Company D was above the rest. He provided me with a folder of information which included my own copy of his license, references, professional achievements and noteworthy accomplishments, and a clear expectations of how he follows and in several cases exceeds the local building codes. On the back of the folder he provided a detailed breakdown of his quote for all facets of the project. After weighing all aspects of the estimates/quotes to include what work I could do to help keep the cost as low as possible (my father is a painter), my wife and I decided to go with Company D, Dee Bees out of Fredericksburg, Va. Cost AND a detailed presentation is what lead us to choose Dee Bee. Building Process: After my wife and I signed with Dan we were introduced to Chris who would be the Project Manager on our build. Dee Bee offers a service that no other company mentioned. On 'day one' Dee Bee would move stuff out of the basement. They would relocate items upstairs as requested, make a donation trip to goodwill, and make a run to the dump if needed. That same day, equipment and material arrived to start the build. As the building process moved forward I found that the Dee Bee staff was very patient with my detailed request and changes. When I was not happy with the look or design of a particular section they would adjust it to my complete satisfaction. They even conducted extensive modifications to a section of the ceiling soffit and moved a 8x8' wall at no charge. All work was completed by members of Dee Bee staff except the plumbing and electrical as previously disclosed to me during the walk-through and again during the signing of the contract. The members of Dee Bee who did an excellent job on my house include Abel and his framing crew, Mike and his staff from Plumb Magic, Warren and Bruce for the electrical work, Alex for shelves and prime/base work, and Scott for his detailed trim work. The project took a little longer then I was hoping but this is a direct result of MY tweaking and making adjustments along the way, not Dee Bees fault. I am very happy with the job Dee Bee did with my basement. Although my father has helped with some of the painting I did hire a painter, a very detailed oriented lady (Lasana) to put the final color on the wall. My father and the painter have seen the different phases of the project and both commented on the excellent framing and sheetrock work. The walls in our basement are straight and square, much better than most of the other walls our painter has seen and painted within other local homes. Overall satisfaction with the basement project: My wife and I are extremely happy with the work Dee Bee performed. Dan, Chris, and the entire staff were very helpful and accommodating to our requests and changes. The total cost of the project is as follows: Dee Bee: $23,200 Insulation: $1,600 (I purchased Roxul Safe-n-Sound from Lowes and installed myself) Bathroom: $1,300 ($600 tile for shower; $400 shower door; $200 double vanity and sink; $100 toilet) Paint: $700 ($300 ceiling (10 cans), $400 walls (15 cans) Painter: $1000 Flooring: $1150 (new padding, tack strips, and installing of the old carpet). Work completed by Juan...an independent contractor recommend by Dee Bees. I will be calling Juan when I decide to install new carpet in our basement....great price, very caring, and detailed in his work. Total cost: $23,200 + $5,750= $28,950. Overall price was about $20 a sqft ($19.96 to be exact) for a completed basement. In summary we believe this was an excellent price for the final product especially with all the finish details and last minute changes. These small but important details include: sound deadening and increased insulation between floors, tile shower vice plastic cut-out, theater room with tier level seating, wine closet, and pocket doors to maximize usable square footage. As a last comparison here is the approximate 'cost per square foot' using the other companies: Company A: $29.65 Company B: $26.20 Company C: $22.75 (but did not include HVAC work) Company E: $18.35 (I did not get a good feeling about this company and it appeared they were out of business according to the BBB) I will add pics in the near future but I wanted to get this info posted sooner than later. I hope this was helpful and gives some insight to what you can expect if you are looking to remodel/finish a basement from Dee Bees. Cheers! Greg Stafford, Va

. I think I said it all above.

Provider received my request but declined to provide estimate stating they are not performing that type of work which is confusing since the work was remodeling and the projects are featured on their website.

I called this contracting company in order to obtain an estimate on closing off my foyer. During my conversation with the man that answered he proceeded to tell me that this was something that customers have called about in the past, but don't realize how much it is. I asked him what the ballpark range was (already knowing since I had 2 estimates already). He proceeded to tell me I'd need permits, inspectors, an engineer and that I would need to replace my current window if it wasn't tempered (all legit). All this could be $4-5K he stated, then asked me what I thought it would be. I told him it was about what I expected, which he sounded surprised. He then proceeded to tell me no one ever follows through and he's done a lot of these estimates and did i still want him to come out. I told him no thank you and ended the call. Due to him being unprofessional on the call and the context it was stated in, I would never consider this business in the future for any other home remodeling/contracting project. We did choose another contractor and they start work on my foyer on 9.3.13.

