http://servicezunlimited.com Remodeling Contractors Washington, DC Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:42:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://servicezunlimited.com/remodel/tips-advice/choosing-a-remodeling-company.html#comment-140 Andy Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:42:35 +0000 http://servicezunlimited.com/?p=85#comment-140 I wish I read this article before I just worked through a nightmare addition to our home. We met McLaughlin Builders Rick McLaughlin, from Laytonsville, Maryland, and we really liked them. Rick told great stories and had us sold from the first day we met him. He started 2 months later, didn't communicate with us at all, showed us "plans" which were hand-drawn chicken scratch, and then he began shaking us down for one "extra" charge after another. We should have known when he handed us a one-page handwritten bid, which we found left out a lot of details. The highlights of how bad it was included: making decisions about all details of the addition (an upstairs room) without asking us what we wanted or thought; unwilling to work with an HVAC company that was not one he chose for us (and stood to get a "fee"/kickback from); topped off when he dropped a door in the room, gashing the wall, an antiqued piece of furniture and the wood floor - he left a note saying "sorry about the scratch on the wall". Fortunately his brother, Jim McLaughlin, did most of the actual work, was good to work with and knew what he was doing. Rick was more of the storyteller and bill collector. Our final example of how awful they were to deal with: we spent almost $1000 more for HVAC work from another company because we just could not work with Rick any longer. Better luck with your remodel! I wish I read this article before I just worked through a nightmare addition to our home. We met McLaughlin Builders Rick McLaughlin, from Laytonsville, Maryland, and we really liked them. Rick told great stories and had us sold from the first day we met him. He started 2 months later, didn’t communicate with us at all, showed us “plans” which were hand-drawn chicken scratch, and then he began shaking us down for one “extra” charge after another. We should have known when he handed us a one-page handwritten bid, which we found left out a lot of details. The highlights of how bad it was included: making decisions about all details of the addition (an upstairs room) without asking us what we wanted or thought; unwilling to work with an HVAC company that was not one he chose for us (and stood to get a “fee”/kickback from); topped off when he dropped a door in the room, gashing the wall, an antiqued piece of furniture and the wood floor – he left a note saying “sorry about the scratch on the wall”. Fortunately his brother, Jim McLaughlin, did most of the actual work, was good to work with and knew what he was doing. Rick was more of the storyteller and bill collector. Our final example of how awful they were to deal with: we spent almost $1000 more for HVAC work from another company because we just could not work with Rick any longer. Better luck with your remodel!

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