Real Construction

This is a long review. Please read the whole article to put the ratings in context. To start, we have all plans and permits ready and paid for. We were ready to execute when we sought out contractors for bidding. First contact: Rep did not show up due to miscommunication. Sion personally apologized and arranged to come out himself. He requested electronic copies of the approved plans. When we sat down at our residence, he had printed out his own full size prints from the pdf files we sentand was prepared to discuss the details of the drawings. He is a civil engineer and it reflected in his depth of knowledge beyond what I would expect a GC to know. I had to call the architect to get some clarifications and this is after I have sat down with 3 other contractors already. He submitted a written bid at the sit down and after we had time to review his proposal, he answered my questions within 24 hours. He wasn't the most detailed, but it was sufficient for us to understand and compare with other bids. His initial bid was very competitive and we know where the cost increases will be based upon the quality of finish we are looking at. Reviewing his license, he has a Class B (general contractor) AND a Class A (engineering contractor)!!! His license dates back to 1981 for the B license and 1996 for his A license. Go to cslb.ca.gov license # 407061 to verify yourself. He also looks to be up to date on insurance with no complaints to CSLB. Through the initial discussions, Sion offered up a few suggestions on improving the aesthetics and functionality. We will take those under advisement, but requested the bid against the drawings as-is so we can compare contractors fairly. Upon review of all offerors, we selected Real Construction. 1) They have excellent references in the south bay/culver city area. 2) Sion has a Class A and B license. 3) They were lower priced for the same scope of work (typically a danger sign, but I'll address this more later). It took two iterations to agree to the scope, payment schedule, terms, and final price. Terms included us remaining at the residence during construction. It was a fair and straightforward exercise. No games, no fuss. Since starting, communication has been excellent. They are available via email, text, and phone and are very responsive. Sion explains each step and the following steps so you are well informed. He is patient and willing to work with our desires and needs. The subs he uses have, for the most part, been professional and very knowledgeable. Sion and his subseven have some, I'll call them passionate, discussions... which I find is a good thing. It means everyone cares to do the job right and not blindly do what they are told. Experts in their fields, they include us in the discussions to ensure what they are going to do will meet or exceed our expectations. As a project engineer myself, I totally enjoy this and appreciate the attention to detail. When we started to put down foundation, floor joists, and frames, I walked around with both large and small levels verifying that everything is down, plumb, and level. I found one vertical beam that was 1/4" off over an 8 foot run, which was acceptable and the most out of alignment I could find. Everything else was dead level or plumb. He ordered all his hardware from a lumber yard in Woodland Hills. We wrote checks directly to them and deducted it from our running balance with Sion. Sion also provided the lien waivers. Our first change order occurred when we pulled back a wall and found no foundation under it. It was permitted by the city, so we had all assumed it had a proper foundation. To remedy, Sion charged $11k to tear down necessary walls, dig, and pour a proper raised foundation, re-build the walls, plumbing, electrical, etc. that would not have had to be touched before. Note this area is to support the new second floor, so while the price may seem high, a lot of work went into it. All the rough framing was done well. We had a few issues from the drawings that the architect had put together. For example, the walls were drawn as 8' high, but were actually 8' 4" high. Sion had to return all the 8' sheer wall (with restocking fee) and purchase 12' sheer wall and trim 20" off each one. He wasn't happy, but he did the work without a change order. This also forced a change to the stairs since we were now one step short of the height. It also changed the roof line. Sion discussed several options with us and he found ways to make the whole thing work. I was really impressed. Rough Plumbing and Electrical were done well. We opted to do a change order to increase the water main diameter and put in a recirculating hot water system. We also had to increase the size of the gas lines to accomodate several new appliances. The total change was about $8k for all the work, plus recirculating hardware. I am very happy with the quality of work so far, so I thought it was a fair price. I'm sure I could have gotten it cheaper, but probably not with the same level of integrity and attention to detail that I have seen. Insulation installers were fast and used good quality materials. Dry wall contractors took a few days since there was a lot to put up, plus we have 14' vaulted ceilings in almost every new room. Sion used Milgard for the windows and french doors. Roofers did their job well. The tile work was done by his workers. Good quality overall. My wife saw a 'waterfall' design at Floor and Decor and decided she wanted that pattern of river rocks running up the shower and on the shower floor. Used metal bullnose material. Everything was installed the way she wanted. Sion's shower glass installer came out, and installed what we agreed upon. He tried to upsell us on some things, but he was ok when we politely declined. Sion gave us an allowance for the master bath and we were able to stay within it and ended up with something we like. The flooring was a bit of a different story. He gave us an allowance, but his flooring contractor was going to charge us an absurd amount of money. Sion was OK with us contracting the flooring ourselves. It was a lot of work and time for us, but we did save a lot of money on that aspect. His workers generally work hard, but some of them do have a bit of an attitude. Just deal directly with Sion and let him handle them. For the stucco, Sion only bid stucco color for the addition. It took us a bit of discussion to understand why he wanted a change order to fog the entire house. Fogging is the last step in stucco with the coloring. After a bit of research, we saw what he was telling us was correct and the price was reasonable. Unfortunately, he limited us to the basic colors, but we found one that my wife liked. Should you use Sion, make sure you are very explicit in the painting instructions. He will assume a single color. Sion was present almost 90% of the days throughout the project. He was there before 7am (mostly because he wanted to beat traffic down). Now we are in the final throws of the project. Sion completed the bulk of his contract in 18 weeks, right about when he thought he would be done. So, he held his promised schedule in spite of a few issues along the way. Overall summary: For the rough work, Sion is on top of the game. The detailed work required some arm wrestling and discussion. Communication is generally very good. Though Sion can get stuck on an idea and you have to be patient to let him get it all out before he hears you. After I figured that out, it was easy to deal with him. He is responsive to phone calls, emails, and texts. He can get a little emotional if you don't do exactly what he thought you would do, but hey, he's human and not a machine. I'm ok with that. Integrity: Sion didn't do anything to make me question his integrity. He worked hard and he kept his word. There were a few times when we remembered things differently, but I believe that those are honest differences and not an attempt to mislead or increase the price. The one real complaint I have is that he was on contract to keep the grounds clean each day since we are living through the construction. We called him on it the first week when the worker

