After meeting with several contractors, we selected OC Builders since they offered the complete…read morepackage, provided a thorough outline of what was going to be done, and seemed quite capable handling our scope of work. In short, we had a good overall experience working with them and are happy with the end product. We would definitely work with OC Builders again as well as recommend them to our friends and family.
Our Scope of Work (Whole house renovation):
Remodel kitchen, bathrooms, added a powder room, took down a couple of walls, replaced all hot/cold water lines, new gas line for the kitchen, replace AC ducts, remove asbestos popcorn ceiling, added storage area to garage, new insulation in the ceiling, upgraded the electrical panel, installed new high efficiency windows, replaced all doors, replaced sliding doors to French doors, new LVF and tile flooring, remodeled the staircase, new landscaping (pavers and privacy wall) in backyard and around the property, new rain drainage, new drip irrigation lines, and complete interior/exterior paint.
Working with the team:
Sade, our main point of contact, initiated the process and stayed with us throughout the whole project (even when he was on vacation). He was easy to work with, responsive, and offered helpful suggestions for areas that needed troubleshooting. Due to the age of the house and lapse in maintenance there were a few change orders that were required but at each step Sade provided options and explanations, but never gave a hard sell. The work crew led by Robert and Eric did a good job getting all the work done. Both were easy to work, took the time to explained what was going to be done and answered any questions. Both were also quick to return any texts and kept the work moving forward.
Quality of Work:
We are pleased with the quality of work and final product. When a mistake happened or when something wasn't done correctly, didn't look right, or did not turn out how we wanted the team would repair or replace the item with no fuss. They cared about making sure things were done correctly and to the satisfaction of the customer. The weekly walkthroughs really helped address any problems/concerns early before they became larger problems.
What we would've liked done better:
Schedule Communication/Coordination was lacking at times. At a couple of stages in the project there was a lack of clear communication on timing of when certain tasks would begin so that various materials would be on order. We had to chase down answers when the schedule indicated one thing but speaking with the crew gave a different answer. We brought up our concerns with Sade who passed it along to the rest of the team and the issue was resolved. Then as the renovation neared completion there was an outstanding item that needed to be addressed and special parts needed to be ordered however we weren't informed of the delay so our initial expectation of when we would be able to start moving in had to be adjusted. A heads up would've been appreciated and allowed us to better accommodate our own schedule.
Closing:
From initial meeting to final signoff the total project took almost exactly one year. This is quite reasonable considering the scope, approving the drawing plans, meeting with designer/suppliers, pulling permits, demolition, asbestos removal, and actual renovation work (including all city inspections). The interior and exterior of the house look great. The backyard and landscaping look brand new and greatly improved. The home essentially feels like it had a refresh back to day 1 except more modern, efficient, and welcoming. We look forward to enjoying it for many years. Despite some issues that came up we would hire OC Builders again.
