THE GREAT INDOORS

They came to our house to repair it and they didn't charge us anything. this place is great. they were on time they were cordial. they wre kind and just did their job and left.

We knew going in to this process that we were wanting a completely new floor plan and would be gutting the room clear down to the studs. We had ideas as to what we wanted changed and new things to be incorporated however we were looking at the "big picture" which is not at all close to having a "finished" idea for an extensive remodel. We used their designer services to help us better define exactly what we wanted. The specific designer we used is no longer with The Great Indoors but it was a very pleasant experience. Trish took all the stress out of the process. She knew all of the components that would be involved in a project of this size, She helped us to identify our preferred style, and to show us alternatives. She was wonderful in researching various options we wanted in specific products. The Great Indoors also incorporates a Project Manager into its process. The Project Manager is the intermediary between the designer and the contractor/sub-contractor to ensure that the project specifications are met. Initially our project manager was to be one person but because of staff changes it was then a different individual, Jeff. Jeff was very good at keeping us apprised of changes in the situation. Jeff coordinated materials to make sure that the ordered materials were in-hand prior to the job being started. The process itself can be a little more difficult as there are strictly enforced communication-chains that are maintained. If the homeowner sees something that they want changed they can not tell the individual who is actually performing the work, rather the homeowner must call the project manager who calls the contractor who then calls the person performing the work. This mode of communication was very different with what we were accustomed as we were used to speaking directly to the worker to get something completed. However, The Great Indoors prefers that all work "change orders" be handled by its staff so sometimes it is a little more cumbersome. We found the Designer service to be extremely cost effective. We didn't really comparison-shop the cost of implementation/installation service, rather The Great Indoors knew what we wanted and could work within the confines of what we wanted done. The estimate for the time the project would entail (as quoted by the designer) was significantly understated. The Great Indoors chose their contractor well and held them to specific standards. We have a bathroom that we are exceptionally pleased with. It's completion is a result of the coordinated efforts of the designer, the project manager, and the contractors/sub contractors (Rocco Cariffa, Eastway Plumbing). The staff turnover concerned us but it came out ok in the end as the designer continued to help us with some decisions even after she left the employment of The Great Indoors. The final Project Manager wasn't the individual helping us with the planning but did work hard to ensure that the project's completion was what we wanted.

Install coordination was very bad, as noone from The Great Indoors ever followed up with us to finalize the install price or install date. We had to follow up with several calls (after leaving numerous messages for an install coordinator who apparently left the company?). Eventually, the install was completed, but they delivered a scratch and dent refrigerator (twice). Dishwasher install went okay. Oven/microwave combo install okay, but cabinet cut-out was a little off. The 25 cuft refrigerator makes a constant fish tank humming sounds (4x's lounder than my old unit), that we have a service call in for - stay tuned.

They have been wonderful! They have worked out so well with us! After this is done, we will for sure have them help us with our two bathrooms. They are phenomenal!

Really good price and really good customer service.

I placed an order for tile and was told the tile would take a week to ten days to come in. After a week I called for a status and at that time I was told the tile was on backorder and would not be available for shipping for over a month. I was never told the tile was on back order when it was originally ordered. After speaking with the supervisor and being told nothing could be done except to order different tile I canceled my entire order.

My dryer quit about a month ago. I started calling on the second of January. I spent 2 hours and 50 minutes on the phone with them, and spoke with 27 different people. The last person, Kim, at 487-286-2500. She informed me that they don't fix their dryers, and that it was my responsibility to arrange the repair though it still has warranty. I called Australia, who got me in touch with a local repairman. Someone to fix it was supposed to come out, but never showed.

We approached a guy named Andy Evyerman to help us with our purchase. I had been shopping for bathroom sinks and commodes for almost a week and with the special sale, I could save almost half from other stores. I gathered the fixtures for both the toilet and sink, and asked if there was anything else needed to complete the purchase to take full advantage of the special sale. I had to wait from Wednesday to the following Sunday for the sale to be rung. My brother and another guy arranged to pick up the fixtures and install on Monday. The day after I'd visited Great Indoors, my brother had me call the store to be sure we had all the appropriate PLUMBING lines to install the toilet and sink. Andy maintained we had everything we needed. We started to install the toilet and didn't have a water supply line! I called G.I. and this item was NOT included in the purchase. I had to go and find one. After the toilet was installed, it did not come with a seat, nor did Andy sell me one.

