Montell Construction Reviews (%countItem)
Montell Construction Rating
Address: 5140 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, 49525-1049
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Lied to about the deck design transcribed in our contract, taken advantage of with misleading terminology, and expectations not met.
We contacted Montell for a quote for a deck. Chad (co-owner) came out to our house on 5/16/20 and took advantage of our lack of understanding construction terminology. We showed him several pictures of the unique decks they advertise and stated we wanted a very large unique deck that was accessible from all directions. He stated several times that the cost of our deck was a function of square footage, verbally described stairs that would be "unique" and then transcribed apparently a different set of stairs in the contract we signed for a $36,821 deck 44' by 16' (supposedly including the advertised 25% off discount). Upon leaving, Chad stated "the production manager would be in touch to go over further details", which to us, meant " design details (especially considering the lack of details that were gone over at our initial consultation). A drawing or spec sheet was NEVER shown to us before construction began and we never had a chance to visualize what the final product was going to look like. If we had we would have immediately objected. I left work early on day 1 of construction of the deck to touch base with the construction workers about the design of the deck. I identified that even our basic requests were ignored and the deck was not going to look anything like we wanted. Attempted to contact Chad to express concern, and he stated he remembered the stairs and would look into getting the plan corrected. Stairs were still installed incorrectly. Also requested a description of the cost and Chad stated they did not share that information. Attempted to contact the production manager at this point (because we thought he was involved in the design process) and he stated he was not the correct person to handle the complaint. Sent an email, Greg, the owner, replied stating he was not sure why were upset and "we clearly signed a contract and spec sheet", but agreed to come to our home and talk to us. When he came out, he pulled out the spec sheet (that was the very first time we laid eyes on it) and the contract and did not care about anything else. We described our disappointment in the basic design of the deck, and lack of communication during the process. He stated that he "did not have 5 hours to go over every design of the deck" (we spent nearly $37,000, I think that is worth AT LEAST 5 hours). He also made the comment that he "hoped we learned a lesson" (referring to signing a contract). He agreed to add a set of steps to make our deck at least functional, but refused to try to help with anything else. Also during our discussion, George disclosed that the deck package was "$15,000" and that a square foot at full price was around $48 including labor. Based on that information, it did not seem that we received any discount (especially not the 25% off advertised). We also got an additional quote from a different construction company for the deck that was actually built that came out to be less than $25,000. With all of that information it was clear Montell completely ripped us off and took advantage of us. We went with Montell because we wanted a unique deck like they advertise, but were not given any options on the design and received a large basic rectangular deck that would could have gotten for much cheaper. I also inquired about the 5 year warranty that was included and the response I received was extremely inappropriate: "everything has been fully Approved by the building department, including Final Occupancy. I am not returning unless there is a serious and valid issue. It is one big, unhealthy argument every time I come out. I'd recommend you seal the new wood product/ deck, and live your life (forget about us!)"
We would like $10,000 refund. The deck that Montell constructed, we could have had built for over $10,000 cheaper through a different company. We knew that the cost through Montell was higher than other companies, but we were willing to pay more for a uniquely designed deck like the decks they advertise. Furthermore, we would be able to use the $10,000 to make additions/changes to achieve the deck we had envisioned and were expecting (using a different company because I have no desire to ever work with Montell ever again)
There is always two sides to every story, and that could not be more true than in this strange-bizarre-and unfair case. Chad M (Owner, QO, SOM Licensed Builder) met with *** and *** on 5/16/20 to discuss their decking project. They made an agreement, both verbal and written, for a large 16x44 new build with 2 staircases. The contract is very simple and straightforward, and I will attempt to attach it here in this response. It could not be more clear.*** We also assisted the customer obtain financing thru EnerbankUSA - 18 Months Same As Cash (we have that call fully recorded, fyi.) So, after the deal was made everyone signed the contract/ workorder.. Chad and Scott R. (Production Manager) met with *** on site for remeasure-review about a week later. It was pretty clear, straightforward what the contract and plans called for. In addition to that, Chad came out a 3rd time to collaborate with the homeowner's concrete crew (separate work - retaining walls, patio) Chad consulted with them on where our post/ footings would be, and they clearly understood the lay out of the deck framing. Approximately 8 weeks went by as we designed for permitting and prepared for the job. As we started the project (mid-July), *** asked if we could move one of the staircases and Chad agreed (no problem). Our work commenced as normal and fine, with one exception. I am only going to say this to add some content to this strange complaint and request. Apparently and often, the homeowner ***, would sit in his chair to watch the guys and light up rather large blunts (marijuana) No problem, probably legal for him and at his home, but this may help someone reading this - etc. We pretty much completed the entire build over a 2 week span. It is very nice, very large, and exactly to the contract (and nothing was mentioned wrong to this point) On pretty much our last day finishing up, the homeowner contacted me (George M - President) with this same malarkey. I agreed to meet with them the very next day. When I arrived, it was myself - *** - *** - and ***'s father. Long story short, they were working me for additional work (another set of steps) and for more money off. Keep in mind, the job is 100% complete and its beautiful. However, we at Montell Construction all strive for happy customers and as little drama as possible. I agreed to add/ modify another set of steps 8'x3 w/ railings (no charge) Even though *** was still asking me to waive his last payment of $2921.00, we all agreed on this - the father, daughter, and son in law. We did those steps at no charge, they paid us in full (EnerbankUSA Completion and the final amount of $2921.00) I can also share the completion documents, I'm sure that is also compelling evidence to the truth. Everything we did was fully Approved by Vergennes TWP, inc Final Occupancy issued. In conclusion, we have done nothing wrong or improper by any means. If this harassment continues, I feel that you are illegally attacking me. If this continues, I will be represented by Miller Johnson and will be seeking my own damages and attorney costs. I would strongly advise you to seal that deck, stop thinking about me (us), and have a good life. I don't want to sue you, but I will 100% (untrue, defaming, harassment) Lastly, I am not sure of the harm caused by marijuana - but if your going to go thru an entire 8-12 week process on a major deck build.. and get to the last day and not know of anything.. you may want to focus on that as your main obstacle in life.
