Quakertown Construction

Review: Upon a reference from a neighbor we reached out to [redacted] of Quakertown construction to furnish us with a proposal for renovations to our beach house at [redacted]After interviewing three local contractors we felt [redacted], based on our neighbor’s reference, our interview of him and his websites explanation of what working with him would consist of, we signed a proposal (attached) to do work on May 22, and provided a good faith deposit of $to [redacted][redacted] indicated that the work would begin quickly and he would manage the Granite Place as they were installing a new kitchen counterPrior to Quakertown / [redacted] starting work there was a water leak that damaged dry wall and carpeting in a bedroom[redacted] agreed to the change and proceeded with the workWe never received a change order for the work that was added / completed in the bedroom
Quakertown web site - http://www.quakertownhomebuilder.com/
Information from the Quakertown web site:
Our work reflects the pride you take in your home, alwaysOur first priority is customer serviceWe will take the time to convince you we are the right builder for youWe will explain step by step how we go about our quality construction
Quakertown offers professional In-House design services so you can see your plans on paper well before the project beginsFeatured In-House Designer [redacted] of [redacted] will guide you through the planning and design of your project
You will be in control of the budgetYou will know, to the penny, what to expect from our contractsNo guessworkNo hidden surprisesNo changes or added charges will be made without direct written authorization by you once the initial, detailed contract is signed
[redacted], the sole owner of Quakertown Construction Company, LLC, has been in the building trades for yearsHe is a native of Sussex County, Delaware,He has worked masonry, surveying, plumbing, tile and carpentry as specialties over the course of his career
[redacted] will work directly with you to fulfill your dreams for your home, whatever they might be
Chronology of Events:
We were pleased to find a local contractor to handle this project and we looked forward to working with Quakertown and [redacted]What follows is a summary of our communication and attempts at communication with [redacted]Emails and texts are attached as reference
Pre May – we met with [redacted] at the house two times to discuss the project and do a walk thru
May – proposal signed and deposit of $delivered to [redacted]
May – I texted [redacted] to share ideas on lighting under the cabinets – no response from [redacted]
May – I texted [redacted] to confirm he was receiving texts and he responded – yes
May – I met with [redacted] to do a walk through, review the project plan and meet [redacted] Hutton, [redacted]s project managerThings seemed to be on trackI asked how [redacted] preferred to be communicated to and he stated that he preferred email over text and that he checked his emails twice a day once in the am and once in the pm, but that I could feel free to call, text etc if I needed to get a hold of himI also asked what he needed to get started on the jobHe asked for a schedule of when we would have guests at the house so that he could work around our visitorsI told him under no uncertain terms he had carte blanche to show up whenever in order to keep the project on track and that all my guests were aware of the summer renovation project taking place
June – I sent [redacted] updates on June 8th to which I received no responseI texted him a request to add some additional items to the punch list and asked for costs and feasability and asked him to meet me at the house that week for a walkthruNo work had started on the project
June – [redacted] responds to the June text that he would try and meet me that afternoonWe met that afternoon and did a walk thru confirming what I wanted to add and asking for an update on pricingI never received anythingI supplemented our face to face on June with an email going over updates and furnishing him with the schedule of guests per his request
June 16th – Remediation team finished their work in the water damaged bedroom and I emailed [redacted] that he had full access and could get going on that work as wellI also asked if he had talked to my kitchen counter people because he offered to take over meeting the kitchen countertop company for the templating and installationI called the Granite Place and instructed them that I had hired [redacted] and they could work directly with him moving forward[redacted] canceled my original template date and rescheduled with the team at a date more convenient to his schedule
June – [redacted] emailed me an update related to the kitchenI texted him on June 18th asking what the plan was to which he responded he would hang sheetrock and work around the floor install also taking place
June - We ran into an issue with the countertop templatingAdditionally, I texted [redacted] that he should keep moving the project along regardless of the upcoming 4th of July holiday
June - I texted him that we had four good days that week to get things accomplishedNo response
July - I texted him asking what the plan was and stated I need to know what’s going onNo responseThe sheetrock was hung headed into the 4th of July holiday, but nothing else related to the original project had been completedI ran into [redacted] as he was leaving my house headed into the 4th of July holiday where he told me he had rescheduled the countertop people and wasn’t going to do any additional work since we were about to have guestsI told him that was ok, but after the 4th I was leaving and would be gone for weeks in which he could have the house and no visitors
July - I texted him asking him to please paint some different white paint samples on the kitchen cabinets so that I could better judge which white I would chooseHe responded, "already thought of that"
