Renaissance Inc - The House Whisperer

Renaissance was one of several Angie's List contractors we contacted for an estimate on our kitchen remodel/hardwood floor project. Todd and Shannon were by far the most professional, accommodating, and skilled/experienced to do the job. They worked within our budget and offered many ideas on where we could save money as well as knowledge on which areas would be more appropriate to splurge. Some of the contractors we interviewed couldn't come close to meeting our budget (one quoted us $5,000 to replace a french door!!) and another wouldn't give an estimate, preferring to 'build a relationship.' Other contractors said certain things couldn't be done---like venting our stove outside--Todd said this was no problem and it was finished quickly and easily. We showed Todd pictures of kitchens/flooring we liked and he brought samples to our home to choose from---a HUGE benefit when you have three kids 5 and under. He had excellent ideas of what finishes would look the best and what others with similar tastes as ours had chosen. After drawing up his initial plan, we thought of a change we wanted to make in the layout and Todd was able to include this change and quickly redraw the plans. Our initial great impression of Renaissance was only strengthened throughout the project. Shannon, one of Todd's team, did most of the intricate work on the kitchen, including installing the floor and back splash, as well as building the window seat. He even offered to work on Saturday to finish up. What was really impressive was his attention to detail and his strength of character--he wanted to do the best job possible because he takes pride in his work. He never cut corners and always left the kitchen clean and tidy. The results are stunning!!! The project lasted a little longer than scheduled, but not by much, and never because of Renaissance. I can't stress enough how much we trust Todd, Shannon, and the rest of their team and value their hard work and dedication to our project. They are great workers and great people. We look forward to using them in the future.

Everything went very well. The company was responsive to our questions, and the entire project ran very smoothly.

First contacted Rennaisance in early December(?). Very busy, so did not come out to provide estimate until January, At the time they were scheduling jobs for March. Quoted cost was reasonable and Todd said they could do one bath at a time so we would not be without at any time. Original quote included cost for some of the fixtures, etc. We ended up buying some of these ourselves and the price was adjusted accordingly. Job ultimately started at the end of April and was finished May 20, about two weeks later than original plan. Quality of work was very good and although job did take a little longer than planned, there was never a question that work would be done, just a some scheduling issues. Overall job was well managed. Renaissance did everything they said they would and were very trustworthy. A few things we asked for they could not oblidge, such as disposing of the mirrors and packing boxes. Maybe just good business but not convenient for us. Before job started, we asked for a second meeting to go over some questions, but it could not be arranged in the evening. Ended up handling everything through email.

We did the demo work ourselves. Todd Smith then recommended various companies that he works with to select cabinets, granite, tile and flooring. We were very impressed with Lori Shedlock at Palmer-Donavin Cabinets. She helped us select our cabinets and drew up plans of how they would look. We also worked with Kathie Reed at Hamilton Parker Tile to pick out backsplash. She was extremely patient and very helpful. Mees did our kitchen granite and they did a very nice job. Konkus Granite did out familyroom cabinet granite and also did a very nice job. Our original wood floors were finished by Lasting Impressions and he did an awesome job. Our kitchen floor had several layers of vinyl, glue and nails and was a mess underneath when we got to the original wood. Rick brought them back beautifully. He worked very hard and I was really impressed. All the sub contractors that Todd used were very polite and very easy to have in your house. His main carpenter, Shannon, did an excellent job. He was very easy to communicate with and he answered any questions and concerns I had quickly. All in all the kitchen turned out extremely well. We did run into snags in electrical and heating, but it was expected considering our house was built in the 1940's.

He provided me with additional information of things to consider like updating my electrical box. I told him I was trying to maximize my space and he gave me suggestions on how to do that. He was really a good listener and I felt like he would have been really good for the project. He gave a more detailed quote and in a timely fashion. He followed up with me with a phone call to see if I had any questions. I was torn on who to use but I ended going with someone else. He was really good in terms of the way he interacted with me. He really knew his stuff as far as remodeling projects. I would have trusted him to do the job well. It was close.