Document Attached
Document Attached***
Attached the email conversations between George and my Fiance ***. Also have attached screen shots of the attempts to communicate with Chad prior to George getting involved.
George or Chad have never responded to the question: Why we were not shown a spec sheet or drawing of what our deck would look like before construction began. A house would not be built without the homeowner approving the floor plan, I don't understand why it is acceptable to build a $37,000 deck without confirming with the homeowners that it is what they want. All problems could have been avoided.
We are not trying to harrass or make false claims. We have had several unproductive conversations with George which is why we took the next appropriate step, filing a complaint.
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
We are not trying to harass anyone and we have not made any false statements. We tried resolving our issues and complaints personally with the company and the conversations were unproductive and unhealthy for everyone; so we took the next step we felt was appropriate (a complaint with the way business was handled)
George or Chad have never responded to the question: Why we were not shown a spec sheet or drawing of what our deck would look like before construction began. A house would not be built without the homeowner approving the floor plan, I don't understand why it is acceptable to build a $37,000 deck without confirming with the homeowners that it is what they want. All problems could have been avoided.
False statement made in George's response: ONLY Scott (production manager) returned to take measurements (NOT Chad). Scott knocked on the door and introduced himself. *** asked if there was any details she could help with, he stated there was not and that he was their to take some measurements and he proceeded to the backyard to continue. NO DETAILS ABOUT THE DECK WERE DISCUSSED.
When Chad met with the concrete workers (as he verbally requested on 5/16/20 to ensure both construction companies were on the same page to avoid problems during construction) he did not involve us at all. *** met both Chad and the owner of the concrete company outside when they pulled in the driveway. She stated that Chad did not even make eye contact and when she spoke up to ask if she was needed, Chad stated NO and continued to the back yard. NO DETAILS ABOUT THE DECK WERE DISCUSSED.
The written contract is NOT what was VERBALLY discussed on 5/16/20 and as soon as we realized the deck was not going to be anything like we wanted we attempted to communicate our concerns with both the workers constructing the deck as well as Chad. George was not involved or notified until 2 days prior to completion because that is when Chad responded to a text message stating we should schedule an appointment or send an email. We expressed that the written contract was obviously not as crystal clear to us as it was to them (we have never built a deck before) and as stated before, all problems could have been avoided with better communication and if a visual drawing of the deck would have been approved by us prior to beginning construction.
Looking back, I can see communication was poor on both of our parts, but again, I have never done anything like this before and wasn't expecting to have to pull tooth and nail to understand the process when I am paying $37,000 for the service. And so far we feel like we have been told too bad.
We are just as unhappy with the fact that our deck is not what we wanted and were really looking forward to enjoying it; instead it has been a nightmare and physically and mentally exhausting. The cost agreed upon (37,000) was 100% in our price range for what we wanted to spend and we would feel very comfortable spending that much if we receive the deck we were expecting in return. We feel very strongly that we were taken advantage of and that the deck we received was not worth the amount we have paid.
I honestly am not sure what you want from me. We have a signed contract and built exactly that. The only thing we provide the homeowners with is our clearly stated contract, our other renderings are for permitting purposes only (footing details, etc.) Besides, the project here is 16 x 44 - would you like me to draw you a rectangle? Anyways, please let me know what to do from here. And if this harassment continues, I will have no choice but we will counter sue 100% (including our legal expenses) This is very straightforward, but ridiculous. Please advise -
I had Montell replace all the windows in my house 7 years ago. Recently water flooded the floor in my son's room. The remediation company identified the window as the problem. I called George and he came right out the same day to have a look! He not only ordered a new window for the one in question but also a second window right next to it so they would match. Then when the window was taken out and they saw no defect Montell didn't charge me. That is excellent customer service and honoring the lifetime warranty! I can't recommend Monetll enough after my experience.
