Remodeling Specialties/Fred Sons

Excellent. Fred was extremely communicate and kept me in the process from the start. Fred had one crew that would show up at my home. Very professional. The home is now an AirBNB and the guest love his work. I have yet to get one bad review. I am now considering remodeling another kitchen and want Fred to work on it.

Fred and his team were fantastic. So professional, clean and timely. Fred really took the time to explain the whole process to me and had great ideas. I take so much pride in my kitchen on a daily basis. The workmanship is perfect. I had interviewed three different contractors for this job. I was looking at price, trust and confidence and I got them all with Remodeling Specialties. Fred was always available for any questions or concerns that I had. The bid he came in with was average compared to the others, but I chose to hire him because of the trust I felt. I was not proven wrong at all.

He said he couldn't do that work. He didn't think I should reface them, that I should just replace them. He was pleasant. I just didn't understand why he wouldn't do the work.

I asked Fred to come to our house because his pictures were among the few that expressed my simple and clean design aesthetic. The first thing Fred said when he looked at the kitchen was that we should remove a pocket door and widen the doorway to the dining room, which we hadn't thought about, and he was right. It let so much more light in and opened up the view to our backyard. We didn't know what we really wanted, and Fred never rushed or pressured me to make up my mind. I had bought an Angie's List $84 design consultation, but would recommend not going in that direction -- just call Fred and he will come out and give you that hour or more without expecting you to pay. One thing that really made me feel that Fred would be a good choice for us was that along with his estimate, he gave me a 2-page document detailing every task and service that he would provide in each class of cost -- more than just "flooring," "cabinets," and so on like other remodelers give you. It was all in writing. He arranged for me to visit the home of a former client so I could see her kitchen and get her honest feedback about Fred's work, which was very positive. I hoped to see good craftsmanship, and I did. When it was time to go ahead, Fred recommended brands, showrooms and suppliers he had had good experience with. They all had professional and courteous people who also spent a lot time teaching us about cabinets, granite, and so on. It turned out that Showplace cabinets, Fingerle Lumber and Great Lakes Granite were good choices for us. Fred did not do anything to keep us from choosing other brands or sources, except a couple he had had problems with. He was also generous with his time visiting the showrooms with us. We chose to keep our SubZero refrigerator and Jenn Air stove even though they were old. Fred replaced the fridge's wood panels with stainless, which turned out well. I came up with my own idea for crown molding and Fred and Brett were able to execute it to get the effect I wanted. Fred's crew, Brett and Lynn, and his tradespeople were professional and experienced. Brett, the lead carpenter, really sweated the details. Fred did some of the on-site work as well, and was similarly perfectionist about it. Fred was also meticulous about the estimate, costs of change orders, and payment schedule. He fully informed me of costs of alternative choices and regularly sent me updated financial statements. Overall, I would recommend Fred to any homeowner who wants the job done right, respectfully, and thoughtfully. We are now planning to get Fred's ideas about remodeling our basement.

Work went according to schedule set, everyone was very professional

I'm sure Fred's comment will be 'you can't satisfy every customer' but I'll tell you in all my experiences in dealing with contractors both personally and professionally, Fred is unique. I'm happy to pay him, though the work done did not meet expectations, just to get him out of the house. Be sure to find a contractor who will take pride in his/her work and ensure that it is done work right - in my experience Fred doesn't match up. The people doing the work were good and I'm pleased with their work - it was the way Fred managed the project (even getting into an argument with them and complaining about me within earshot of my wife - while I wasn't there - in my house). Just a bad experience overall. Please contact me directly if you would like more information as to my experience with this firm. Updated... Fred's previous comments are a bunch of bunk. Fred initially provided a quote then after discussions provided a second version of the quote. We worked from the v2 quotation after which he had six change orders. As far as the change orders, Fred had a tendency to always focus on the cost increases - but failed to look at the cost tradeoffs associated with the design changes. I had to ask him on numerous occasions to evaluate the cost decreases as a result of the changes - I found him only interested in trying to leverage the change orders to recover any costs he may have overlooked in his final proposal. I would also mention that HE suggested I consider an alternative plumber because of the problem with his working relationship with his plumber. HE is the GC - I was shocked by his suggestion but I found a different plumber (again at his suggestion) who expeditiously completed the job without problems. Finally I'd add as mentioned in my previous post that he left the work poorly done - a case in point - his firm used expandable insulating foam to insulate a wall then covering it with drywall. The foam expanded and has bowed the drywall - it is shoddy workmanship. I would not recommend this contractor.

He was great, very knowledgeable.

