David Spence Inc.

I needed some repairs done on my home windows and in my master bathroom, which was remodeled about 4 years ago but not done properly. After talking to two other contractors, I called David Spence, Inc. to give me an estimate. May I say it was the best move I made for this project. David reviewed all the work I wanted done and took pictures of everything. The project involved special circumstances as it included leaving the existing shower installation from ceiling to just above floor level in place. David was willing to do the work for me even under these circumstances. After receiving and accepting cost estimate the work was scheduled to begin on 10/31/12. Two of David's craftsmen arrive on time that day to perform the shower demolition and reseal the windows. The men conducted themselves in a truly courteous and professional manner as they did the work. One thing that impressed me is how well they performed the demo, continuously keeping the area free of debris as they worked and leaving it extremely clean when they finished. Two plumbers installed the new shower drain and did the vanity plumbing repairs. At their suggestion they also moved a hot water heater overflow drain pipe that was located in the shower floor area. The pipe was originally installed such that it exited through part of an exterior wall that was on the inside of my outdoor screened-in porch. They moved the pipe so that it exited the wall outside of the screened-in area. The plumbers were also courteous and professional. They checked every aspect of the plumbing work to ensure everything worked properly and there were no leaks. Next came the drywall repairs, pouring the new shower pan, and reinstalling the tile and the shower door. Again, the work was done skillfully and professionally. Drywall repairs were clean and match the existing wall texture. The shower floor and curb are now constructed the way they should be and look fantastic. I am extremely pleased with the work these folks did. If I were to choose one thing that impressed me most other than the quality of work, I would say it is the honesty of David Spence. The estimate he gave me for the shower repair was based on time and materials because there were some unknowns in the nature of the work required. The final cost actually came in below the estimate. David was honest and up front with me throughout the entire project.

David Spence delivers on what he promises. He will not be the cheapest, but you will receive a product to be proud of. If something is not perfect, he will have it fixed immediately.

DSI is an abbreviation for David Spence, Inc. The same initials describe the service provided. Dependable, Sincere, Integrity. From our initial contact with David until the work was completed these words were true. We had never dealt with a remodeling or construction contractor and really didn't have a clue. At our initial meeting, David educated us on what exactly was involved in the process. We had a dream to add a bonus room over our existing three car garage. The first thing we needed was an architect. David introduced us to Eric Glinsboeckel, G2 Design LLC. We found Eric to be professional and easy to work with. He made great suggestions. Once the drawings were completed and provided to DSI, we received a detailed bid from David. He came to our home and reviewed the cost spreadsheet line by line to help us stay within our budget. David really worked with us to make decisions on the best materials and insulation to use. During the final phase of the project, the joining of the staircase to the upstairs landing, David and Eric worked closely as the field drawings were conceptualized. They make quite a team. David was always considerate of our access to our home from the initial digging, pouring of concrete, and care of landscape to the final cleanup. We live in a gated community and several neighbors commented that "this is the cleanest construction site I've ever seen." All of the subcontractors were equally courteous and on time. There were very few late evenings or work on Saturday, which was greatly appreciated by the neighbors and our family. Communication was always good. I knew what work was going to be done and when, with consideration for weather delays. The timing of materials and crews was amazing! It was apparent during the process that David, the site manager, DSI employees and chosen subcontractors took pride in a job well done. David frequently stopped by to check on progress and share in the excitement of making our dream come true! David often said to me, "What really matters at the end of the day is that the customer is happy!" There were no "problems" on the job, only challenges and opportunities. I hope that you will consider using DSI for your next remodel, addition, or new construction project. I could go on..... but it's time to go shoot a game of pool in our new upstairs bonus room!

