Goddard Remodeling, LLC

The contractor (owner) Thomas Goddard (goes by Ben), recently finished our basement (bedroom, bathroom, living room w/​bar). Ben also put in a sprinkler system for us as well as did trim work on a rental.
The first impression = not good. He didn’t show up to give me the quote on a rental unit. I called him after an hour and had to wait about another hour for him to arrive.
Then we decided to get a quote for the basement. He came and met with my husband and I and as we would describe himself as the little man vs. big contractors.
The next meeting the first warning sign was raised. He provided a CAD design that he barely knew how to use. He also proved a cost estimate and time estimate of 8 weeks. Imagine our shock when he told us he had already pulled county building permits to start work on our basement. He thought we had already committed to him. We hadn’t even finished talking to other contractors for estimates, seen his cost estimates, or sign a contract.
Regardless we hired him. He was going to do an irrigation system and was cheaper than the other contractors. Plus, he was the fiancé of a co-​worker. It is amazing how many warnings we ignored.
He usually had one guy working for him and at one point a second guy who he believed was doing drugs in his car or my bathroom as he would disappear then come back acting weird. He fired him… but drugs in my house? No thanks!
Communication, planing and organization was poor (not always calling when he would be out, showing up on a days I didn’t expect him without calling). Most other contractors we talked to had a process that usually included a full design completed and schedule before they began work. There was no real design with Ben. Beyond the 8 week estimate on the contract, there was no real schedule. Not that it would have mattered because he never met any date he gave. One time he had called for an electrician and with no notice told me I had to wait for him. Yes, I am a stay-​at-​home mom, but I have a life too. We had to create a list in the end to make sure all was done because he kept coming by to see what he needed to do and would have the same conversation with me numerous times about what needed to be done and never show up to do it.
When we started the basement refinish (9months prior) we were not in a huge rush. We even told Ben this as he had a wedding coming up and honeymoon later. Still, 9 months for an estimated 2 month job? There were several week long breaks (waiting on cabinets, or no real reason). He could have started irrigation then, but hey that would have required planning.
Nickel and diming was common for Ben. Things like closet rods weren’t included in a bedroom closet. Why wouldn’t you add one to make it a functional closet? Didn’t know we would have to specify that up front. He came back and asked for money to paint the stairway walls. Finished basement? You are painting all the walls but the stairs leading to finished basement. I don’t get it…
The irrigation was a complete disaster. It was clear Ben had not done his homework before providing his estimate. 1 month into the build he finds out the county requires a $ 700 to $ 1000 RPZ value. He claims we agreed to pay for it, I recall wanting to know what exactly was needed and how much. 7 months later, he still didn’t know what was needed, let alone how much. After his moaning about it for 2 – 3 days I finally went to a neighbor and took a picture of her valve and sent it to him. He expected us to buy it and when we pushed back, things got ugly quickly. He also mentioned that when he used the manufacturer’s website to design our yard, they recommended 2x the number of sprinkler heads then he originally estimated. It took Ben almost 3 weeks to complete the sprinkler system. Most neighbors took 1 – 2 days. Grass was out so long it died and Ben left a path of bare ground where he installed the valve.
Then when he collected the final payment he asked for $ 680.00 extra?!? He said it was to cover the cost of the wood for the pony wall as well as the handles for the cabinets on the bar. I wouldn’t have had an issue with this had he 1. given me a quote to do this. 2. REPEATEDLY told me he wasn’t going to charge me for those items as he has felt so bad that the project took so long. Don’t come back and ask for more when you said there was no more.
We have an issue with a cabinet door that he said he would look into said he said he and stay in contact weekly which he doesn’t I have to text him every couple of weeks. He also flat out told he does not stand behind his products and we could have filed the warranty claim ourselves. I called the cabinet store and found out he never filed one.
I cannot recommend him. If you have the time and desire to manage someone he may beright for you. I wish we would have paid more for someone who was professional, organized and more timely. Know a great contractor?