If you're looking for a GC who can drag you into a lawsuit and leave your commercial project with costly delays, construction defects, and potential safety issues, then Angelo may be the contractor for you.
We signed a legal contract with Angelo in May and provided fully approved architectural, engineering, and interior construction plans for our commercial project. Before construction began, we met multiple times with engineers, designers, and Angelo to review the project. He stated that he had no concerns and promised completion by August.
Unfortunately, that was only the beginning of a long and expensive ordeal.
In addition to paying all progress payments on time, we prepaid over $30,000 for equipment that was not included in the original contract because Angelo requested the funds to help speed up construction. We provided complete equipment specifications, including manufacturers, models, supplier quotes, and contact information.
Throughout the project, Angelo repeatedly reported progress and demanded additional payments. However, when we verified the status with local authorities, we discovered that certain inspections and approvals had not been completed as represented. He also threatened to stop work unless we paid for portions of the project that were not yet completed.
To make matters worse, when the equipment arrived, we discovered that he had changed the manufacturers and models without our authorization. This created additional delays and complications that could have been avoided.
As construction continued, numerous problems surfaced, including issues with drywall, electrical work, plumbing, and other portions of the project. Despite repeated concerns, Angelo consistently refused to acknowledge responsibility for these mistakes.
Although Angelo informed us in November that the project was complete, we later discovered major deficiencies that should never have been overlooked on a commercial build. Required gas lines for kitchen equipment had not been installed, plumbing work required corrections, and improper electrical installation caused some of our equipment to lose manufacturer warranty coverage. We were forced to hire other contractors to repair and complete the work at additional expense. As a result, the project was not truly completed until early January--approximately five months later than originally promised.
Because of the delays, construction defects, corrective work, and financial losses caused by these issues, we did not agree to pay the final $18,000 in full. Instead, we sought to offset a small portion of the damages we incurred, which far exceeded that amount. In response, Angelo filed a lawsuit claiming we owed him $27,000 and placed a mechanic's lien on our property.
We fulfilled our obligations, paid on time, cooperated throughout the project, and even advanced significant additional funds to help move construction forward. In return, we experienced delays, unauthorized equipment substitutions, construction defects, costly repairs, and ongoing legal disputes.
This review reflects our personal experience with this commercial project and is shared to help other property owners make a more informed decision when selecting a contractor. read more
