DO NOT HIRE! Michael De Long (aka Michael W. De Long or Michael DeLong) overpromises then underdelivers. His property management and construction activities appear deeply connected. As there is no separate Yelp listing for his construction company, I am sharing my experiences here.
During the initial walkthrough, he took no notes about specific things I wanted done. He spoke in vague generalities, about how "exquisite" the final result would be. He then repeatedly challenged my choices of color and materials. He also antagonized the stone supplier for the countertops. (After that phase looked complete, he begged for photos that I'd taken to show other potential clients.)
Much rework was required, especially from over-spray. Who paints walls, mounts cabinets to them, THEN sprays the cabinet frames in place?
Freshly painted walls would also be deeply gouged in some places. During this phase, he was rarely on site, usually only to collect checks and verbally abuse the men working for him. Several members of his crew either quit or were "fired." Because this staffing turnover, days and weeks would pass without any forward movement on this project. Throughout this time, I would have to ask when he or his crew would return. Sometimes, he would promise to send someone at particular time. That individual was often late or didn't show up at all.
In the end, he did not complete some of the work I'd requested (both verbally and in writing). He left the periphery of the roof without soffits. There was exposed wood around the exterior rear door. The trim around the door to the deck was loosely attached to the siding as if hammered by a child. I could easily fit the length of my fingers into the gap between the original siding and the new unmatched material.
Later, as rainwater leaked from the ceiling, I learned that his crew had improperly installed the roof. The moisture barrier was missing. The edge of the gutter was placed above (not beneath) porous tile. The outer layer was rolled up to the side of the pre-existing structure and laid over (again not under) the original siding. This was held in place with unpainted 2x4's partially nailed into the side of the house. With each rainstorm, water flowed into the kitchen and basement addition causing further splitting and cracking of the drywall and paint. Much of the kitchen floor will have to be replaced with more appropriate sub flooring material. I discovered that the plastic backing was not removed from the floor liner leaving the adhesive unexposed and therefore useless.
Because he was often not on site, I sent him these pictures and many others. They demonstrate the completely avoidable damage to a home that I had hoped to enjoy into my retirement. I paid everything he demanded, yet he abandoned his promise to a fellow military veteran.
I have attempted to contact him numerous times. In nearly four months, he did not respond in any meaningful way to remedy this. No explanation, no plan, not even a simple apology. Only after my review was published on Google did he text, offering to "send a crew once or twice a week." However, he insisted that I would have to pay for all the materials!
Want high-quality workmanship at a fair price in a reasonable period of time? Please learn from my mistake. DO NOT HIRE DE LONG! read more