July 18th - I sent [redacted] an email voicing concern that very little had been completed stating we just had two solid weeks with no movement asking for status updates with questions and telling him that I “have no problem that things take longer than expected but I do expect to be communicated to if issues arise or delays start occurring”I voiced my feeling that I have been taken advantage of and asked that we regroup and move together on the same pageI asked for a reply or phone call
July – [redacted] responds to July voicemail and apologizes for the lack of progress claiming he is short-handed and told me he would redouble his effortsHe communicated on and off that week some updates related to the kitchen counterI asked if we could meet in person Friday July 25th for another in person meeting
July – The new sink and countertop were installed today[redacted] was present during the install and called me to tell me the sink was cracked[redacted] offered no solution to this issueI handled the re-ordering of the sinkFurther the templating had not been done properly so a portion of the kitchen counter had to re-templated and re-ordered
July – I meet [redacted] at the houseWe met and walked through reviewing the original work proposal for which he was hired and very little progress had been made
July 30- August – the painters for the kitchen cabinets showed upAs instructed there were never paint samples put up on the cabinets for my review nor did I know the painters were confirmed for the week as it was never communicated to meI asked that a protective coat be applied to the paint job, no responsePainters finished and vacated on Aug 1st
August - [redacted] showed up to hook up my water after having had no operational kitchen sink for weeksWhen I asked [redacted] if he was coming back on the 7th he told me he was only instructed to do the faucet, not the instahot or disposalHeard nothing from [redacted] until Aug 7th when I asked him to swing by and provide me with updates yet again
August - We meet and walked thru again what needed to be doneHe had told me that the electrician would be out that following Monday August I followed up with a text thanking him for his time and again telling him I wasn’t trying to micromanage but that as long as we stayed on the same page we would be okI began a two week vacation on Friday Aug 8th at the house
August - No one showed up at the house at all the week of Aug 11thNo electrician, no painters, no [redacted] and no updates at all that week from [redacted]
August - I asked for an updateNo response
August - [redacted] texted me giving me an update on the electrician, “electrician is trying to finish up the job he is on now said he got held up and plans on getting it finished today and said he should finish today and be available for tomorrow and at the latest Monday so I talked to [redacted] and told him if they weren’t there by on Monday to just let me wire the [redacted] up so we can get your job moving along also they don’t make a inch cabinet so I told [redacted] we need to get some cabinet grade ply and we will just build the new cabinet.”
August - [redacted] showed up on Monday Aug 18th since the electrician never showed up and spent the day putting a screen door on and taking out pot lights and installed new electric boxes for pendant lights(Our new contractor informed us that the electric boxes that Quakertown installed are incorrect and new boxes will need to be installed.) He left at 5:and I asked him when he was coming backHe told me he would be back on Thursday Aug in the am
August – I received a text from [redacted] at 9am telling me he would be over that afternoonReceived another text at 5:11pm telling me that he would not be over and that he was finishing up their other job because that house was going to be an open house that weekend and that he would return Monday Aug 25th and stay until everything left at my house was completed
August – [redacted] Gordon, my business partner and co-owner sent [redacted] an email which detailed all of the pending work to be completed (attached) and asked for an update and outline of completion datesNo response
August – I returned to work and checked in with [redacted]He had removed some cabinets and patched the drywall where the pot lights had been
August – [redacted] told me he was building the new cabinetI called [redacted] the morning of Aug 26th and had a contentious conversation with himI asked if he had received [redacted]’s email and read it to which he replied he had and that he had skimmed itI told him it was rude to ignore emails and just blow people offI also explained that we were now months in from signing the proposal and very little had actually been accomplished and I felt like there was no communication and that every time I asked to hear from him he had [redacted] try and contact meHe assured me he was making things happen but the fact was very little had in fact been completedI told him I was returning on Wednesday Aug 27th and I expected action
August – [redacted] responded to [redacted]’s email – he said he didn’t know it required a response although the email specifically asked for a response from [redacted]
August – - I received emails from [redacted] with pictures of a single cabinet
August - [redacted] emailed him on the afternoon of the Aug 27th asking when he could he expect to see the responses to his email of August
August - [redacted] replied on Aug 28th with the following email
Hi [redacted], I've completed building the new upper cabinet, will get it and the new base cabinet primed today, painted over the weekendHope to install them Tuesor WedMy regular electrician is seriously busy, I am trying to find someone on short notice, will let you know the day for themWill try to knock out some of the added on items when we are there installing cabinetsPlease pass this on to Noah to serve as our Friday update a day early.”