Project was begun and completed on time. I purchased materials and paid installer at completion as agreed.

Dee Bee Home Improvement finished my approximately 1300 sq. ft. unfinished basement to include a wet bar, theater room, full bathroom, family room, exercise room, and bedroom with egress window installed. Owner Dan Betts and his project manager Chris McNally worked with me to custom design a wet bar and theater room and worked with me every step of the way to ensure that it turned out just how I wanted it. I recently had a "basement grand opening party" and received a lot of great compliments on how the basement turned out. Dan, Chris and his crew were some of the most professional contractors I have ever worked with, and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to do a similar project.

Overall Dee Bee is a wonderful company. Dan came to my home for an estimate. Dan took the time to ask questions and help me decide what was practical and the best use of the space while being honest with what could and couldn't be done. Dan never tried up sale anything. Once the work had started Chris and Dan came out to go thru the final plans. Thru all the steps of the remodel Chris took the time to explain what was going to happen next while making sure my husband and I were happy. Chris was always available for my questions. Everything was done on or before the time line I was given for every stage. I enjoyed working with Dee Bee and I Will be using Dee Bee for my future remodels.

They were pretty good, friendly and went over what they would do. I don't have anything negative to say. They showed up on time and gave us an estimate on what they would do and how they'd do it.

Dee Bee Home Improvements is in a class of its own. At the initial meeting Dan recommended installing a temporary kitchen in the basement; this had not occurred to me and signaled his concern for our experience during the project. I knew even before I received his competitive estimate that Dee Bee was going to be my contractor. (Dan was the sixth of six contractors that I interviewed.) The tear out went super fast as the guys worked tirelessly and cheerfully. The sequence and coordination of plumbing, electrical, hvac, masonry, and carpentry was seamless, with some tasks completed simultaneously. Then drywall, tile work, cabinetry, appliances, wood floor and built-in shelves were installed with extraordinary attention to detail. At the same time, throughout the project, attention to customer service and satisfaction exceeded our expectations.

Dan, I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding job that you and your team of professionals did with our basement finishing project. The quality of your work is the best I have seen anywhere. The only surprise was there were no surprises. You finished the project one month ahead of schedule and on budget. The project manager, Chris McNally, was there holding our hands so to speak throughout the entire process, patiently addressing every question we had and delivering on every promise that he made. Please feel free to refer any potential customers to me so I can let them know how fortunate they are to be doing business with a World-Class organization like yours. Sincerely, Everett & Donna Madden16718 Tintagel CourtDumfries, VA 2202

We cannot say enough GREAT things about this company! Professionalism all the way. We really liked that Dan and Chris were part of every phase and detail. Each worker on our basement project was courteous and respectful to our home. We would definitely recommend them to anyone!

I was very pleased with the outcome of the work done. I recommend this company highly. I was able to see the product of each day's work and any questions I had along the way were effectively answered. Mr. Betts and Mr. McNally proved to be trustworthy and reliable.

Dee Bee was fantastic!!!! I will recommend to family and friends. Very SAFE, prompt, reliable, quiet, and very professional. I knew every step Dee Bee was taking because their communication was terrific. The finally product was better than I could imagine. My basement is so beautiful and elegant. Dee Bee is one of nine contractors that we had give us quotes. Their price was by far the best price (some came in twice as much)! Very very nice work!

