Caveat Emptor
After…read moretaking a few months to cool off, I am finally ready to submit a review of my experience with Chris Auger/dba New Looks Home Improvement, Inc./dba Christopher Auger Enterprises, Inc. He does business by many names, like a chameleon. Don't let him confuse you.
The short of it: I hired Chris to do a minor bathroom renovation in my 537 sq. ft. apartment. He came with a glowing recommendation from someone at our property management company, showed up on time (with pen, paper and his cell phone camera), and quoted a fair price. His showroom on Tremont Street also provided a false sense of security. Unfortunately, things aren't always what they seem, and it all went downhill from there. We ended up with a project was not done in accordance to the terms of the contract, inconsistent with professional standards, resulted in damages to other parts of the property, and will need to be TORN DOWN and REDONE to comply with building codes and condo association requirements. We have a violation issued by Inspectional Services to prove it, and the subsequent paperwork from fighting it in Boston Housing Court.
The highlights:
He misrepresented being registered as a Home Improvement Contractor with the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations (OCABR), as required by MGL Chapter 142A. I have a copy of the registration he showed me, but it had been suspended and later revoked.
He is not a licensed Construction Supervisor, and did not designate one to the project, which is required to apply/obtain building permits, as stipulated by 780 CMR R5. He seeks out favors from licensed Construction Supervisors willing to pull the permits for him, but they do not remain involved with the project to ensure proper inspections.
He is only licensed as a journeyman plumber, but we cannot guarantee the work was done up to standards. There were no other licensed tradesmen involved with the work, which included electrical work.
He does not keep insurance policies current, and allows them to lapse for non-payment. He presented me with certificates of insurance, but allowed these policies to lapse for non-payment of the premiums. After it was clear that he had caused damage to my property, I contacted his insurance company, and they stated he had allowed his policy to lapse two days before he started working in my property. He never reinstated coverage.
The company, New Looks Home Improvement, is registered to a different principal with the Secretary of State. Meanwhile, Chris Auger Enterprises has a record of involuntary dissolution effective June 30, 2017.
Chris and his crew -which, by the way, changed almost daily - took THREE MONTHS to complete a job he'd guaranteed would be done within 3 weeks (which included a one-week buffer). Since this is the only bathroom in the home, we had to live elsewhere for the duration of the project.
Once whatever skilled laborers he had took off, he was left to complete the work which has been evaluated by several licensed professionals and the City of Boston Inspector who agree on the subpar workmanship. You can probably do a better job installing tile after watching a few videos of This Old House and Bob Vila.
In the end, we spent a fortune on tile bought directly from his showroom, which he did not know how to install. He did a terrible job installing all other products we supplied, because he did not know how to use a measuring tape. Most importantly, he did not secure the required rough inspections, and electrical and plumbing inspections, which mean we have to tear everything down and start over.
I had high hopes for New Looks, and he knew we were dealing with some serious things with our family. My mom (who lives 1800 miles away) had just been diagnosed with cancer. My fiancée (a US Marine veteran) and I had just moved in together, and had a lot to juggle at the time. He turned what should have been a great milestone in our lives into a nightmare.
Do yourself a favor: check very carefully the credentials of anyone you hire to do work in your home. Double and triple-check licenses with the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations, the Division of Public Licensure, the Department of Public Safety, and call the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Bureau to check if other complaints have been recorded. Also check the Secretary of State's corporate records, the Better Business Bureau, and other sites (like this one!) for consumer feedback. I was surprised to find so many other dissatisfied customers with similar stories, but their warnings came too late for me. Do not hesitate to contact me if you want to know more about our experience.
