Craftsman Construction

I’ve never left a bad review online but after working with Craftsman Construction on my remodel, I felt that I had I no choice. If you’re spending tens of thousands of dollars (in this case, 60k), you should know what you're getting into. The remodel started the day after Memorial Day weekend and has yet to finish to full completion, as of Oct 2019. I was under the impression I was texting back and forth with the owner (Brian Dewell) as that was the number he provided, but it turns out it was his “Project Manager,” Tyler Phelps. The kitchen remodel would take 5-6 weeks which would be mid-July and I gave them a hard finish date of August 1st. They said no problem. We agreed on payments of 50% to start, 25% when done was done, 15% when cabinets/flooring were installed and 10% upon finish. After Memorial Day, the demo was started by Tyler and finished about week later (Now have paid 75%). Several days later, two new people who had never worked for Craftsman came and started working on the window framing and french door framing. Immediately, I noticed that the windows were off by at least a ¼” and they told me that was normal.That was the last time I saw of them. I then asked Tyler to see if he could install a gas line and he quoted between $12-1500 to do it OR he could do it on a weekend for $500. I paid him up front per his request and he never finished. I have yet to recoup this money and I had to hire a separate company to finish the install. Phil Rice, a new employee starts working and "Brian" says Phil and Tyler are my go to people. Phil finds water damage by my electrical panel and ends up charges me 40% more than his original quote. It's Mid June, Tyler becomes unresponsive all together. Phil says Tyler was fired and was underbidding jobs pretending to be Brian to receive commissions. Phil does a good job showing up for two weeks and says that I need more lights in my kitchen because the four were going to be too dark, but he wants $500 under the table. I told him I wasn’t paying until they were installed. Mid July rolls around and they are asking for another progress payment. I told them I wasn’t paying until the flooring and cabinets were finished. Phil then tells me the French Doors I sent them wouldn’t fit and a custom one would be an extra $400. I told them I’m not paying extra because the door I sent them from Home Depot earlier was told to be a good fit. Brian says his door guy was able to find one and that he ordered it in mid July from him and should be here in two weeks. It wasn’t ordered until August 1st and was ordered from Home Depot, the exact one I had sent them prior. I realize this project isn’t going to finish anywhere near the estimated time so I started keeping a log because Phil is showing up less and less. In the span of 15+ working days (M-F), Phil shows up for 3 days. This is where I get frustrated and show Brian the log. Brian repeatedly tells me I’m getting a steal on this remodel, he’s losing on money and he needs another 5% to get through payroll and materials. I refuse to pay until my kitchen is functioning. At this point, I’ve paid 90% and my remodel is nowhere close to being done. Brian then ships my job back off to Tyler who started his own separate business and says that I need to work with him for the remaining job. At this point, I’ve called around contractors and they aren’t available for months. I also spoke to multiple attorneys and they said it would be best for them to finish the job instead of going to small claims or going after their bond. At this point, I had no choice and had to go with Tyler to finish the job and that requires another 5% payment. After the kitchen is finally up and running, I give that to him and said the rest would be paid after the deck and minor kitchen details are done. As of now, I am still withholding several hundred dollars from the final payment as I am waiting on several things along with them to look at my leaking windows. I’ve never worked with such a shady company and I would be very cautious having them do any work for you.