Complaint Review: Quality Remodeling & Design

Quality Remodeling & Design (aka Worldwide Construction) contacted me in response to a request I submitted on HomeAdvisor.com for a cost estimate to remodel a small bathroom.  A salesman named Dave came to my house and gave me a quote of $5,094.  We signed a contract which stated that the work would begin on March 20, 2014, and be completed by March 28, 2014.  Dave told me that he personally would be project manager and come to my house every day to oversee the work.  I showed Dave the other home improvement projects I planned to do at a later date as I could afford it.  The next day, he showed up with a contract listing all the work I told him I wanted to do with a total price of $61,000. 

He told me that the price included a 20% “discount,” which would have made the total contract price without the discount a whopping $76,250!  In addition to that, I would still have to purchase the fixtures like cabinets, lighting, tile, etc.  He told me that that was a reasonable price for all the work involved.  I am a senior citizen on a fixed income, and I told him that I didn’t have the money and couldn’t afford to do all the work at once.  He said that he could get me financing.  Foolishly, I trusted him and signed the contract.  Afterward, I felt very uneasy about committing to such a large expenditure and told him I was canceling that contract.  The next day, Dave brought Sean with him to convince me that it was a good price, they would arrange all the financing, I could afford it, that they had already purchased materials, etc. 

I felt pressured into signing the contract, but, still feeling very uncomfortable, I told Dave the following day that I would not commit to that contract.  Then the company CEO, Haim Shiri(“Jeff”), called me and claimed that I owed him $3,000 for arranging financing, plus another $5,000 for the materials they already purchased.  I told him that I wanted to see proof that he paid $3,000 in fees to finance companies (I checked with those companies later, and they said that they do not charge any fees for getting financing).  He backtracked on that point.  I told him that we would purchase any materials he already bought and we would pick them up at his warehouse.  He then said that he was returning the materials and that there would be a $700 restocking charge.  I asked him why he was returning the materials when I offered to purchase them.  At that point, he ended the conversation.

I still kept the contract for the bath remodel, which was supposed to be finished on March 28.  Five weeks later, the only work that had been done was 1) a floor plan was drawn, 2) the old tile in the shower surround was removed, and 3) a new plumbing pipe was installed to convert the bath to a shower.  I sent notice to Dave and Jeff that I was canceling the contract for breach of contract and non-performance, and that I wanted my $1,509 deposit back.  Then the CEO, Haim Shiri, called me and claimed that I owed him another $1,000.  I told him that the $1,509 I already paid far exceeded the value of the work that was actually done.  I asked him to prove that I owed him more money, and he shot back, “I don’t have to prove anything to you,” threatened to put a lien on my property, and hung up on me.  My attorney later sent a demand letter, but no money has been refunded.  I have filed a complaint with the Contractors State License Board and a Small Claims suit.

Incidentally, I later obtained an estimate from another contractor for the same work that Quality Remodeling & Design proposed to do for $61,000.  This contractor’s estimate was $31,000, which included his profit margin.  Compared to $61,000, that would be more than $30,000 in profit for Quality Remodeling.  Also, the remodeling for the small bathroom could have been done for $3,600 as compared to $5,094.  The lesson learned here is to always get at least three estimates before signing a contract.  Also, by law, a construction contract must include a cancellation clause.  Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty about canceling the contract if you don’t feel comfortable with it.  If you are a senior or have elderly relatives, I suggest that you avoid this company.  I’m not the only one who has had a bad experience.  Check out the reviews on Yelp.com and Buildzoom.com.  This company is definitely NOT recommended.