Complaint Review: We Buy Houses

Justin Gentry has flat out lied. With regard to the contract for electrical work, I never, ever raised the price. He requested a cheap in and out proposal, as "houseflippers" do. Once we signed a contract, he kept trying to get me to do several custom extras to make this house comparable to the neighborhood. Problem is, he wanting me to "throw it in". I would not agree so we had no deal. My reputation speaks volumes, as well as the fact that the party that referred me to him appologised for his behavior and continued to use our services.

With regard to the demolition, this was an arrangement made to give my teenage boys summer jobs. I don't know why he would insist that they used too many dumpsters, when his foreman was the only person calling for pick up and delivery of these dumsters and the teenage boys had no say over this. These boys worked so hard that his framing crew hired them directly to frame the house after the demo was done. By the way, Ceaser is a good dude and he was having the same problems with these guys.

Look, I don't care what you choose to believe. We have moved on to way bigger and better things. If you unknowingly enter into business with these folks, you have my sincerest condolences. If you read this and still enter into business with these guys, well, that's your problem because I tried to warn you.

Having worked alongside a contractor (my brother) I have seen many contracts, as well as those between attorney or broker and client.  I don't know about Oklahoma law, but one might say that California law, especially in regards to real estate, is quite specific and non-negotiable, as long as both parties were of sane mind when signing the contract.  So unless the complainer is willing to state that he was suffering a bout with temporary insanity, I suggest he just take the money and run.

Real estate investors are in it for the money.  Last time I checked, that's not a crime.  Did anyone hold a gun to your head or threaten the safety of your family before you signed that contract?  No, I don't think so....no more than the former property owners were forced to sell.  I'm quite educated about foreclosures and short sales, so trust me when I say that Mr. & Mrs. Homeowner got a MUCH better deal from the investor than what their bank would have given them.  Perhaps I digress.....

My point is that just because you have a personal beef with the new owners, that's no reason to spread your nonsensical sewer spillage on a site designed for consumers to report companies who rip people off.

Unfortunately, I had no idea this report was out there until someone else found it and told me about it so Im going to take this opportunity to set the record straight.  This post was written by Chris Wood of CCW Electric in Oklahoma City, OK.

Note:  My responses follow the quoted statements in the original report.  

"...name by referral from one of his peers in the residential construction business. He wanted me to give him an estimate on some electrical work. I agreed to meet with him and walk one of the properties he needed wired. He spent the first thirty minutes pumping up my ego and telling me how I was highly thought of by the person who referred him to me, I seemed to be very sharp and knowledgable, I appeared and handled myself as a professional, etc. Then he proceeded to tell me that he would like to give me their full work load (3-4 houses a month)if I could give him a good deal. Based on the promise of the continuing work, I gave him a price for installation that he could not refuse. He did. He instead told me that he thought we had a deal, "but let me talk to Justin". After two days I called Ken back to find out he had passed my bid to another unlicensed electrician who beat me out by a nickle a sq ft.

They explained to me that this guy had been doing work for them and they wanted to give hime the benefit of the job. They also told me he had a license, a lie. Ken expressed that he was once again not happy with the work that thier electrician had done so he would like for me to give them an estimate for thier next project."

My response:

The property he referred to was a project we were working on during the summer of 2009.  We werent happy with our electrician so Ken, my foreman, was getting bids from new electricians.  Before he could come to an agreement with Chris, I had already made an agreement with the original electrician.  We were upfront with Chris about this.  Chris stated he would do anything if he could make money so in our efforts to keep him around, we gave him the demo job on that project.  He was paid upon completion of the job $1,688.85.

"...(newer, larger, custom built home) Against my instinct, I offered them a price on the next property. My prices were set in writting for both Ken and Justin to review. My bid was excepted, a contract was written and signed, I installed a temporary electrical pole so the framing and other crews could work. When it was time for me to begin the electrical roughin portion, Justing began to ask me for things that were not included in the contract. THE LANGUAGE WAS CLEAR AS DAY. THEY WROTE IT.

When I told him that these things would result in additional charges, Justin said that he would have to think about what all they want to add. Three days later when I finally had to call Ken back, he told me that they had once again "shopped" my bid out and let someone else have the job."

My response:

The next job came up and we made an agreement for Chris to do the demo work and the electrical work also.  We agreed in contract on the price of $2.25/sq ft for the electrical work.  He was paid upon completion of the demo job $4,859.40.  By the way his demo crew used TWELVE dumpsters because they would only fill them halfway and call to have them exchanged but that is just to point out the incompetence of the party.  