BY 12:30, NO ONE HAD SHOWN UP. I CALLED THE SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD CANCELLED THE APPT. I TOLD HIM I HAD NOT, AND HE TRANSFERRED ME TO ADRIANNA, WHO SAID THEY LOGGED A CALL AT 8:09 THAT THE UNIT WAS FIXED. SHE FINALLY CALLED AND SAID THEY COULD SEND A TECH OUT BETWEEN 1-5, AND THAT I COULD "GO OUT AND DO WHATEVER I WANTED" BEFORE THEY SHOWED UP. I TOLD HER IT WAS CURRENTLY 12:57. THE REPAIRMAN CAME, AND SAID HE TOO WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE MODEL. HE WAS THERE QUITE A WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MATCH THE HANDLES UP. HE DRILLED A HOLE INTO THE DOOR, BUT DIDN'T NEED TO USE IT, BUT SAID THAT IT WOULDN'T SHOW ANYWAY. HE KEPT ARGUING WITH ME THAT I HAD CALLED AND CANCELLED THE EARLIER APPT. HE ORDERED MORE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR, AND WE MADE ANOTHER REPAIR APPOINTMENT. THE LAST SERVICE MAN THAT CAME OUT WAS EXTREMELY QUICK, POLITE, AND PUT THE NEW LEG ON IN NO TIME. I WAS UNHAPPY WITH THE FACT THAT WE BOUGHT THE UNITS FROM ONE COMPANY, BUT HAD ALL THE TROUBLE WITH SEARS.

HAD 4 QUOTES FOR GRANITE COUNTERTOPS, AND THIS COMPANY WAS THE HIGHEST.

THEY INSTALLED CARPET IN OUR HOUSE LAST YEAR (IN ALL ROOMS BUT TWO) AND DID A GREAT JOB. THEY APPARENTLY, THOUGH, HAVE GOTTEN TOO BUSY OR SOMETHING. THEY INSTALLED CARPET IN ONE OF THE TWO REMAINING ROOMS IN JUNE 2004. AND ALTHOUGH WE PAID FOR THEM IN JUNE, WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR 4 BOUND AREA RUGS...AFTER COUNTLESS CALLS TO THE GREAT INDOORS, THE OLD CARPET INSTALLER, AND THE NEW CARPET BINDING COMPANY. WE DO NOT PLAN TO DO BUSINESS WITH THEM AGAIN.

SUB-CONTRACTOR DID THE INSTALLATION, BUT WAS WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH. HE WORKED QUICKLY, BUT WAS VERY THOROUGH AND FRIENDLY.

MAKE SURE THE ESTIMATE YOU RECEIVE IS FOR THE ENTIRE JOB. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ESTIMATE BEING JUST FOR THE LABOR ONLY AND NOT FOR THE MATERIALS. THINGS MAY BE BETTER WITH THE COMPANY FOR OTHERS SINCE THERE IS A NEW MANAGER WHO DID TAKE CARE OF ALL CONCERNS. I HAD TO RE PAINT TRIM WORK AND THE CLEAN UP WAS TERRIBLE.

I DEALT WITH A LONG-TERM EMPLOYEE AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT MANAGER, AND DIDN'T FIND THAT EITHER COMMUNICATED WELL WITH ME ABOUT LATE ORDERS, OR KNEW THE INTRACACIES OF CUSTOM FRAMING. IT MAY BE FINE FOR FRAMING POSTERS, BUT I WOULD NOT TRUST THEM WITH MY ORIGINAL ART.

THEIR SALES PEOPLE ARE ON THE BALL. WE ALSO FOUND THE LIGHT FIXTURES, KITCHEN COUNTER STOOLS, KITCHEN SINK & FAUCET FIXTURES, DRAWER PULLS AND CUPBOARD HANDLES FOR OUR KITCHEN REMODEL PROJECT. THEY SUBCONTRACTED THE COUNTERTOP INSTALLATION. THEY QUICKLY RESPONDED AND RESOLVED ANY PROBLEMS.

THE APPLIANCE SALES PERSONS NEVER UNDERSTOOD (OR CARED TO KNOW ABOUT) THE BRAND THAT WE WANTED TO PURCHASE, AND WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION. AFTER THE PURCHASE WAS MADE, WE RECEIVED A CALL SAYING THAT THEY HAD LOST THEIR AUTHORIZATION TO SELL THAT LINE (SURPRISE!). WE SETTLED FOR A FLOOR-DISPLAY UNIT, WHICH SAVED A LOT OF MONEY BUT DID NOT HAVE ALL THE FEATURES THAT WE WANTED. AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY, THE TEAM HAD NOT BEEN TOLD THE DETAILS OF THE TRANSACTION (INSTALL THE UNIT, REMOVE THE OLD ONE) - AND OF COURSE THEY DIDN''T KNOW THE MODEL THEY WERE INSTALLING EITHER.

I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT RAYMOND. HE WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT I EXPECTED.

WHILES THE SALES PEOPLE WERE VERY FRIENDLY THE INSTALLATION WAS POOR. WE WON''T RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY TO ANYBODY FOR INSTALLATIONS OF ANY TYPE.