WARNING: I was really shocked because of the decent reviews this man has that he tried to get me to pay him over $1700 - invoiced me for all the work - which he never even started! I have my place on the market and I wasted two weeks without showings because he did none of the work he said he was doing. I was so shocked about this and the inconsistencies in the information he was giving that I even double checked the phone number to make sure I had the same person.
I therefore, can only say that I find him VERY UNETHICAL and suggest you go elsewhere!
Here are the details....
I own a rental property 1.5 hrs away from me in Santa Cruz. There was a slow leak from a shower and some water damage. It surprised me that Jeff wanted the work because of the distance for him (if his address is even correct -- it's a nice big house in Palo Alto). Because of the distance and my health issues, I am not able to drive to my property very often. I believe this is why Jeff thought he could take advantage Che situation. I met with him once when my tenants moved out and went over the work that needed to be done. He **seemed** very nice and knowledgeable. I trusted him because of the reviews here.
The problems started when he would never give me a written bid. I kept asking for it and even when I emailed him regarding our discussion and verbal estimate he gave me, he never responded. He however told me he was doing the work. But then, I started noticing inconsistencies. He would say he would be there, and then when I asked for specific time (so I could get a cleaning bid while he was there), he would say he was only going to be there "quickly." The didn't makes sense for a supposed 30 hour job.
He finally said the work would be all done the following day, and he wanted to be paid. He wanted me to give him the money ASAP. He "couldn't wait." I told him that the work needed to be reviewed first and then he needed to invoice me. He got angry and started arguing that he needed to be paid now.
I asked him for a copy of the mold testing report; Part of the agreement was that he was supposed to have a specialist come in and do mold remediation and testing. He told me that he tried to save me money and did the test himself first and then he told me if I wanted the testing done, I'd have to pay him another $1000 (for a $200 test). He then argued that the work wouldn't be done because he didn't have my money to pay the mold guys with -- as if the work that he already invoiced me for and was already supposedly done had not been done yet, and would be done tomorrow? Yeah. And it just went on and on. He made all sorts of excuses about, finally saying that the work wouldn't be done because *I* "didn't have the money," trying to project the blame on me, when, all along, for two weeks, he never even started the project! I thought he really was being so obviously dishonest in his texts because he would say one thing one minute and another thing the next.
I had my realtor take a look at the place the following day. HE HAD NOT DONE ONE SINGLE THING - AND YET WANTED ME TO PAY HIM $1734. You don't have to read my mind to know what I think. I say stay far away!!
It really amazes me when people are such bad liars, and they think that they're going to get away with it. It also amazes me that some people can be so unbelievably unethical. read more
