Redid our garage. Has good ideas. Starts strong. Then barely shows up for months. The finished product looks very good, but isn't to the specifications proposed and bid. The trusses are short of the height they were supposed to be; they are nearly 2 feet below where they were supposed to be. This is a big deal. The plans for the loft to be accessible and usable from inside as planned are shot. When you spend many tens of thousands on a months long project, you want it right. But Chris doesn't listen. The customer has no intellect from his perspective. I don't recall meeting anyone who listens less, is so ignorantly condescending of anyone else's perspective or knowledge or experience, and I do have a bit of that. I tried everything to bring his attitude and behavior around to no avail. If you hire him, make absolutely certain that he's clear on materials to be used, dimensions with drawings, payment schedule, time to complete, showing up, not leaving and incredible number of cigarette butts thrown around everywhere, not dumping materials from other projects anywhere, keeping and not taking the concrete rip-raff if you live on a shoreline, properly grading when he finishes. Otherwise, whether or not he does the job to agreed-upon specs will be a not. Get everything in writing, drawings, product sheets, and such, to a higher degree that you might typically think is adequate. Try to avoid having to speak with him, it's generally pretty unpleasant and one-sided. Regarding payment, he wants as much as possible as soon as possible; far outside the norms of other contractors. He talked about being screwed over badly in some previous business venture, and he certainly behaves like you're going to to do the same, no matter how much money you promptly give him, even outside any payment agreement. He is quite capable of good work. What he does will be solid and look nice -- it just won't be what you want, expect, agreed upon. If you're expecting to be heard, compliance to specifications, anything resembling promptness or a somewhat pleasant attitude, make certain that Chris understands all this. Make sure he understands that, ultimately, you are the customer; you aren't stupid, you intend for him to listen to and comply to what's agreed-upon. read more