Much of the work was completed by subcontractors, including electrical, plumbing, drywall, carpentry, tile work and granite counter tops. We were very pleased with the electrical, plumbing, and carpentry work. The drywallers missed mudding several spots which we ended up finishing so we could complete our painting. We also thought they could have been neater. They did, however, do an excellent job matching the new ceilings to the existing ceilings. The tiler was late starting in both bathrooms and didn't clean the grout off of the tile in the hall bath. But, the tile with decorative borders looks great! The installation of the granite counter tops were our biggest disappointment. The hall bath counter top was installed first. When the plumber installed the faucet, the pull for the drain stopper hit the granite back splash, but it was still functional. When it came time for the master bath counter top, we showed the company rep. (Mees Distribution) the faucet problem in the hall bath and made it very clear adjustments needed to be made in the master bath so we wouldn't experience the marginally functional drain stopper pull. At template layout and prior to installation, we and Todd explained the situation with the faucet and were told they would take care of it. They even sank the master bath back splash into the the drywall. Well, when the plumber tried to install the new faucets, the pull couldn't even be installed, let alone be functional. The problem was resolved with a push button stopper, which Todd absorbed the cost. As an added problem the installers broke one of the side splashes during installation. The installers took it back to their trailer, repaired it, and installed it without telling us it was broken. After they left, we could see caulking in the crack and could even feel it. A company rep came back out and completed additional work on the side splash and it is now less noticeable. He offered to replace it, but we really liked the look of the granite and feared the damage that might occur during the replacement. All in all, the granite is beautiful, but the installation was very disappointing. (Note) We don't hold Todd responsible for the granite problem as we choose Mees as the provider. We are very pleased with the finished product. Todd did a great job scheduling the subcontractors, inspectors, etc. He and the subs were all great to work with and flexible when unforseen problems arose or when we requested changes, such as the heated floor. The final cost was right in line with the estimate along with the additional changes we chose to make during the process. We would not hesitate to hire Todd again or to recommend him to friends or family.

They did a great job at a great price. He was very detailed-oriented.

Todd had great ideas and advice. The project went extremely well. It was a pleasure working with Todd. He understood our old house and the finished new kitchen is wonderful to cook in. Highly recommended.

They are very personal and friendly. They could have cleaned up more at the end of each day.

It was all in all a more pleasant experience than I anticipated. Every sub that Todd used was competant, well-mannered and non-smokers. Although the finished plan was not exactly what I originally thought I wanted, Todd worked with me and the kitchen designer to come to a compromise that was workable given the restraints that inevitably came up. He was very good at coming up with solutions to problems that popped up. I love the new kitchen.

We enjoyed working with Todd, and his subcontractors were professional, clean, and efficient. He was able to keep the project on budget and on the timeline. As this was our first big remodeling project, we didn't clarify a few things that weren't stipulated in the original estimate (such as painting the walls or installing the towel bars, etc) which was likely due to our assumption that these services were included. We were pleased with the quality of the workmanship for Todd and all of his subcontractors. The companies he works with provided quality products (for cupboards, granite) that we are satisfied with. I also appreciate the good communication and responsiveness he gave us. When he said he would meet us at a certain time, he followed through or called if he was running late. He informed all of his subcontractors how to deal with our pets (scary dog and cats who try to sneak out), and he was responsive to email and/or phone inquiries. We will be happy to recommend his work, and look forward to working with him again for our next project.

