Country Wide Home Builders Inc

I called 3 general contracting companies that I found on Angie's list. Out of the 3 companies, it came down to Country Wide Home Builders and one other company that I was deciding between. I decided to go with Country Wide because Tom, the owner of the company, showed me that he really understood what I was trying to achieve with the remodel. The house I recently purchased was built in the 1950's and needed some major renovations. Tom came with his laptop, made some very accurate measurements of my home, and put all of the measurements in this computer program that he had that gave me a real 3-D image of my home and what it would look like after the remodel. This is really key because many contractors can tell you that they understand what it is that you want but you are never sure; and when they start working on your home there may be some misunderstandings that come up as is usually the case, and your home might not end up looking exactly as you pictured it or other issues may arise due to the misunderstanding. With the program I saw exactly how my house was going to look at different angles, down to the number of recessed lights that I would have in each room. I actually saw that Tom knew what I had envisioned. It also helped that Tom was willing to work with me on the price of my remodel and did end up giving me the best bid. Also, Tom assured me that the price that we had agreed upon was the final price, there were no hidden agendas and I would not be charged more for any normal unexpected things that may come up (obviously we are not talking about major disasters). Once Tom and his staff started working on my home, everything went smoothly. I am a busy mom with three kids under the age of 5 so I did not have a lot of time to spend at the home while they were remodeling. I hired Tom to supervise everything so that I wouldn't have to worry about every little thing. He would call me every morning to let me know what they were going to do that day and call me again in the evening to let me know what was done. Tom went with me to pick out my granite and flooring so I wasn't on my own running from place to place trying to find what I wanted, I told him what I wanted and he took me to the places where he thought I might find what I was looking for and I did, he made things really easy for me. His staff were all very friendly, easy to talk to, and did great work. There were some unexpected things that came up since my house is older, like having multiple layers of drywall to remove and dealing with asbestos in my attic among other things and Tom took care of everything without making any of it an issue. Tom even suggested installing in-wall speakers in the living room for me because he thought it would be something nice to have and did it without charging me anything extra. He also installed a few more recessed lights than we had agreed upon, after making sure that it was okay with me, because he thought it would look nicer and also did not charge for it. Tom is a genuinely nice person who does care that your house ends up looking the way you want it to look if not better. I can tell you that my kitchen ended up looking even better than what I envisioned, and saw on the 3-D program. Tom and his staff did such a great job on the interior of my house, and finished a couple of weeks ahead of schedule, that I am currently having them build a new wall for me in the backyard and stucco my current cinderblock wall around my yard to make it look more updated. I am so happy that I chose Country Wide Home Builders for my project and would do it all again and refer them to my friends. Thank you for everything, Tom, you are great!

Countrywide is the best company I have had work on my home.. I interviewed 4 contractors from Angie's list for this job. Countrywide's bid was not the lowest, it was the second lowest, but I chose Countrywide, because I got the sense Tom, the owner, was going to be reasonable to work with. I'm glad I went with my gut instinct rather than the lowest bid because I couldn't be happier with the job. They started and ended when promised. Tom's communication style was perfect for me-I saw him or he gave me an update every day and he was easily reachable whenever I had a question. Throughout the whole job Tom was extremely patient even when I changed my mind about several things. He was willing to tailor the job exactly to suit my individual quirks, but was not afraid to tell me when he thought what I wanted was not a great idea, and he would explain why, and leave it up to me. Often he suggested modifications as we went along even when those involved more work or expense for him, none of which he charged me for. The quality of the work was excellent, way beyond what would be standard for a garage. The cabinets and floor are way better than what is in my kitchen (I have to have him redo my kitchen now!). Tom's crew is very easy going, professional and seem to work well and enjoy working together. Tom designed the cabinet layout with a computer program where I could see exactly what everything would look like. He made great suggestions with the cabinet layout and now I have SO MUCH easily accessible storage. I've moved my exercise equipment, off season clothing, and so much other stuff into the garage, and my whole house feels better and so much better organized. The garage is such a pleasure to go to now and feels like a part of my house. It's the best home improvement project by far I've ever done. Here's an example of how Countrywide's professionalism made this project so smooth and low stress: There was an unexpected hiccup when the old cabinets were removed and revealed there was water damage and continuing leakage through a section of the exterior of the garage. The adjacent exterior/foundation had to be waterproofed and the sprinklers in that area adjusted. I was really anxious about this but Tom was great throughout the whole problem, working with me to get this fixed quickly (and very reasonably cost-wise). I asked him to remove and postpone finishing the interior drywall in that area until I was absolutely sure there was no more leakage. This was all extra work for him but all he seemed to care about was that the problem was fixed properly and to my satisfaction. Another problem arose when some water damage was found to stucco at the base of the garage. Again, Countrywide took care of this, breaking down the stucco, making sure there was no underlying frame damage, reinforcing the interior framing in this area, and replacing that section of the stucco, all without any additional charge. There were so many other small things I changed my mind/added on all of which Tom just took care of. The only times he charged me were when something extra had to be purchased, in which case he charged me what it cost him. I am planning additional home improvements which I will definitely use Countrywide for.

