Get matched with top major home repair pros (general contractors) in Jacksonville Beach, FL

"I am writing a response to the response from Designer Lifestyles on Google. Google doesn't let you respond to their response and it deserves a follow-up... Their response on Google was extremely immature and unprofessional. First... They POSTED MY ADDRESS on a public forum. Second... Every response they provided in response from my claims was factually inaccurate, which I have emails, text messages and voicemails to disprove everything they have claimed. Finally... I will be taking the next course of action that I can as a consumer. I HIGHLY SUGGEST NOT USING THIS BUSINESS!! ------------------------------------------ My Original post on Google Maps... DO NOT USE!! I hired Designer Lifestyles on 8/28/21 for a 70ish sqft bathroom and they started work on 10/13/21... It has been 155 days since they broke ground and they still haven't completed the job. I had to finish the work myself because of the poorly managed project and project timeline, plus it was costing me tens of thousands of dollars with floating a 2nd mortgage, paying Designer Lifestyles, lost revenue from a renter and other things like utilities. Also, it put everything else that needed to be done behind schedule. Thankfully, it wasn't my current home or I would have been without a bathroom for 5 months. Last week, I received an email stating while work wasn't completed, I needed to come in and pay the final invoice. Then threatening me later in the email stating if I didn't, they would forward over to a collection agency and put a lien on the house. This blew my mind, you don't pay a contractor in full if they haven't finished work (especially one that has taken 5 months and still hasn't completed the job). I had already paid a deposit and a draw, so I was current on my bill... I went to talk to management to give them an opportunity to make it right and they were flippant and played the let's blame all of the external factors, but not ourselves. They even tried to blame me, the customer. They had someone at my property about 30+ times and still didn't finish a 70 sqft bathroom. A job of this size should take a week of work, give or take, not 5 months. They were reluctant to give a project schedule, which I never received, after asking multiple times. But, I did get them to tell me on 12/1/21 that they will finish in 2 weeks... Well, 92 days since that date (12/14/21), they haven't completed the job... Like I said, I had to finish the job myself. I have not and will not recommend Designer Lifestyles. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out and ask me anything... I don't want someone to go through, what I had to go through during this whole ordeal. -------------------- Response from Designer Lifestyles 3 days ago We entered into our agreement right in the middle of the Covid-19 scare on a home built in 1939. Being scheduled to start within a 2-month timeframe was very exceptional, because it sometimes takes up to 6 months just to get on our schedule, because we are in such high demand. Thanksgiving & Christmas proximity also didn’t help with scheduling, because everyone was wanting their projects done by Christmas, and with our suppliers having delays with shipments, this didn’t help either. We never book a customer on our schedule without first collecting their deposit payment to secure their schedule, and draw payments are expected along the way on larger projects. Customer made a large last-minute change to the project that drastically affected their ultimate costs and scheduling. They were originally going to install a simple tub tile surround, but later decided to remove their tub completely to install a full walk-in shower the day we were ready to begin, which is obviously more complicated. This also caused obvious additional delays in planning and rescheduling to this more complicated project. When removing the tub, we identified unexpected sub-floor issues that had to be addressed before beginning the project, which also caused additional delays. The customer originally provided us a defective bathroom vanity faucet that our plumber installed, and there was no way of knowing its defective nature until it was ultimately installed. We told the customer to get a replacement faucet and that we would gladly replace it for them. We made numerous attempts to contact the customer via phone, text, and email to schedule this faucet replacement because the customer had a remaining balance of $5,000 owing that needed to be paid. The customer refused to call us back until an email was sent, making reference to a contractor’s lien against their property for their non-payment. The customers reference to finishing the job themselves, only involved replacing their own defective faucet, that they refused to call us back on to get its installation scheduled. Withholding $5,000 for a faucet install was not reasonable or acceptable in this situation. We met with customer when they came in to make this final payment, and we ultimately discounted their final bill by $1,000 in an effort to show good will, and then they posted this review. Customer did indicate that they were very pleased with the final finished project."

"They are prompt, courteous, respectful, on time, Mr Ardary, stays in contact and ask if everything is to my standard. And satisfaction. The communication is open and honest, very friendly as well. I would try Ardary construction again"

"Great job with many different projects would highly recommend"

"Superb craftsmanship, which is what matters. Final cleanup could have been a bit better but that's all."

"It went well. I added on to the project and they adapted the plans to make it look super nice. Everything is permitted and good to go."

"Pratt Home Builders are ROCKSTARS!! Skilled, knowledgeable, and professional. 5 STARS!! Thanks Hayden!!"

"I hired First Coast Precision Builders to add garage attic ladder, wood flooring in garage attic and light. Did a fantastic job. Great communication and happy with the work. Would hire again. "

"AP Construction exceeded all of our expectations. Everyone from the office staff to the crews were helpful and informative. We never once felt the anxiety that sometimes comes standard with construction projects."

"My experience was not at all good with the owners (PABLO and DANIEL) for the beginning is how all promises to fulfill their goal once achieved is that difficulties begin with these people to the point of adding things that were never talked about only lies and deception advice that everything that is, is after a contract if not the same experience that I got from them will happen to you."

"they were responsive"