Remodeling Consultants

I got 3 bids on our main bathroom and Remodeling Consultants was the last of the 3. I was shocked at the estimates I was getting from local North Shore companies on doing a medium size bathroom where no plumbing was being moved. Also, the estimates of what I would pay for fixtures were so vague that we had no idea what it would really cost. And one company we looked into actually marked up the fixtures (tile, cabinets, countertops) and wanted you to buy these things from them. The 1st 2 companies were A rated companies on Angie's List and one was even an old neighbor of my husband's parents. I tried something different and asked friends for recommendations... one of my friends had use Remodeling Consultants to do 2 bathrooms and a kitchen and they were happy with the work so I decided to give them a try. Budd came out to estimate the job and even had a different idea that I ended up going with. While I felt that all 3 contractors we looked at were quality and would probably do a great job, Budd's total estimate was about 30% less than the lower of the other 2 bids and he took the time to detail out a list of actual fixures I'd need by using an educated guess on the costs with one of his suppliers. He turned out to be pretty close. I liked that I could see what I was being charged for labor vs. what materials would cost me- only a couple things were included in his labor cost as allowances. Budd has been by to check on the progress of the work almost every day and always answers his phone when I call and has been very accommodating about every detail. In the end, I spent about $2K more than he originally estimated because I chose to change and upgrade a few things at the last minute and I had to purchase lighting which was never in anyone's bid, but we still saved overall and are happy with the way our bathroom turned out. So much so, that we have already had them start on our 2nd bathroom! And next year we will likely hire Remodeling Consultants to do a 3rd bathroom in the basement and eventually our kitchen. I'm glad I went outside the box of how I normally hire a contractor (A rated on Angie's list) and found a gem. When I looked up this company on Angie's List before I hired them I saw they were listed but no reviews. Now there is one more review...we didn't have the same issue with clean-up- perhaps we had/have a different foreman. Yes, any of these jobs are messy and our house is somehow full of dust despite their best efforts to keep it contained, but that's just par for the course. I wipe things down and vacuum almost every day when our guy finishes up. If there is one criticism I have it's that I wish there was more than 1 guy (one of Budd's foreman/subcontractors) working on this so it would go faster... but I guess that's just how things are done. At the start of the 1st job he had a helper for the first two demolition days and then only him for the rest of the work. On the 2nd bath, his helper was sick so he completed demolition himself in a day and a half. All of that being said, they finished the 1st bath within the original time estimated (3 weeks- which is the same estimate I got from the other 2 contractors) so I can't complain. Anyway, I thought these guys were worth "getting on the board" with Angie's List.

Budd Fisher is the owner of the company. They are a very good company and they have good ratings online. The only problem is that they don?t clean the mess after they are done with the work. They didn?t clean up well and they had left the dust. They didn't remove the old broken stuff. They cleaned up when I shouted at them but they should have done it even before I shouted at them. They were very responsive and nice. I had some issues and so I called them. They came out immediately to fix it. They were very helpful. They came out in early July to give us the quote and their quote was the best quote that I received according to my market survey. They did everything that I asked them to do. I thought that people should know about them. I bought the parts since I wanted to buy them. So I spent $7500 for the labor. Their prices are very good. They work with you and try to control your budget. They don?t want you to waste money. They told me not to buy certain things which weren?t required and worth it. If they hadn?t advised me, then I would have spent another $10000. The total cost was $20000. I would use their services in the future too.

Work was not completed according to schedule. Foreman argumentative. Not truthful about who electrician and plumber were. Moved workers to different jobs in effect slowing my work down. Poor quality work on deck.

CHESTER, THE FOREMAN AND HIS MEN ARRIVED ON-TIME (OR EARLY), WERE POLITE, AND CLEANED-UP DAILY. I AM A BIT OF A PERFECTIONIST AND SOMETIMES DISCOVERED THEY LACKED ATTENTION TO DETAIL, BUT WERE WILLING AND EAGER TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES I IDENTIFIED DURING THE REHAB. MICHAEL'S TILE & GROUT WORK WAS EXCEPTIONAL. AS THIS IS MY ONLY FULL BATH, THEY PROMISED IT WOULD BE FUNCTIONAL WITHIN 1.5 TO 2 WEEKS; THEY WORKED SATURDAY TO FINISH IT IN 1.5 WEEKS. ON THEIR RETURN VISITS TO FINISH WORK, (WAITING ON FIXTURES I HAD ORDERED) THEY ACCOMMODATED MY WORK SCHEDULE. OVERALL, MY EXPERIENCE WAS QUITE GOOD.

THE DID NOT CONSULT ME ON VARIOUS DECISION MAKING ALONG THE WAY. -THEY DID HORRIBLE DRY WALL WORK! -THEY DID HORRIBLE GUTTER WORK (DID NOT INSTALL FLASHING WITH NEW GUTTERS)! -THEY WERE CONSISTENTLY LATE MEETING DEADLINES. -THE PROJECT WAS VERY POORLY MANAGED, AND I CONSISTENTLY HAD TO OVERSEE THE FOREMAN. -EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A CHEAP ROUTE WAS TAKEN -VERY POOR COMMUNICATION AND SHODDY WORK OVER ALL!

THEY WERE EXTREMELY NICE PEOPLE TO WORK WITH, BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR DETAILED WORK AND CRAFTSMANSHIP THEY CAN NOT DELIVER. OVERALL, IT WAS OKAY, BUT THE DETAILS ARE LACKING. WE REPEATEDLY ASKED THEM TO FIX THINGS, WE HAD LISTS, AND THEY NEVER SEEMED TO GET IT RIGHT. WE WILL NOT BE USING THEM AGAIN.

unknown

THEY WERE HERE EVERYDAY WORKING HARD AND WERE WITHIN $60 OF THEIR ESTIMATE. GREAT WORK!!!