*****BEWARE*****
We needed the back side of our house re-sided and Calvin (used car sales man in disguise) sold us over on his quality and promising that he would be able to start immediately after the deposit money (75% of $4,300 project) was given. We gave cash on September 21, 2020 promising the job would be completed in 2 weeks. Timeline of the project:
- September 21, 2020 gave $3,225 cash for deposit
- October 7, 2020; first day someone showed up. The old siding was removed and it was realized that it would need to be re-ply wooded. So we gave another deposit for that job (75% of $2,200 project, $1,700).
- The extra ply wood job took a single worker 4 days total
- October 19, 2020 Calvin comes to collect $ for the plywood job; expecting a bonus for some reason. Paid remaining balance on project. Promising he well be there "Friday" to put up the siding. Promising it would only take 1 day.
- October 27, 2020 I called Calvin wanting to know the hold up for the siding. I was told "I got a guy, it's on a truck." Then asking for more info Calvin gets offended because he can't produce a receipt for materials that we gave money for or give any info on the "guy with a truck." That is not where you buy siding for a house; comical that he was so adamant about his "truck guy." Calvin became offended and said "well I guess it's time to go our separate ways." I was so relieved; telling him that I would meet him anywhere to get our deposit money re-funded. I had 2 contractors come over and give new bids that were better than Calvin's. Then Calvin said "No I'm going to finish the job like I told you." Since we already gave the money for the job; we couldn't do anything. Except listen to Calvin's shit over and over again.
- Cant recall exact date but Calvin requested another $200 to pay his Secretary of State
- November 6, 2020 the siding gets delivered
- November 11, 2020 Calvin requested $300 for more materials
- November 13, 2020 90% of siding was up. Calvin requested another$400 to pay his workers
- December 5, 2020 Calvin completed the project minus screens. Calls and offers to replace a bad fence area due to the way things went. Took him up on it.
- December 8, 2020 Calvin wanted to put in new screens and requested the remainder of the balance. I said that we will not pay anymore due to the situation. I feel that deducting $175 is reasonable considering it took 8 weeks longer than expected and we had to keep paying throughout because "his guys needed to be paid." Typically you pay a deposit to start then the remainder is paid when the job is completed. If you can't pay your guys then it's pretty clear you mishandled the original deposit money that was use for that purpose. We only paid early because we felt sorry for his guys. If he treats customers like this than I can imagine how he treats employees. Who actually aren't employees (suppose to report employees to Employment Security Department) or subcontractors with licenses; everything is under the table with cash.
So 75 days of dealing with no gutter downspouts, piles of shit, nails and garbage in the back yard (have 2 big dogs), blatant lies of when things will be done and what is going on. Then he put a hole in my neighbors house trying to get new business (now there is a garbage bag patch over the hole due to Calvin tearing a hole in their house). And I could keep going on: not cutting the plastic barrier and the roll parachuting in the wind in the middle of the night, blowing wet leaves in the front yard in a big pile against the house, and every time he did come over he just talked himself up and was oblivious to reality. The excuses he used were great and still make me laugh. "Chicken wings," "guy on a truck," and the best is "The Calvin Treatment." There were more but the fact that he didn't use the pandemic as one is baffling.
All people want in a contractor is for them to do what they say. Have had several contractors working on our house (roof, gutters and interior work) and they all did what they said in the time they said it and willingly gave receipts without even asking. People need to trust their contractor and any contractor should be able to be transparent. Calvin is full of shit and can't do 25% of what he says.
So if you are on the fence as to hire Calvin I would say "Beware, don't even let him give you a bid because he will put a hole in your house within 10 minutes of him being there." That is how it started with us and I watched him do it to our elderly neighbors. Calvin is completely fine with tearing a hole in your house and leaving it as is; speaks volumes of his character. Calvin is a used car salesman who will promise everything to get a deposit and can't deliver.
As I write this review the contractor license for "Premier Specialty Builders LLC" is currently suspended on Labor and Industries with 3 complaints totaling over $46,700 for claims filed against the business. read more