I was impressed from the very first phone call, the office staff was very helpful and knowledgeable. Tom came to my home and gave me a bid and I generally felt very comfortable with him and the pricing for the work I wanted. I choose him over 3 other bids I had obtained based on the pricing, license, insurance checks, and great reviews. My job was completed from start to finish in 3 weeks (1 week ahead of our schedule). I was very happy with the crew they had working on my property, they were always on time and really kept me informed throughout the process which was very important to me because I tend to be a worrier and add to that the fact that I am pregnant and it could have been a recipe for disaster. They were clean, polite, had great time management, and the work was outstanding. They were able to keep the dust and dirt to a minimum, they always put plastic to cover all the rooms other entrances so the dust stayed in the working areas, they keep my wood floors covered so they would not be scratched. I never had a problem with trash or debris left behind. They passes all the required inspections from the city without any delays. I was so impressed with the work done that I am going to hire them to do my kitchen remodeling project. My husband was even happy (he is very hard to please). Tom was patient with us, answered all our questions, allowed us to make some changes during the work, and also made some great recommendations. I highly recommend Countrywide and am excited for them to start my next project.

The job went smoothly, it took about two and a half weeks. The crew and the project manager Tom were very corteous and responsive. We are very pleased with the quality and the finish of the work. We will definitelly contact Countrywide Home Builders again and refer them to our friends.

To Update; Tom Malki and the Countrywide is under a big Fraud investigation and will get the punishment. I got some money back from the bonding co.We chose Tom Malki, Countrywide Home Builders, Inc., based on the review on Angies? List. This was a huge mistake. All the reviews for Countrywide Home Builders were from people that posted only one post which was for Countrywide Home, they never posted for any other company or service. Isn't that strange? All reviewers for Tom gave one review, only for Tom, other than reviewing other business as well. Tom Malki (Countrywide) has never intended to settle nor negotiate with us. Our concern is the quality of his work and we could no longer let our house be damaged by Tom. First of all, we gave him 2 months to complete the job, which is normally done in 4 weeks per other contractors. The time frame kept extending until we had given him over 4 months to complete everything. During this time, our costs of storage and eating out have increased. Our pictures show his poor work. The leak was due to his unlicensed plumber not installing the supply line correctly. No one inspected it. We did not have any plans to have 6" lights in our house. Our brand new $5,000 designer-hood has been ruined. It now has scratches and distortions. He said the hood couldn?t be leveled because the ceiling isn?t level. After his third attempt in a 3-month period, he installed it, but incorrectly, and when we hired a professional installer, he said that Countrywide?s electrical connection was a fire hazard. We hired someone who was able to install it properly and recommended that we get new parts, which were butchered by Tom in order to repair the safety issue. We paid Tom $33,000 out of $36,260 on time. We paid Tom $10,000 for the cabinets. Tom has only paid his cabinet guy $3,400 and is holding $3,000 back to threaten him not to deliver our new sink cabinet doors which has to be replaced due to the water damage caused by Tom. Tom agreed to deduct some of the cost of damages out of his balances. In order to have our kitchen finished properly, we have had to hire reliable contractors to complete and repair the job. Tom did not repair any damage caused by him, we are having to doing it with new contractors. Tom made himself very available whenever he needed to pick up a check but whenever there were any problems, he left us to deal with his sub-contractors directly. These sub-contractors ask us for money saying that Countrywide wasn?t paying them enough and that if we wanted ?good work? we should pay them extra. If you are looking for quality work by honest people, stay away from Countrywide Home Builders. We are very happy to have this wonderful contractor referred by my neighbor to fix all damages done by Tom!

