A-1 Grading, Inc.

IMO Dwayne is a nice guy who does not do good business. So if you want an unlicensed contractor who will underestimate the job then jack up the price on you after completing the work and then threaten to put a lien on your house if you do not pay Dwayne is your guy. Gave an estimate for clearing the backyard and redoing the driveway and extending the culvert pipe widening the curb cut The clear backyard estimate was $9895 to clear the whole area and haul away the debris. Dwayne said they would also grade seed and straw in the area but did not put that in the estimate. The driveway estimate was $6375. Dwayne said they would be putting down 3 the stones for the driveway but did not write that in the estimate. Paid half down for them to start the job $8623.10 of 17246.20 on 10/14/22 Began work on 10/19/22 for clearing the backyard and estimated the job to take 4 days Last day working 10/27/22 Removed his equipment on 11/07/22 On the first day of the job the workers arrived and they were all extremely nice and professional. Unfortunately, it did not seem as if they had been properly informed as to what the job was. They used a large excavator and a small excavator but did not bring a chipper and when I asked about not having the chipper Dwayne informed me he was broken. After having completed approximate 80% of the clearing job Dwayne informs me that the debris had exceeded what he thought it would be and he wanted $9900 extra in haul-away fees again after doing the work. Dwayne claimed that he only expected 10 loads of debris but was currently at 26 loads with 2-3 more loads of debris still on the property. I told him I was not paying that and he should have talked to me when he realized he messed up the estimate not after doing the work. He responded by saying he would take care of it and everything would be fine. He then proceeds to bury the remaining debris instead hauling it away. After this, he sent me a change work order for $8800. They also had delivered the crush and run for the driveway project by now approx. 10 yds. As of the last day of working on the project the clearing of the yard has not been completed, all of the debris has not been removed and the yard has not been graded. On 10/27/22 Dwayne told me he needed the $8800 to pay the hauler and dump fees as they were a subcontractor and he did not have the money. Dwayne said if I gave him the $8800 so he could pay he would finish the job with no additional payment needed. At this point, the remaining balance on the job was $8623.10 I agreed to pay him the $8800 to complete the job. Dwayne said they would be back to complete the job. After this, the only people who came back were the lumber buyer who sold the pulpwood to collect the pulpwood. Dwayne had claimed they would begin working again on 2 dates but never came back. I also discover that the subcontractor was Dwayne's brother. It also took 11 days before his large excavator was removed from the property. On 11/09/22 I filed to reverse the charge on the credit card for his failure to complete the job. A-1 Grading has now threatened a lien on my property and a lawsuit if I do not pay them for the change work order as well as the incomplete work. Additional notes they were told not to cut down 3 poplar trees they instead saved 3 sweet gum trees the wrong trees. It is also costing me $1500 to complete the cleanup and haul away debris so the yard can be finished and useable.