If I could post a zero star I would. We had high hopes and confidence for this contractor who was…read more"highly recommended" and referred to by the "neighbor real estate agent" on our street. We did our due diligence by confirming there was a contractor's license with the state of CA. We were quickly disenchanted and dissatisfied with the contractor but tried to make the best of an unpleasant situation, thinking that we should give the contractor grace. This neighbor real estate agent asked me how it was going with her friend, the contractor. I told her he was abrasive, "very rough around the edges" and her foolish response was to make excuses for him defending that he would do anything for her.
The experience and the attitude of the owner, Jason, to me and my husband was, at times, acrimonious, unpleasant, and caustic. The quality of the work appeared to be average (standard) but upon further inspection, the quality was substandard. We terminated the agreement of services at 60% complete. The monies that were given to the contractor were on a schedule at 70% complete. No matter, we absorbed the extra 10% so not to see him or his associates ever again. When I would ask questions about a detail or stage of construction, the reply would be,"You ask too many questions and you are too involved in the job. You do your job and I'll do mine." Funny, I thought I was the client. In fact, he did not do much except for sweeping. If I wanted dimmable lights or other items the response was "You don't need that". Of course he would say that. The lights he bought was not dimmable. If I questioned the alignment of something, the reply would be "Why do you care? You will be selling this home anyway." Or,"don't worry, we will take care of it at the end of the job." Reassurances, reassurances....
The "new" stainless steel sink that was installed in the kitchen was most likely a "second" because there were scratches alongside half of the left hand side of the sink when installed. When I asked about it, the response was that "all stainless steel sinks scratch". Although there were numerous inconsistencies, the final error was this "experienced" contractor intended to put in drywall at the base of the kitchen window (moisture point). This is mark of an inexperienced contractor! There were so many caustic, sarcastic, negative responses to my or my husband's questions that I could fill this page. In all, the work was shoddy, haphazard, and substandard. The contractor, along with his subcontractors, cut corners on most areas requested. My husband and I felt, by his actions and proof of work, that we were doing this contractor a favor. WE FELT THAT THIS CONTRACTOR JUST DID NOT CARE ABOUT OUR PROJECT. WE DID NOT TRUST HIM TO CONFIDENTLY CARRY THE PROJECT TO COMPLETION. After all, he repeatedly said that he did not do "handyman" work and proceeded to embellish the work that he did do - larger than our project. Guess our "little job" of refacing cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms, and other items was "beneath" him. We felt he was doing us a favor because he knew the neighbor real estate agent very well.
Since we have terminated the agreement we don't have to interact with the shitty contractor. The "neighbor real estate agent" contacted me after I terminated the agreement with her contractor friend. Her response was ridiculous: "Why didn't you let me know?" My reply? "I did not think you were his mother. After all, the agreement was between us and the contractor."
There is much clarity now. Looking back, this "neighbor real estate agent" only was concerned about whether our relationship was amicable because she wants the listing of our home should we sell. She will not get the listing. Hard PASS. Inexperience begets inexperience. We have learned that hiring contractors from real estate agents can be dicey. After all, who does it ultimately benefit?
As events unfolded, we have since hired another contractor with much more experience to redo the work that was done by that disappointing contractor. We realize that we we will be paying twice for the same work but that is one of life's lessons. Accidents happen. Hiring 1st Choice Construction Solutions was indeed an accident and a mistake. 1st Choice Construction Solutions should be named No Choice Construction Solutions.