Brent Harlow Designer/Builder
About us
From foundation to finish and anything that's in between. Exceptional communication with home owner weather simple or complex. If you want someone to personally help with your projects I would like the opportunity. Thank you
Business highlights
42 years of experience
Services we offer
My major business is in construction and renovations. I build from foundation to the finished structure. Using CAD I am able to communicate in person or long distance needs and designs. The outside and inside is complete with paint and stains and polished hardware. In floor heating and boiler installations are a specialty. Long term relations and maintenance is part of the deal.
Reviews
4.318 Reviews
| Number of Stars | Image of Distribution | Number of Ratings |
|---|---|---|
| 61% | ||
| 17% | ||
| 11% | ||
| 11% | ||
| 0% |
Showing 1-18 of 18 reviews
Frank M.
May 2015
unknown
Paul M.
Jun 2014
The job went on well. He was prompt and gave me an estimate. He provided recommendations and finished the job in a timely manner.
Mary M.
Apr 2014
I wish the letter ratings had plus and minus values because Brent was a
B+ for most of these categories. He was easy to work with and we felt the pricing was very fair. Our hesitancy to post A ratings overall is because of two issues: We know that he sometimes left the work until the last minute and therefore had to rush through things which was the reason for the second complaint: There was inconsistent quality in the details. For instance, when it came time to put the knobs on the cabinets I said that I could do it myself. He insisted that he, as a professional could do a better job so I let him do it. The knobs were put on in a rush(by his own admission) and were not leveled or centered very well. We felt this was such a shame as he had done such a beautiful job putting the cabinets in.
But overall we were happy with the work. We live far away in Baltimore and it has been hard to find good contractors who we could work with from a distance. Brent was flexible and put up with a lot of messaging back and forth.
We would use him again in fact we have more work lined up for him to do.
B+ for most of these categories. He was easy to work with and we felt the pricing was very fair. Our hesitancy to post A ratings overall is because of two issues: We know that he sometimes left the work until the last minute and therefore had to rush through things which was the reason for the second complaint: There was inconsistent quality in the details. For instance, when it came time to put the knobs on the cabinets I said that I could do it myself. He insisted that he, as a professional could do a better job so I let him do it. The knobs were put on in a rush(by his own admission) and were not leveled or centered very well. We felt this was such a shame as he had done such a beautiful job putting the cabinets in.
But overall we were happy with the work. We live far away in Baltimore and it has been hard to find good contractors who we could work with from a distance. Brent was flexible and put up with a lot of messaging back and forth.
We would use him again in fact we have more work lined up for him to do.
Renee P.
Feb 2014
WARNING! BE CAREFUL about using this guy.
We contacted Brent to install Bead board on the walls around a small masterbath vanity and in a small bathroom. We had already purchased the bead board for the masterbath because we had originally planned to do it ourselves. He came and measured and said he would get back to us. He used e-mail to communicate with us where we agreed on a date of installation. Before I agreed to have him do the work, I asked for an estimate for the cost of the job. He gave me an estimate of $860 and said it would only take a day or two to do the work. Then he said he was bringing someone else to help him do the work.
He asked us where we purchased the bead board so he could purchase additional boards, some moldings and glue. He showed up with the materials at around 10:00 to begin the work and informs us that it will now cost $1, 012. We said OK and we paid him. He and his friend did most of the work in the first day but needed to return the next day to finish up. The work performed was decent and we were pleased that they finished it in a day and half. Before Brent left he told my husband that he needed to charge us MORE money...VERY UNPROFESSIONAL. My husband went over the bill with him and agreed to pay him an additional $240. When we received the third invoice it was not for the amount they agreed upon but for $809.
So the bottom line is, we went from an estimate of $860 to a cost of $1821without warning. His estimate was way off which is completely dishonest. This was a small job that took a day and a half plus we had already purchased most of the materials. The job should not cost that much. He underestimated the cost and is not professional enough to admit it. He continues to badger us for more money even though the final $240 had been decided upon and paid.
We have hired lots of contractors to do work for us in the past and we have never experienced such dishonesty and unprofessional character as this!