It was a great experience working with Todd and his crew. We interviewed four companies from Angie's List and awarded the job to Renaissance. Todd came out for the initial bid and gave us some excellent ideas for the remodel. He was the first one to submit a detailed bid. i knew we would hire him as he was the only one to listen to what we wanted and design the room accordingly. This was our first experience with remodeling, so we wanted someone to help us design the bathroom as well do the construction work. I first went to pick out the tile and then cabinets. Todd has a list of vendors to visit with contacts at each place, so you can set up appointments and they will work with you. They are a wonderful group of talented people ... each and every one is excellent. They had great ideas and helped to select tile, cabinets, granite, etc., that worked well together. Todd also helped us with selection of materials, floor tile, in particular. He knew the tile we had picked out would not look great, so he went back and picked up some other samples of ones that would look better. He was right!!! Demolition went smoothly. We had a cast iron tub that was fairly difficult for Jeremy to remove as he had to do it in pieces... but, he didn't complain. We gave the garage code to Todd and his employees, so they would have easy access. They were always very respectful. The work did seem to take longer than I first anticipated. I believe a lot of that was due to the holidays, as some places are closed that time of the year. Todd kept us informed regarding deadline changes, which was appreciated. I had hoped it would be finished by Christmas, but the shower glass (custom) could not be done because the factory was closed. Todd offered to put up a temporary shower curtain for us if that would help, which we declined though we really appreciated the offer. It is that kind of thing that made us appreciate Todd all the more. (As an aside, he actually fixed a pipe under our kitchen sink that had broken when I couldn't get a plumber here the same day to fix it. He had the part on his truck, so he went to work to help us out. Unbelievable!!!) The finished bathroom is amazing!!! The whole room is beautiful, colors are excellent, materials exquisite. We would definitely hire Todd again. Finally, I believe one of the main reasons we like Todd is not just the excellent job he does, but that we know he stands behind his work, even after the job is done and the check has cleared. We had him back once to touch up some grout and he was here the day after we called. Thanks Todd and Jeremy for doing such a great job on our house. Look forward to working with you again!!!

The experience overall was very good. Todd Smith was the general contractor and he was extremely nice, helpful and professional. He helped with the design and suggested/recommended but did not insist on the various subs for some of the jobs/materials (e.g. granite countertop, tub door installer). We went with his suggestions and found all of them to be good and professional. In addition, the subs that he used automatically (plumbing, electrical, plaster) were all nice, good and professional as well. Todd coordinated things and when there were issues he took care of them quickly and professionally. The granite company initially cut the countertop the wrong size and Todd made sure they expediated the re-cut at their own expense. When the glass cover for the ceiling light/exhaust fell out the next day (after I had put it in myself) he got a replacement cover at no extra cost and put in himself (correctly!). After the new tub doors had been installed, one of them seemed to stick a little. He had the door installers come back out and fix the problem.

We picked Renaissance Inc. based on their rating on Angie's List & because they are local to our city. We received a quote from Todd at Reniassance, as well as 2 other remodelers. Todd's quote was the lowest, though that is not always a good reason to hire someone. What clinched it was his rating on the List. From the beginning Todd was great about answering our many questions and arranging for us to pick out our finishes. His assistant & subs were also great. There were a couple of hiccups along the way, but Todd was great about making it right as much as possible. We added heated floors to the master bath at the last minute, but Todd got it done! We are extremely pleased with the end resut.

Todd is one of the most professional contractors or service providers I have ever worked with and his customer service is beyond anybody else's. He really does want you to be happy with every detail. And you will be. Todd checked in with me most days to be sure that we were both always on the same page. And Jeremy did a great job with everything in the kitchen...and all with a great sense of humor! He was at my house most days and I absolutely trusted him not only in my home but with my dog too! I traveled for business during a lot of the renovation and had no qualms about having Todd and Jeremy in my home for days without my being there. They are the best and I would hire them all over again. Thanks, Todd and Jeremy!

Todd was very upfront with the cost estimates and work that needed to be done. He prepared three estimates for varying degrees of remodel. Unfortunately all were beyond our budget so we're putting the project on hold to confirm the work to be done and put away more money to help expand the budget.

On-time for appointment, very thorough, answered our questions, willing to work with us and our budget. Estimate was much higher than we were expecting, though he did give us a verbal. We have not made a decision yet which way to go due to our budget.

I thought I had a real problem with a leaky shower in the master bathroom - leaks, mold, and a major repair. Todd arrived on time, was curious and prfessional, listened attentively as I describe what I thought the problem was, and then thoroughly explained why the problem that I thought was as large as a mountain, was really smaller than a mole hill. The mold I saw was in a small, self-contained area of the shower. I could remove the current cauking, let the shower lining dry, and then reseal it with the correct, mold-proof cauking. Part of me felt a little foolish for having him come all the way out only to tell me I could fix the problem myself. But most of me felt relief and gratitude for his honesty and professionalism. Even though I didn't spend a dime with his company, he will be the first one I call for my next remodeling or major repair job. I've already told my parents and my sister what an honest guy Todd is and they should consider contacting him for any of their next projects. In addition to his great rating on Angie's List, Todd's company has an A+ rating from the BBB. Both ratings are very well deserved!

