Actually Affordable Construction (AAC) should change their name to Actually A Rip-Off Construction. I have an old house that had an unfinished basement. We contacted three construction companies and each presented a bid. I went with the middle bid in part because of cost but also because the owner seemed trustworthy. Boy was I wrong. In New York a home improvement company is supposed to put all monies from the project into an escrow account and notify the home owner where that account is held. AAC did not. In fact, the company started off well working to frame and drywall but about half way through the project the owner told be to do him a favor and pay him half of the remaining money because he couldn't payroll. The contract said he would get the 2nd half of the money at the completion of the construction but he insisted and said he would complete the job. As it turned out that was the test run from this rip off artist. A couple weeks later he came to me again and this time insisting that I pay the rest of the money and suggesting that there were overruns for materials. Fearing he would walk off the job I, against my instinct and judgment gave him all but $250 of the money. Predictably, even after promising he would not walk off the job, he walked off the job!
The basement is in a state of disrepair. The work that was done is second rate. His crew left mortar all over the tile floor and in between route lines. The dry wall has holes in it and some parts haven't been put up. The bathroom is incomplete and a glass wall is bowed and has two giant holes. The screened in porch is not screened in, no doors are hung and one is missing! The crew broke my personal property including a $150 shop vac and a $100 wheelbarrow. The biggest insult was that the owner took my hot tub in trade for him to install the baseboard/trim, and dry wall two rooms ceilings an stairwell. The baseboard and window trim is not done, the stairwell is only partially done. The extra material costs? When I asked repeatedly for an itemized sheet, the owner refused to provide it. I was like asking the Donald for his tax returns!
Oh and one of the biggest reasons I went with this company was because he said he was going to level the basement's concrete floor but instead he had me buy $30 bags of mortar and he floated in about 1,700 sq ft of flooring which cost me about another $3,500 in materials.
A rip-off? You bet. My basement is a mess. I have sent this con-man a demand letter and he refused to pick up the certified mail. I have repeatedly text him and he has refused to answer, I phoned him and he refused to take or return the call, I posted on Facebook and he blocked me. I will now as President Trump says, "See him in Court."
If you are planning any construction project big or small do yourself a favor and use another company. Actually Affordable is anything but and is Actually a Rip-Off!!!!
UPDATE: I took this deadbeat to court and the judge awarded me $5,000 which was the maximum allowable. In fact he said I should consider taking the case to superior court to get all my money back. He also suggested I file a criminal complaint. Beware Actually Affordable is not to be trusted. Do not pay until all work is done. read more
