We were suckers...... I went on Home Advisor to select a pool installer contractor to install an above ground pool. I assumed that Home Advisor vetted their recommendations or at least...evaluated, verified, certificated, Investigated, revisited, pre-approved, substantiated, validated, pre-screened their people on their site for the consumer. Well, in our case that didn't happen with the guy who owns Sutton Remodeling that eventually came to our home. Prior to the home visit, I received text messages with pictures of pools and decks around them but none with the Chris in them or any information of completion of any work performed from start to finish. He came by and surveyed the area, then said he will give a quote. I mentioned that we get a lot of rain and maybe a retaining wall around the 15' round pool may be necessary. A few days, he stopped by asking for $1000. for supplies and to get started. I agreed and there was No quote in hand at that time. He said he had to do another survey to make sure. The supplies arrived, ( 2 pallets of cement and 20-30 cinder blocks for the retaining wall.) the 2 pallets of cement was in excess and I said then we would keep the extra cement. He said no and he would use it at home or another job. ( Red Flag Alert).. I stated we will see, or get a credit for the extra cement. He said he couldn't go through the back yard because the city wouldn't let him remove the fence..( seemed strange) So all supplies had to be hand carried to the back. I was ok with that. The work started, he made the wall 18' instead of for a 15' pool. He also brought in 7 bags of PEA GRAVEL AND 1-2 BAGS OF RIVER ROCKS.. ( YOU NEVER PUT ANY ROCKS UNDER A POOL FOR A BASE.. NEVER.) He then brought his cement mixer to the back, . They walked all over my yard leaving mud and areas exposing the black plastic under the rock leaving holes. After they finished the retaining wall, they were getting ready to leave, his helper was tossing the pea gravel and river rocks in the areas. I knew that was not normal.The next day, He texted me stating he was on his way, the sand will be delivered in 5 minutes. The truck arrived with the sand and the driver wanted his money so he could go. My so called contractor was not at our home, so we had to pay the guy for the sand, he dumped it in our driveway and got ready to leave. After, he wanted more money because the job was going to be more work. I gave him $2700. cash thinking that now everything would be completed and explained to him not another dime until I have a professional quote on paper stating what my money went to and what the remaining money needed to complete the pool install.. Now so far, that's $3700.00 for just a retaining wall with rebar cemented in them..( Big Red Flag) nothing else. The quote I got as a text message was a handwritten note saying: $1000.00 was for his house payment, $750.00 was for his truck repair..(????) $1250 for supplies = cement, rebar, conduit, 7 bags of pea gravel, 1 bag river rock and pipe fittings., Plus $750.00 for labor. He wasn't finished with the install and he said he needed more money to complete the job because it was going to be a complicated pool install. so we met him away from my home, gave him his tools and said Bye. He said that we were losing out because he didn't finish the job. SO, FOR THOSE WHO NEED SOMEONE TO HELP WITH ANY HOME PROJECT, DO NOT USE ANYONE UNLESS THEY HAVE A CONTRACTORS LICENSE, HAVE INSURANCE AND WILL GLADLY GIVE YOU REFERENCES AND A QUOTE PRIOR TO STARTING. IF NOT... RUN... DON'T WALK AWAY. We ran too late.... read more