Homework Remodeling

Basement job was to big to complete. They did my deck so I gave them ‘benefit of the doubt’. Thought it would be a good winter project. I was wrong!
Cons:
* Took over a year to complete. Started Oct 2014. Completed Dec 4, 2015.
* Overpriced
* Delays in responding to Emails
* Would not hear or see work done for weeks
* Would ask specific questions in emails and would not receive response to specific questions.
* Drywall installation. Didn’t hear from them for 4 weeks. Per email «Sorry for the delay the temperature had slowed us down there for a few weeks. We couldn’t really do much because the drywall is the next big phase and we need the temperature to rise a little bit before we can do that.» Didn’t realize that low temps could cause a delay when the basement is in a controlled environment.
* 1^st completion date was end of March. Per email «If all goes well and we get good weather we should have everything but the bar complete by the end of this month.» (March 3, 2015)
* Confirmed tile and carpet at the end of July. Both not ordered until week of Sept 14, 2015. Per email. «We ordered the carpet, but because of the holiday we are still waiting for it to come in. It should be in this week, and it will be installed as soon as it arrives.» A holiday causing the carpet delay is not an excuse. I know Home Depot is open on holidays.
* My email to contractor «Therefore, I’ll go ahead and keep the tile that I originally picked. Proceed with ordering, etc.» (July 18, 2015). As mentioned above it wasn’t ordered until Sept 14, 2015.
* Had to change delivery times of furniture 2X because carpet wasn’t installed.
* Per email. «The bar was built off site and will be delivered and installed this week» (Sept 14, 2015). Bar was not built off-​site but down in the basement and not complete until mid-​November 2015 and not to my original design. Bar contractor was thrown in the middle of the project.
* Per email «We are in the process of completing your project. The tiles, bar, and trim should be completed this week.» (Sept 14, 2015). Was not completed that week.
* Per email «I will be getting you drawing for the way your bar will look.» (Oct 29, 2014). My email to contractor «Can you send me a copy via email of the design plans for the bar as I want to confirm that the design is what I had decided upon.» Contractors response «The drawing would not accurately show what the bar will look like when it is done.» (Oct 14, 2015). Interpreted as he didn’t have a copy to provide me.
* Tile installation took 3 weeks to install.
* To many ‘punch out’ items to list that needed to be fixed. Had them only do major ones.
* Left dirty hand prints on ceiling when installing vents. I had to paint over them.
* Didn’t have them complete bathroom and construct shelves behind bar. Probably would have taken until 2016.
* Estimated completion date Sept 1, 2015. Was not met.
* Paid some money upfront. Do not do this. Bad mistake on my part.
* Entire project, including final review was not completed until Dec 4, 2015. I did have to put it ‘on hold’ for a month (April 2015) but that is still no excuse for not completing the job in a timely manner.
Pros:
* Painting
* Electrical work
Note: Get many proposals before hiring a contractor for large projects. Currently doing this for bathroom, shelves behind bar and other items that this contractor couldn’t complete.