We're very happy with the work that DSI performed. I will highly recommend it to all my friends and town home community. David was able to fix an ongoing problem with a window leak that we have experienced for the past several years. Customer service and work performed were A+ grade... Thank you David and Theresa. You are simply the BEST in the business!!! Novak

David was able to come out to the house the same day I called and provided me with several options for mitigating the problem. David even suggested that I start with the least expensive option to see if that would fix the problem. After the initial work both he and Teresa (his office manager) called to check to see how the "fix" was working. Unfortunately, I still was having a drainage issue after heavy rains, so a more extensive fix was required. Both David and his work crew were always on time and very professional, the quality of work was great....but what really impressed me is the level of service from beginning to end, and that David even suggested the least expensive fix to begin with in order to save me money. The follow up by Teresa is also to be commended, after the work was completed, she made a point to either email or call after it would rain to check and see if the new drainage was getting the job done. Both David and Teresa stressed that if I ever had any questions or concerns just to call them and they would take care of it. I'd definately hire DSI Construction again.

The general contractor came out to the house, performed the measurements and generally was professional on site. However, after several weeks of no contact, I called back to find out what was going on, and was informed at that time that the company had already promised work to other customers and did not have time for me. Beyond the fact that I was not informed that they would not perform the work, I was rather rudely dismissed by the receptionist, I can only guess what the actual reasons were. I have unfortunately been living in a house that is broken waiting for the companies estimates. I hope the workmanship is better than the customer service.

As with any new construction, bids are requested from contractors to consider their employment based on fair market value. After reviewing DSI's history I thought it a contender in my contractor selections.My first contact with them in explaining what my needs were, dry, impersonal, an almost mechanical approach on the other end, and asked that we submit the drawings in PDF for review. I asked if I could speak to the contractor as there were factors I wished to review as I was certain he would question. Although my drawings were all architecturally stamped/sealed and ready for permitting, I wanted to review a few options we had that would have greatly impacted the cost of the project. I was asked again that the drawings be submitted and someone would be in contact with me. This was on a Monday. I was contacted later that week, by this same person, to be informed that the estimates were being prepared and they should have something to go over with me by Friday that same week. I sort of didn't understand how my estimate could be prepared without me reviewing the drawings and giving an accurate depiction of my needs/wants. Nonetheless, no one contacted me on Friday. I e-mailed them on Monday to inquire about the estimate. I was written back that "David" was not in, but that he would be in that afternoon. I later received another e-mail that stated David will have an estimate for me on the upcoming Friday. I responded to the e-mail by stating and asking, if you first told me Friday, then you tell me he'll be in in the afternoon, and now you're telling me the following Friday, is this the manner in which the work would be handled as well?Well, I did finally get a call from David, and he almost called insultingly to review the e-mail, not the job, that I had sent his office, and stated that he would not be bidding on my project (not a problem as others were). But, NOT ONCE, was there ever an inquiry, concern, a common 'service courtesy' to see in fact what the CONSUMER was basing their objections about.I too am a business owner, and find that when the client's have concerns that question the function of my business, I immediately approach the matter at hand and resolve it in the most amicable way possible, giving the consumer the benefit of the doubt even in a stretch. In retrospect, I felt disserviced, insulted, attempted to be made to feel insignificant about, and overall misled about this entire process. I would never forget that the first impression is the most important, but follow through should never be misrepresented or taken for granted.

Dave Spence is as knowledgeable contractor as you're are likely to find, has a very straight-forward and informative work style, and is genuinely concerned about not only a good outcome to your project, but that everything is done in a professional and timely manner. After wasting a significant amount of time and money with other contractors, we presented Dave with a series of complicated, tedious projects, some of which had been made worse by the actions (or inactions!) of the other contractors. Dave responded very quickly, gave us a detailed, thorough quote, and fit us into his schedule as quickly as he could, dedicating the necessary skills and manpower to our job to complete everything quickly and correctly. The last thing any homeowner wants to spend money on are these types of repairs, but it was absolutely necessary as we will soon be listing our home and the repairs had to be perfect - Dave and his team delivered perfection and none of these items are now, or ever will be, issues for prospective buyers and/or the future homeowners. If you need to have a project done in the Brandon/Riverview area, and you want it done right the first time, call Dave Spence.

