Complaint Details:
We hired Bella on July 22, 2018 to do remodeling on our home, paying half down of bid amount. Contract specified that substantial completion of the work will be done 45 business days from August 2. We amended the contract, with their consent, to only remodel 2 bathrooms, thus our prepayment was closer to the full remodel amount. Original contract was 2 full bathroom remodels, 2 windows to be closed up and siding added, and an addition of a dormer.
Towards the end of September, management suddenly told us as homeowners that a tile shower in bathroom #1 was our only option, (not the fiberglass one that was included in the contract). [Homeowners had said from the beginning meeting that we definitely did NOT want tile. Management acknowledged this in several conversations and in the bid and the contract.] Now, they repeatedly pushed us to choose tile so they would proceed... all the while citing that tile would cause an expensive change order upgrade. We as homeowners resisted this, even to the point of ourselves researching additional sources of fiberglass shower surrounds. We were informed a few times that the construction company would not proceed at ALL on our remodel until we let them install a tile shower. Eventually we homeowners told Bella Construction to go ahead and install tile, but allow us homeowners to choose it ourselves. The company went ahead with installing the color we asked for, but the cut was the wrong size.
At one point during this tile 'upgrade' conversation, Bella management said they pulled some strings with their suppliers and got us a complimentary upgrade to natural stone quartz countertops at no additional charge, but then had it installed without homeowners even seeing it and we do not like the pattern.
Quality of work is VERY poor. Bathroom vanities were installed unlevel. New shower pan has a crack. The tilework is installed uneven, jutting out in some areas and sunken in others. Also it was installed incorrectly, and if the shower would be used at all, water and condensation will leak behind into the wall. We have left their poor craftsmanship as-is and have not used the shower at all.
During demo of old vanity in bathroom #2, plumbing valve leaked into our basement. Even though they were aware of this, the employees left for the day. Also, when it came time to remove the old vanities and install the new, employees literally chopped up the old vanities and dropped them by our back door. They did not even ask beforehand if I wanted to post them for reselling! When I asked them to remove the hazardous debris, I was told a dumpster will arrive shortly. It never did, and my husband eventually cleaned up the huge pile himself, for the safety of our children and visitors.
Communication is lacking between the company managers and their employees, to the point where employees are redoing work.
Employees came unprepared and without a work order, often asking to borrow our tools and household items to progress on their work here! Also we were told many times to have the home available for work, and no one would show up.
We estimated that only 5 hours of work time was spent on our remodel weekly, at most, more like 2 hours weekly or none at all. Three months after construction commencent, neither bathroom was at all near completion. We as homeowners spoke with company management to speed up progress on the bathrooms in September and also in October, because we had an important event scheduled in our home in early November. We were told by management that we were rude, so that "Now I am not coming back today, so now the bathroom will not be finished."
Now as our in-home weekend event came up, contractor left us Friday without a sink at all in either bathroom. So that following Monday, we contacted Bella Construction LLC, and said we are not happy with the company's quality, service and progress, and no longer wish to do business with them. We asked them to refund our funds on the unfinished portion of work, or we would file a complaint with BBB and the state Attorney General's Office.
While we regret hiring Bella Construction LLC, we have the financial ability to hire a competant contractor whom we trust to complete our bathroom remodels. We have since hired him, and he will be paid in full, in cash, fo his quality work.
Desired Outcome/Settlement:
We are asking for a refund on the unfinished portion of work, in addition to a reimbursment to correct the unprofessional craftsmanship that has shown in their work on our bathrooms. This refund may require a third party to evaluate the project.
