Larry was the general contractor for a remodeling project on the interior of my house. I had no prior relationship with Larry prior to the commencement of this project. The scope of the remodeling involved 3 bathrooms stripped to the wood studs, building of custom cabinets, new flooring, sheet rock repair, painting, installation of new sliding glass door, front door and the installation of ceiling fans for a 2 level home built in 1991. While major remodeling is inherently stressful for almost any homeowner, Larry’s services as a general contractor were invaluable, and I am extremely pleased with the final result.
Specifically, I would give Larry top marks in the following areas:
1. Quality of work performed. The quality of work done was consistently top notch. Larry used subcontractors who were knowledgeable, skilled, and competent in their respective trades. They were conscientious about following project specifications, and their work product rarely needed improvement or revision.
2. Quality of work crews. The workmen whom Larry utilized were professional, reliable, courteous, and respectful of the homeowner’s property and privacy. They had an old school work ethic (often 10-hour days, some Saturdays), good work habits, strong safety orientation, and emphasized getting the job done right rather than doing it fast. Their pride in their work was evident. They tidied up at the end of each workday. I also found them to be trustworthy, and I felt comfortable with allowing them access inside my home.
3. Project management and coordination. Larry’s prior experience working in construction really paid off. He was knowledgeable about all aspects of our project, and was able to plan, coordinate and manage the activities of different work crews effectively. He remained closely involved in overseeing the project from start to finish. His excellent attention to detail, strong organizational skills and commitment to follow-through are assets which enabled him to manage the details of the project without missing a beat.
4. Integrity and professionalism. Throughout the project, I was impressed with Larry’s commitment to generating a top quality product, rather than maximizing his profit margin. When situations arose where extra work needed to be done (because of hidden problems that were not apparent until work on the house had commenced), Larry either (if it was relatively minor) took care of it without charging me extra, or (if it was more extensive) involved me in an informed decision making process that culminated in a change order which was fair.
5. Effective communication. Larry kept me closely informed of work crew schedules, delivery dates, and projected completion dates of different phases of our project. His communication (whether by cell phone or email) was always clear, informative, and helpful. He was either available on his cell phone, or returned my phone call within 1-2 hours. We never had a single miscommunication throughout the project. His communication with the work crews was just as effective.
6. Flexibility and effectiveness in dealing with unexpected developments. When unforeseen problems surfaced (e.g., mold behind cabinetry), Larry worked diligently with me to identify a solution that was acceptable to me.
7. Responsiveness to homeowner’s needs and concerns. Larry’s commitment to homeowner satisfaction was evident in his actions. On the few occasions when I brought a request or concern to his attention, he listened attentively, and always took appropriate action that demonstrated responsiveness to my needs or concerns. His service orientation is truly described by the motto: “The homeowner’s needs come first.”
8. Truth in advertising. In his proposal, Larry gave a clear breakdown of costs for each facet of the project. His contract was just as detailed in describing the work to be done and the itemized costs. Same with the change orders. When the project was completed, all the work was done as described and agreed upon, and there were no hidden costs, extra expenses or unpleasant surprises. As a homeowner and customer, I felt Larry delivered exactly what he had promised, at the agreed upon price.
9. Sensitivity to worksite appearance and neighbor relations. The work crew parked their vehicles in ways that were minimally disruptive to the neighborhood traffic, and their conduct never caused any discomfort to our neighbors. In closing, I am very pleased with the final product which Larry was instrumental in delivering, and I am extremely impressed with his work as a general contractor. In a world where shoddy workmanship and poor service are unfortunately all too common, Larry is indeed a rare find. I have been a homeowner for over 30 years, and I took this unprecedented step of writing an unsolicited letter of recommendation for Larry because I believe that exceptional work should be recognized. I would not hesitate to hire Larry again, or to recommend him to my friends and neighbors. I recommend Larry Mack to you most enthusiastically, and without any reservations. Jim Calciano A very satisfied homeowner