We hired LCG in the spring of 2023 to complete our basement renovation, along with a few additional house projects. I will focus solely on the basement here.
Per our agreement, the project was to be completed by November 2023. However, LCG cited delays in obtaining permits as the primary reason for the lack of progress. In face-to-face conversations, we were frequently given optimistic timelines and reassurances, but these were rarely followed through. Email communication was slow, with responses often taking a considerable amount of time.
We agreed to extend the contract by six more months. By March 2024, however, very little had been completed , only the cement flooring and some initial plumbing prep work. No formal designs were ever shared with us, and upon checking with the city, we discovered that the submitted permit drawings were hand-sketched and contained major inaccuracies, such as rooms drawn in the wrong locations.
Due to these ongoing issues, we terminated the contract. When we requested receipts to reconcile the financials, the numbers didn’t add up. Upon questioning, we were sent what appeared to be online-generated receipts that raised further concerns. In the end, we had spent a significant amount of money with very little to show, just a cement floor and three sump pumps. One of the sump pumps was installed so poorly that its power cord was cemented in and had to be cut and rewired.
Communication throughout the project was extremely poor. Responses were delayed, and our questions, especially those regarding costs and documentation, were either ignored or answered vaguely. The quality of the work was substandard. The crew on-site did not speak English, and no on-site supervisor was present. When I expressed concerns, the owner simply said to call him if the workers became “too loud,” which did not address the broader communication gap.
There were also serious issues with the electrical work. The oven was installed on the wrong amp, which I later confirmed with a licensed electrician. When I brought this up with the Better Business Bureau, the owner claimed it wasn’t their responsibility, as they were “only hired to install the oven.” As the general contractor, it was LCG’s responsibility to ensure all systems were installed properly, communicate necessary changes, and guide us as homeowners through any required upgrades, none of which happened.
Overall, we are deeply disappointed by the experience and would not recommend LCG based on the lack of communication, accountability, and professionalism throughout the project.
