United Builders of California

Review: 6-4-14 [redacted], California Contractor License # [redacted] (United Builders of California) has a contract with me to do a small room addition. He completed the foundation and framing 5 weeks ago and has refused to talk on the phone to me since then about completing the work. My homeowner association is inquiring about the lack of work being done and my 80+ year old neighbor is at risk entering and exiting her home due to the construction project impairing her entry and exit. [redacted] was a 10 days late starting the project, and admitted he had some medical problems and family problems which effected his ability to get out of his home each day.He was asked if he could complete the project given those personal problems, ie could he have someone do the work if he were unable. He promised to get the work done before mid June, 2014. I left on a vacation five weeks ago and during my three week vacation the windows were to have been installed. Not installed. On my return, two weeks ago, he was to have started work and completed the project within two weeks. During the past two weeks he has refused to return my phone calls and do any work on the project. He leaves text messages promising to meet and start work and never shows up. He has left a message with one personal excuse after another. The other contacts I have on the job have called him repeatedly and he has not been responsive to their pleas to meet and complete the work. His contract with me lists his business at a home address of [redacted]. This is a home he owned with his wife Kelly and sold last 4-10-13 and he no longer resides at this home. I was advised by someone on the job that his actual address is now an apartment at [redacted]. I need this work completed. He is has not showed up to work or returned phone calls to me, only texts with excuses.Desired Settlement: I want [redacted], owner of United Builders of California, to release the contract, account for the $15,000 paid to him and refund any money not spent on the project. I want [redacted] to release the permits with the City of Laguna Niguel to a new general contractor.I have lost my confidence in [redacted] completing this work. I feel it would be best if we parted ways and I hired another contractor to complete the work.[redacted] c [redacted]

Business

Response:

[redacted] signed a contract with United Builders of California on 4-22-2014 with a completion date of 8-22-2014 written on the contract that they signed. United Builders was able after 3 changes made to the plans by the owner able to still pull the permits over the counter that same day regardless that they had normal plan processsing according to the building department was at least 2 weeks on the first turn around. We were able to start the excavation which turned out to be more costly due to unforseens but we never charged the owner for the extra excavation and extra concrete required to do the job due to we didn't see that it was fair to charge them. As a contractor we take that risk on remodels and it's not the owners fault. The engineer also required extra large footings and extensive hardware that the owner was charged for in fact even though the room was lengthened after the permits where pulled [redacted] had to go back to the engineer for a revised set of drawings required by the building department but [redacted] was able to get the inspection by just meeting with the inspector on the job partly due to the fact that the extra engineering according to the inspector was over kill on the job. I have been in business 33 plus years and have never had a complaint. We are a 100% referrel company. I was sick with prior to starting the project and discussed this with the owner. The owner signed the contract and I agreed if I couldn't finish this that I would release the project which I did when [redacted] requested. We finished the excavation, poured the concrete and hauled the dirt and debri away and finished the rough framing and delivered the windows while she was on vacation. We went as far as we could at that point and had to wait to continue the project until she returned. While [redacted] was on vacation I was admitted to the hospital by my doctor during a normal check up and he admitted me that day. Again because we discussed this prior to me starting I released the project as [redacted] requested when she asked. United Builders contract does have the old address on it but the State License board has the correct address of 2000 Corporate drive in Ladera Ranch but the phone number has remained the same as always. The computer software was just not updated yet to reflect the new address. United Builders has been paid the amount of $ 15,000.00 by [redacted] as agreed on the contract of which hard cost with labor and material at this time that UBC is at $ 11,800.18 without any allowance for the normal 32% mark up to cover the over head, taxes and insurance plus any of [redacted]s time which if you add up comes to over $15,000.00 which was paid to UBC.

Again United Builders and [redacted] regret this happened and [redacted] had no control over this. My new foreman who introduced us to [redacted] was told that he could complete the job and stay in touch with [redacted] while I was unavailable but I understand [redacted] concern so [redacted] complied with her request and released the job when she asked. We are sorry but feel we complied and again as I said we have been in business for over 33 years and have not had any complaints