I'll do my best to keep this concise, but that will be difficult considering the mostly negative experience we had. Please excuse the extreme lateness - it took nearly a year to get our lives once we were able to move back in and have had little time to compile the pictures, emails, etc, for a review since.
Saber Construction of Redmond, WA was recommended a day after a fire engulfed our kitchen by a man who worked for their sister company ServiceMasters. I read reviews on several sites - high marks across the board. Unfortunately, We had a far different experience which resulted in a decision I regret every day.
Superintendent Dave was onsite the same week to determine the depth of the damage and gather information for the estimate. He was polite, professional, and direct. In order to minimize my insurance claim and expedite our move back in, I asked Dave if I could do the painting once the construction was complete. He said that Saber does the entire job, or none at all. I found that strange.
The estimate came back and work was set to begin with a timeline of 4 months, plus or minus a month. I thought that to be excessive. Our house had moderate-to-heavy smoke damage, but the fire damage was highly contained to a small area. I later realized the longer than usual timeline is because they dedicate ONE person to your job throughout. From time to time, another would show up, but Jon was doing a fire renovation alone. Had I known this from the beginning, I would have moved on.
Their subcontractors were THE WORST I've come across;
- Carpet guy was on his phone literally 80% of the day. 2 rooms had to be re-stretched within a year. The job could've been cut from 3 days to 2 had he gotten off his damn phone.
- Drywall guys were caught smoking weed on my freshly refinished deck. Sitting in my lounge chairs and all.
- Painter. The painter was a very nice guy...but...the job was terrible for a "professional" painter. I wish I would've terminated the agreement prior to work starting when Dave said "we do the entire job, or none at all".
As the move in date neared, construction slowed. I saw less of the one person dedicated to my house. I was told (and very much believe) that he was forced onto other new jobs. After all, our insurance had issued nearly all of the payments rendering us unimportant.
Julie, who seemed to run the show as far as scheduling was a nightmare - unresponsive and, terse when responsive. I was given every excuse in the book as to why no one was showing up to finish the job.
The fire forced us from our house on 12/27/15. We moved back in on 5/28/16, with 2 more months of off an on work to go, put on the back-burner by Julie (as told by her own team). Touch-ups, trim, fixtures, and (most) remaining items were complete toward the middle of July.
Results:
Crooked outlets, outlets COVERS replaced but with pre-fire outlets remaining.
Nails/screws/blind brackets painted over, uneven texture, window trim that does not match the previous window trim (not as in incorrect type, but simply not there), insufficient paint coverage throughout, spackled but unpainted window sills, trim that is not caulked.
Missing screws in numerous door hinges, and the screws that were installed in the doors are stripped to where my doors squeak because my hinges are loose. These were $5,000 were of solid core doors.
Cabinets that were literally separating from the wall/ceiling.
Gapped flooring. *** I had voiced my opinion to Jon about installing my flooring in April with no heaters in the house citing acclamation concerns. Flooring 101 states to having the flooring in the environment it is to be installed in - in terms of both TEMPERATURE and HUMIDITY. I was told it would be fine and not to worry.
Fast-forward to November of 2016; I brought all of these items to Julie's attention. I was first dismissed. Then literally ignored. I went to others in the company to get the owner Jay's contact information. Jay was very responsive and agreed to handle my two big ticket items - the cabinets and the flooring.
Julie was quick to google a lawsuit against my flooring vendor for bowing and separating. I entertained her conclusion and had phone consults, sent emails, and sent pictures to the class-action law firm. The firm said that my symptoms were not aligned with what they had seen in other plaintiffs.
By January of 2017, the carpet was re-stretched, the cabinets fixed, but the flooring was redone at my expense for $200. All 3 issues costing less than 10hrs of Saber's manpower. I went at it with Julie for over a year for these 3 items. Jay, the owner, was the only person who made these final items right at the drop of a dime.
In the end, most of it was made right. But the hassle of reliving this for over a year after reconstruction was "complete" is something I wouldn't wish upon anyone.
I'm sure Julie would say that I was a pain. I was, simply to get things finished the right way.
I have pictures and emails to support. read more