Fred and his crew were great. They took great care to keep everything in the basement clean, even at the end of the work day and in the middle of some dirty work, such as breaking up concrete and digging out the old drain. I remember walking in to the basement to check out their work after the first day and was shocked as to how clean they kept in and around the work area. I initially started off with a lower budget than what we finished with, not realizing the costs associated with the work that he would be doing for me. I appreciated Fred's feedback and ideas on various parts of the project (paint, fixtures, etc.) and also that he was willing to accept my feedback and make changes without being too stuck on his own ideas. He even accompanied me to the plumbing supply store a few times to help look at cabinets, the shower stall, and fixtures. Overall, the project turned out great. I'm happy with it and my guests are pretty impressed with the work Fred and his team did. Having a sink in my bar is a nice bonus, too.

Because this was the first contractor we contacted for this project we didn't know what items to choose to fill in the spreadsheet. The contractor we ultimately choose too the time to go through all the options with us.

First off, if you're considering Fred Sons for your remodel and are concerned about his average "B" rating versus an "A", you need to look closer at the reviews. Most of the less kind reviews seem to be from those that hired him for his $75.00 initial consultation (which we were happy with) and wanted a free kick of the tires so to speak. The fact that these reviews count as much as the reviews for people that actually hired Fred Sons for a project is pretty ridiculous in my opinion. Overall, Fred was one of the most professional contractors I've ever worked with, and everyone who worked for him was the same. Whomever he included as part of the process gave me confidence in their ability and honesty. As my wife and I aren't the most knowledgeable about home improvement, we were forced to trust whoever we hired more than we would have liked to be honest and to not try to take advantage of us. This didn't mean that we didn't verify Fred's advice, just that a less honest contractor could have gotten away with a few things (at least initially). We thought it was very important to have complete confidence in the guy who was ripping apart our house, and Fred couldn't have been better in this regard. Fred was also great as a sounding board we could trust whether cutting costs, design suggestions or whatever. He always thoroughly explained everything and never took short cuts. He budgeted the whole project for us (based upon our wants) explaining where less expensive options could be found and where we could allocate more funds for more quality. His work was always on time, he was consistent and he always kept us informed. Even after the job was finished, Fred was very responsive in correcting a few minor blemishes (we had some scratches that a table caused) that were discovered. Could you piece together less expensive options, or use a less expensive contractor? Maybe. But, we did seek other quotes and they were all within the same ballpark, some higher, some lower. So, I don't think you're going to find someone for substantially less unless you "know a guy" and/or want to do some of the work yourself. And, if that's the case, why are you looking for contractors here? Overall, Fred Sons provided a great experience for our extensive remodel, one that we hope to repeat in the future.

Fred is a quirky guy, almost in a condescending sort of way. I based my contacting him on the quality reviews here, and wasn't sure what to expect. He was on time, reliable, and accurate in his promises. After evaluating the kitchen he asked our price point. To me this is unprofessional, and I responded that I wasn't interested in giving him a price, that's his job.. He persisted, so I said '$8000-$10000".. He looked over some figures, and said he could come close to that - but it would be around $11000, and we may want to be 'safe' and budget 13K. Not terrible, and at the upper edge of our estimates at that point. Fred kept recommending cabinets we didn't want, from a supplier we did not want to use. He kept insisting on us using Oak, and staining it very dark - despite my repeated statements that we wanted a lighter maple.. He also kept insisting on stone counters, despite both my wife and I not liking stone, and preferring a laminate. He was a bit condescending, and almost overly opinionated to sounding 'arrogant' at times. His final estimate came in at $16,500.00 which was FAR higher than any other estimate, even from big kitchen remodel outfits. He literally 'doubled' the price of everything. It's then I realized that Fred isn't a contractor himself, but rather works as a project manager, bringing together companies and trades to do a job. That sort of explains the high price when you think about it, a markup. Also he is overly focused on environmental toxins, saying we needed this and that tested.. Really? A mild kitchen remodel I am NOT having the 2 foot wall we need to repair tested for lead.. So the floors may have asbestos? Every other contractor said to take off all layers down to the VAT, seal the VAT with a good sealer, then put the new floor right over top.. Simple, and cheap. Fred insisted the VAT had to 'come out' and could cost another $3000.00.. This isn't accurate unless you like throwing away money. I am pleased to say we did find a contractor with a 'crew' to work within our budget, and to start immediately on the project, and using extremely high end cabinets, all for $6000 less than Fred wanted. If you want a quirky dude that charges 40-70% more than anyone else, then go for it. I do appreciate his layout of the kitchen, and design work, but we ultimately didn't use any of the ideas. What he did was no different than a cabinet firm like ASA out of Walled Lake will do for free.

GOOD GUY, WITH GREAT IDEAS.

