Response from Ashleys Building & Construction
I have been in business for myself over 17 years with a residential and commercial building license in the State of Louisiana and Arkansas. The most important part of my profession is customer satisfaction, quality work and my personal values. This is the first negative experience I have encountered in the 17 years, so I take this situation very seriously and view it as a learning experience. I have labored over what I could have done differently to avoid such a hurtful review and most of all, an unhappy customer. I am hoping that this experience will help bridge the gap between the good, eager customer and the skilled, honest contractor by addressing each complaint, one by one. All great additions take time. When bidding on a 1,121 square foot addition and a total roof replacement, there is a lengthy process involved. First and foremost are getting a set of plans drawn to properly bid the job, get zoning approval, and pull the appropriate permits. During the first 4 to 6 weeks on this job I met with the customer and his wife multiple times to discuss their design ideas. Once the ideas were finalized, my draftsman and I met with them to measure the entire house to be drawn to plans. We then needed the plat plan from the homeowner, which could not be found other than the plot plan from the courthouse. This took approximately 2 weeks to retrieve. Still needing a plat plan, I personally measured the house to the property lines FREE of charge due to this customer refusing to pay for a proper survey and threatening to shut the job down. Now with plat and design plans finally in hand, we quickly forwarded them to my subcontractors and material suppliers to get the bid locked in and to ensure the job stays within its budget. Time log: 4/25/12 Customer signed Bid and plan Contract. 6/15/12 Copy of plot received. 6/15-6/29/12 I personally measured properly line. 6/29/12 Plans were finished, copied and mailed to subcontractors and material suppliers. 7/23/12 Customer was called to let them know bid was ready for drop off. Customer advised me they were going out of town and they would return the following week. 7/30/12 Bid was emailed to customer’s wife. 5 sets of plans were given to the customer and the other 5 sets belong to subcontractors to estimate and execute the work. Change of plans. After the plans were hand delivered to the customer, they decided they wanted to make changes in the master bath design. Adding 2 feet to the master shower and deducting footage from cabinets as well as changing a window. Whenever changes are desired on an already drawn set of plans, it is best practice to do a revision to the specific area and update all subcontractors of the change. This allows the job to stay on budget; it ensures all subcontractors to order the proper quantity of supplies needed and it decreases possible downtime due to “guestimates”. About myself and my company. We are proud to provide top quality work and use products that are not only environmental friendly but can withstand the test of time. We will NEVER put our customers in a legal or dangerous bind by using low end materials, associate with unscrupulous subcontractors, side step code requirements or rush a job for money. So if you are in the market for a new home, renovation, or addition, and are looking for a cheap, fast, silver tonged contractor that works without a license or likes to dance around requirements, I am NOT your man. But if you ARE looking for a skilled license contractor, one who protects his customers by following the proper building requirements, one who will listen to you and your family’s needs, who will do everything within his power to provide quality construction within your budget, who is concerned about your family’s safety as much as he is his own family, then Adam with Ashley’s Building & Construction IS your man.