2/23/2017 – I signed three separate contracts with Builders of Hope / Ecological Community Builders (NC GC License #64862). One was for a kitchen remodel amounting to $27,999.00, another for a master bath remodel amounting to $31,475.00 and a final one for exterior improvements to my home (including paint) amounting to $14,500.00. In aggregate, the contracts totaled $73,974.00. I made a 50% upfront deposit in cash totaling $36,986.50 for all three projects. 4/21/2017 – I signed a change order to the exterior contract amending the stucco finish to the foundation, steps and chimney to a layer of Brickweb instead. In addition, the foundation vents were to be replaced. These changes amounted to a net increase to the exterior contract of $6,200.00, increasing the overall exterior contract to $20,700.00. With this change order, I made another 50% upfront deposit in cash totaling $3,100.00. Total, my total cash deposits are now $40,076.50. 5/1/2017 – Due to lack of responsiveness from the company, not to mention frustration that nothing had yet commenced on the kitchen and bath remodel projects (no meetings to design and select cabinets and finishes were scheduled), I decided to cancel the kitchen and bath remodel contracts only and requested a full refund of my 50% upfront deposit for both of those projects. This amounted to $29,737.00. At present (late June 2017) – I still have not received the refund of my kitchen and bath remodel deposits. The only work that has been done is on the exterior project, and that is still not 100% complete. However, the paint job is complete (as of mid-May 2017) and satisfactory. The subcontractor they used (A Plus Contractors) did a great job and was good to work with. Most of the Brickweb to the foundation and steps is complete too. However, they used the wrong brick on the steps. So that still needs to be replaced and corrected. Further, they still have not applied the Brickweb to the chimney. In addition, there’s still several touch up’s needed in various places throughout the foundation. Builders of Hope / Ecological Community Builders (“BH/ECB”) have been a nightmare to deal with. Since I started doing business with them in late February 2017, three employees have left the company. Rumors have floated that they are not paying their subcontractors and have been late on paying their staff. I called the subcontractor who did the paint job on my house on 6/1/2017 and discovered that they had not been paid for my job. On 6/17/2017, I spoke with another subcontractor who was working on my Brickweb who said they had not been paid. When I signed on with BH/ECB in late February 2017, no similar issues were apparent as they had an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau and the references all checked out well. Not to mention, HomeAdvisor and Angies List had mostly positive reviews for BH/ECB (and the limited negative reviews where responded to and/or resolved by BH/ECB). As it stands now, I will likely have liens placed on my property from these subcontractors even though I have already paid (and can prove I paid via canceled checks) BH/ECB for the services the subcontractors provided. As mentioned, due to lack of responsiveness and frustration with the local (Charlotte) BH/ECB office, I decided to cancel the kitchen and bath contracts effective 5/1/2017. Since early May 2017, I have been fighting to get back my deposits for the kitchen and bath remodels. Again, not the first thing had commenced on these projects (no design meetings nor cabinet and finishes selections). I have gotten nothing but the run around. I was originally told I would have my refund in two weeks. Approximately 8 weeks later, still nothing. At one point they said that I had instructed them to hold off on the kitchen and bath projects until after the exterior was finished up. This is not true. When I pointed out to them that even if that was true, they should not have taken my money (deposits) for the kitchen and bath project if their intention was to not start on them for several months. When I made this point to them, I got no response. More recently, I have been in communication with one of the owners/founders of BH/ECB. I’ve learned that he has essentially fired the entire BH/ECB staff in Raleigh and Charlotte. He said he is now sorting through the accounting and is blaming the management he had in place for the mess (I am not the only victim). He has been responsive thus far, to his credit, but becoming less and less responsive requiring more follow-up and more messages left. He appears unable, or unwilling, to provide any timeframe for anything at the moment. And, as I have learned after the fact, he has been convicted of bank fraud in the past (in the 90’s), making this situation even more concerning. [[*** Link removed ***] [*** Link removed ***] Please beware. I would highly encourage no one due business with this company. It’s bad enough for all of the current victims. There is no sense in adding to the list.
