We hired DRD Home Services and Dan DeTavernier based on his friendly demeanor and promises of quality work and transparent billing. After receiving bids from two other contractors, his was the lowest. However, we ended up paying far more than even the highest estimate.
Dan initially proposed a cost-plus arrangement for the demolition phase, where he estimated the hours required and promised to bill for actual hours worked, adding a 12% markup. While this sounded fair, the labor rate of $58.50 per worker per hour escalated to $65.52 with the markup. The same markup applied to subcontractors for plumbing, electrical, flooring, and painting. He promised detailed invoices itemizing all subcontractor bills, expenses, and labor hours, presenting it as a transparent process. In reality, it was far from clear.
His billing practices didn't align with his estimates, making it extremely difficult to track spending against the budget. Invoices were vague, listing lump-sum labor hours without clear ties to specific budget items. To understand the charges, we had to sift through employee time sheets ourselves. This lack of clarity allowed him to front-load labor charges, requesting significant payments early on and reducing accountability as the project progressed. Despite multiple requests, no formal change orders were provided, leaving us to guess how adjustments impacted the final cost. By the time subcontractors began installing counters, cabinets, and flooring, the budget was so out of control we felt cornered.
Warning signs appeared within the first few months. Progress on the renovation stalled, yet billing continued. Labor costs became a major issue. We had a three-man crew here for weeks while waiting on a support beam. Once you do the math, you realize you are paying almost $8K per week for that crew whether they are working or not.
Despite repeated requests for a new contract with a "not-to-exceed" budget, Dan avoided addressing the issue, keeping the original cost-plus agreement in place. The problem with this arrangement is that there's no incentive for him to stay on budget. In fact, delays and overages directly benefit him: slow work, extended employee breaks, and subcontractor overruns only increase his profits due to the 12% markup.
Ultimately, we ended up significantly over budget and months behind schedule. Working with DRD Home Services was a costly mistake. While Dan may seem personable, the experience was frustrating, disappointing, and riddled with poor billing practices. Proceed with caution--or better yet, avoid altogether. read more