Note – [redacted] didn’t respond to the August email which asked for due dates, updates and what [redacted] considered add ons
August – [redacted] replied
“Thanks [redacted] - please let me know what you consider add onsIn reviewing all my notes from our first meeting and subsequent emails between you and Noah the items below were all discussedIf there's something you feel wasn't agreed to please advise[redacted] there are several items that haven't been completed when you told us these we're going to happen - backsplash, doors under farm sink, insta hot connection and disposal button, ceiling fan, downstairs mirror framed, under lights, beadboard up stairs and in front of kitchen counter it's been over monthsAlso it's now Thursday and I still don't have responses to my questions belowAs requested last Friday, please let me know due dates for this workThe fact that the electrician is "seriously busy" should not become my problem and it hasI hired you based on you presenting to me that you had the right people to accomplish this work
[redacted] if I don't see a clear outline of when all of the remaining work will be completed by end of the day on Tuesday September I will view that as you are no longer able to complete this jobAt that point I want a full accounting of the job to date and a refund issued to me for the work not completedThat refund check to me can be dropped to the house
Thank you and I look forward to your response[redacted]
August – Following the above email [redacted] called [redacted] to confirm he had received the above emailHe said he had but hadn’t looked at it closely[redacted] continued to make excuses and was now claiming the electrician was busy and he was scrambling to find another oneAfter that conversation [redacted] placed another call to [redacted] and said that upon further reflection we were terminating the work proposal and requested a full accounting of the job to date
August – [redacted] sent the original proposal which he calls a final accounting where he included remaining costs on the project and added the change order information which we had never seen before for the back bedroom, screen door and sink[redacted] claims in his letter that we now owe $We have not been provided with receipts for materials or a clear accounting of the project
Note – the project is far from completeMuch of the work was never startedWe are now forced to hire another contractor to finish the project at added costAttached are photos showing some of the unfinished and remaining work[redacted] is trying to collect payment for the total proposed project which was not completed
Additional Notes:
• This was a job that was primarily cosmetic in nature
• There was no structural work, no walls being moved and relatively straight forward
• We tried communicating through email to no response and then through text
• While [redacted] would occasionally respond very little work was accomplished
• All I asked for from the beginning was that he communicate with me
• When I told [redacted] he wasn’t communicating he told me he was “on the road and busy” and then said, “when I get home at night I’m tired and don’t feel like responding.”
• From early on it felt as if we were doing more of the work and project management
• I ordered all materials for the backsplash, sink, lighting, cabinets, bathroom and had them shipped and at the house where they sat for weeks and still sit today
• [redacted]’s website talks about his communication and customer service philosophy as well as his protocol for change orders and additional expenses, none of which he met at any time during the relationshipMrAustin has falsely advertised his services, failed to meet our spelled out proposal in a timely fashion and repeatedly and summarily refused to provide updates
• It became far too difficult to work with him forcing us to terminate him as our contractorHe still has in his possession our railing and house key of which repeated attempts to get returned he has ignored
• We have hired numerous other local vendors to perform work at the house including: plumbers, electricians, carpet and hardwood installers, interior design and contractors
• We have never had issues with other local vendors in over years of owning the home.Desired Settlement: First, protect other consumers from the advertising and business practices of Quakertown ConstructionSecond, we see no grounds for additional monies to be owed to Quakertown and ask that this body review and determine if in fact a refund is owed for the outstanding work that was never completedIn good faith, Quakertown received more than 50% of the proposed work upfront and we are left with few results from the proposed workThird, we could use your help in getting the handrail and house keys returned to us

Review: I signed a contract with [redacted] the owner of Quakertown Construction Co to build a sunroom and deck on the front of my home and then amended the agreement to include the construction of a one car garage with a bedroom and bathroom above it on the backside of the house. The construction started in October 2012 and to date Quakertown Construction Co has NOT completed all the work. The following items have not been completed: 1.Install insulation and vapor barrier under the floor of sunroom, 2. Install hardwood floors in 2 rooms, 3. Install french doors to bedroom, 4. Build steps from backdoor to the new garage, 5. Parge the outside foundation and install a door to the crawl space, 6. Install the finish moulding in 2 bedrooms,bathroom and garage, 7. Install attic access steps, 8. Complete the installation of exterior siding and correct the mistakes made by the subcontractor that installed the siding, 9. Install a utility sink in the garage, 10. Build the outside shower and install plumbing, 11. Install the gutters and downspouts, 12. Repair water damage to downstairs bedroom that occurred during construction, 13. Removal of deck attached to house for A/C condensors.I had a meeting with Mr. Austin in March 2014 to review the status of the incompleted work and provided a detailed list of what materials I had purchased above and beyond the contract so he could complete the project. Austin acknowledged that I paid the entire amount required by the contract AND IN ADDITION I had paid over $28,000 in materials and an additional $3,500 to pay subcontractors above and beyond the amount stated in the contract. Quakertown Construction abandoned the jobsite in April 2014. Mr. Austin does not return repeated phone calls or emails from me.Desired Settlement: Refund for $28,000 in materials and $2,250 to pay subcontractors AND payment for labor to complete the above listed contracted items that Quakertown Construction did NOT complete.