We contacted Brent to install Bead board on the walls around a small masterbath vanity and in a small bathroom. We had already purchased the bead board for the masterbath because we had originally planned to do it ourselves. He came and measured and said he would get back to us. He used e-mail to communicate with us where we agreed on a date of installation. Before I agreed to have him do the work, I asked for an estimate for the cost of the job. He gave me an estimate of $860 and said it would only take a day or two to do the work. Then he said he was bringing someone else to help him do the work.
He asked us where we purchased the bead board so he could purchase additional boards, some moldings and glue. He showed up with the materials at around 10:00 to begin the work and informs us that it will now cost $1, 012. We said OK and we paid him. He and his friend did most of the work in the first day but needed to return the next day to finish up. The work performed was decent and we were pleased that they finished it in a day and half. Before Brent left he told my husband that he needed to charge us MORE money...VERY UNPROFESSIONAL. My husband went over the bill with him and agreed to pay him an additional $240. When we received the third invoice it was not for the amount they agreed upon but for $809.
So the bottom line is, we went from an estimate of $860 to a cost of $1821without warning. His estimate was way off which is completely dishonest. This was a small job that took a day and a half plus we had already purchased most of the materials. The job should not cost that much. He underestimated the cost and is not professional enough to admit it. He continues to badger us for more money even though the final $240 had been decided upon and paid.
We have hired lots of contractors to do work for us in the past and we have never experienced such dishonesty and unprofessional character as this!
Response from Brent Harlow Designer/Builder
"In this case the owners only wanted to pay for the estimated cost of the job and not the actual cost in materials and labor. After confirming with me that all the needed materials were purchased, and on site for the job, to my surprise, most of the materials were inadequate for the job, or could not be used. They had purchased pre-cut paneling that they could fit in their car and not full sheets that were actually needed to build what they wanted. This member requested that I make additional purchases to get the job done. Multiple trips to the supply centers cost me 360 miles interpreted into fuel at a cost $3.65 per gallon equals $109.00(not including cost of using of my van.) As for communication, I used electronic correspondence and kept your responses. My invoices are sent by Quick Books, a standard procedure used by contractors. . It was approaching the starting date and I called to ask for the agreed upon deposit. Your response was “We can’t get a check to you by tomorrow, and we are very trustworthy” I picked up materials myself and paid for them on my credit and brought them to your home. With no signed contract, and no money up front from you with which to purchase materials, I made the choice to trust your word. The $860.00 was an estimate, of the job, not including materials. The proposed estimate increased as you increased materials and labor cost. You agreed to the contract that clearly stated hours worked would be adjusted at completion. That estimate/contract was for $1,012.32. I foolishly continued this project still having no signed contract in hand because I trusted you. You were not at the job site from start to finish and your husband put my contract on the table. (My first sign I should have walked away). Every time I walked by to see if the contract was signed, your husband would pick up the phone. . My subcontractor and I were deep into the process of cutting and fitting the inferior materials, working outside to keep dust and particles away from the interior. The temperature outside was dropping and we had to try and stay warm by working as fast as possible under very difficult conditions. We used extreme care, making sure the material did not break as it was so brittle made from glue and overrun assembly line dust. This job used every skill we had to control our hands while trying to protect the inferior product you chose and wanted us to use for the work. When you say “This was a small job that took a day and a half plus we had already purchased most of the materials” this shows that your recollection of the scale of the work is off point. You hired me as a professional since this was not a small job and your husband himself could not do this work. You only had a few pieces of material we could use. We both know that when I arrived I had to supply most materials, the cost of which was agreed upon with you. Finally, you state that we are “badgering” you by sending you a bill for work performed. The truth is you still have a balance due of a mere $299.14 for a well finished job. Your husband himself told both me and my sub contractor how nice the project came out. If Sending an Invoice is badgering then all contractors should stop sending them."
Bob G.