Have an old west side home. Needed a front porch upgrade, switching out old decorative iron with wrapped wolmanized posts & railings. Montell sent out two roofing & siding guys "because they didn't have any work today". Work was shoddy...big gaps, not level, etc.. When I complained to ownership, THEY SENT THE SAME TWO GUYS TO RE-DO THE WORK! WITH THE SAME SHODDY RESULT. Carpenters were sent out the 3RD TIME & the result was acceptable. Not worth the $3500 price & aggravation.
Pretty surprised to see this review now, as we did this project 5 years ago. So I called Mr. and he stated he's mainly upset to see our tv commercials. It's hard to recall 5 years ago, but in looking at the file notes, we were able to satisfy him and his wife. They may have been particular (no problem), but in the end - he gave us good marks on everything and paid us in full. Who knows, perhaps being in lockdown too much - some get bored and want to lash out at someone? We did a good job here, and thankful for the good marks at the time as well as final payment.
LOL! George M & I spoke. He accepted nothing I had to say and made it personal by calling me a 'hater'...nice customer service on top of shoddy workmanship, George. I'm a former business owner, employing 80 with over 500 regular customers. Never spoke to either with such unprofessionalism.
Have a nice day ~
Met these guys at the Grand Rapids home show within days we set up an appointment with Matt C was out to our house and spent a good amount of time going over all options we had based on what we wanted to spend. when constuction started Adam and Kelly we out bright and early and got right to it. Matt projected about 2 weeks. Adam and Kelly got it done in about 7-8 days. and the final result was a wonderful muti-layer deck. this was a great experience from start to finish
Montell Construction did a great job on our deck. Matt C. Was so helpful.
We met with Matt on April 4, 2019, as we were interested in having a new deck built. At first the meeting went fine, but when it came to providing the cost of the job, it went from $33,000.00 down to $27,000.00 (removing side path). We explained we couldn't pay that much. After negotiating and asking us what we could go down to, he got the price down to $21,500.00, but we would have to decide at that time. Pushy.
Matt told us it would take anywhere from 10-12 weeks for the job to be started. I had several conversations with different people from Montell including all of the owners. One in particular was my email conversation with owner George McNew, which I can provide if needed. His last response to my questions regarding the timeframe for our deck (email dated June 13, 2019) said -
"I was personally involved in drawing - designing yours, it is much more custom. Lord only knows, hope to not be on a clock, and maybe in the end you'll be happy. I am aware, thank you ð?? "
First, my husband designed the deck and it is mainly one level, except for going out of the house.
Second, I was simply asking when our project would be started, as it was already June 13th and we signed our contract on April 4th. His response was both unprofessional and sarcastic.
Also, Montell Construction did not build the deck themselves, the job was sub-contracted out. A final walk through inspection was not done and the leftover materials were not picked up. Our township office contacted me in October 2019 to let me know that their file on the inspection was still open. Montell Construction did not contact them for this.
We have been home owners for many years and have lived outside of Rockford for six years and still have many more renovations that need to be completed. Because of the lack of integrity that we received from this company, we would not suggest them to any of our friends and family.
We are thankful for you having us out in April, and greatly appreciate you hiring us at that time! I do remember your project, mostly because the product (Trex Enhance Naturals) was delayed by Trex, and I stepped in to personally upgrade your decking to our Transcend materials (double the value for you!) FREE OF CHARGE This addendum/ change was made on 6/5/19, the job was completed by the end of June, certainly within the quoted timeframe (10-12 weeks) I am glad your husband designed your deck, but we also have to do this on our CAD software as well as administer the paperwork. I am sorry you felt my comments to be unprofessional and sarcastic, that would never be an intention of mine. I will follow up on the permit concern, we did in fact design/ permit the project on 4/24/20, it is possible final was not called in. I will mail you our final once received. But please remember, your FREE Upgrade was worth thousands of dollars.. you could take it easier on me:)
I made a couple calls re: the permit. It was in fact called in upon the completion in late June. Sometimes (often) the townships have backlog and take several months to clear. The permit here was fully Approved on 9/24/19, no idea why they would call you in October, but I'm not surprised. Enjoy your new Trex Transcend decking, and please let us know if there is anything more you need from us!
Main Reasons for Getting Permits:
Helps Protect Property Value
Your home or business is an investment. If your construction project does not comply with the codes adopted by your community, the value of your investment could be reduced.
Saves Money
Property insurers may not cover work or damages caused by work done without permits and inspections.