<p>They ended up not finishing the job. We had issues. Some of it was started and then they came in to do the rest of it but then it ended up we had to cut them off because it just wasn't going right and all these change orders started popping up.  We just weren't in line with our goals and their goals. Basically we just stopped and continued it ourselves. I am not sure where we stopped, but it was pretty early and less than half of it was completed. My interaction with them seemed okay, but there was just something that did not fit well. It was a lot of not following through. Things seemed to change as the project moved on and extra charges started to pop up and change orders. The work they did was okay, but I figure a C or D.    <br /> <br /></p>

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Made an appointment for 10am I stayed home from work and got a call at 10:30 from the sp letting me know that they had a problem and needed to reschedule. I made another appointment Friday at 10 am. I stayed home from work again this time they not only were a no show but I got no call letting me know what happened.

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It went really well.

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Our experience with Real Construction was extremely good. All the roofers, carpenters and painters did an outstanding and flawless job. They were always very punctual, very courteous, and (considering all the construction underway) they were surprisingly quiet and made every effort to minimize any disruption. They were especially attentive to cleaning up the work <br /> areas before leaving for the day. <br /> After work was begun it was discovered that the full extent of the damage was hidden and involved some other support posts and eaves. Since they considered this within the original scope of work we were able to quickly agree on a reasonable price modification (mostly to account for the additional material). This was very fair since a lot more labor was needed.  <br /> Asi was always available and reliable. He was present on site every single day to check the status and progress of the work. <br /> He kept us fully informed as to what was being done and why. He also offered us options and made several excellent recommendations to enhance the final result. The project was completed on schedule and exceeded our expectations. <br /> We are satisfied and happy customers. Their performance was superb. Real Construction is real indeed.

Contractor and workers did an excellent job and were professional at all times.  <br /> The project ended up costing a little more than I had originally planned on, but considering how well it all came out, it was worth it.

