Calafiore Construction & Development

I hired Calafiore Construction to install a tile floor in my kitchen area. Mark was a pleasure to work with from beginning (getting an estimate) to the end (everything installed and final touches made). Everything happened in a timely manner, and the final result is great!

The contractor had to finish the job, but did not Did not install the roof fans part of the contract. Exposed nails found in the shingles. Did not finish the roof cap-still open. Roof edge detail was totally messed up, when detail was part of the contract. Had to hire another contractor to fix. Does not return calls, after paid almost for all of it. Cannot get in touch with him in the last 3 months to finish his job. You must remove this company from your approved list-this company is disgrace.

I am 32 years old and I live in Jersey City New Jersey most of my life. I am writing you because I have been having a very hard time in the past 2 years with a home improvement Contractor, Mark Calafiore. It all started back in Mid 2007. Mark came by with to survey the 2 family house in which I was living in. After a couple of negotiations we had agreed that it would cost $190,000 to completely renovate my home. This figure included all appliances and finishings. I took out a mortgage on the house in order to pay for the repairs. In late 2007 he started the work. I release the first payment to him so he could get started. He completely gutted the home and started with the plumbing and electrical. Things were going good so I release more payments to him and he began framing the house. In February of 2008 I release more money to him and he then disappeared. I tried numerous times to contact him with no luck. He left me with a house with no walls only frames and pluming. I contacted an acquaintance of his and through his acquaintance I was told he had to go out of town for some reason and he gave me several other excuses for avoiding me. The excuses were so ridiculous that I can?t remember what they were. He contacted me around October 2008 telling me he has been having a hard time because of the economy. I told him that had nothing to do with me. In a later conversation he said that he took the a big portion of the money I gave him and used it to fix up one of his investment houses. He told me when the house he used the money I gave him did not sell like he had expected, he took a loss on the property therefore losing the money that I gave him for my house. He then said he had some other projects in the works and he will use the money he got from those projects to finish my house. Which is ridiculous. The reason why I waited for him to fix up the house and not go with someone else is because he took the majority of the money I borrowed to fix up the house. I don?t have the money to pay for someone else to do it. I have also talked to numerous lawyers and they all said the same thing. They said I have a good case and I will win, the problem is collecting the money he stole. In April 2009 he came back to the house and put up the walls and primed them with paint. He partially tiled the two kitchens and he disappeared again. I have tried numerous times to contact him since April. It is now 2010 and I cannot move back into my house, I am paying rent I cannot afford, and a mortgage that I am having trouble paying because I have rent. This house needs to be done so I can move back in. Mark Calafiore keeps avoiding my calls and emails. I need help. This is not some house that I purchased off the market that I could not afford. My grandparents raised my brother, sister and I in this house after both of our parents died in 1988. When my grandparents passed away they left the house to us so we would have some place to live. The house got old, I wanted to fix it up so my brother sister and I could move back in. This situation is causing me so much stress and so many sleepless nights. Can you imagine being in this situation, where you had all the good intentions and this person totally screwed you over? I am doing everything I can to keep this house in. The house has been in my family for 33 years. Losing it will be devastating to me and my family. I have filed a complaint against Mark Calafiore and his company Calafiore Construction LLC. I filed with Consumer Affairs on October 12, 2009. I have also filed a complaint against his company with the Better Business Bureu on December 12, 2009. I will be pressing charges against him and his company. I am confident I will win the case but collect on the lawsuit will virtually impossible since Mark has threatened to file for bankruptcy. I have been trying my best to keep up with the rent and mortgage payments. Through the grace of God I have not been late on any of my payments. All of my funds have run out including the money I had put away for retirement and I am in desperate need of help!