Jan 2014
Maintained incredible messy site,the experience was very very stressful his main metal subcontractor walked off the job after two weeks handed me his business card told me not to trust him and give him a call when job is done and roof leaks ,his words unfortunately proved true.I had the roof independently inspected after completion was told it was shoddy work get a lawyer and don't pay another cent FYI my beautiful standing seam roof does have a few leaks
Response from Brent Harlow Designer/Builder
"I have roofed over twenty homes, all within the local area. Anyone looking for a roofing job, could call me, and I would provide references from satisfied clients. I could also direct you to my albums on the internet of my completed roofs. You asked a neighborhood contractor who worked on your driveway if he knew anyone who could handle the roofing project. He recommended me because he and I have worked together on several projects and he has experienced my workmanship. It is surprising that almost a year and a half later; you would air this grievance, particularly, since you were present for an inspection by Harvey Industry, in which he found my work to be without fault, and representative of his company. There were no leaks, then, and at a later time, should that have occurred, it would be the proper thing to contact me, and I could have corrected it then and there. My belief is, if there was a leak, you did not contact me because there is still an outstanding balance on your account, which you have not dealt with yet. I finished the roof, even while you were not paying me, as my ethics would not allow me to leave an open roof! In my initial inspection I took pictures of the roof of your home. The roof was completely neglectfully open to the elements with major roofing and plywood completely gone. Rain damage and stains were present inside and outside the walls where the water had been entering for more than 25 years saturating the insulation, making nesting for rodents easy. When Hurricane Katrina was on its way, before the job started, I came over and covered your roof at no charge to you, as a courtesy. At that time, you expressed much appreciation. I wonder still where the mistrust started. The sub-contractor you are likely referring to was hired for a two week period. I no longer needed his services to complete the roof. It would not be in keeping with the integrity of a man of his professional stature to engage in damaging the reputation of another professional colleague. I and two other professional roofers completed the job. As you requested I ordered an inspection from Harvey Industries which I have on video. His comments in front of you were all positive and we all noticed you did not argue with his inspection. Whenever we start a job of this magnitude, it seems like too much material is arriving and being laid out too fast. That is how the job gets done and we kept metal separated (by material) in bens because we have to separate metal, vinyl, aluminum, and shingles at our local recycling center. I would recommend anyone to contact some of the other Angie’s list members who know and rate my work on how we keep the job site clean and when finished remove all materials and waste off the site. On one point, we do agree. Your roof came out perfectly beautiful!"
Frank M.
Aug 2013
Went very well. Brent is very professional and works very efficiently.
Benjamin F.
Jul 2013
As usual, Brent and his crew did a fantastic job. This area of the yard had been sinking due to formerly buried stumps and was ruining my concrete skirting. Other workmen had tried to fix it, but could not. Brent came and assessed the issue and fixed it permanently. They make concrete pilings on which to place a steel bar support for the skirting. While finishing that job he also repaired a leak that had developed on one of my skylights. All done at a reasonable price. He called after our latest rainstorm to check on the leak. That is the professional way to do things.
Paula B.
Apr 2013
Brent began the project on time, he kept at it with a few breaks which was fine with me as I was not on a time schedule and some of his other clients were. He had several men help him at different periods of time and I found them all to be both courteous and professional. The work in the basement is completed and looks very nice, but the important part for me was not the presentation so much as the soundness of the work, that the basement would be warm and old mice infested insulation disposed of, that the water now flows to the outside, and the area is presentable to clients who come to the house.
Brent is very pleasant to work with, and he was generous with his willingness to follow through with my requests on how to behave around the dogs that I work with. He not only followed my instructions but was careful to fill anyone else in who might be working with him that day.
I trust Brent, I would never worry about leaving my home to him. He is concerned about the people he works with, and very much wants to complete a job to the satisfaction of the owner.
I did not choose Brent to do the largest project only because of the many requirements of speciality workers needed to complete the job including site excavation, plumbing and septic work, electrical, fencing, as well as building. It was too large for a small business to try to complete in a short period of time but I do not doubt that Brent (given sufficient time) could have put together a group to do the job well.
Brent s strongest attribute I believe is his ability to problem solve and create unique spaces. He thinks quickly and clearly spends time while away from the job thinking about the best way to go about a project or solve a problem
Brent is very pleasant to work with, and he was generous with his willingness to follow through with my requests on how to behave around the dogs that I work with. He not only followed my instructions but was careful to fill anyone else in who might be working with him that day.
I trust Brent, I would never worry about leaving my home to him. He is concerned about the people he works with, and very much wants to complete a job to the satisfaction of the owner.
