John J Cahill Inc

Although the workmanship on this job was very good, overall we had a negative experience with Cahill's remodeling division because the project went so far over schedule. We were originally told the project would take 4 weeks and it took 13. The chief complaints are lack of communication--we had to solicit information from the project manager instead of being given regular updates--and poor management of personnel. There would literally be days and days when no one came to work on the project. Very frustrating. We do think that the work and workmanship was top-notch. The plumbing was done efficiently, but the carpentry work seemed to drag on forever. Moreover, when the job was done, it did not really seem done, because we were left to clean up. We hired Cahill because they offered design assistance and also because we knew we had some tricky plumbing issues. For future bathroom/kitchen projects, we will hire Cahill to do the plumbing, but not to manage the job.

This was an emergency call: It was evening and we had water spraying outside and into our inside basement wall; the valve broke when we tried to handle it and water began pouring into the basement. The plumber called 10 minutes after we called the office to discuss the problem and agreed to come right out. He was here within 1/2 hour after we called. He was pleasant, efficient, explained what he was doing, and was very quick.

JOE CAME TO THE RESCUE WHEN, ON A HECTIC WORK DAY RIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING, THE TOILET MECHANISM BROKE DOWN. HE WAS POLITE, PROFESSIONAL, GAVE CLEAR EXPLANATIONS, AND QUICKLY TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM. HE CHECKED ALL PARTS, CAME PREPARED WITH REPLACEMENTS, BUT ONLY REPLACED THOSE PARTS THAT REALLY NEEDED IT, WHICH HELPED KEEP COSTS DOWN. BY THE WAY, ACCESS TO THE TANK WAS GREATLY IMPEDED BECAUSE OF A COUNTER THAT HAD BEEN BUILT OVER IT, BUT IT DIDN'T PHASE HIM. I SHOULD ADD THAT THE PERSON WHO ISSUED THE SERVICE ORDER KEPT HIS PROMISE TO CALL ME AT THE OFFICE TO LET ME KNOW WHEN JOE WAS ON THE WAY, SO LITTLE TIME WAS WASTED JUST WAITING AROUND. TO BE THAT DETAILED ORIENTED DURING THE ''HOLIDAY HAZE'' IS A BIG PLUS. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED. THIS IS A CLASS ACT.

TONY WAS FRIENDLY, AND PROFESSIONAL. HE SEEMED TO BE A NICE GUY WHO CARED ABOUT DOING A GOOD JOB. MY ONLY COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS COMPANY IS THAT THEIR HOURLY RATE IS VERY HIGH (CURRENTLY $140/HOUR).

JOE WAS PROFESSIONAL AND METICULOUS. HE WAS ON TIME, DETAIL ORIENTED, AND PROACTIVELY COMMUNICATED WITH US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. HE NEEDED TO DO A FEW HOURS' MORE WORK THAN THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE CALLED FOR; HE EXPLAINED WHAT THAT WORK ENTAILED AND WHY IT WASN'T ANTICIPATED DURING THE ESTIMATING PERIOD. HE DID A GREAT JOB.

THIS WAS A DIFFICULT JOB: THE OVEN WAS VERY HEAVY, UNINSTALLING IT WAS A PUZZLE, AND THE LOCATION OF THE GAS LINE WAS INCONVENIENT. THE TECHNICIAN DID A GREAT JOB AND WAS HELPFUL WITH RECOMMENDATIONS. AS IN OTHER REPORTS, THE COST WASN'T INEXPENSIVE, BUT IT WAS FOR QUALITY WORK. (PRICE INCLUDED AN EVALUATION OF OUR FURNACE ALSO).

JON ARRIVED INSIDE THE WINDOW WE WERE GIVEN WHEN I SCHEDULED THE CALL, ALTHOUGH IT WAS TOWARDS THE END. HE WAS VERY EFFICIENT AND COMPLETED THE WORK IN LESS THAN AN HOUR. AS OTHERS HAVE COMMENTED, CAHILL'S CHARGES SEEM A LITTLE HIGH, BUT I FEEL IT'S WORTH IT TO SUPPORT UNION PLUMBERS WHO DO EXCELLENT WORK. WE HAVE USED THEM FOR OTHER JOBS IN THE PAST AND WE HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM.

THE PLUMBER WE GOT WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX A PROBLEM 2 OTHER PLUMBERS WERE UNABLE IDENTIFY. THEY WERE VERY CLEAN, RESPECTFUL, AND COMPETENT. THEY ARE, HOWEVER, EXPENSIVE. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

THE SERVICEMAN UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DRAIN ON THE LEFT BY INSERTING A ROD INTO THE DRAIN. HE COMPLETELY IGNORED THE DRAIN ON THE RIGHT. HE REMOVED THE 'S' TRAP AND ATTEMPTED AGAIN. HE THEN TOLD ME HE WOULD HAVE TO DIG INTO THE WALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT WOULD COST $500. I TOLD HIM NOT TO DO THAT WORK NOW AND I WOULD CALL THEM BACK. AFTER HE LEFT I USED A LIQUID DRAIN OPENER AND THE DRAIN CLEARED ITSELF. THEY ARE NOW ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT $89 FOR ACCOMPLISHING NOTHING. I FEEL THE SERVICEMAN WAS NOT AT ALL KNOWLEDGEABLE AND THAT THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ELDERLY CUSTOMERS.

RESPONDED PROMPTLY, THEY SET THE APPOINTMENT WITHIN A FEW DAYS, SEEMS KNOWLEDGEABLE, FAIR PRICING, VERY AGREEABLE.

DID NOT LIKE THE FACT THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW IF THEY COULD FIX THE PROBLEM OR NOT BUT WERE GOING TO CHARGE JUST TO COME AND SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND IF THEY COULD FIX IT.

