Rahmann Contracting

I liked that he made an appointment with me, within a few days of my first contact. he called me as he was arriving for the appointment, he arrived at the appointment time, he sent a written estimate, he took detailed measurements, and everything he said made sense. He was very professional, and if I had a job like this to do, and it was my decision, not mine and my neighbors, then I would've gone with him.

I have owned my house for almost three years, and have had a large amount of water seeping through my foundation wall the entire time during heavy rains. This has caused me some of most horrible stress I've endured in my life, as I'm sure others who have experienced it can attest to. After reading about Rahmann on Angie's List, I decided to call them because they seemed to be the best fit for the job. When I was able to finally get someone (after MANY calls), Kaiser promptly came out to my house for an estimate of the work. This was all in early May, 2012. This was a somewhat complex job because it required access through a neighbor's yard, and dismantling of a fence and some decking in order to get to the side of my house. Kaiser responded with a quote via email the next day telling me the work would take 7 weeks (!) and cost $21,000.00. I wasn't thrilled with this, and neither was my neighbor, but I had called in a few other contractors to look at the job and they had all not gotten back to me, so I decided I would bite the bullet, dip into my savings, and get the job done. I called Kaiser and told him I'd like to move ahead and get them a deposit and sign the contracts; he told me no deposit was necessary, and that he was going to be taking a vacation for a few weeks, and we could take care of the contracts when he returned. I was anxious to get the work done, but up until that point, Kaiser had been nothing but professional, so I took him at his word that he was committed to the work and that it would commence when he returned in late June (we had decided that we would start the work on Monday, June 24, 2012). He gave me some other numbers for people at Rahmann (namely Mohammed) that I could call to coordinate with in his absence, which I appreciated. During Kaiser's leave, whenever I called Mohammed, I would have to jog his memory as to who I was, which I didn't think much of; they're a contracting company, and I'm sure they're busy. Fine. Upon Kaiser's return, it seemed everything was ready to go. Kaiser came back to my property again to review the job, and everything seemed great. Now, because of the scope of the work that Kaiser proposed (i.e., excavating down 8 feet as well as back from the wall 8 feet), my neighbor had to have her contractor pull up her deck and her fence, as well as some very rare Japanese trees that she had just had put in recently. This all cost quite a bit; I should know, because I had to pay for it as stipulated in the result of a lengthy legal back-and-forth, one that was based purely on the proposal Kaiser sent me outlining the work. On the Monday before the job was to begin, Kaiser called me and told me that because of multiple flights he had taken oversees, he was losing hearing in one of his ears and, as a result, was feeling "mentally unstable," and couldn't continue with my job. Needless to say, I was distraught. I was sympathetic, but for a company to drop such a large job because one person wasn't feeling up to it? In my eyes, completely inexcusable. I had already paid my neighbor so she could take care of what she needed to on her end to prepare for the job, and now I was left in a position of scrambling to find a new contractor to get this work done so we could all get back to our normal lives. I got back on Angie's List, and found a waterproofing company in Long Island that came to look at the job. Get THIS: They quoted me $3600 for the entire job, and told me it would take 1 day to complete. They also told me they only needed to excavate back just over 2 feet, making a majority of the work I had already paid to have done completely irrelevant and unnecessary. Naturally, I decided to go with this new company (E&M Waterproofing), and signed a contract with them immediately. They came and did the job this past Monday (July 9, 2012), and they were absolutely outstanding. Long story short: thanks for absolutely nothing, Rahmann. Actually, no: thanks for needlessly costing me thousands of dollars for having faith that you would follow through with your commitments. Shame on me for not insisting on a signed contract, but ultimately, I got the job done for 1/7th of the cost and in 1/35th of the time of your estimate, so perhaps I SHOULD thank you for backing out and forcing me to find a company that is actually worth their A rating on Angie's List. However, I'm still out many thousands of dollars for unnecessary work in my neighbor's yard based on your proposal, so I think I'll save any thanks I have left in me for E&M, who truly deserves them. If you DO think Rahmann is the right fit for the work you're planning, GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING. I have never felt so cheated on so many different levels by a contracting company (and believe me, I've been CHEATED, big time), and I find it hard to believe that if Rahmann ever tries to rebut this review, they'll be able to do so in an even half-way convincing manner. UPDATE (7/19/2012): Thanks for the response, but there was never any evidence that the wall needed any improvement in terms of its structural integrity. Kaiser never looked below the grade of the soil; if he had, he would have found that wall's mortar was largely in tact, and that no further work beyond a waterproofing membrane would have been necessary. In fact, our original seepage issues never came from anywhere below two feet underneath the soil line, something I explained to Kaiser at our first meeting. I appreciate Rahmann wanting to be thorough, but at the same time I can't help but feel that Kaiser was trying to upsell me on work that wasn't wholly necessary. I understand that stuff happens, and I feel for Kaiser, honestly. But ultimately, the fact is that Rahmann backed out of a job that was contingent on other factors, such as my neighbor's access and cooperation, and I had taken it on good faith (even AFTER Kaiser told me to postpone signing of contracts and delivery of deposits, etc.) that they would make good on their promises. The reason they never heard from me was because A) I was livid, not understanding why their company didn't have contingencies for when key staff members take ill or are otherwise unavailable and B) I had found a contractor who knew what they were doing, were COMMUNICATIVE, and saved me a bundle of both money and time, and while I was happy about this, that doesn't excuse how I was treated by Rahmann.