I did not choose Brent to do the largest project only because of the many requirements of speciality workers needed to complete the job including site excavation, plumbing and septic work, electrical, fencing, as well as building. It was too large for a small business to try to complete in a short period of time but I do not doubt that Brent (given sufficient time) could have put together a group to do the job well.
Brent s strongest attribute I believe is his ability to problem solve and create unique spaces. He thinks quickly and clearly spends time while away from the job thinking about the best way to go about a project or solve a problem
Susan B.
Feb 2013
We have owned our home for 5 years and never before had a problem with water in the basement. This past spring and again this fall we had 2-3" of standing water in the basement. There was a drain that had been installed when the home was built (we are not the original owners) and we felt the water was backing up through this drain. We thought we would need a sump pump installed to adress this issue. Brent explored finding out where this floor drain actually drained to and then was able to clear the pipe. He did this by removing several sections of the concrete floor, finding the exisiting drain pipe, opening up the pipe and using a 100 foot auger to clear it. He also located the end of the drainage pipe in our yard and cleared away the brush and used straw bales to keep the opening from reclogging with yard debris. He then repaired the openings in our floor with fresh concrete and left our basement clean and our problem fixed. We appreciated that fact that he worked on solving the problem rather than just installing a sump pump, that would have been more costly to us. After the problem was identified and before it was fixed, the local weater had some very heavy rain. Brent contacted us and made the extra effort on his day off to go by our property and check to make sure that water was not again flooding the basement. We appreciated his prompt attention to our problems and felt he really went above and beyond in terms of service.
Lee L.
Feb 2013
Brent seemed to know what he was talking about and this was a very difficult repair job. Other contractors would not even attempt it. He did work hard and there was some improvement, but the metal roof continues to leak. Keep in mind that parts of the roof underneath are from 50 years old to three hundred years old. And the original shingle roof was not water tight before the metal roof was put on top.
Cynthia G.
Nov 2012
Called him we were going out of town. Our friends met him he told them when he would come. I returned home fireplace is fixed.
Benjamin F.
Sep 2012
Brent brought a helper with him and as you would like any contractor to be, he knew resources, arranged for the digging to be done by a front loader, secured stone, raked the area and packed the stone. He waited a day for the concrete to cure, removed the form, and completed the job by cleaning up. He kept in touch by phone, email and in person so I was informed at all times about the progress.
He was concerned and made sure I was satisfied at all points along the way. He is pleasant to deal with and easy to converse with which made the job a pleasure. He went above the requirements to ensure it was a job he could be proud of, in spite of the fact that I was satisfied. He wanted to do the best he could. I certainly would recommend him to others and call on him again should I need it.
He was concerned and made sure I was satisfied at all points along the way. He is pleasant to deal with and easy to converse with which made the job a pleasure. He went above the requirements to ensure it was a job he could be proud of, in spite of the fact that I was satisfied. He wanted to do the best he could. I certainly would recommend him to others and call on him again should I need it.
Paul M.
Jul 2012
Brent is a conscientious worker. There were a couple of damage issues that popped-up where unintended surface damage occurred to the driveway from the use of an excavator. He returned later to repair the blacktop. Additionally, when some water ended-up in the basement during the chimney work, he immediately addressed the issue to avoid any other problems.
On the second job, the initial quote for this work was exceeded due to the addition of the chimney cap and the extra unanticipated work, but this additional work was discussed during the progress and the excess cost was reasonable in my opinion.
Brent initially appears a little "rough-around-the-edges", but his diligence, work ethic, and sincerity are top-notch. I recommend Brent for any building or repair work to be done. I recommend calling him to discuss any potential building, design, and repair work. I think you'll be happy with the result. Brent is responsive via both phone and email.
On the second job, the initial quote for this work was exceeded due to the addition of the chimney cap and the extra unanticipated work, but this additional work was discussed during the progress and the excess cost was reasonable in my opinion.
Brent initially appears a little "rough-around-the-edges", but his diligence, work ethic, and sincerity are top-notch. I recommend Brent for any building or repair work to be done. I recommend calling him to discuss any potential building, design, and repair work. I think you'll be happy with the result. Brent is responsive via both phone and email.
Carol D.