Makes Selling Property Easier
When property is sold through a multiple listing association, the owner is required to disclose any improvements or repairs made and if permits and inspections were obtained. Many financial institutions will not finance a purchase without proof of a final inspection. If you decide to sell a home or building that has had modifications without a permit, you may be required to tear down the addition, leave it unoccupied or do costly repairs.
Improves Safety
Your permit allows the code official to reduce potential hazards of unsafe construction to provide for public health, safety and welfare. By following code guidelines, your completed project will meet minimum standards of safety and will be less likely to cause injury to you, your family, and your friends or future owners. Mandatory inspections complement the contractor’s experience and act as a system of checks and balances resulting in a safer project.
It’s the Law
Work requiring permits are made such by City Ordinance. Work without a permit may be subject to removal or other costly remedies.
Follow up with your township to make sure all proper permitting was issued. Don’t rely on your contractor to follow up. Call your township for verification.
Just had siding put on our 3-season porch by Montell Construction. They did an outstanding job! Donald and Craig were super nice, efficient and did great work! Hoping to get the exterior of the house done this year and we will certainly call Montell!!!
I met with Matt. He was knowledgeable and not pushy. I needed a new roof on my garage. He said it would probably be around the middle of March. The meeting with Matt was February 07. The job was finished in one day. That included the tear off and new roofing. On February 21.The men who did the work did not appear to take a break. There was a lot of debris in my garage. Which I think could of been cleaned up better. The outside debris was cleaned up well. Matt was great. And so was the job on my roof. It does look very nice. And I would recommend it to others.
Thank you for taking the time to give us a review, and your kind words - appreciate it very much.
Homeowner*** and ***
My wife and I were extremely pleased with all aspects of our experience with the Montell Construction team. We had a significant job that involved removing and replacing five large window panels in our 1980's solar sun space. The initial visit with Matt, the salesman, was very positive. He is knowledgeable in the history and mission of their locally-founded company and we worked through the project scope and settled on what we felt was a reasonable timeline at a fair price. Myself, I have worked in sales for decades and recognized Matt as a sincere and skilled professional.
The next step was the visit from the estimating and measuring team, who were very friendly and efficient in dialing in the requirements of the job. The demolition and reconstruction went forward on schedule, and in the space of two days the entire transformation occurred, with impeccable clean up. This beautifully executed work made an impressive improvement in the look, function and value of our home, thanks to the high quality work of the Montell team..
Thank you very much for taking the time to give our company this kind review. We all wish you both a Happy New Year, and always feel welcome to call if we could be of any further help!
The trim on my replacement window is falling off
We had Montell install vinyl replacement windows July 9, 2018 including a half-circle window on the front of our house. Last month, we noticed the trim around the half-circle window had come loose and was hanging down the front of the house. An installer from Montell came out, inspected the trim, and stated that it came loose because it was not properly installed. The trim piece was damaged and needed to be replaced.
After several missed appointments, another installer replaced the trim. When I arrived home that evening, the trim is again starting to protrude from the window. I sent Montell pictures asking if that was normal. They stated that "it must have shifted after he left." He stated he would return by June 28th.
On the evening of June 28th, Mr. sent an email apologizing for not coming when promised and that he would clear his calendar to resolve the problem by the July 4th holiday. I have yet to hear from anyone.
Repair the trim to satisfactory condition before I hire another contractor to finish for them.
Contact Name and Title: George ***/ Owner
Contact Phone: ***
Contact Email: ***
We are obviously in the "middle" of a Service here! The trim piece needed is a custom - flexible j-channel. A Revdex.com complaint seems pretty over the top as we'll probably have repaired in the next day or two. If the homeowner hires another contractor that touches any part of our window (inc. the trim) #1 They will have to pay, #2 Their warranty on that 1/2 round window will become null and void. We are moving and trying as fast as we can -
(The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.)
Twenty nine days after being contacted about the trim falling off, Montell has finally followed through on their promises and finished the repair. That's quite a while to be in "the middle" of a service.
Document Attached***
We have finished our repair/ service on this half round window, by using a more flexible j-channel trim piece. We had to order that part of course*** Today is July 9th, fixed this morning 9am, thanks!
This company is one of the best I've had the pleasure of working with. They were very professional and friendly from start to finish when we had them install windows in our home. The windows are high quality and were fairly priced. They have been great to work with and I will definitely be using them again for other upcoming projects!
Montell came to our residence to quote a new deck and I must say I have never had such a positive experience with a sales person! He explained every aspect of the project, was curious in answering all of our questions, was NOT pushy or high pressure, and we felt genuinely concerned about our situation. I would recommend Montell to anyone looking for a company with a solid reputation and that does the highest quality work from initial contact to project completion! Excellent family owned company!
Montell Construction replaced my roof when it started leaking. They were efficient and respectful and completed the job in a timely manner. I was very satisfied with there service and will use them again when I need additional work done on my home