I received 4 estimates when I found damage to a column on my front porch. David was the only one that actually thoroughly examined the structure and discovered that porch columns were interior wrap around columns and not coded to hold an exterior porch. He met with me several times to discuss my options and was very up front about all costs, designs, and issues. After getting over the sticker shock, I decided to demo the entire porch structure and felt comfortable enough with him to also reroof my home (another project I had been receiving bids for). He didn't ask for money until after permits were approved and well into the work on my home. When I talked to him about scheduling issues, David assured me he could rush the process and get it completed. His crew went out of their way to make sure they were not an inconvenience to us, even when we had movers. Also we were caught in the middle of a tropical storm and his foreman Joe was out on my roof Twice to tarp and make sure there was no damage. There was a couple mishaps during the work and the crew and David were quick to turn around and make sure everything was perfect. Cleanup was done, paint retouched, and the end product makes me think I should have done this along time ago! My house looks great and I found it an easy experience to work with the whole team. I recommend David and would rehire!

He was a nag. I sent most of the contractors a PDF file of the architect’s script so that they could bid on it. His initial was $88,000 so I mailed him back stating that I had got a lesser bid and asked if he would want to reconsider it to something more reasonable. His bid then came back with $49,000. I did my own materials list and my materials at retail cost $10,000. In his remarks he put roofing material as $9,000 and material for the entire job as $14,000. There was no way that I would ever even consider him. I would never refer him or hire him for any job.

They've got good ratings on Angie's List that's why I used them. They are very professional and does a wonderful job. I would use them again in the future if needed.

The job went well the were prompt and a matter of fact called me to see if it was convenient to come a day earlier. that was great, they did a superior job and now my garage doors run quietly and smoothly and I have a new key pad entry that actually works. Thanks for the great service. Exceptional.

I considered my job to be an emergency and DSI treated me with a 911 response. I do believe DSI has found the problems with the leaking condensation of this a/c... they had the manpower to complete the job from start to finish and was professional in every way.