Asi came for the initial visit on time and immediately understood what we wanted.  He suggested upgrading to a more natural colored and textured type of TREX, which for our application was the perfect solution and created the look we desired.  We also had a slightly larger than 120 sq foot space and we needed some steps, none of which were not included in the Angie's list price of $1499, hence the higher cost.  (I had received two other estimates/quote for decking the same space, both were substantially higher and used a lower quality of decking materials.)  After his initial visit, Asi came out again, so that my husband could see the sample decking color I had chosen (and also so I could confirm for myself that I made the "right" color choice for our application.)  He measured for the deck plan and said that they would be back the following week...when the materials came in.  They came early one morning and by the end of the day had the deck foundation completed.  The next day they installed the TREX decking...beautiful job, well constructed, and great workers.  They ran a few boards short because of the steps and came back on the third day... later in the day to finish up.  They were excellent, punctual and clean.  We love our new deck.  It's better than we envisioned.  Thank you Asi and Real Construction crew.

Real Construction did an amazing job on my kitchen, closets, bathrooms and pavers. I worked with ASI for the design portion and Sion as my contractor. They were incredibly helpful and always responded to my questions. RC handled everything from start to finish, so I never had to worry about anything. I gave Sion a budget and a general idea of what I wanted, and he helped me design a kitchen that exceeded my expectations. My backyard is amazing with new pavers and gazebo. RC upgraded our pool and installed lights. Sion stayed within my budget and timeline. Every aspect of this renovation was handled with the highest level of care, responsibility and professionalism. We are very happy with Real Construction and we're highly recommending them to all my family and friends.

I initially responded to an <em>Angie's list </em>special, advertising a 10" x !2" redwood or <em>Trex deck </em>for only $1499.99.  This, of course, sounded too good to be true, and, alas, was.  Don't get me wrong, I was completely satisfied with the final construction and the price, the latter of which was almost ten times the advertised price. <br /> The reason for this is simple.  One need only read the clearly labeled "fine print" accompanying the ad, which clearly indicates that it does not include demolition, parapets (railing), support structure, roof, or painting, all of which I needed.  One reviewer called this a "bait and switch" advertising technique, which one may feel when faced with the "sticker shock,"  but the deal I got was more than fair, price-wise, and expertly done with a high quality finished product. <br /> The deck that needed replacement was at least 30-40 years old, and was built with wood.  The years had badly eroded the deck, which was warped, with protruding nails, and a termite infested foundation, and was at the point of imminent collapse.  But the old deck was significantly larger than the advertised 10" x 12" deck, and was elevated (thus requiring rails), was built on support beams, and also had an overhead wooden canopy. So replacing it required much more than what was advertised , and a consequently higher price. <br /> Sion and Asi, the proprietors of <strong>Real Construction</strong>, were responsive, and quickly met with my wife and me to discuss and plan removing the old deck, and replacing it with a new one.  They are both intelligent, experienced building contractors, with an educational background in structural engineering. While we had a choice of termite resistant, chemically treated termite resistant redwood, we elected to go with a wood substitute called <em>Trex</em>. This a composite material, available in many colors, including one that very much resembled the redwood that we were replacing (called <em> Select Saddle</em>).  This is a composite material, which is virtually waterproof, does not require yearly maintenance, is washable with soap and water (or simply water), and is impervious to termites. <br /> Their construction crew rapidly and efficiently demolished the.old deck, and hauled it away.  They then replaced the termite ridden supporting beams with chemically treated, compressed termite resistant wood beams.  They expertly installed the <em>Trex </em>material, using stainless steel spacers, which keep the separate rows of <em>Trex </em>at exactly the right spacing, allowing water to drain off.  They also extended the gutters and connected them to the downspout,  which should keep water away from the front door, which opens onto the deck. Next was the construction of the railing (or parapet), which was done with a beautiful contrasting whiteTrex. Lastly, was the installation of supporting beams and canopy, both made of termite resistant wood, and painted with high quality exterior white paint. <br /> The result was a brand new, handsomely done, low maintenance deck, which serves as both my front porch and an entrance to the front door of the house. <br /> As is customary, I paid for the work and materials in several increments, as the work progressed, with the final payment upon completion. <br /> While dealing with contractors is seldom a pleasant experience (trust factor rating right below used car salesman), Sion and Asi of Real Construction really do "break the mold," and go against the grain.  They entirely deserve the high rating that they have on Angie's  List. <br /> <br />

