LA Dream Builders, Inc.

"This project included repairing an old trellis that had rotten wood at the base, and repairing a porch post. When we started to make repairs to the porch post, we discovered it was rotten at the base and would have to be replaced. This could not have been known during the original estimate. This accounts for the difference between the estimated time and materials and the actual time and materials for the job. For trellis, the exact replacement parts were not available. I had recommended that the entire trellis be replaced. She elected for us to make repairs instead, and understood that it would not be a perfect match. This client stood over my craftsman telling him how to cut, hammer, fit and nail each board. It was not safe for the client to be in the work area, and she was preventing us from doing the job. I decided that it we were not going to be able to satisfy her by making the repairs. My craftsman was very courteous to her, but was having a difficult time completing the job with her looking over his shoulder the entire time. I did not charge here for the work we did do on the trellis. I suggested that she find somebody else to do the trellis-work. But I did expect to get fully paid for the porch post replacement that we did do. When I presented the invoice for that portion of the work we did do, she decided that she would only pay a portion of it, because it was more than the original estimated materials and time. But it was a reasonable price for the work. I did not argue, but then it took her 5 days to pay the bill, and only paid a portion of what was due."