Mike and crew are incredible! They took our kitchen down to the studs (and dealt with everything…read morein the walls of a house built in '66) and gave us the kitchen of my dreams. We had a very specific footprint we had to stay within and they made it feel bigger and better than I could have imagined....7 months later I still have empty cabinets somwhow?!! Mike really listens and gives great advice, when asked, I cannot wait for our next project together!

My wife and I recently purchased a country home in Mendocino where we plan to retire, and though we…read moreloved everything about it, two things were simply not going to work for us. The aging kitchen had very little cabinet space and a very suboptimal layout. And, there was a near-finished loft with 410 sq. ft. But, curiously, no stairway access save for a drop-down ladder in the hallway. Meeting us at the home, we shared our ideas of how both could be changed to our liking with Mike Ohlandt and it immediately became apparent from his expert advice, enthusiastic demeanor, and knowledgeable and helpful suggestions we had found the right contractor for the job. From our personal time schedule, to prompt communications along the way, to working with his recommended subcontractors for cabinets and countertop design, and everything in between, the experience was effortless and refreshingly professional. Every detail of what we had imagined came to fruition, and the transformation of the home is something we still marvel at each time we walk in. We can't imagine having had any other team for the job. We will let the photographs speak for themselves...

Aum seemed like it would be good. They did an onsite visit and were the first company that to…read moreappeared to understand what was needed. Informally, we discussed cost would be about $20K, a lot more than I expected, but I expressed I wanted the work done. It took a several weeks to receive an email back from Aum. When the email arrived, it was only their price schedule. When I asked for an estimate they replied that I needed to sign a contract and then they'd give me an estimate. Their explanation is my job was too small, they wouldn't take the time to write up an estimate without me signing a contract. What financially responsible person would sign a contract without an estimate of cost? I understand things always cost more than originally estimated, but what if I signed a contract without an estimate and the cost turned out to be 50K or even more. When I have a bigger job, I certainly won't consider Aum.

From the owner: AUM Constrcution Inc. is a fully licensed construction company based in Mendocino County…read morespecializing in timber framing and natural building. We have extensive experience in the full range of project management, from simple room remodel to creative custom design. Visit our website for example work and contact us to discuss your project at hand.

What a terrific contractor Cynthia is!! She and her crew did a fabulous job building what seemed…read morelike miles of fencing. They recycled what they could and filled in the rest. The best recommendation I can give is that Cynthia communicates regularly and came in under budget! I mean seriously when is the last time anyone has EVER heard that about a Contractor!!?!

If you are looking for a contractor that understands Green Building, Dancing Dog, truly gets it.read more

We are so happy with our new window blinds. They look great and have transformed the way our…read moreliving room feels. Jim was very patient with us, as it took weeks for us to decide which blinds we wanted. He dropped off his sample books several times as we changed our minds. The installation was quick and easy. The blinds fit perfectly and look amazing.

As someone who's subject to reviews myself, I understand the power of online reviews. Given that,…read moreI've never left a bad review before. In the case of 'Blinds by design', though, my experience was so bizarre that I'm making an exception. ... I found this company on the internet and gave them a call. I spoke with the owner, a self-described retired machinist. He seemed nice, if exceptionally chatty. We made an appointment for 9:00 am the next day. He showed up a tiny bit late, but no big deal. He then came in, and he immediately commented on some blinds we already had in the kitchen. He said, he would never do a shoddy job like that, and I was like, great. He then proceeded to measure the window, and speak with his supplier about what would work best. He talked in a nonstop stream-of-concisouness fashion the entire time. He made some assumptions about what I wanted, but I wasn't sure. He offered to leave some swatches for a couple of days. I said, "let me first check with my wife and see if that's necessary". Unfortunately, I then misspoke. I meant to say, "You say you'll do a good job; so you might as well measure this window too, and there's also one upstairs you can do." The words that came out of my mouth were, "If you'll do a good job, you might as well measure this window too, and there's one upstairs you can do." Five minutes later, when I was done discussing the choice with my wife, he was leaving in a huff. He thought I was suggesting that I wouldn't hire him for the other two windows if he didn't do a good job on the main one for which we had setup the appointment. I do understand how my words did not match my intent. I tried to explain the misunderstanding, but he refused to even listen or consider that I had misspoke. He just left. ... In retrospect, I'm extremely glad we didn't hire him. Even if there was no misunderstanding and I meant what he thought I meant, this should not have been a problem. We made the appointment based on ONLY THE ONE WINDOW. Any potential for other windows was extra business for him. (Never mind the fact that, if I really was testing him, I wouldn't have even mentioned the extra work.) That said, if he wasn't willing to base the extra business on the quality of work from the initial job, then he probably isn't very good at his profession. If his ego is so fragile that he was insulted by the mere suggestion that he might not do a good job, then he probably isn't very confident in his abilities. I'm really happy we dodged this bullet.

