We have just completed a basement development engagement with Planit. While happy with the final product due in large part to how we designed the final space, we are extremely disappointed with Planit Builders. Based on our experience we would not recommend them as a contractor.
As background you need to understand that Planit does not have any trades working within their organization. All trades and contractors including but not limited to plumbing, electrical, insulation, drywall and painting are all third party. The only Planit staff onsite are the project manager and maybe a labourer who may show up to do some clean up.
Our space was new development and not a renovation as our home was built in 2009 and we had the basement partially developed. The space is 1,500 square feet but the project was limited to a large multi-use space, a bathroom and two additional rooms (home office and a crafts room) for 1050 square feet. The utility and storage space was not developed.
We researched and interviewed a number of contractors in the fall of 2013 and had requested proposals from three. One of our objectives was to begin the work by the first of January and have it completed by end of March. As mentioned above it was new development but the exterior walls were framed and insulated and we arranged to have another contractor do the floor which was finished concrete throughout the space.
Planit was the most expensive but they explained to us in the sales process that the premium we were going to pay would provide us with higher quality and allow the project to be completed in the three month timeline. We discussed this at length with the Planit sales representative and the timeline was discussed and confirmed repeatedly. In addition he arranged a meeting with the on-sire project manager and they again confirmed the timeline. We discussed that we would own responsibility to do the finished concrete floor (and the hardwood stairs leading to basement) and they confirmed that was built into the plan. They were very confident they could have project completed in eight weeks and use the additional four weeks for clean-up and small fixes but they remained strong on the commitment to have project done for end of March.
We signed the contract in October 2013 and Planit began the permit and plan phase. On January 3rd they gave us access to Builder Trend which is a communication tool they use with their clients. The project schedule reflected the commitment to have project completed by end of March (in fact three weeks sooner) as well reflected the time we would need for flooring.
A three month project took six months to complete. Weeks would go by with no trades ever showing up on site and some weeks where one trade would show for a few hours and that would be it. In trying to address delays with Planit they were very quick to blame the trades or promise that ”someone will be there this week” which in many cases proved to be false. When we asked the delays be addressed by the project manager and then escalated our concern to Planit management they were quick to push back and even pointing to us as source of delay even though that was not the case as demonstrated by their own project plans. We did add one week where we had some wiring done for alarm systems etc., but this did not contribute to the 3 month delay.
At project completion we asked Planit to provide some consideration for the delay but they refused to address the issue. We feel they misled us and did so in order to secure the contract.
There were other issues which we noticed and discussed with Planit but did not get resolved to our satisfaction. We have a home office so it was not unusual to have someone at home while the work was to be done so we got to see more of the work than perhaps would be common.
• The schedule that was posted in Builder Trend after the first 4 weeks no longer was accurate. Trades, deliveries and inspections that were scheduled typically did not align with what was in Builder Trend.
• Planit provides a clipboard with a copy of the most recent plans, building permits and a sign in sheet for the contractors. The only trades that used it was the contractor that framed and perhaps one of the plumbers in the first week but never after that. The clipboard seemed to be stashed where it was hard to find even on one occasion in amidst a pile of garbage.
• Permits were not posted on the front of the house as per requirement. This was mentioned by a city inspector and even commented on by Planit management but never done.
• Planit claimed to have well developed long-term relationships and commitments with the suppliers and trades. However we learned that Planit subcontractors in some cases then contracted out the work which may have contributed to issues for the project. We had trades and suppliers tell us they were new to Planit or unhappy and considering not working with them in the future.
• Clean up was an ongoing issue for some reason as we found we had to call for Planit to come by and clear garbage from basement or from the yard; it did not seem to be part of the plan. On a number of occasions we had to clean up. Contractors would leave remains from meals in the basement. When we asked about clean up Planit told us it was the sub-contractors responsibility.
• The drywall sub-contractors piled up all of the unused material and their garbage outside on of the windows. It was a large pile and remained there for more than four weeks in the elements (repeated snow and rain). We are still cleaning up drywall material from around the house.
• Planit promised to put up poly doors to keep dust from migrating through the house but did not use them until the end of the project.
• The ceiling contractors transferred the knock-down ceiling material they used throughout the entry way of our home, tracked into an upstairs bathroom and spilled it on the doorstep. Outside there were plaster footprints on the front stairs and sidewalk as well our front door was covered with handprints. We called Planit to clean it up but they did a poor job which we had to correct ourselves and we still require to power wash our walkway to remove it.
• On numerous occasions we found our front door left unlocked after contractors left for the day as well they would leave basement windows open.
• We had trades show up late in the day at supper time or early evening asking if it would be alright to work.
• Trades people would show up on site without understanding what they were to do. On a couple of occasions they did not have a copy of the plan or they had an outdated plan
• We found the rates that Planit uses to do upgrades is many times above what it costs from other market sources. They were keen on charging top dollar well beyond the retail cost for items such as sinks and or fixtures.
We did our best to repeatedly discuss issues with Planit and seek their assistance in correcting gaps in their service and promises however we found that their strategy was to deflect any responsibility or ownership of the issues.
As mentioned we would not recommend Planit as a contractor.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $70,000.00