To say the experience with Asi and Real Construction was good is an understatement. They did a phenomenal job. Not only were they on time they actually finished faster than anticipated. They didn't cut corners and they told me everything they were doing as they were making all the changes. They listened to me the whole way through and worked with my budget. They were kind and friendly and didn't try to weasel money out of me.  <br /> I feel like they were beyond upfront and if I wanted something and they felt it wouldn't look good or could be above my budget they told me their truthful opinion. I have to say the work they did was impeccable. I am so happy with how my house came out inside and out that there are no words. I feel like my backyard was transformed into an oasis. The inside of my house is so much warmer now and I haven't found a flaw in any of their work.  <br /> My overall experience with the workers and this company was outstanding. I would highly recommend them to my friends and family.  <br /> If you are looking for anything in regards to remodeling or whatever you need in your home, inside, outside, top, bottom, call Real Construction and speak to Asi. He knows what he's doing and he will give you the best price and the most honest input as to what is the best look for your home or business.  <br /> From one truly happy customer to any potential customers don't pass on calling them for a quote.

They did a great job, very punctual, professional and the work was excellent.  Scion and Asi were on top of it the whole time.  I would definitely use them again, and probably will...

Build a patio near my pool with beautiful pavers all around. Real construction came in with samples, designs and ideas. We chose to go with Capriana Combo, and we love it! Pavers are amazing and complement my home style and landscape!!! Im so happy with Real Construction . They did everything i asked for, scheduling, colors, pattern and much more! My patio, walkway was the best desicion i made to personalize and extend my living space outdoor. Thank you Real Construction! I will recommend them to all my family & friends.

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Constructed whole pool and hot tubs. I chose a dark blue flooring which made the water look dark although they provided me with many options. I changed my backyard dramatically- added an entertainment BBQ and hot tub, inserted exterior fire place in the patio, landscape backyard. Drive way and walk way filled with rich interlocking pavers (huge difference), and bar alongside backyard pool/bbq.

August 7 Update: <br /> <br /> We're still underway (see pictures), but work is almost complete now and I really don't know what else to say besides WOW.  We practically have a whole new house and it's gorgeous!  And it's really only been 2 months since the city gave final approvals -- who else can build a house (and with this quality) so fast! <br /> <br /> Sion and Asi have been there making sure everything is done right every step of the way.  They have also been very helpful in showing us all of the new components to our home and giving advice and suggestions as needed.  In fact, often when there's a decision to be made, we'll meet at the house and work it out together.  Here and there have been hiccups, but this is to be expected in a big construction project and it's always been resolved beautifully.  I really appreciate that they've allowed and encouraged us to be really central in making decisions on this project rather than assuming what we'd want.  <br /> <br /> We're so excited for our home to be complete and know that it's been built with quality materials throughout.  Real Construction has done amazing work! <br /> <br /> <br /> Original Review: <br /> Even though my project is not yet complete, I want to share our experiences so far with Sion at Real Construction. Sion was actually referred to me by a family member who had worked with him before a number of times (I didn't even know until recently that he was on Angie's List). Even though we're not done yet, we're really excited for the progress so far!  <br /> <br />  Our project is a very big one (second floor addition, some first floor expansion, adding central AC and heat throughout, and a complete kitchen remodel) and Sion has been hands on every step of the way. He's been mindful of our budget, needs, and timeline.  <br /> <br />  Because we're waiting for the renovations to be done before selling our old place and moving into the new one, time really does mean money for us. Sion has been amazing at getting everything ready to go as quickly as possible! I don't think I've ever seen a contractor as diligent at pushing to get the plans done, permits approved, and getting the work going. He's early to our meetings and he's great at responding to calls, texts, and emails ? how many people can say that about their contractor? Seriously, sometimes he has to track ME down, not the other way around! It's fantastic knowing he's staying on top of everything.  <br /> Also, for the parts of our job that he can't do, like the official plans that require an architect and engineer, he's given us great subcontractors.  <br /> <br />  Once the project is done, I'll update with before and after pics, but in the meantime I wanted to share our experience so far with Real Construction.

