Navona Group

I entered into a verbal agreement for Navona to renovate my bungalow. They were at least 3x over the quoted budget and when confronted with this, they just shrugged and asked when I was going to pay.

They did not write down the agreed on details of the plans, so many details (my wishes) were missed - that became my fault, not theirs -apparently I was being 'too picky'. The owner was going through a traumatic time when we reviewed details and created the plans - but when they were missed at the end, it was all on me - I found that really interesting...

The workmanship, while on the surface looks great, up close is shoddy and has had to be repaired by other trades people - at my additional cost. The experts I have since brought in have just shaken their heads at the workmanship or the lack of skill in the work that was previously completed, or not completed by Navona.
The overall job was not completed and when I asked them for a walk-though on the current progress and to discuss my dissatisfaction with some of the almost completed pieces and when they expected to complete the job that had run MONTHS over the estimated timeline. Their response to this was to bring in a few of their team members to dispute the work with me and then they arrogantly asked when I would be making my final payment - I laughed and said that they cannot even consider asking for final payment before the work is complete. That was the last day I saw them at my home - they never completed the work, I never paid them the last, VERY minor payment.

As for service and warranty, I had called them during the process to come and look at things, some items took them three weeks to come look at and left us basically in a non-functioning state - showers, lighting etc. Also cabinets and drawers that would not work properly - they said they had adjusted twice already and clearly any issues were 'user error' - how do you open and close cabinets and drawers incorrectly that are brand new??? When they were wiring a bathroom light fixture, they broke the mirror as the pressure cracks happened when the 'box' was installed past the 2x4 -when I asked Navona to replace the mirror, they claimed it wasn't them and perhaps my children were hanging from the vanity light (it was a bar, but seriously, my children were over the age of 10 - even if they were prone to do so, they were WAY too big to hang from their hand to their knees before their knees would hit the cabinet) a ludicrous statment at best and at worst embarrassing to be a part of that conversation. I mean seriously? Were there cameras around? Was I being punked?

Here is a small list of specialists I have had to hire or bribe to come in a fix the items that I had already paid Navona to: flooring people for carpet that was ruined by Navona (they steam cleaned), tile work for grout that just chipped away in multiple locations, a plumber to fix repair they said the had done, glass and mirror company to replace the vanity to ceiling mirror in the bathroom, cabinet people that recommended I just re-do the entire kitchen and bathrooms as nothing is square and more - but those are the significant items.

In one of my last conversations with Navona, or a letter written to me by them, the state that 'they have learned a lesson about doing business without a contract and trusting people...' implying that I somehow have burned them. Wow!!! Interesting... as I was the one living in the hell they had created for me.

It was recommended by multiple people I know to sue them for the shoddy workmanship and excess budget or to call in Holmes on Homes -so that my home could be brought up to 'normal' standards but I chose to take the highroad and didn't want to put Navona and the people I know there in stress and honestly I didn't want to continue dealing with them personally or professionally.

I lived with 60% of my main floor as plywood/K3 for 18 months and without major appliances in my kitchen we were so far over budget. It has taken a long time and there are still deficiencies that I just live with now.

I wonder now if I should have and maybe they would have considered another line of work and wouldn't be out there creating havoc for other homeowners.

I just want to let it all go, I do now wish ill will for Navona but I shudder to think what is happening at other homes that they are working in. I don't think they are bad people, I think they are in denial about their capabilites and when they are accountable and responsible for. I think they take on too much of the work themselves that they do not have enough knowledge about or training to save money and do not hire the specialists that they should.

I wish everyone out there, who is getting work done on their homes - the best of luck. Get it in writing. Unfortunatley companies will only provide content references so I hope this site can help others make informed decisions.

I don't regret much in my life as I believe regret is wasted energy but if I have one or two, hiring Navona is definitley on the top of the list.