Jun 2012
Mr Harlow showed up with a helper and was on time. He finished the project in about the time frame he gave For the most part, he did a good job but didn't seem too keen on following the instructions and parts list that came with the kit. There were a number of instances where he said that parts were missing but when my husband looked at the parts list, he found them.When finished with the job, everything was cleaned up, no mess left behind. We did find a few things that were not installed correctly and my husband took care of them.Mr Harlow emailed the bill and called a few days later to find out if we had mailed the check yet.
Response from Brent Harlow Designer/Builder
"I truly enjoyed the process of putting the greenhouse together. I appreciated that all of the pieces of the kit were laid out, by the owner, prior to my arrival. Unfortunately, the directions to the kit were not supplied for me at the start of the project, until I stressed the importance of implicitly following them. I'm not sure what happened to the original directions, but the owner did make an attempt to supply them, by printing off, from the website instructions, which turned out to be for a different kit. Fortunately, an hour or so later, the original directions miraculously appeared, and we were were able to correct the minor errors made, and successfully finish the greenhouse. Member Comments:"
NORMAN S.
Jan 2012
They did a really beautiful job, they added some insights and quality that made the job come out even better.
Cynthia C.
Jun 2011
not well
Response from Brent Harlow Designer/Builder
"Thank you for your review. I enjoy hearing about how others view my work once it is completed. The member contacted me and said he needed this fixed right away, so I left the current job at the police dept to come over and take care of the member’s emergency. This is just down the street. When I arrived and looked at the site, the customer wanted me to fix the situation right away. I agreed to convert his copper pipe fittings to adapt to PEX fitting. (plastic fittings that require no soldering.) When I called on Sunday to see if her husband (who solely worked with me on this addition)wanted to finish the job. No response was given I then understood that the member had poor eyesight and also did not know how to solder copper. His hope was to have me get the system changed over to the plastic pipe so he could do the work himself. I was not asked to leave and had a nice chat with the maintenance man about solar hot water systems."
Allan S.
May 2011
We have worked with quite a few contractors over the years. Brent Harlow has really impressed us with his overall professionalism. As you can see from the list above, he is well-versed in almost every aspect of what a contractor needs to know these days. About the only thing that he did not do for us is pour concrete, and that's saying a lot. Brent has been most responsive to our needs, and when things did not go right, he would make every effort to fix them as soon as possible. This would include coming out on weekends, and even replying to a frantic call at 2 am when a smoke alarm would not turn off. From designing, to ordering materials, to installing, to clean up, Brent has been very competent. Unlike some contractors we've worked with, Brent communicates very well. He was always on email answering our questions, sending us suggested drawings, and explaining things well. He knows CAD software so he is able to provide electronic versions of proposed changes. His prices have been more than fair, and the pride in his workmanship is obvious when you see his work. He also takes care to employ similar-minded subcontractors. He has also done work for other family members. We recommend him highly.
Response from Brent Harlow Designer/Builder
"I am so busy that I have not even taken a moment to thank you formally. It is truly amazing to have people call me from reading your write up on AL. I just wanted to take a min and tell you that because of you, I have been working for many different people. I actually have hired others to help with the bigger jobs like the Police Station in Plymouth and Now the Fire Station addition. We are doing excavation for new drainage systems around beautiful homes on Lake Winnipisawkie. This is just to let you know and thank you. I am still keeping my promise to take care of any concern you have with your addition, and I will be checking the addition this week to make sure all is running and water tight. Brent"
NORMAN S.
Feb 2009
I am very pleased with the quality of his work. On larger jobs he hires people to help him but is always around to supervise, check quality and work along side. He has a very high standard of integrity, a comitment to quality and works hard. I am always confident that i am getting my moneys worth from him I highly reccomend him for any job large or small. I wish I new him when I built my home 6 years ago. I would have saved a lot of money.
Licensing
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FAQ
Brent Harlow Designer/Builder is currently rated 4.3 overall out of 5.
No, Brent Harlow Designer/Builder does not offer free project estimates.
No, Brent Harlow Designer/Builder does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
No, Brent Harlow Designer/Builder does not offer a senior discount.
No, Brent Harlow Designer/Builder does not offer emergency services.
No, Brent Harlow Designer/Builder does not offer warranties.