Advanced Quality Construction & Remodeling LLC

The owner of Advanced Quality Construction, Mr. Joshua Ryan Olinger and his 'partner', 'Nick' appeared on job site shortly after the water damage which occurred on Thursday, July 12, 2012. At that time, the contractor was well aware that this project could not begin until we had received settlement from the homeowners insurance policy. However, AQC was very eager to begin this project and contract was signed on Wednesday, July 18, 2012. The contractor and his crew arrived on the job site immediately and began demolition work of the rooms which were to be renovated. Their work schedule was haphazard; some days they would appear at 8 a.m., other days, not until 11 or 12. Some days they left in the early afternoon, other days they didn't show up on the job site at all (with no notice or call to the homeowner). Second floor carpeting was removed on their first day and we were left to walk on nails and padding for two weeks. Because the damage was covered under my homeowners policy, there was a delay in payment processing, to which the contractor expressed displeasure and was rather impatient. Because part of the payment was placed onto a debit card issued by my homeowners insurance, we purchased all materials ($2,000.00) for the project and delivered them to the job site (the contractor was again not pleased with this at all). If the contractor was able to accept debit cards as payment, we would have paid a 1/3 deposit up front (please note, the contract which was drafted by AQC did not specify terms of payment). The contractor chose to sub-contract the following: electrical, painting and carpeting. The painters (Steve's Drywall & Painting) did a great job prepping the kitchen--they taped and put up plastic so we wouldn't ingest fumes and dust. The only problem is they would show up, prep the room and then leave. Instead of one trip, it took multiple and even then, they never finished one wall. The electrician was very thorough and did exemplary work; same for the carpet installer. The contractor's other employees were not the most professional or very concerned with customer satisfaction. Work crew started tiling incorrectly (rather than tiling from the center of the room, they started in a corner)- took issue with installing tile under my stove & refrigerator; almost didn't install tile in the hallway. Heating registers were removed and when new drywall was installed, the drywall did not go all the way behind the registers. When the homeowner approached Mr. Olinger about the gap between the wall and radiators, Mr. Olinger's response was they were going to cover the holes with trimwork. The work crew not lay down plastic on my carpeting in the family room; they dumped grout in my flower gardens and did an inferior job cleaning up. The tile in my kitchen is not level; there are spaces between the tile and the wall that were not filled properly. Leadership by AQC was non-apparent; Mr. Olinger would show up on the job site only to demand additional money (nine payments were issued to AQC, all of which were prior to this project being completed). Building materials (that which the homeowner purchased) for the project disappeared off the premises--without any explanation by the contractor. One can assume that the contractor either returned the items for store credit or used the items on another project. It seemed the owner of AQC repeatedly tried to insist on project overages, citing the homeowner's cat to blame for having to replace the carpet padding on the second floor (which the homeowner had purchased, but AQC wanted to charge an additional fee to use 'his' materials). This contractor is a 'fast talker' and displays shifty demeanor. On their final 'walk through', both Mr. Olinger and his 'partner', Nick, took photos of the kitchen (without the permission of the homeowner). The following items (which were included in the original contract) were not completed by Advanced Quality Construction: 1. replace ceiling speakers 2. remove wallpaper border in kitchen 3. paint kitchen 4. replace chair rail 5. replace door casing and paint 6. hallway--seal & paint walls 7. laundry--remove and replace base molding 8. 2nd floor office--seal and paint walls, replace and paint base molding 9. 2nd floor bathroom--remove, replace and paint molding On August 10, 2012, the contractor was notified that there would not be any additional payments made until work was completed. With this statement, the employees and subcontractors of AQC started working much longer hours (and Saturdays!). Final payment was remitted to the contractor on August 15, 2012, even though the aforementioned contracted work items were never finished by the contractor (most of these items were done by the homeowner, at the homeowner's expense). The contractor was informed that the work was not satisfactory and Mr. Olinger stated he would return to the property and fix the issues (which, as of August 26, 2013, he has never done). If there were any modifications to the original contract, there were no addendums in writing (and signed by all parties). The second page of the AQC contract includes the statement: " We appreciate the opportunity to provide our expertise to you. You will have the peace of mind knowing that the job will be completed in a timely manner with quality workmanship and a solid guarantee." The homeowner's tools were used by the contractor and were misappropriated (only to be returned after several calls to the contractor). Moreover, $1,6000 in camera equipment (Olympus Digital DSL camera, case, lenses) and Tom Tom navigational device disappeared from the second floor master bedroom (where they were stored in an armoire). When the homeowner questioned the contractor with these missing items, Mr. Olinger gave several excuses and even attempted to appease the homeowner by offering a used Fuji camera as replacement. After several months without settlement on the stolen items, I confronted the contractor that I would file a criminal complaint with the police department. It was then that the contractor offered a written email response, denying any wrong-doing by his crew and proceeded to lash off a slanderous attack of the residents of 1531 Main Street, alleging they stole the items (instead of amicably settling this matter). A direct quote from Mr. Olinger's email of August 20, 2013 states: " Your are totally mistaken when you accuse either myself or any of my crew members from stealing from your residence. That is a completely absurd accusation that truly offends me. I don't conduct business in that manner and would not hire anyone into my previously owned company that would. I was raised differently and your idol threats do nothing for me. As i stated earlier that's not in my character and had never been." The only 'non-residents' who entered the premises were employees, or subcontractors/representatives of AQC. There were quite a few instances in which the work crew were left in the home unattended. Additionally, the owner of AQC informed me that he is no longer in business and has since relocated to Kansas City, MO. In my opinion, this is less than the 'professionalism' I would want displayed from a company in which the words "Advanced Quality" are used in their title. Unfortunately, my review is a 'moot' point, since this company has gone 'belly-up' in less than two years when it was formed. I only hope he has not simply just conducting his, apathetic, lackadaisical attitude and poor performance and workmanship. Lessons learned--ask for references and follow-up; establish a firm payment plan up front and insist on regular work hours. Do not permit contractor to remove materials from job site or unlimited access to the entire premises. While I checked the BBB and Angie's List, both of which in 2012, this business came up clean. In hindsight, given the fact it was the middle of summer and this contractor had no jobs lined up, that should have set off a 'red flag'.