For those who don't intend to read this entire review, I'll start by saying that you will NOT GO WRONG hiring Dave Spence for your renovation project. Quite possibly the best contractor in the Tampa Bay Area. This was a $325,000.00 project and Dave understood the value of a 1/3 of a million dollar investment in this economic time. His honesty and dedication to this project were a pleasure from start to finish. The relationship, however, is not entirely the responsibility of the contractor. The client has to put in a lot of work, too, in a constructive way that allows the project to be completed in a timely manner and to everyone's satisfaction. Dave is easy to work with and explains things each step of the way. And he appreciated us listening. We began planning this project about 2 months before actually calling any contractors. Once ready to "take the plunge", I came right to Angie's List as I have previously had wonderful results using all manner of contractors with this consumer agency. DSI (Dave Spence) contractors was not the first one I called, however was the first one I called where I received a PROMPT answer and immediately felt comfortable that I wasn't inconveniencing him with my call. Several others had given me the brush off, but not Dave. We set up a meeting and he accommodated our schedule respectfully. He was always prompt with preliminary meetings and took no money from us despite many meetings at the property to go over ideas, plans, etc. Because of the nature of our project, Dave made it clear from the start that we would have to work with an architect and he introduced Eric Glinsboeckel, who was terrific. Plans were drawn up according to our wishes, delivered promptly, reviewed and revised in a timely manner, even from long distance when the architect was called out of the country on emergency business (Email is a wonderful thing sometimes!). After several months of advanced planning and settling on a contract (late October), Dave gave us an estimated start date that worked with our schedule and his. He was honest in indicating that he would be able to start this project in Mid January (primarily per our request as I did not see tearing up our home during the busy holiday season). We received a line-item estimate well within our anticipated budget (I was pleasantly surprised). No payment was expected or made until work was started (his business model). I needed one extra week to get things ready for demolition and Dave graciously accepted my request. He did provide the names of several references to query regarding his work. He also provided without request all copies of his licenses, documentation and handled multiple questions we had about worker's comp insurance, our insurance, etc. We broke ground Late January 2012 (around the 27th?). Dave had suggested a timeline of 2 1/2 months and had everything lined up. He and I had several meetings to pick out tile, cabinetry, and granite and the process was nearly seamless in its execution. We had a few hiccups with some of the vendors, but nothing is perfect and it all worked out with selections. He was very accommodating to my work schedule and understood the value of my time. He worked tirelessly to keep me happy during all phases of the work. He recognized immediately the quality and style that we were looking for and was pretty well dead-on with his choices. He takes the time to understand his clientele, which helps the process go well. His crew were, bar none, some of the hardest working in the business. Honest, respectful, pleasant, neat and timely...These guys were fantastic! They really take pride in their work and it shows. I couldn't thank them enough for all that they did. During the construction phase, there were a few hiccups as well, including a miscalculation in the length of a wall that put a window a bit off center. I was willing to live with it, however Dave and his crew came up with a solution that pleased everyone and he did not charge for the modification. He simply told me it was the "right thing to do". Because of his willingness to make things right, we also gave a little on his requests (he asked for permission to place a soffitt as part of the modification so he would not have to resurface the entire ceiling. We agreed; the soffitt looks fantastic and softens the ceiling line...a win-win for everyone!) He also took the price of a brand new tire for my SUV off of his bill when he heard that it had to be replaced because of a nail puncture that could not be patched. And he paid for a new ceiling fan as a gift for the bedroom. There were multiple other small things that he did "on his dime" because he wanted the project to be perfect. When the drywall ceilings were not up to his standards, he had them all resurfaced to his satisfaction. The walls had to be repainted b/c of an issue with the paint and again, he made it right. The attention to detail was pretty much perfect. I did go over things at various phases, of course, and each time I came up with a concern, he was on it and made it better. We got to know each other so well that often as soon as I'd mention something I had noted, he had already noted it a few hours before and was "on it". The quality of the construction was outstanding at all phases. I did some background studying on block and frame construction/roofing before this all began and while I am no expert, his quality is head and shoulders above most. I also received assurances about the quality of this work from our framing inspector who has been inspecting work for several decades and hadn't seen much better. There were a few change orders that we had to take care of early on and these were always completed and presented to us promptly. We made all payments on time and never bickered about costs/price b/c Dave had everything itemized very well. He did underestimate the allotment for carpeting, which I ultimately removed from his contract and made arrangements with my own carpet contractor. He accepted this without pause and worked with our selected company for timely installation. Even though the carpet folks were not his subs, he did not require me to be onsite during the carpet install, but had his crew there to help the carpet guys gain access and get the job done. I did my own homework at certain points, designing the bathroom myself with a lot of research on what I thought would work. Dave gave his suggestions and many of them were right on. He was also happy to report that I too had educated him when I introduced him to an online closet company with which he was unfamiliar, however with some of his own research, has now quickly become his go-to company for clients, himself included (he ordered a unit for his wife after seeing the quality of the units he put into our closets.) He has a background in carpentry as well as closet design and worked tirelessly with us and the company to come up with the desired configurations. They are fantastic closets! My favorite spot in the house now! Because we were clear with our expectations (I had even completed some very rough design sketches for how we wanted our bathroom renovation to be done), Dave was able to "see" what we wanted and shared a similar vision. Constant communication was key to the success of this project, however he complimented us on not being "overbearing" in our participation. In order for a relationship with any contractor to work successfully, there has to be a mutual respect, not only for the customer's thoughts and wishes, but also on part of the client to trust that the contractor knows what is best, what is possible and what will work. The keys to Dave's success are his communication skills, his work ethic, his expectations of himself and his employees and his honesty. Communication skills (A+): prompt with email and phone responses to queries. Spent countless HOURS with me on phone, sometimes talking me down off the roof when I thought I'd lose my mind with the sound of power nail guns, etc. I never waited more than a few hours for a reply to a query, however most queries were answered in less than 1 hour! Work Ethic (A+): Always on time, valued my time and opinion, showed up when he knew his attention was needed at the job site and then some, spent countless hours on this project with pride and integrity. Honesty (A+): He paid for my tire without asking and fixed the wall issue...who does this type of thing any more?! This project was a lot of fun for everyone, although I must admit that it's not something I'd like to go through annually. Dave and his crew did a wonderful job trying to inconvenience us as little as possible and got us back to normal life in less time than I anticipated. I expected 6 months of sawdust. Total days on job site Start to Finish: 75 days give or take a few. They did work a few weekends (I had no problem with this) and for the most part, kept a 7:30 am to 5:30 pm daily schedule. Only a few days ran over. I intend to hire his crew back for some renovations to the remainder of the house (mainly wallpaper removal, paint, etc) in the Fall 2012.

