8th avenue property consultants

This project was a nightmare of cutting corners and outright failure to perform. Electrical problems: could not figure out how to connect wiring harness in ceiling fan and claimed fan was defective, by-passed switch and wired outside light so that it is constantly on, mounted workbox so close to corner that it is impossible to put a face plate on (trimmed a plate to fit and hid raw edge with caulk -only discovered this when I tried to replace cheap plastic plate with decorative ones) and worst left two neutral wires un-terminated in panel ( my sheer good luck they did not arc and set my house on fire) Plumbing issues: plumbed new room for hot-water baseboard heat; failed to include a valve, the result is no heat whatsoever in addition. Interestingly I could not check this function when the job was completed as there was an issue with my new furnace. (The neutral wire was not connected to the circulating pump, an unusual situation that took some time to find) Roofing problem: Incorrectly attached new flat roof to old peaked roof, not properly flashed, resulting in joist damage and leak. Problems remain unresolved and so far Mr. Livingston has failed to return my phone calls or answer my emails.

After reviewing the costs associated with the design, we asked Mr. Livingston to trim the scope of the project back to our limited budget (we are retirees in our late sixties). He said he would do this and then take it to the county for a permit after a final review. We had a formal agreement with him for the design work and had paid him the initial portion of $2,000. He was ready to begin work and expected to get a permit soon, so he asked for a down payment of $10,000 to begin work. This was in advance of the permit (not due til the permit was secured). We had never used a contractor before so we trusted him and we wrote him a check. When he revealed the actual costs for a final review before submission to the county for permit, he was still presenting project costs that were far higher than the budget we had given him. When we expressed our concern with the cost, he accussed us of trying to beat him down on the price. He became enraged and totally lost control of his composure. I suggested that Mr. Livingston return the unearned portion of the $12,000 we had given him ($9,000) and he shouted "that will never happen." Later, I sent a formal cancellation of our relationship and requested the unearned $9,000. To date (5/30/14), he has refused to discuss the settlement of this matter. Our only resort has been through government agencies and legal means.