It went great! Tom and his crew were punctual, professional, and a pleasure to work with on this remodeling project. The project was completed on budget and earlier than projected, and the remodeled bathroom is beautiful. Tom is also very responsive to calls, makes himself available for appointments, and provides great input. Tom also took the time to accompany me to different stores to shop for items for the remodel. Update --additional work not satisfactory

From beginning to end. Countrywide Home Builders knows exactly how to keep the customer happy and satisfied. After only 3 meetings of laying down the groundwork, I was able to select the most outstanding kitchen and bathrooms for my new home in the san fernando valley. All of the workers who were involved were extremely friendly and well mannered and the job was complete and on time with no mistakes. I am extremely happy with my new home and recommend this company to all.!

WEll---this is the second time we had to redo our kitchen and bathrooms. The first contractor was very nice and seemed professional, but it was a constant headache with him and at the end were extremely unhappy. Tom Malki gave us a very good presentation. He drew out a 3 dimensional diagram on how he was going to do the job. Everything was addressed and we felt very comfortable with him. As the job progressed there were problems here and there like everything else, but Tom was always there to address it. He was always available. We would call him on the weekends or late at night and he would get back to us with 45 minutes to an hour. The job was finished in a timely manner and we are extremely satisfied. I have already recommended Tom to my clients and friends who are considering any type of remodeling or room additions. He is not only a very professional individual, but his demeanor is very relaxed and comforting. I just cannot say enough good things about Tom or his company. It is a pleasure to come home everyday and enjoy his wonderful work!!!!!!!!!

Over the past two decades, we have had experience dealing with many contractors. We have hired companies with a broad range of experience in home re models, room additions, and swimming pools. We’ve had some good experiences and some not so well. My recent experience with Country Wide Home Builders re modeling our Kitchen sets the service bar at a whole new level... We are extremely please with Tom Malki & his crew. Not only did they perform outstanding work with the high quality standards, but they completed the job 1 ½ weeks ahead of schedule. His team was on time every day as planned. They paid attention to every detail and were extremely cordial while keeping the area as neat as possible. This job was completed hitting our target budget with absolutely NO HIDDEN AGENDA. What’s really important, Tom has a calm demeanor about him and was never pushy. He also has in-depth knowledge of the industry. He Listened to our concerns, made suggestions and answered all our questions and was always forthright. If we wanted to make a change (while in the middle of the project), it was never a problem. He was visible on the Job overseeing his team and was NEVER MIA. He also has an outstanding PC CAD tool which allowed us to take an advanced look at what our kitchen remodel would look like before it happened. It is without reservation that we highly recommend Tom Malki & Country Wide Home Builders for your next Re Model or Room Addition.

I get a phone call at 10:30am on Tuesday morning from Tom Malki's office manager Michele saying "he's on his way."He arrived at my home 15 minutes early with a 3D laptop in hand and help me design my new fab kitchen! About a week later ( we we're out of town) his crew came to the house( on time) and worked worked worked! They kept the house clean and never smoked <---ew! less than a month later they we're done as promised. WOWWEE! I'm super happy with my new Kitchen and i'm trying to talk my husband in to a room addition :) we'll see?!?!! I will always use CWHB inc. and refer them. Always, Lynnpin p.s we love you guys!!!!!

