Desrochers Construction

This review is for Robert Desrochers Construction in Wakefield. What began as a basement project turned into a nightmare. We hired Rob to redo our basement. That included putting up a couple of walls, redoing the stairs, new windows, flooring and trim, installing new doors, and two AC units.
This is a lengthy and very detailed review. The short version is that Rob took our money and did not finish the job nor delivered all material. We are working legally to get money back for the work we paid for but was never finished. This is to help alert any homeowner who is thinking about hiring this company. Also, this was our first “big” home improvement so a lot has been learned when reviewing a contract and who to hire for the right job.

The contract was presented to us and we happily signed. The verbal agreement was 4 weeks. We paid $9500 on March 4th. The project was to begin on March 8th. By March 12th, we had not heard from Rob. So, I texted asking if everything was ok and what the timeline was. No response. On March 15th, I texted again. He responded with he will see us on March 17th at 8am. That Wednesday, I received a text that the lumber wasn’t ready. We knew there was a shortage so we were ok and just asked that we be kept in the loop. The next day, I texted and Rob texted back and explained that they wouldn’t be over till Monday the 22nd. He worked with his guy ONE day. That Monday. And then his guy was here on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday alone framing the basement. I got a text that they wouldn’t be coming on March 26th or 29th. On Tuesday the 30th, I texted asking when we can expect you. I get a response that they would not be coming on Tuesday. This is the moment that I explained I wasn’t happy with the work so far. And that the communication was scarce. And reiterated my question on how long would the basement take. The work was to start on the 8th; per Rob. Work didn’t start till the 22nd. We were understanding about the lumber shortage but he was who gave us the start date. As customers, we thought he already had the lumber as we had already discussed the basement project weeks prior. After that text, I got a phone call from Rob trying to ease my anxiousness. The guy had $9500 of our money and no work was being done. The lumber at this point is in the basement yet there is no one here working. His guy ended up coming back March 31st and continued the framing of the basement.

Around April 5th and 6th, the work on the stairs started and ended. On April 8th, he requested the next payment of $9500. “Per the contract” we obliged.

Between April 14th and 16th, I started asking about our material. I sent an email detailing all the material that was left. He had $19,000 and we hadn’t seen anything at the house. Where were the windows? Rob said he had purchased them and that they would be delivered in two weeks or sooner. He also stated that he had bought all the electrical outlets, switches, and pot lights. I started asking about whether the doors were ordered and the hvac units were purchased. No answers. There were days of nothing. Once his guy finished the framing and the stair rebuild, work stopped. We were now waiting on sheet rock. What I don’t understand and maybe he is a bad contractor, but why would you wait till the last second to try and find a sheet rock company or get sheet rock delivered? You knew it was the next step in the process. Shouldn’t you have booked a company when the project started? After back and forths with Rob, he finally got the sheet rock delivered on April 19th. Outside. Between the 19th and 20th, I sent 6 text messages. They included again asking when the basement would be done, how to protect the sheet rock that was sitting outside under the rain, and when he would be back. No answer. He finally texted me back on April 23rd saying the sheet rock folks would be coming between the 23rd and the 24th. They showed up on the 24th and hung the sheet rock. Now we needed the sheet rock to be mudded and taped. That was another whole ordeal. On Monday April 26th, I texted to confirm what next steps were. He texted saying maybe Wednesday the 28th or Friday the 30th. On Thursday the 29th, he texted that he was heading over. Which he did, only to ask for his next payment of $6,000. I bulked. I was floored. I said, look around you. All that has been done are the stairs and the walls are up; not complete. Where is all the material that the $19,000 would have bought. I said I need the material here at the house. I need the windows, the doors, the outlets, the flooring, the AC units,…This is where my husband took over. He is a more patient person and just wanted the basement done. We were already 19K in and we felt we were upside down with this guy. Jeremy decided to pay Rob since it was “in the contract”.
*** Please see next post for continuation.