They were fair priced and the work went well. They did a really good job. They were on time and showed up every day. They are very dependable. I had some quibbles with the level of neatness and detail in their work but overall they did a good job.

He was very good. I liked him very much. He was competitive in price and very reliable. He was also very professional and I would definitely recommend him.

It went very well. Kaiser Sanwipi came promptly to give me an estimate, and although it was much higher than the other estimate we got, we could tell he would do a better quality job. The men arrived on time every day, tried to keep the dirt out of the house as much as possible, and cleaned up their materials and tools in the back every day before leaving. They did a beautiful job; it looks great. They worked hard, and finished in 5 weeks, instead of the originally estimated 6 weeks.Kaiser was always responsive by phone, and answered all questions clearly and professionally. He, or another supervisor, came by every week to check on the progress.We would definitely use them again (though I hope we won't need to!)

After we called for a consultation, an appointment was made for a few days later. Someone arrived promptly for the appointment and provided an estimate for the work. An appointment was then made for the work to be done a few days later. We were told that the work may take two days, but they were able to finish all of the work in less than one day. To our untrained eyes, the work looks excellent. We have not had any problems since the work was done.

I met with several contractors on Angie's List and some locally recommended contractors. I liked Mohammed Hye of Rahmann Contracting the best right away. He took an interest in the job and came across as informed and a genuinely nice person. He listened and understood the concerns that I had, and that it was important for the finished product to look historic. His team worked to produce the best possible results. It was important to them that I be happy with the finished product. The workers were all very nice and good at their craft. They would show up at 8am consistently and worked until 3:30pm. I gave them the key to the house. They were always polite and trustworthy. The stone masons did some very beautiful flower work in the limestone and the brownstone work they did looks great - everyone comments about this. When I had a problem with some brick work that looked slightly crooked they took it down and did it perfectly straight without it being an issue. I intend to hire them again for the back of the house. Mohammed handled getting the permits and was also very helpful creatively in selecting colors of mortar and talking me through the process. I never felt pressured for more money or that it was a rush job. Care was taken to do the job right from the very beginning. My neighbors are also thrilled with the results and have asked for their info. I will be recommending them to my friends.

Mohammed Hye, who supervised the work, was consistenty professional and responsive. He dealt with Landmarks and the Community Board to gain approvals, which was extremely helpful. The workers were always punctual and cleaned up after they were finished each day. We are happy with the quality of the work and felt the price was very fair. It was a positive experience. The only caveats are: 1) the company does not have an artisan on staff who could do finishing on the masonry handrail 2) the company does not seem to be that experienced doing deck work.

Ask if replacement features, like bricks will match originals remaining on surface. If scaffolding will enclose trees, ask about potential damage to tree and plans, if any, for addressing that issue.

I received a follow-up phone call where Kaiser provided us with all the information we could possibly need. He went over all the specifications and the processes that would be needed. He spent a lot of time on the phone giving advice even though he knew we would probably go with another vendor because of his scheduling.

They were very responsive and polite. They came out and gave us an estimate. It was for $6000. It was good, but we ended up not using them.

While this was a long project (approximately 8 weeks, with the crew working elsewhere on another project for 1.5 weeks) we are very impressed with the work and professionalism of the company. Kaiser Sandwipi was very responsive, and checked in regularly throughout the project to keep us informed. As is to be expected in a project of this nature, the total cost exceeded the original estimate, but we have been pleased with Rahmann Contracting Co.'s work and performance. We have received an estimate from them to replace our roof, and are considering hiring them for this project as well.

There is not much to say-they came to look at my sidewalk which I wanted replaced. They said they'd send an estimate and I never heard back from them.

It was a free estimate. The guy showed up when he said he would show up. He did the estimate, and he sent it to me. It was all good.

the owner was very professional and thoroughly explained what needed to be done & sent me e-mail outlining it all.