Have been talking to Tom and his assistant Michelle over the phone. Always called me back or he would hold when i was on the other line. So he came down to the house, real nice...kind of quite guy and spent HOURS with my wife and I.He really got our ideas and made us feel like we made the right decision to go with him.Tom went above and beyond with getting the permits, blue prints and all that stuff and he was even there the first day of construction and throughout the whole time.Crew was pretty cool and clean! And even though my wife always changed her mind Tom was right there to help. Thanks Man! Stay awesome Tom and your Company too! your friend Jay

The contractor came to our house and was timely, informative and extremely helpful. If we do decide to go ahead with remodel, we would not hesitate to ask him back for estimate.

How many times have you finished a remodel and hugged your contractor? Well, I hugged Tom. He did a fantastic job on my bathroom. It's been transformed into a showplace! I try not to be a difficult client, but I gave Tom several challenges during this job -- I choose my own tile and it was delivered late -- TWICE! Several of the appliances I choose also didn't arrive on time and I added a few requests (like wanting a TV installed) at the last minute. And no matter what I threw at him, Tom handled it without drama and extra fees. When I was melting down about late tile, he stayed calm and figured out how to work around it all. Also, I picked glass tiles that were very labor intensive, and I wanted an arch created over my tub... Detail work that turned out beautifully. I LOVE my vanity and cabinets -- they weren't cheap, but much more reasonably priced than I found anywhere else. They are well made and really look expensive. Tom and I designed the layout -- and then a few weeks later, I decided I wanted something different and we redesigned them. They look so good, I wish I could insert the pictures here. When Tom first came to give me an estimate, he noticed that I had a portable Ipod speaker in the bathroom. He told me that if I liked to listen to music in the shower, he'd install speakers and a receiver. That he paid attention to my lifestyle and offered me options that I didn't even think to ask for was invaluable. Now my bathroom is fully tricked out, from sound system to wall mounted flat screen TV! Also, as a single woman, I have to be careful about who I allow into my home. Tom's crew was a family of guys, who were all polite and respectful. They were extremely neat and always willing to go out of their way to help me. I highly recommend Tom Malki and Country Wide Home Builders!

Tom from countrywide is a facilitator of the first degree. has an excellent ability to explain the myriad details and keep it simple. Walked us through from the D design to the end of the construction. No detail was to small. He ensured that all aspects of the job went smoothly, from the dismantling, tear down through the reconstruction. Has a good eye for interior design. Helped us design the new kitchen layout and cabinet placement. He uses a top notch Contractor named Raul who's all in house crew was able to do all of the work in a very professional and timely manner. The only Sub on this job was the Cement guy. Everything else was done in house. No worries about sub liens. Said the job would take about 4 months and was true to his word almost 4 months to the day. He has a number of individuals he uses as vendors for tile, flooring and other interior items. The products they offered were top notch and saved me a nice sum of money. If asked would I use him again, the answer is yes.

The project went nice a smooth, it was completed on time with minimal issues.

ALL WORK COMPLETED TO MY SATISFACTION. THE WORK WAS DONE ON TIME. I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH EVERYTHING, AND WOULD GLADLY RECOMMEND YOUR COMPANY TO MY FRIENDS.

We had mold damage that needed repair as well. Contractor contacted a licensed mold inspector to examine the mold before, and after the mold was removed after completion of the job. The inspector told me that the work was done correctly and was one of the best demolitions and restorations he has seen. I felt very happy about that. The contractor kept the price down by not replacing the cabinets. He told me it was not in my best interest to replace the cabinets because it was not worth spending the extra money when all they needed was a new face lift. I had another contractor give me a bid wanting to replace everything. Wow, I am glad I didn't go with that company as they tried to get as much money from me with items that did not need replacing. I did have one plumbing problem that I reported to the contractor weeks after the job was completed. I called in the morning and told them about the leak and they sent someone out to repair it the same day. I think that shows the integrity of a company when repairs are timely.. I have had other remodeling done on my home and when a problem occurred I had to wait weeks before it was fixed. I am so happy with the workmanship,materials used, and especially having the job completed a week before the contract specified. The workman were professional and the areas were cleaned daily.