I originally spoke with Fred about a week before my scheduled estimate with him. He spent about 15 minutes speaking with me about the project, what we wanted, what we currently had, and made me feel good about getting an estimate from him. On the day of my estimate, we waited 45 minutes after the appointment before calling to ask if he would be coming or not. He seemed surprised and had no record of the appointment. My husband had taken time to work from home to be available, so obviously we were annoyed, but still rescheduled for later the same week with his estimator Brett. Brett was very friendly and seemed to agree that our budget of $40k was reasonable. About a week later we got an estimate for $74k. We've had three estimates on the same exact project with the same drawings and Fred Sons is nearly double the other two estimates (both $42k). I was willing to forgive the initial scheduling issue since we honestly liked Brett a lot, but the price is just insane.

For many years I've been looking for a contractor/designer I can work with remodeling my kitchen. Until Fred I met 2 types: the "experts" who would come in with their own grand vision, without helping me find a way to implement mine. The second type has no ideas. They can recreate my existing kitchen with new materials, but with no ideas for reconfiguration. Duh. By contrast, Fred very patiently listens and then suggests, not insists. And then listens some more. He clearly knows what he is doing. He is open to ideas. He is willing to say what will work and what won't. He has a great aesthetic. I appreciate his patience. I have been going slowly with this, and although I recognize his desire for me to finalize things more expeditiously, he is not pressuring me as I contemplate my choices. I will be hiring Fred to remodel my kitchen, and I have every confidence that things will go well, based on what has occurred so far, and based on his experience and success with other projects.

Went very well very responsive, easy to work with. Left place clean at end of each work day.

Job is not completed yet, but we have no worries about our new laundry room, it's going to be GREAT!

Fred and his team did a great job helping us finish out our partially finished basement. We wanted to have bedrooms and tv room added. We had a tight deadline to meet for such a project and they got it done. Fred was very approachable, friendly and patient. He took the time to get to know us and understand what we were looking for in the project. Most importantly he helped us to work within our budget. There were absolutely no "high pressure" or "bait and switch" tactics. He is also very knowledgeable with building materials and codes. He secured the proper permits and ensured the work was done correctly to pass inspections the first time. As a bonus, he fixed a trim on the garage door which had been chew through by an animal - for free!

It went just fine. On the day he was to come, he called me to let me know that he was in Ann Arbor on a job and would be at my house in approximately an hour. I appreciated the advance notice. When he arrived I thought he looked rather young to be the father (as in the company name which I thought was Fred & Sons), but Sons is his last name! : ) Fred spent at least an hour diagramming our kitchen and discussing the results with me. I learned a lot about what I really should consider when seriously contemplating updating our kitchen. He gave me a realistic estimate range for the update.

We made final decisions the first week of June and signed the papers. Demolition began after the 4th of July and was completed shortly after Labor Day. Usually demolition is scheduled after cabinets arrive, which is a good practice. We scheduled our renovation during summer so that I could be home. Unfortunately we had a miscommunication after the demo and almost nothing happened for a week. Fred and his crew were friendly and responsive to our requests. We appreciated their craftsmanship and love our new kitchen. Most issues were minor in the scheme of things, not worth mentioning. Just be sure to get an idea of when the crew is coming. Sometimes they work more than one job and come at inconsistent times.

After he met with us, he sent us an email containing a check-list showing all the items we would need to pick out to do the job. After serious consideration, my husband and I realized we could not afford to do the remodeling job this year and let Fred know this. When we feel ready to tackle this project, we will probably call Fred back. He was easy to communicate with and seemed like a nice person to work with.

Contractor looked around kitchen and room behind. Talked of ways to remodel. He showed me pictures of other jobs, none seemed to be of a style that I would be interested in. Estimate of cost, a lot more than I wish to spend.

There was some confusion in communication. I did not realize that F&S would communicate through Angie's List. It took a while before we got in contact. From that point, the appointment was made. I received some new ideas and a pencil graph of the possibilities. I went elsewhere and got much more help, with no upfront cost. I simply needed more hand holding than Freds was going to provide

Made suggestions on possible remodel but produced no diagrams or cost estimates. In my opinion the suggestions were not of a creative mode

Very poor. Remodeling suggestions were not creative and unclear -- i.e. no diagrams provided and offered no details regarding costs for different remodeling possibilities. This was a waste of money.

Fred and his team are awesome! There was always progress being made on our kitchen remodel project and Fred did a great job keeping us informed along the way. If an issue/challenge was encountered, Fred came to us with soulutions and options. We even tacked on a couple additional items to our job - painting another room and fixing/reinforcing our garage. Fred and Brett are personable, professional, and a pleasure to work with. We highly recommend Fred Sons remodeling.