The workmen showed up on time, bright and early every day, and were already hard at work by AM. They put in full days' work, working until PM and taking very short breaks--in spite of the fact that on several days they were working in 100-degree heat. They returned on consecutive weekdays until the job was completed. The progress of the job was methodical, working from one side of the building to the other. They brought all the materials and tools they needed. They worked quietly but terribly hard, and took obvious pride in the quality of their workmanship. The workmen were polite, friendly, and tidy, careful to clean up at the end of the day; all they ever asked for was water. They laid a track of paper down in the basement to go back and forth between the back and front, and did absolutely no damage to the property; they never obliged us to clean up anything. We got more than one estimate for this job. Nearly all our neighbors have employed the same contractor, Amin Home Improvements, who do a good job, but boy do you pay for it. Amin would have rebuilt the facade, but done nothing for the lintels, trellis, or waterproofing sealant on the back and side, for $17K--more than 7 grand more. Rahmann was willing to do much more work for much less money, and we were glad we went with the less expensive and more comprehensive contract. The only frustration we confronted was communication--all the workers are Bangladeshi, and their English is close to nonexistent. But the proprietor, Mohammed Hye, himself has quite good English, and he could get across any directions or concerns to his crew; the fact that Mohammed made regular visits to the site was comforting, too. His workmen's comprehension of the English compliment "good job!" spoke well for previous customers' satisfaction.

3 men worked on the job for 3 days. They were at all times pleasant and courteous and most important they came on time. They worked pretty steadily from AM to PM. They cleaned up each day and left no mess for me. Surprisingly, Mohammed did not ask for any down payment and did not come for his check until a day after the job was completed. As far as I can remember this has never happened before. Mohammed told me that he wants his clients to get more than they thought they were getting. How unique!

This job went much faster than I'd anticipated, which was much appreciated. I was impressed with the efficiency and punctuality of the worker who did all the work -- and the owner of this company is professional, responsive and knowledgeable. He was very accommodating in terms of scheduling, and returned all emails promptly. Will gladly use this company again for other work.

Shopping around Angie's list, I found a number of masonry companies that gave free estimates. I chose Rahmann Contractors as the company, after their representative, Kaiser, came out to look at the wall, sent me an official statement of actual costs unlike the other companies which either handwrote possible estimates or gave them verbally. What really impressed me and caught my attention was that he actually listened to me rather than brush off my comments as to what I specifically wanted in the re-construction of the wall and took them into account. The rebuilding of the wall was done in approximately three weeks by the construction crew who were not only efficient and responsible, but were meticulous in cleaning up any debris. They were especially careful stepping about my garden and where to leave materials given the space they had to work in while preparing the new wall. Overall, I was impressed by the quality of service, professionalism and attention to detail that was provided and I would use the company over again anytime. Although the final costs of the retaining wall was above the original estimate due to unforeseeable increases, I was very pleased with the final product.

Mohammed responded promptly to my Angies List request for an estimate. We quickly agreed on terms and a date. His crew arrived on time and did a great job, finishing the whole thing in three days, and didn't make a mess during it because they erected a plastic tent around the work area, and removed all debris.

Although it took a week for the company to respond to our initial internet inquiry, it was worth the wait. Mohammed came to our home and did an extremely thorough analysis of our situation, making recommendations that ultimately make a significant improvement in our basement flooding problems. Workers were prompt, courteous and neat. Communication with Mohammed was excellent. He answered every one of my questions on a daily basis and was always easy to reach by cellphone. The cost was fair and even a few thousand dollars less than a competing contractor. Overall the company did a very professional and skilled job. The work is beautiful and I have no complaints. We have already hired the company for another project.

Mr Sandwipi visited the site promptly after my initial call and provided a description of the work required and an estimate of the approximate cost within a day or two of his visit. He discovered that damage to the first floor stoop that I had not recognized. He also warned that the job might be delayed by the company's work schedule. The predicted delay did occur but Mr Sandwipi did keep in touch and was prepared to do the work during the winter. Unfortunately the multiple blizzards of January and February pushed the work back to the end of February. The work site crew was polite and industrious. They took great care to discuss and plan the reconstruction work with a view to controlling the flow of rainwater away from the house. Anthony kept me fully informed regarding changes in the day to day schedule caused by rainfall. When the need to reconstruct the drain and vent pipe was discovered during the demolition of the cellar steps, the matter was fully discussed and explained and the additional cost above the initial estimate was reasonable. Mr Sandwipi and his crew chief on the site, Anthony, kept in regular contact with me both in person and by cell phone during the work. When the driver of the container removal truck made a mess and left debris on the sidewalk after the job had been completed, Mr Sandwipi immediately brought his crew to the scene and cleaned up the mess. Four of my neighbors who are home owners have viewed the work and asked me for the name and address of the contractor. Two of my neighbors who have done construction work have viewed the site and expressed respect for the work congratulated me on my choice of contractor. Despite the initial delay, I am pleased and satisfied with the final result.

CALLED TWICE DID NOT RESPOND FOR ESTIMATE

The estimate was expensive, but their customer service was fine. We had to reschedule a couple of times. There was some detail which made the estimate rather high. I am in construction, so I knew it. The material costs were less than a third of the total cost of the estimate. They wanted us to pay for work that was not yet done.

I called this company to inquire about some deck repair work that I needed done. When the company called me back, the first thing the employee said was ?we?re very expensive.? I told him I was on the other line and asked him to call me back in 30 minutes, and after some deliberation, he told me he would, but never did.