We had a project completed by R.E. Horner Construction. This Project consisted of adding a 12x19 addition, a screened in deck, with a remodeled and extended bathroom, also we added a new roof and vinyl siding.
R.E. Horner is owned and operated by Brian Vaughan and we found him very professional, knowledgeable and respectful. We had screened/interviewed 5 different contracting companies. R.E. Horner was not the highest nor were they the lowest contractor's bid. We choose R.E. Horner because Brian seemed to know what he was doing and had great ideas. We are working professionals in the DMV area who had never taken on such a major project or what we considered a major project.
Bottom Line Up Front: Overall, all work is great, would we use R.E. Horner again? Absolutely, would we recommend R.E. Horner? Absolutely, Brian knows everything that is supposed to be done, and his oversight and management of his subcontractors are great and he does ensure they do their jobs correctly.
Lessons We Learned as Customers:
* We have to be more specific in the details to of the contract, for such things as cabinets, facets, toilets, specific light switches and outlets. Verbal exchanges are good but are NOT bidding.
* Communication and response criteria must be established within the contract whereas the contractor will have to get back with you within a certain periodicity.
* Inspections were conducted by the county, however, review and workmanship inspections should be conducted routinely by the customer and have it in the contract, if the contractor indicates that you will like the project when it is completed, acknowledge but ensure you inspect and do quality assurance during the process.
* When the contractor accepts the job, that acceptance means they understand the amount of travel and routes they are taking to your location or residence. So, their commute or any experiences they encounter are not applicable to the project.
* As a customer, you have to stay engaged, regardless of the comfort level you have with the contractor, this will assist in ensuring proper caulking, hardware installation and any other materials that are installed to your liking and comfort.
* As a customer ensure you are getting what you are paying for because in business sometimes we can blindly trust, when it's just business to the contractor. So, understanding contractor grade products keep their profits high, so if you do have an allowance for any item, actually pick the items yourself but stay within your limits, don't defer because this is business and the contractor will try to keep the products as low priced as possible (quality).
* Understand your county permit process and understand it may take weeks if not months to get the appropriate permits to accomplish your task.
* Expect limited or no communication once the project is completed and the final check is cut by the contractor.
R.E. Horner is a great Class A contractor and will get the job done. We are overall satisfied with the project and got a beneficial education in the process. As with anything else it's the nature of the beast, however, next time we will know how to tame the beast a little better.
Hope this was insightful for all.
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