I discovered Dee Bee by way of Angie's list. So, here's a general timeline and associated experiences... Initial contact: I sent an email requesting an estimate and was immediately contacted by Linda Betts who promptly set up a time for Mr. Betts to come out to get measurements and provide an estimate. Measurement and Estimate: Mr. Betts and I walked through the basement and discussed my vision. He took measurements made suggestions and gave me a rough estimate. This was one of the two most pleasurable parts of my entire experience with the company. Besides being very personable, I got the sense that he really understood what I wanted. Final Estimate and Contract: Not the cheapest and certainly not the highest of all the estimates I had received. The tipping point was the professionalism I believed I would experience, all based on my interactions with Dan and Linda. The contract is pretty straight forward. Just be advised, contract does not include flooring and painting, so you will need to acquire separate services for those items, as well. Day 1: They actually provided assistance with moving everything out of the basement. Those things earmarked for storage were moved and placed into a storage pod (Go Minis). Other items marked for donation or trash were loaded on their truck and taken to their designated places, which included my choice of charity organizations. After which, I would receive a receipt for tax purposes. The guys were very quick at getting everything moved out. (Grade: A+) After everything was moved out, framing began. Framing took a couple of days and was basically unremarkable. I had an opportunity to make adjustments and Benny and team were great at making the changes. (Grade: A+) After completion of framing, approximately a week or so had lapsed before work resumed. I was a little concerned because I wanted the job complete by Christmas. My project began in October. One particular point of consternation was the lack of guidance I seemed to get from the project manager, Chris. I spent a considerable amount of time going back and forth and doing the "he said, they said" thing. After multiple trips back and forth, I'd finally had enough and decided to write an email to Chris and Dan. It took more than a week to get a response and only got a response because I called the office, after growing weary of waiting. I was curtly told that Dan was busy and they'd have Chris give me a call. Chris finally called and the issue was worked out. (Grade: B) Electrical and Plumbing: Overall, I had no issues with plumbing. They were in and out with no problem. The only issue was the flange for the toilet would later need adjusting because it impeded with the proper installation of the floor tile. Another back and forth thing I would experience with Chris and the tile company. I would also like to make special note I only saw Chris when there was a problem (at my request only) or it was time for him to collect payment. Electrical gets mixed reviews. No problem with the placement of outlets. The issue with this process was the inability to turn the lights off after the electrician had come to run lights. The lights stayed on for more than a week until they could get somebody back out. Yes, I could have turned the power off via the main control panel but was hesitant to do so because it presented a safety issue should my elderly uncle (a recent stroke victim) decide to roam through the house in the middle of the night. There wasn't a sense of urgency to get someone out despite my requests and explanations. (Grade: C) Drywall: Overall, no problem. It definitely is the most messiest part of the project. Lesson learned... Cover all vents and gaps under the doors to minimize the amount of dust throughout the upper levels of the house. Also worthy of noting is the fact that this is a multi-day process. You have to allow the walls time to adjust to the climate, or so I'm told, before they can move on with sanding, priming, and etc... The problem: I never knew when the workers would show. (Grade: B) Miscellaneous: After drywall and sanding, I had the basement painted by Allied Painting, who was referred to me by Chris. All went well with painting. Once complete, Dee Bee came back in to install base cabinets for the bar and bath areas, hung all bath fixtures, closet shelves, and blinds. (Grade: B+) Final Walk Through: Chris and I do a final walk through and identify all things needing correction/attention - all minor issues. The items were addressed and final inspection scheduled. (Grade: A+) My basement project is now coming to a close. Mr. Betts returned for a final meeting to ensure satisfaction and solicit feedback. We discussed events that happened along the way and reconciled any outstanding issues. I really appreciated the personal contact and it is a definite indicator he cares about customer satisfaction, as well as the reputation of his business. (Grade: A+) Inspection over, all went well. The basement is gorgeous! (Grade: A+)

Overall I liked the work performed by Dee Bee. The family run business and all of the workers were very professional, polite and friendly. There are a few complaints that I do have though. First the time that it took to finish was much longer than I had anticipated. They only worked on my job 1 or 2 days a week for the first 3 weeks. I would have appreciated more attention to my job. Secondly I never knew when they were coming. I had to call to find out if they were showing up the next day. Something I learned is to get in writing a projected schedule of work. Their communication could be improved. Thirdly, with the job taking 5 weeks to complete, they did not clean up after they were done for the day. They also said that they would hang plastic to eliminate the drywall dust getting into the rest of the house. This was not done. And since they were not remodeling the whole basement the other areas of the basement were in use so dust was tracked throughout my house. This being said I still give them an A because I did like the finished basement work that they did. I would hire them again but get more information from them in the beginning.

