I went back and forth about writing this review for two years. Every time I look at my kitchen, I feel regret that still keeps me up at night. I'm sharing this because I don't want someone else to go through what I did by hiring Remodel or Renew Home Improvement out of Worcester, MA.
When I bought my home 10 years ago, I knew the kitchen would eventually need remodeling. I spent years planning and researching because I wanted a cozy farmhouse-style kitchen with character. My plan was to do most of the work myself and only hire someone to replace the cabinet under the sink and remove the dishwasher to add cabinetry.
After contacting this company, the owner came out and convinced me that replacing only two cabinets "wasn't possible" and that I would be unhappy unless I remodeled the entire kitchen. I was told they could install larger cabinets for my tall ceilings, new countertops, flooring, repair the walls and ceiling, update electrical outlets, replace baseboard heater covers, and fix the subfloor issue causing the floor to crunch.
The quote started at $42,000, then suddenly dropped to $32,650, which they described as doing the job "pro bono." As someone hiring a contractor for the first time, I judged their character wrong and I trusted what they were telling me and believed everything we discussed would be included in the contract.
Unfortunately, that is not what happened. The owner, Mike and company rep Devyn, came out the following day and rushed me into signing the contract, stating that Mike was leaving for vacation and that if I wanted the work completed, I needed to sign right away and provide half of the payment upfront. Because of the pressure they created and the urgency they insisted on, I, a single mother/homeowner felt I had little choice but to comply, even though I would have preferred to take more time to properly review the contract.
The cabinets installed are smaller than my original ones, leaving me with less storage space. The hardwood flooring I wanted for my 100+ year old home was replaced with floating floors that don't match the rest of the house because floating floors were the only option they gave me. The baseboard heater covers were painted so heavily that parts are now stuck together.
The electrical work they indicated they could do because they have a licensed electrician was never completed. When I asked about it, I was told it wasn't in the contract, and I would have to pay their electrician separately. After pushing the issue, they only replaced a few outlets over the counters.
The walls were never properly repaired and were just painted over, and the flooring problem they promised to fix also remained until I repeatedly insisted they come back. Even then, they acted like I was being unreasonable and told me it would be the last thing they would do and to lose their number. When they finally returned, they addressed the flooring issue and the painter skim coated and repainted a small section of only one wall.
Now, two years later, the granite countertop over my island is leaning, and I've had to spend additional money fixing things they either skipped or did poorly.
I paid over $32,000 which was almost 80% of my yearly income and ended up with a kitchen that feels like a cheap showroom install instead of the warm, character-filled space I originally planned. Ironically, if they had simply replaced the two cabinets I originally asked for, they likely would have received a great review.
My advice to anyone hiring a contractor:
Make sure every single promise is clearly written in the contract. Do not rely on the words they sell you to convince you to hire them.
Unfortunately, this company talked a big game but delivered the least they could get away with. I hope sharing this helps someone else avoid the same costly mistake. read more
