***Update**
The business has since responded claiming the…read moredeposit was applied to "design services." For clarity, I never signed a contract for design or construction, and there was no agreed-upon scope or pricing for any such services. The deposit was provided while a contract was still being negotiated, and I was told it would be refunded if I chose not to proceed.
I never signed anything, not the contract or no paperwork from the company, none at all.
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My experience raises serious concerns about communication, transparency, and how deposits are handled.
Initially, Carlos was very personable and professional--multiple visits, strong rapport, and a good first impression. Based on that, and verbally agreeing to review the contract I provided a $1,000 deposit while we worked toward finalizing an ADU agreement.
During negotiations, the project cost unexpectedly increased by $50,000, which led me to reconsider moving forward.
At that time, I was explicitly told the deposit would be refunded if I chose not to proceed.
After I declined, communication stopped entirely. Then, three weeks later, I received an email reversing that position, stating the deposit would not be refunded and had been applied to "pre-construction/design services."
There was no signed agreement clearly defining the deposit as non-refundable, nor a clearly agreed scope authorizing those charges.
This kind of inconsistency and practice --being told one thing, then later something completely different--creates serious concerns that future clients should be aware of.
I strongly recommend that anyone considering working with this contractor ensure:
All terms are clearly documented in writing
Deposit conditions are explicitly defined.
No assumptions are made based on verbal statements
Proceed with extreme caution!
*I encourage potential clients to do thorough research, including checking the contractor's license status and any available history through the CSLB before moving forward -) I unfortunately didnt. In addition to my experience, I later discovered through the CSLB that this contractor has multiple violations on record, including receiving more money than work completed and performing work without proper permits. I encourage anyone considering hiring them to verify this information directly through the CSLB."
Cslb.ca.gov