David S. is a phenomenal contractor and is very dedicated to his work. His crew was uber-professional and helpful. They stayed until 9pm on some nights to make sure their work was 100% completed. DSI finished a day early AND under budget!! I cannot believe the miracles that David is able to pull off!

They did a great job. It was done very well and was finished within the time frame they gave us. It turned out very well. The contractors he worked with were very good also.

,It went very well ,they were always on time,most important to me was the fact that they know what to do and how to do it, always had the right tools, always had the necessary parts. DID A GREAT JOB

We chose David because of his Angie's List feedback and his certifications.David rescheduled our first appointment to assist an existing client with an emergency flood, we had no issues with that and rescheduled. David arrived at our home on time and was very friendly and professional, he has a lot of ideas and opinions that are very interesting. We showed David around our home and the multiple things we need corrected. He said he would email me an estimate within 5 days and he did, we were a little surprised at some of his estimates. His estimate for the ceilings and the garage side door were quite high. After conversing with David via email and after meeting with some other top-notch Angie's List contractors we opted to go with someone else who better suited us.

I can't say this ENOUGH.....the project went GREAT!! These are the things that stand out for me as a client of DSI: Dave Spence is a listener: I called Dave after reading several great reviews about his services on Angie's list :) Upon my first call he was hesitant to take my job because Tarpon Springs is a long traffic-ridden fuel-gulping drive from his home base area. However, after listening to my story, his response was "Well, I can't promise you I'll take your job because the distance makes this job not very cost-efficient, but I will come and take a look and maybe I can offer you some friendly advise on your project." For a distressed person in my situation, 10 days into a project that was slipping into the "THIS IS NOT GOING WELL!!!" stage, I was SO grateful to have someone willing to offer friendly advice! Even if he didn't want to take my job-I appreciated his honesty and willingness to share his time and expertise. When he met me at my place, we could both see that there were certain problems not being addressed well by the first company...like where they had removed the vanity, they left a leaky pipe, dripping water into the very room they were trying to dehumidify, dry out and air-scrub! Dave went to his truck, brought back the exact part that I needed and fixed the leak, right there on the spot...he wasn't even my contractor yet!! I think that was the moment he took pity on me....and the next day (after I fired the other guys) he agreed to take my project. YAY!! What a relief!! Dave Spence communicates: I was in Michigan during most of the completion of my project, so Dave sent me updates almost DAILY-through email, or with pictures or with phonecalls. He kept me informed every step of the way....and I mean EVERY step of the way. If there was a hitch in the project, which there always is...like the countertop I picked out was on back order, or turns out the entire shower pan sustained damage....I knew about it right away and Dave always talked through my options with me to help me make the most informed and best decision for our situation. He values doing a job well and doing it right, and I truly appreciate the extra efforts he made to help me get educated about the decision I was making. Dave Spence and his team have Integrity: Dave and his team treated me and my home with respect and even my neighbors, and their homes/spaces with respect as well. We live in a place where it's pretty close quarters and this is important to me. Dave and his guys will not do a job unless it is done well. Besides taking great care in workmanship and detail on every piece of this project, Dave helped me to make the BEST-informed decisions, always. He always put forth the extra effort to make sure the project had integrity and that I was happy with the outcome. If there was a piece of information that turned out to be different than what we had discussed, I always heard about it and we discussed options. I need to remind you, because I believe the service I received was EXTRAORDINARY and I mean it-I was in Michigan for the majority of time this project took place. He always valued my opinion and took time to answer any questions I had. He always went the extra mile to keep my adjuster informed, as well. He took pictures of EVERYthing and every step, stage of the project, keeping the details in order and the overall breadth of my project easily understood. On my final walk through of the project, Dave wanted to make sure that I was not just "happy" but EXTREMELY happy...for example, there were a couple of "tweaks" that I was willing to make on my own...but upon hearing that a couple of places needed some touch up paint, and a couple of other little things needed some attention, he sent one of his guys up to FIX IT to my satisfaction. I could not be happier with the outcome of this project, my place looks fantastic. It's fresh and new and what was a tragic, out of control disaster has turned into a beautiful welcoming (and even updated) vacation home that my family will be able to enjoy with comfort and confidence for years to come!! TTL!! Here are some pictures : Vanity/Master bath area Living room: Kitchen:

