Home Renovation Design and Permits
We had engaged with Alex in July of 2021 to help prepare drawings, designs and submissions required to obtain a building permit from the City. The scope of work was to include:
- Arrange for permits on behalf of the owner
- Act on behalf of the owner regarding any and all matters having to do with the work
- Prepare required documentation for formal submission to city planning
- If required, prepare Committee of Adjustment documentation
- Prepare final working drawings needed to obtain building permit
From the start of engagement there was significant delays in moving forward. Weeks at a time where there would be limited contact and lack of response by email/text/phone. We were given some reasons/excuses that delays were due to personal situations but things would be back on track once they were sorted out. Things progressed although slowly.
When receiving drawing drafts and reviewing them as well as providing back comments to update, the time in between revisions took between a few days to a few weeks. The final drawings were completed in Oct approx 3 months after engagement. There were also things we had to ask for twice, that he said was changed but then the drawings were not actually updated. Not to mention trying to get the files sent to us were a pain as well as they always seemed to get "stuck in my outbox".
We were told the building permit application went in promptly thereafter but did not receive anything further until the end December - for an authorization form with the city which was provided back from us Jan 2nd, 2022.
Later we found out the City only received the permit application on Feb 16th. They had committed to provide comments back before End of March, and they did. It has now been almost 2 months since then and we cannot get a hold of Alex to even let us know what needs to be done next. Many many calls and emails and texts have been sent but he is unresponsive.
The architectural work was sub-contracted by Alex to someone, who was on the permit application, and in communicating with them it seems Alex is not even responding back to his own sub-contract trade either.
Our payment agreement specified 50% up front, balance on completion of permit ready drawings. Drawings which we did receive, therefore payment has been made in full. However, we have no permit, and are stuck without the ability to keep moving forward. The Job that we hired Balmbuilt for was to obtain the building permits based on the design specification. This has not been completed.
A complaint to the BBB has already been submitted as well. Next step will be to file a claim in SCC. Terrible experience.
Our expectations are that professionals will deliver to their word, and if for any reason they cannot that there be some acknowledgement and compensation.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $8,475.00