Miguel and his crew are great. On time, courteous and don't make a mess. They have done my new…read moreroof, new floors and installed appliances so far. I highly recommend.

Miguel and his team did great work for me. He knows what he's doing, asks the right questions, is…read moreproactive about letting you know what's ahead, and does a great job. You can't really ask for more than that. Work included - concrete pillars and pads small shed building trenching greenhouse repairs installing conduit

We contracted with Don Daniels to form, pour and finish the concrete slab for our Mendocino County…read morehouse. We had some tight specifications, as the slab was designed to be dual reinforced for earthquake resistance and we framed with a factory built steel framed structure with tolerances of 1/8" or less over ten feet. Don and his crew arrived early each morning and quickly finished a top quality form and expertly placed and tied the rebar and wire mesh to my specifications. We had to delay the pour twice - once due to the concrete contractor not receiving their shipment of cement and a second time due to unexpected rain. Don graciously understood and arranged his schedule around the planned pours. This was a challenging pour that started early in the morning and extended to nightfall as it was a monolithic slab and footing. Don had an ample crew on site and they completed an extremely level slab. Later when my wife and I installed the tile floors, We had very few low or high spots and Don had cut the expansion joints precisely at locations which ended up exactly next to the interior walls which I really appreciated as the control joints will not harm the tile surfaces. I had Don return a year later after we had finished the house to pour a concrete patio and finish it with a colored and stamped pattern. We are extremely pleased with the result - its beautiful and complements the slate tile pattern of our great room.

From the owner: New homes, custom concrete, remodels, additions and general constructionread more

Our experience with Mackenzie at Mendo Sotheby's International Realty was deeply disappointing and…read morerevealed serious ethical failures, conflicts of interest, and a refusal to take accountability. If you are considering working with her, think twice. 1. Recommending a Home Inspector with a Clear Conflict of Interest Mackenzie recommended home inspector Jim Deering without disclosing that Deering's wife worked for the same company as the listing agent. This is a blatant conflict of interest and a serious breach of fiduciary duty. Instead of warning us, she actively guided us toward an inspector who was anything but neutral. 2. A Conflict of Interest, a Grossly Inaccurate Inspection, and a Cover-Up Mackenzie recommended Deering as our home inspector, despite his clear conflict of interest. Deering then conducted a negligent inspection that completely failed to identify at least 12 discrete roof leaks--an issue that multiple professional contractors later confirmed had existed for years. When we informed Mackenzie that we intended to file a claim against Deering for his substandard work, she then collaborated with him behind our backs, improperly forwarding our termite report without our consent and allowing Deering to create an inspection report he had no right to provide. Instead of acting in our best interest as fiduciary duty requires, she chose to align herself with the inspector she recommended rather than the clients she was supposed to represent. 3. When We Asked for Transparency, She and Sotheby's Refused When we requested copies of emails between Mackenzie and Deering--communications that could clarify the extent of their collaboration--Sotheby's flatly refused to provide them. Rather than correcting her mistake and being honest, Mackenzie and her brokerage chose to withhold information from us, even though it directly impacts our insurance claim. Wrongdoing was not in question - Sothebys and Mackenzie openly acknowledged their wrongdoing. Still, they chose to work against us. 4. Instead of Doing the Right Thing, She Chose to Conceal the Facts/Truth Rather than taking responsibility and being forthcoming, Mackenzie--and Mendo Sotheby's--worked harder to cover up their mistakes than to correct them. Where there is smoke, there is fire. The fact that they refuse to release something as simple as emails between her and Deering makes it clear that there is something to hide. 5. Warning to Future Buyers & Sellers If you are thinking about working with Mackenzie, ask yourself: Do you want an agent who looks out for you--or for themselves? Based on our experience, working with her comes with serious risks: * She may recommend service providers without disclosing conflicts of interest. * She collaborated with a home inspector who overlooked major defects in the home. * She has already admitted to violating fiduciary duties. * She and her brokerage may withhold critical information from you, even when their actions harm you. We are filing formal complaints with the California Department of Real Estate (DRE), the National Association of Realtors (NAR), and the California Association of Realtors (CAR) to ensure her handling of our transaction is investigated. A real estate agent should work for you--not against you. We strongly advise against working with Mackenzie if you want an honest, ethical, and transparent real estate experience.

It's so easy to point out the shysters and tell of my bad experiences…read more On a positive note Greg Burke from Mendo/ Sotheby's Realty is one of the good guys. Greg's endless patients along with his expertise allowed me to go through my process of purchasing my retirement income properties. Greg never pushed me and seemed to put my wellbeing first. I found Greg Burke to be honest, hardworking, professional and a great negotiator! I couldn't be happier with the properties that I purchased and how the transactions were handled. Now that it is time for me to size down and sell my personal home Greg is an easy choice for my listing agent. Vicki Norris