WAS GIVEN A 3 HOUR WINDOW AND AT ALMOST THE END OF 3 HOURS GOT A CALL FROM CAHILL STATING THAT THE PLUMBER WOULD BE ANOTHER ONE AND A HALF HOURS LATE. MADE ANOTHER APPT FOR NEXT DAY AND WAITED ANOTHER 3 HRS AND THIS TIME I HAD TO CALL TO BE TOLD BY CAHILL THAT HE WOULD BE ANOTHER HOUR LATE. CANCELLED THE APPT AND GOT ANOTHER COMPANY WHO CAME ON TIME THE NEXT DAY AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. UNPROFESSIONAL. MADE CUSTOMER WAIT CLOSE TO 3 HRS FIRST DAY AND DID NOT EVEN BOTHER TO ENSURE THAT THE CUSTOMER BE FIRST TO BE SERVICED THE NEXT DAY.

JOE EFFICIENTLY FOUND THE BEST OPENINGS FOR THE SEWER CLEANING, RESULTING IN FAST AND EFFECTIVE WORK. HIS ASSISTANT JOHN WAS ALSO PLEASANT AND EFFICIENT.

JOE AND JOHN DEFINITELY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING, AND WERE EFFICIENT AND PLEASANT.

THEY DID A GREAT JOB IN ALL ASPECTS. THE COST WAS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN SOME OTHER BIDS, BUT THEIR PROFESSIONALISM AND QUALITY WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY OF THE EXTRA EXPENSE. WE WILL DEFINITELY WORK WITH THEM AGAIN FOR ANY PLUMBING OR HVAC NEEDS.

THEY WERE HONEST, PROMPT, TIMELY, THEY DID THE JOB RIGHT, AND IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE. THEY REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. I'VE USED THEM SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SEEM TO BE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE. THEY ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

IN RETURN I WAS SENT A COUPON FOR A FREE SERVICE CALL. THEY FIXED THE LEAK AND THE COUPON COVERED THE COST. I DIDN'T KNOW HOW THEY'D RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINT (NOT AT ALL OR NOT CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY?). I'M PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AND PLEASED WITH THE WAY THEY HANDLED IT.

RODDING WAS NOT PARTICULARLY SUCCESSFUL. I DIDN''T REALIZE THIS UNTIL I HAD ANOTHER COMPANY ROD SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, AND NOW THE TUB REALLY DRAINS! SCHEDULING WAS ALSO A HASSLE, AND THEY WERE LATE (ON 2 DIFFERENT SERVICE CALLS).

ALSO DOES HEATING AND A/C. VERY PROFESSIONAL AND KNOWLEDGEABLE. TRUSTWORTHY ALSO. GAVE SLIGHT DISCOUNT ON SERVICE CALL CHARGE BECAUSE WE HAD BOTH PLUMBER AND A/C SERVICE ON THE SAME DAY.

IT TOOK 3 DAYS TO UNCLOG DRAIN. 1 1/2 DAYS SPENT TRYING TO UNCLOG WITH HAND ROD WHICH I HAD ALREADY TRIED FOR HOURS MYSELF. ON THIRD DAY, A POWER ROD WAS USED AND WAS SUCCESSFUL WITHIN ONE HOUR. WE WERE COMPLETELY INCONVENIENCED FOR THREE DAYS WITHOUT SHOWER/BATH AND CHARGED FOR OVER 10 HOURS OF SERVICES WHEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED IN LESS THAN 45 MINUTES. ALSO TRACKED MUD/DEBRIS UP WHITE CARPETED STAIRS AND DID NOT PROPERLY CLEAN UP BATHROOM AFTER JOB.

I FIRST CALLED THEM UP AND THEY WALKED ME THROUGH THINGS ON THE PHONE AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE BECAUSE I HAD STANDING WATER OUTSIDE MY PICTURE WINDOW! THEY TRIED TO SAVE ME A TRIP FREE. THEY CHARGE TRAVEL TIME IF THEY COME INTO THE CITY FOR THE JOB, THEY COME FROM EVANSTON. THE GUY WHO CAME OUT DID EXCELLENT WORK! THEY CUT AND CAPPED A FEW PIPES AND SOLVED ALL OF MY PROBLEMS, ALSO SOME PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. GREAT JOB!

IN ALL SITUATIONS, THEY HAVE ARRIVED WHEN THEY SAID THEY WOULD, THEY''VE DONE QUALITY WORK, THE WORKMEN HAVE BEEN COURTEOUS BEEN PROFESSIONAL, AND WE HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED. I WOULD RECOMMEND THEM TO ANYONE.

IN THE END I WENT WITH A DIFFERENT COMPANY, WHICH A FRIEND HAD RECOMMENDED, BUT I LIKED CAHILL''S PROPOSAL. THE AGENT SEEMED WELL-INFORMED AND THOROUGH, AND THE PRICE WAS WITHIN A REASONABLE RANGE. I''D CALL THEM AGAIN IF I HAD A PLUMBING PROBLEM.

I HAD PEOPLE''S GAS COME OUT THE YEAR BEFORE TO DO THE WORK, AND THEY DID SUCH A SHODDY JOB IT ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE. CAHILL CAME OUT QUICKLY ON THE COLDEST DAY OF THE YEAR AND FIXED & CHECKED EVERYTHING. THEY''RE NOT THE CHEAPEST, BUT THEY''RE THE MOST THOROUGH. I HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN THEM.

THIS COMPANY DOES GOOD WORK, BUT THEY ARE WAY OUT OF LINE ON THEIR PRICES. THEY CHARGED ME A HALF HOUR @100 PER HOUR JUST TO PREPARE THE BILL. I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT.