NORTHWEST BLUE DIAMOND CONSTRUCTION

We hired Dan due to the fact that we needed plumbing and construction needs at the same time. Though the price was higher than expected, we cannot complain over the quality work that was done. Our master bath shower is just beautiful and exactly what we wanted. We also needed the toilets replaced and flooring work done. His crew was fabulous and we would hire again.

Sump and jackhammering, etc all done reasonably albeit at a high price.  I realized he'd been gouging me when he added in the carpet replacement ($600 value for lowest quality replacement carpeting) for $2500.  I got another quote for full Berber for $1800.  I had him paint the basement also, he charged me $1300 plus materials, when I was able to get another quote it was $600 including materials - and the paint job was exceptionally poor, sloppy, overpaint, absolute disaster and he wouldn't fix it.  Complained every time I mentioned him fixing anything saying - I didn't bid that.
Didn't remove wall items when painting, overpainted on nearly all the baseboards, ceilings, toilet paper hanger, etc, didn't caulk, refused to come back and fix even though he promised me he would be back to finish off and detail.  Once the end was in sight they slammed through the rest of the work to get the heck out, gouged me on price, and did an exceptionally poor finishing job.
I would avoid at all costs, despite punctuality on the initial show, I was under pressure since the basement was flooding and there was furniture and carpet there so I had no choice really but to take the first guy who could come out.

The Flattering: The bathroom looks great. We really love it. A million times better. 
Blue Diamond Construction hires Quality People. 
We are extremely satisfied with the end result. 
Superb! 

The not-so-flattering: Dan from BlueDiamond is a great salesman.  He talks fast and gets you to sign even faster. Our initial bid was $3500.  When we asked him about items that we wanted he kept saying "Oh yeah, I'll just throw it in there.  I'll just throw that in there, no problem. I want the job so you got it no problem, i'll just throw that in there." Of course we were happy to hear that and went with it. Especially, since he was already doing our pipes so everything would be open and easy to convert/remodel at that point.  Before I could read the fine print, my husband had already signed and he was handing us the carbon copy.  He had added an additional $2600 to the project that he kept quoting at "thirty five hundred no problem, we'll slam it in and get it done for you for thirty five hundred no problem".  Ask another question? Repeat answer. 

Example of over-sell: The bathtub.  In conversation, he said "I'll tear it out and I can get you a new one for $135 no problem. I'll just throw it in there."  On paper: $625

The window:  We spoke at great length about wanting a picture window and when we came home, we ended up with a slider. He even called around for it in front of us and never did mention that the slider was what was available Because We Had Just Talked About Wanting a Picture Window.  So, he knew he was working it.    

Then, because he wanted to start the project right away, and we were out of town (our fault), we came home to the window already installed.  And with no window, no shower, no sink and a toilet that was coming out of it's hole every day, we wanted to just get it done.  So, we sucked it up.  Also, he said he could get us a window for $40 bucks.  On Paper: $225.  

And on it goes the bamboozle goes - up to $2600 that is (do the math, it's a lot of bait and switch).  The $2600 was input at the bottom of the hand-written contract like this: "Upgrades: $2600".  They weren't even detailed even though I specifically (did I mention specifically?) asked for two different contracts to be written: One for the repipe, the other for the remodel.  One was received. 
 
Now, I almost gave this contractor a failing grade for one reason alone:
They must've broken something in my home because my 1 1/2 year old daughter picked something up and put it in her mouth.  It was glass!!! BROKEN GLASS!!! Thankfully, it wasn't jagged or she'd have had cuts all over the inside of her mouth.  Thank goodness, we watch her closely for it only took 1-2 seconds to realize she had put something in her mouth.  Otherwise, a big fat 'F' and some doctor bills, to say the least. 
 
Also, this contractor does not clean up until AFTER the job is done. Outside is understandable.  However, our living room (which takes up most of our little post-war home) looked like a garage for two weeks.  Did i mention we're paying someone not doing it ourselves?

Our living room was taken over with tools, our toilet, nails, drop cloths, wood, and anything and everything else that was necessary to do our remodel.  

We have an unfinished basement.  If it's going to sit around for more than 1 full day, put it there Please?

Also,  in the middle of the project, he calls me and asks me for a 'draw down'.  I said 'What's that?" He responded by telling me that it was an advance on the remaining monies I was contracted under.  I said "Certainly not! You will get the remaining monies AFTER the job is completed".   And it was so.  It was 50% down.  Upon signing.  I'd stay that's pretty standard.  

Speaking of standard.  He said that tax in Seattle was 10.5%.  After doing the math, (after we signed of course - DUH! He's a great salesman, make sure you catch your breath...) we noticed we were charged over 11% tax.  Seattle tax is 9.5%.
 
Now, overall i do think it was fair market pricing.  What I don't think was fair was being mislead.  This is what gets under my skin. The experience of being hoodwinked.  

Just be straightforward.  

Go over the numbers in the contract.  

Be honest. 

Don't omit pertinent information.

This way, you can get repeat business.  

Now, even though I'm completely happy with the end product (because the pros heavily outweigh the cons - and of course, I wouldn't be saying this if my baby had cut herself/swallowed glass), I will not use this contractor again.

Sad.
 
Don't contractors know that the best way to sell yourself is to have your customers do it for you? Hence, the vital need for a good customer experience. 

All in all, the bathroom came out beautifully (which is why he gets a B-rating after all the cons and the Broken glass in my baby's mouth are subtracted - which if it would've hurt her, it've been an 'F') and pricing was standard to what we would have paid out to anyone that would have done our bathroom.  We tend to heavily shop around. Also, because Blue Diamond works with quality people, the company has been graded as such.
 
I hope this helps you.  Good luck!

It is our opinion that you get another estimate before hiring NW Blue Diamond Construction.  There was a lot of frustration dealing with the contractor.  He is very excitable.

They did a terrible job. I was also going to have them come out for another problem I had. They said they were going to have to tear up my hardwood floors and it was going to cost $7000. I called another plumber and they said all it was was a clogged drain.