We have never hired a contractor to do any renovations in our home of this magnitude. Frankly, I like to do the work myself because I know it will be done exactly the way I want it and I may learn something in the process. We decide that we wanted our bath to be something really special and that was going to take a lot of intricate tile work. Plus we didn't want to be without our bathroom for two years while I tried to fit it in on the weekends. We had to hire a contractor. I had heard the horror stories like everyone else and dove in with much fear of what we were getting into. We called two contractors. I had done my homework and found all the questions I was supposed to ask and was ready to drill them. The first came in and had a well established local contracting business but the first interview was a little awkward and we knew he wasn't the one for us. The second interview with Todd Smith from Renaissance, Inc (The House Whisperer) was great. He clearly knew his stuff, had the answers we wanted to hear, he was easy to talk to and had a professional attitude. He took the ideas we had accumulated and saw our vision pretty quickly and added his own suggestions too. After talking with Todd we know he was going to get the job. We had been prepared for what the cost might be beforehand so we were not surprised by Todd's initial quote. The quote came in a little higher than we expected but we wanted some pricey stuff. After the agreement to proceed, Todd gave us a list of companies he has done work with and names of the people to contact. Tile, cabinets, and plumbing... As Todd said "Now the fun begins. Time to go shopping". Our first mistake in this process was not listening to those names he gave us. After two less than inspiring visits to the tile supplier, we dropped the person we had been working with and found who Todd had suggested. She was great and we soon had exactly what we wanted. Since the tile was the most complicated decision we had to make, it was a relief to have that over. We did the demo ourselves to save a few bucks. After the demo, Todd's crew got to work. They were always friendly. One of them was there nearly every day working on something. Terry, his very talented "tile guy" was there on some Saturdays too. They cleaned up after themselves. We loaned them half our garage for storage and trash cans. We saved some money by putting out the construction trash cans with our own instead of them hauling it away. Todd checked in every few days to let us know what was happening next, communication was not a problem. We found some materials ourselves on-line cheaper than Todd's suggested supplier so we bought them and he took that portion off our allowance on the quote. When it came to the final bill, there were some overages because we had a change order and we requested some upgrades. Todd was always fair and honest. Overall, all our fears about hiring a contractor are gone. Hire Todd

It went very well. There were a few unexpected glitches beyond the control of the contractor and he was very quick to alert us to the problem and how it was being resolved. We were always very well informed throughout the project. The most amazing thing about their work is that they meticulously clean up at the end of each workday so that you never knew they were there. I have never experienced such attention to cleanliness. The contractor also was very sensitive to our tastes and style and worked very hard to meet that. I can safely say that the master bath turned out as a piece of art.

I was overall very happy with the work. Jeremy did a great job and was very concerned about doing things right. The job did take longer than expected because of permit problems and a few unforeseen things that occur in remodeling an old house. But now that it?s done, we are glad we chose Renaissance.

He was the last to call back - took almost two weeks to get a response. He was one hour late for the scheduled appointment - but didn't seem to care.

After reading the positive reviews of this company I called Todd to discuss a complete remodel of our kitchen/bath. Two weeks have gone by since I left a message with him and he hasn't returned my call. How can a company have an A rating if they don't call back? If you are too busy to do the work why can't you pick up the phone and tell us? All it would have taken is a 30 second message to avoid this poor review. Too bad Todd, looks like you lost out on a major project.

The communication for follow up meetings was not the best, yet intentions were good. When follow up calls did occur, he explained the problem with the computer, telephone, and their new required certification. A lot is going on at this time. Our plan was open ended so there was not a deadline. We called and left a message today to release them from the obligation of following up on the estimate. I said we would hire them in the future on this survey, but I am not entirely sure.

Wonderful! Renaissance is the only way to go!!! I hope I hit the lottery and will invite them back to do more work!!!