Kerry & Jim Home Improvements

In May 2017, I went onto HomeAdvisor.com and per one of their recommended “Trusted Home Improvement Pros,” I contracted with Kerry & Jim Home Improvements, LLC from Butler, NJ for a remodeling job on my home. I spoke to Mr. Jim DiLiberto and later on met with both him and his partner, Mr. Kerry Fleet to go over the specifics of the job. Mr. DiLiberto assured me that my home would be completed by Thanksgiving 2017. I signed a contract and gave Mr. DiLiberto a deposit check of $2,200. I was later told by Mr. DiLiberto that he applied for the permits as he demolished the inside of my house. He removed everything down to the wood frame then requested an advance on payment. He said he could not continue without some form of payment for the demolition. I advanced him $20,000 (check) and then, no further work was done. It was mid to late summer (2017) and I had not heard from him at all. I tried many times to contact to Mr. DiLiberto via phone calls and emails, left message but did not get a call back. I received only one phone call from him since then. After I informed him in one of my emails that I may have no choice but to seek legal action, I was advised via email by the contractor’s liability insurance that named me as an additional insured, that the liability insurance was cancelled. I later find out from the town permit department that they have no record of any permits being filed for my property. I reached out to Home Adviser multiple times with the problem I was having with this “Trusted Home Improvement Pro” and filed a formal complaint. They tried contacting Kerry & Jim Home Improvements, LLC but had no success reached them. In addition, I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and with the NJ Office of the Attorney General Division of Consumer Affairs. My attorney sent Kerry & Jim Home Improvements, LLC a letter via regular mail, certified mail, RRR, and via email, again with no response. I have yet to hear from this contractor, they have not finished my home as per our signed contract, nor have they returned my money for work not done. In addition, they have kept the keys to my house, the original plans and the surveys for the remodel. I needed to get additional plans and surveys at additional cost to me. I would like to know if there is anyone else out there that has had similar experiences with Mr. Jim DiLiberto and Mr. Kerry Fleet, doing business as Kerry & Jim Home Improvements, LLC or any other name. If yes, please contact me at [email protected]. Steve K., Towaco, NJ