We had a very positive experience from start to finish. The team was professional, on time, and the work was nicely finished. I would definitely use them again and recommend them to others.

Mr. Betts arrived on time on Tuesday, October 23, 2012. When Mr. Betts looked at the rooms, he stated that his company tends to do the type of work that requires "gutting" a room but said he would work on an estimate and send it to me via e-mail. TWO MONTHS later I am still waiting for that estimate to arrive in my inbox. I have periodically checked my spam to see if the estimate may have landed in there. Well, it didn't. It is quite apparent that 1) I have fallen through the cracks; or 2) Dee Bee clearly did not want this job and instead of letting me know that, they chose to ignore me. I WOULD NEVER HIRE THIS COMPANY TO DO WORK FOR ME.

DeeBee Home Improvement is very easy to work with and professional. They do great work and have excellent crews perform the various aspects of the remodeling. There was little ongoing communication as to when the actions would be performed on the house but they provided a high level schedule the first day the work started that provided a rough estimate of the construction timeline. This was useful for my tracking purposes. Overall, they offer a great price and do great work.

Our overall experience with Dee Bee was pleasant and professional. Work was completed within the time estimate given. We were told it would be finished between 60 and 90 days. Our basement was ready to move in just over 60 days. We found Dee Bee to be honest and trustworthy. We had no reservations about leaving our home knowing they were working downstairs. Their work looks great and we'll likely be calling them again for additional work to our home! Thank you!!!

The work was done exceptionally well, It was done on schedule and on budget. There were no hidden agenda and no surprises. We have a room that we are extremely proud of .

Dan came to us with a good esttermate in Jan 2008, for the addition to the second floor. He presented a good plan to complete the bedroom and bath we wanted. His price was good and fair. He promise a start date and a estimated finish date. He met both dates with time share. The work was outstanding and to our request. He made adjustment as needed and as we asked. Dan's crew were on time everyday and clean up the area on a daily basics. The completed job was a beautiful piece of art. We enjoyed the new addition and our bedroom of our dreams. We wanted to increase our kitchen and family fours later. Because of the outstanding work done our bedroom, we recalled DeeBee, and inquired about the new work we wanted done. And as before Dan and his crew stepped up to the plate and we worked out the details. Once again the workmanship was put into play. Start and finish dates were met, and the completed work was outstanding. Only this time the work was so good, we are still WOWing Dan's creation. I would like say "Thank you Dan for making our dream come true!"

Overall, this was a very positive experience and I would have the company do more work for us and reccomend the company to friends and family.

Dan came in from the beginning and measured everything He then sat down and talked with me and provided me with an estimate. He spent the time to go over all the details from the truss specs down to the type of screws and nails they were going to use. After we signed the contract it wasnt long before he had crews out here pouring the foundation and starting the work. The crews came in and were very fast, polite, and worked hard. After the foundation was completed the framing started within days. They did not waste anytime. Everyone from Dan and Chris to the electricians, plumbers, and framers were very easy to work with. Most of all they were very trust worthy. I do not let just anyone come into my home. These guys were trustworthy enough to let them come in and work on my home when noone was even there. Never once did I have to worry about the saftey of my home being invaded. This was big for me. It was also fun and exciting to come home everyday and see the transformation take place. Everyday there was a considerable amount of work done. I would highly recommend this company to anyone. Dan and Chris were never more then a phone call away for any questions I had. They are very easy to work with and very flexible to changes. They had a good schedule and stuck to it. I am more then pleased with the room addition that Dee Bee did for us.

We had a great experience with DeeBee! From the first meeting to get estimates on our deck and basement, Dan was very friendly, knowledgable, and up front with us. We chose to build our deck first, and we will be using DeeBee to finish our basement in the future. Work on our deck commenced within a week, and one week later, it was complete.

To say that we were please with our experience is such an understatement. We can?t say enough about this family-owned business and highly recommend DeeBee. Our punch list at the end of construction was minimal and Chris did not hesitate to make sure everything was taken care of. Two months after construction, we received a thank you note from DeeBee with a lovely gift card to Outback Steakhouse. Imagine that, we got a thank you note and gift from them! What a great way to do business.