After the framing and the roof were done, and only days before he was supposed to start, we spoke with Chris and he stated he had recently gotten another job for $3.25/sq ft and now he couldnt do ours for any less than $2.75/sq ft.  We had ALREADY signed a contract that he would do it for $2.25/sq ft. I take this very offensively as contractors do this sometimes.  They will drag the schedule until the last minute and try to raise the price in hopes we will give in because its so hard to find new people in a timely manner. 

He told me on the phone that he would lose money at the price we had contracted at. My response was that amount is more than I had been paying and I can find someone to do the same job for $2.10 $2.15/sq ft.  He told me to let him know who because he would hire them.  Unfortunately for Chris, I know my business and I knew this was a bluff.

"I told them that would be fine, although I was not happy. I removed my temporary pole and disconnected the power. When OGE electric went out to recover the meter they called me and asked if I had reconsidered because there was another electrical pole on the property. After contacting the City office, it was apparent to the City of Midwest City and I that they had gotten the other "electrician" to install a new pole on my permit, and had already began the rough in on my permit. I was able to retract my permit and disassociate myself with the project. I sent a bill to Justin and We Buy Houses for the temporary power I had installed and for the use of the equipment until I pulled it. Justin wasn't going to pay a dime until I called him to follow up. After discussing the situation and explaining to him that if our peers in the industry would have never referred me if they were aware of this type of unprofessional business practices performed by Justin or his employees. Justing then agreed that the right thing to do would be to pay. However, two weeks later when the check showed up, it was for less than half of the invoice I sent him. Justin meerly stated to me that is what they normally pay thier (unlicensed) guy."

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My response:

Because we werent willing to pay this amount, he became very angry and spitefully came during the middle of a work day, while we had a full crew there and disconnected the power and pulled out his temporary pole leaving us high and dry.  He then proceeded to send us a bill for $580.00 for the temporary pole.  The normal cost for this is $175 to $200.  The difference was his bill stated:

$280 for labor and installation

$20 for the permit

$50 for the cost of piping and wire that couldnt be taken with him

$230 lease cost for the temporary pole at $10/day. 

Of course, when I received the bill I was livid and said I would pay him the regular rate of $175 -$200.  I wont pay to lease a temporary pole as this isnt an industry standard.  You can rent entire houses for less than $10/day.  We agreed on the phone to send him $200. 

While doing this he still stated often that he would be happy to do the job for us still if we would pay what he was asking.  Unfortunately for Chris, he had pushed me too much and he had shown too much of his spiteful personality so I wasnt willing to use him any further at any price at that point because dealing with guys that are willing to do these kinds of tactics can easily end up in lawsuits which I dont need. 

"These guys are crooks. They do everything they can to keep from using qualified tradesmen. When they do call you, they expect you to do it for the same price as the unqualified and ignorant handymen they use."

My response:

In Chriss rant, there have been multiple accusations about us using unqualified handy people to do the system work in our houses.  The houses we do have to have permits pulled and inspections performed so it isnt possible for us to use unlicensed people if we wanted to.  Anyone can call the city on any of our jobs at any time and find out who has worked on any project we have done because we have to pull permits on all of them.   

"I would not think twice about these guys, but I spent weeks trying to accomodate these guys and I already had equipment installed and had done a material take off and acquired the permit. (I spent money on these guys)"

My response:

I can show anyone the cancelled checks for what Chris made while working with us.  In total we paid him $6,748.25 for work performed for us.  I think that should cover any takeoff he couldve done, especially after he backed out of the contract price.  

"This is the fifth home investment company that I have had dealings with since going independent, and all but one (Dutch), practice the same thing. I have fixed problems all over this metro area for the unqualified handymen that these guys keep using. They wouldnt call me for that if I didn't give them a steal of a price. There is no room in the housing rehabilitation market for hard working, honest, well priced do whats right good guys."

My response:

Im sorry that Chris felt so wronged that he had to go online and do this in his efforts to get revenge.  Chris was paid for all the work he did for us on time every time. He became very angry when he priced himself out of the last job but I cant really help that.  

We didnt shop his bid to anyone else.  Fortunately, we were able find another electrician quickly so we only lost about 1 week on our schedule because of Chris.  

I hope after reading this, you will be able to make a clear decision on what happened.  I guess Ive found it most offensive that he has been paid for everything he has done, we couldnt come to terms on price for the last job, and he felt it necessary to call us crooks and scam artist for that.  Its not appropriate but you reap what you sow.