I have had construction projects done in prior years. My experience with real construction was much better than expected. They will definitely get my business in the future.

Six months ago I wake up to a scary and devastating situation.  My Kitchen floor was overflowing  with water and my wood floor behind the kitchen wall was soaked with water as well. Terrified and stressed my wife called our home insurance  for help and guidance.  The insurance recommended us to work with Real Construction Company.  As we started the first stage of the need assessment, budget and procedures it was obvious to us how  experienced, well -organized and sufficient this company is. The level of the collaboration and coordination between the different professionals employed by Real Construction, such as painter, tile people, carpenter and plumbers, were unbelievably amazing. Additionally, time management was a crucial factor in this successful experience. All the workers and the teams arrived on time and as scheduled in advance. This is very rare to see in construction companies.  As soon as we finished the kitchen, we realized that with such an excellent experience we should continue to do our backyard which included Interlocking pavers, new drainage system, and new pool, BBQ, Fire pits, as well four bathrooms and 4 showers. Thanks to this brilliant and outstanding Real Contraction this projects lasted all together only six months.  we love our Calabasas house and we enjoy every moment in the house.  This is only thank to Real Construction!!!! <br /> <br />

I contacted Real Construction to completely remodel my Bathroom. The bathroom before the remodel was built in 1989 with old and ugly tile. The toilet was leaking and the smell of sewage was quite bat at times. Sion, the contractor and owner, definitely  has  a modern style and had great recommendations for what a great modern bathroom would look like. The estimate was very accurate to what the final cost was. He only used high-quality material which were still cost-effective and within my budget. The tile work,drywall work,appliances, ceiling, spacious walk in shower, painting,faucets  were done and installed by Real Construction and their amazing team. My experience with Real Construction have been nothing but AMAZING. I would recommend Real Construction to anyone that needs remodeling done anywhere on their property. Thank You, Real Construction for Great Work!!!

When we first went into this project back in August of 2014 we hired a "Micky Mouse" contractor that started demolition & rough work on the home. Little did we know this guy was the definition of a CON-tractor. The license he was supposedly registered under was not even his and he was subbing all of the work out. By the time October came around we had an empty house down to the studs and about $40,000 gone out the window with no contractor or work/supplies finished. This was the biggest nightmare my wife and I had gone through as first time homeowners but luckily there was some light at the end of a tunnel. <br /> After a sufficient amount of research online we finally decided to get a few quotes on our project from a few different contractors. All of them seemed great, but Real Construction hit it out of the park. We were fortunate enough to have Sion, the CEO of the company come out to give us a quote, which really relieved us because we haven't seen professionalism like his before. <br /> Our contract was dated for October 14 and the completion date was set for December 30th 2014. We were very surprised that all the work was finished about a week before the completion date and were absolutely ecstatic with the finished result. I'm sure it could have been finished a little earlier if the tile was delivered on time! <br /> They are a bit pricey, but I'm glad we spent a bit more because we now feel confident we won't have any problems in the future. We got a custom mushroom white color cabinet made out of maple with a plywood box with a gray caesarstone countertop. All porcelain tiles on the floor with barely any grout! You literally need a magnifying glass to see the grout lines. Everything was included in the price besides for our appliances and a few kitchen hardware. They also upgraded all of our electrical in the house to meet city requirements as well as plumbing! They even threw in LED lights in our whole home which my wife was very excited about! <br /> Real Construction has surpassed our expectations and if we have any projects in the future we will know who to call! If I had a time machine I wish I could have gone back and done it with them from the start! <br /> YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR & WE DEFINITELY GOT QUALITY WITH REAL CONSTRUCTION! <br />