There are a few facts missing from [removed member name]’s review above. We did, in fact agree to install 2 wall hung TV brackets and install replacement TV sets at her office on Friday, Dec 4, with brackets and TV set she furnished. My technician arrived on time and as scheduled, and successfully installed both TV brackets and one of the two TV sets. The second TV set arrived broken and unusable. She said she would have a replacement TV set delivered, and we agreed to return to install that second TV set when it was available. The total charges were billed to her at $170 as agreed, and that invoice remains unpaid as of today. I also agreed to meet at her rental dwelling the following morning to perform a site walk through to determine the work to be completed, what materials she had on hand and what additional materials would be needed. Arriving on time for our scheduled meeting, we walked through the apartment in question, and we discussed a number of different ideas on approaches to work that she wished to have completed. She indicated her preference to supply materials, and subject to her providing to me specific makes and models of the materials she wished to use in advance for my approval, I agreed to provide an estimate for installing materials she would provide. To date, she has not provided specific makes and models for her supplied materials, and I terminated our relationship and my willingness to provide an estimate in a phone conversation I had with her on Wednesday morning, December 9. She did not take that relationship termination well, as evidenced by her review. I’ll save her the trouble of posting our email conversation as I have included it below. The first message was a punch list of tasks to be completed while we were on site together, and emailed to me at the end of our initial meeting. Flooring Bathroom Spray tile and paint including medicine cabinets; remove nails Wall finishing Tile floor Finish shower Replace ceiling tile Replace suk and toilet Attach decorative mirror Woodwork Touch up Kitchen Imount clock Tepair or Replace counter and sink Replace outlet covers Replace bedroom , bathroom Having not heard from her on Monday with the specific product information she had told me she would provide, I sent the following e-mail to her at 10:35 AM on Tuesday morning In thinking about the project at [removed address], I have a few alternatives for your consideration. When the existing vanity and sink are removed, we will likely find a number of the plastic tile either missing, cut or damaged. It's not really a big deal if another vanity cabinet is installed as we can cover over any damaged or missing tiles in that area, but installing a pedestal sink creates an issue with appearance of the tiles in that area. Further considering the tub surround installation left a fairly significant "bump out" on the walls adjacent to the tub, I think considering adding beadboard over the top of the plastic tiles would not only disguise the bump out, but also would provide a new clean surface on which to install a pedestal sink. Attached is a picture of beadboard in a bathroom area. Beadboard can be either stained and varnished or can be painted. As far as bathroom flooring goes, the least expensive alternative would be to install a sheet vinyl floor. Most likely, the cost to do so would be $500 or less. If we went to a ceramic tile, depending on which tile would be chosen, the bathroom floor would likely run $1500 and up. Attached are two mosaic ceramic tile patterns that would work best in a small bathroom such as yours. These mosaic tiles come in a variety of colors. I'd suggest tile not larger than 8"x8" for that small space. Large tiles, (12x12 inches or larger) though they are very popular now, are really best for much larger spaces than your approx 5 foot by 5 foot floor. Big tiles look out of place in a small floor where many would need to be cut in half or less to fit properly. Here is a link to one of my favorite suppliers who has a local showroom you can visit, if you wish. http://www.daltile.com/ The laminate flooring you have in the basement will work OK for the living room, bedrooms, hallway and perhaps the kitchen. According to the manufacturer's instructions, we will need to install a proper pad/underlayment, as well as provide a gap at the floor intersections with the walls. We'll remove and replace the existing base shoe to conceal the gap. I insist on following manufacturer's installation instructions so that you will have a long lasting product and enjoy whatever warranty the manufacturer offers without any installation labor issues. The ceiling grid as it is currently installed won't work for plastic tile installation, as the spacing for the tiles is wrong. My suggestion would be to either tear it down and then install properly spaced plastic ceiling grid and plastic tile, or to tear it down and patch the hole(s), paint the ceiling and not have to face future replacement of tiles. It's likely the patch and paint job would come in a little less costly than rebuilding the grid and installing new plastic tiles. Let me know your thoughts on flooring, ceiling and wall treatments over the tile so I can complete that part of your estimate for you. I did speak with my refinishing technician regarding sprucing up the doors and woodwork. He would like to do a walk through with me to provide an estimate for that part of the work. If you would trust me with a set of keys for the unit, I will make arrangements with him to do the walk through and provide costs to you. Another person I would like to walk through is my counter top fabricator. Again, with a set of keys, I will make arrangements with them. I can generally have a new custom countertop fabricated and installed in about 2 weeks from the time it is ordered. I will ask them about the difference in cost for applying an old fashioned metal edge look, if you wish. The best approach to any fairly substantial renovation like yours would be to do the heavy construction work first, then leaving flooring and painting until the end of the job. So we would do whatever bathroom renovations are to your liking first, then paint and install the flooring. If we can come to an agreement soon, I can start as soon as the end of this week. If we select in stock products, there should be no issue in completing the work within 3 weeks of starting. Special order products would add time to that schedule. I promised you a link to a solid surface manufacturer for tub/shower alcoves. My favorite one is Onyx Collection and here is their link. http://www.onyxcollection.com/ I need product information from you on whichever bathtub refinishing system you want to use. My guess is the manufacturer will only recommend applying their tub finish over a clean, stripped tub, and not on a previous refinishing coat. Once I have the make and model of the product you wish to use, I will provide an estimate for you. Again, I insist on following manufacturer's installation instructions. I will shortly be sending your invoice for the TV work we did at your office last week. Let me know when you have the replacement TV and we'll swing over and install it. I'll await your reply. She replied almost 12 hours later at 10:33 PM with the following email, in which she significantly reduced the scope of work to be completed, and still did not provide requested makes and models of materials she said she would provide: My building manager will let you in to measure tomorrow before 2:00, and we will need to order materials and start by Monday. His name is [removed name]. I will send you his number. I really need a quote tomorrow and to get started. I have other projects, and need to shoe the unit. I will get a flooring contractor to expedite this, and have you do the work below if you can please get back to me. I narrowed revised scope of work is as follows and guessed on the labor. Please adjust : Fix shower and do beaded edge - 2 – 4 hours Spray bathroom tile and do beaded edge; replace tiles with ones we order before spraying Paint inside of medicine cabinet. 4 hours Take tub in and out for floor tile contractor. (2 trip charges, plus one hour – 4 hours) Measure ceiling tiles; order correct size, cut as needed or new ceiling – not to exceed 6-8 hours llaor Kitchen Install counter edging and laminate after doing measure; I have located materials - about $500 Swap out fixtures and light switches; hang blinds 2 hours When I sent my email on Tuesday morning, I was unaware of the significant change in scope she had formulated and sent me late Tuesday night. Aside from the lack of necessary timely information on owner supplied materials to properly estimate the things she wished to have done, her budget expectations and timeline were not realistic. According to the Remodeling 2015 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com), the average cost in Milwaukee to perform a mid-range bathroom remodel totals $17,580. Her budget of $3,000 to $4,000 isn’t even 25% of the average cost. Hence, my decision to terminate our relationship. While we perform much of our client’s projects with our in-house technicians, we also bring in necessary expert specialty contractors or technicians to do what they do best on projects that require their services. While I am sure she can find a lower cost contractor, the odds are significantly against her in getting a mid-grade level or up project results for the budget she proposed. Based on my observations in her apartment, poor results, shoddy workmanship and economy grade materials are acceptable. We don’t do shoddy nor wish to compete in the low end of the market. The source for the 2015 Cost vs. vale report is: © 2015 Hanley Wood, LLC. Complete data from the Remodeling 2015 Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded free at www.costvsvalue.com