On July 17, 2011, I purchased the Angie's list big deal for Kitchen remodeling from DSI. It was for the design. I contacted David Spence. He sent someone out to do the measurements, and show my husband & I samples of cabinets & countertops. David emailed me the plans, and estimate on August 2, 2011. It looked very good & we decided to proceed. On August 17, 2011, David came to our our house to go over the plans & contract, and to do final measurements. The estimated start date was September 26, 2011. The actual start date was September 19, 2011. All work was done on the time frame he had outlined on August 17. The only variable being how long it would take on the granite. All work was completed on September 30, 2011. Our new kitchen is beautiful, and we are completely satisfied.

Dave established trust from the beginning. He and his workmen were very professional and he managed the project superbly. The house was secured each night , the workplace left clean and communication between Dave, his workmen and me was very complete. I always knew what to expect and when. All activities were completed in a timely manner. We worked together and with the insurance company on the price. He came in under budget. Throughout the project and especially at the completion he was majorly concerned that I be delighted with the end result. I was.

We just felt more comfortable with another company because of their price and that was the reason why we didn’t choose them to do the work. He was good during the quoting process. He was there when he said he would come. He was very prompt and very courteous.

I contacted David Spence about repair work on cracks in the side of our house. We live in an area that Mr. Spence doesn't service, however, he gave me great advice via email. When I contacted other companies, I asked Mr. Spence for advice or clarification, via email. He was very patient and thorough when is answered. I very much appreciated his honesty and professionalism.If I lived in an area that David Spence serviced I would definitely utlitize his company. He is very knowledgeable, professional and honest.

As in my other two jobs with David everything went great. David was available on a moment's notice as I called many times to strategize on tile selection and to go over how we should install the in wall flush mount TV. David met with me several times in person as well to review plans. His team (Doug and Rob) arrived on time or early every day and worked till midnight on one occasion when installing tile to make things easier for my kids and me. Not only is David and team professional and courteous but the work performed was exemplary. When the TV was flush mounted it was a perfect fit and looked exactly as it was described. I am very happy with the tile floor as well and anyone would be hard pressed to find a flaw in the work. I cannot say enough good thing about David Spence and his team. I am lucky I found them.

No one will ever experience a more qualified, dedicated, extrememly professional, hard working, very detailed and organized, and extremely knowledgable contractor. He will never consider any job complete until the customer is 100% satisfied. He's very versitile and can do anything you ask, and do it right. His response time is without fail. If it's a job that requires outsourcing, he brings in only the most qualified and knowledgable workers. Quality workmanship and communication were very important to me, and has excellent follow through, with clear concise communication that begins the moment you meet him. His prices are very fair considering the high quality of workmanship and time he places into every job. Nothing is left undone. He's very reliable and will be my contractor for life.