Workers are meticulous in everything they do, matching up tiles perfectly. They always clean up after themselves, and Tom was willing to schedule things so that air-cond. contractor could coordinate replacing entire AC system while roof was open and easy access (and less expensive for us) The Contractor keeps an eye on his crew and is always working side by side with them.Tom accompanied us to pick out materials (tiles+flooring) and get us contractor pricing. These are jobs that were done at separate times over 2 years. We called him back time and time again because of all the positive things mentioned. We feel secure and confident enough to leave him alone in the house. We have also had plumbing emergency's that he was willing to respond to on a weekend night and charged less than that guy on TV late at night. We will use him again and would recommend him to anyone. We are willing to display his work to interested parties.

The job started on time as scheduled and was finished also on schedule. It was easier and faster than I expected. The quality of the work is excellent, the company's owner made sure to be there almost daily to supervise and oversee the progress of the work. He helped us choose the right materials with quality according to our budget. We are very pleased and happy with the finished job and we'll definitely recommend him to friends and family that need contractor's services. Jenny

I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Tom, the owner of the company visited the site each day, answering any questions I had and always trying to make the inconvenience of a remodeling job as unobtrusive as possible. He completed on schedule and saw that all the mess and rubbish associated with a job of this nature was completely cleaned up and disposed of properly.

We had a long discussion about remodeling a bathroom with them. The man who we spoke to was very nice. He brought a computer with him and redesigned the bathroom on the spot, but it was too expensive. It was a good price, but it was more than we wanted to do on the bathroom. It was too much for this house and also in this neighborhood. He was being very straight forward too. I would recommend people to call him and talk to him. We didn?t actually decide on how much we wanted to do. He showed us all the things we could do in the bathroom and we were thrilled. We then realized that it would cost $8000 to $12000. We finally decided that this house didn?t need it and we had a whole budget for fixing the house up. We found somebody who would do just the necessary things. There was a shower that had to be replaced along with new floor and new countertops. Our realtor found somebody else who could get the work done very cheaply. However, Tom from Countrywide seemed to be quite a good guy. He really knew what he was doing. We never followed through with him. He seemed to be the kind of person who was running his own company and was not just a salesman. He was excellent. I might use his services again.

I went to a Pasadena convention center and filled out a few cards. That information was then given to all the builders at the convention and I received 65 calls. This company was one of five that I interviewed. Of these five companies, he presented the best bid. I asked for references which I contacted by phone and also visited a site featuring finished work. The references all had positive comments and the work was impressive. The project manager came to the house, I signed the contract and we went over the pay schedule. I paid a $1,000 deposit at that time. I had three days to change my mind. He told me I could use custom cabinets or Chinese cabinets. I decided to go to Lowe's with the contractor to pick out cabinets there. While we were at Lowe's we found out we had to wait and they were not going to be ready when we were scheduled. We decided to then go to another place to view Chinese cabinets while we were waiting and they were very impressive. They were also cheaper. I decided to go with the Chinese cabinets. The next time we met we met at the place that sells the Chinese cabinets. I gave Countrywide a $1,428 deposit for the tile and a $1,000 deposit for the cabinets. I met the girl who works at the cabinet place and she calculated the pricing for me. The final cost was supposed to be $8,000. I went back to confirm this later and the pricing had changed. It was now $1200 for just a broom closet. She stated that the square footage had changed. I asked her to type up the invoice for me and she refused. I then asked to have someone come out to measure again and she blew me off. This company was recommended by Countrywide and they were there pretty much the whole time this was going on and said nothing. I said I could not work with the woman who we were getting the tile and cabinets from. She made a red flag go up for me. The man from Countrywide was polite and professional and offered to take me to meet with the contractor he uses for custom cabinets. I just couldn't sleep and decided to stop payment on the checks. I called Countrywide this morning and told them I just was not comfortable with the one stop shopping and did not want to proceed. He was very professional and nice and it is not that they did anything wrong. I just did not like the vendors they were working with and decided to hold off on the project.

We are really satisfied with the outcome of the project. The project manager Tom was very professional and knowledgeable, we are very happy with the design and the timeframe it was completed.

It went really well. They were very efficient and reasonable, I was impressed!