AGM Renovations

We contracted with AGM Renovations for a large kitchen renovation. We read the many very good online reviews and decided to proceed. Part way through the project, we decided to read the reviews again, focussing on just the poor ones, and found these much closer to our experience. The contract cancel costs are exorbitant [70% of cost of materials once design phase is complete, which is before any work has started], so we wanted to believe things would work out well.
The General Contractor (GC) was onsite a total of 7 times, and a total of 24 hrs [equiv. of 3 work days]. We were not happy with the quality of some of the work, including drywall repairs, caulking and door installation and had the work brought to a higher standard by ourselves and contractors of our choosing, at our expense.
After the initial 2 day cabinet install, it was determined that 9 end panels and doors were missing, as well as filler strips in 10 areas, that shelves were missing for all the lower cabinets and many of the upper cabinets, that hardware to install handles on the 22 drawers was not provided and an additional 66 shelf brackets were required. We detailed these deficiencies to the Project Manager (PM) electronically. After waiting several weeks we purchased the missing hardware, at our expense, and installed the handles and whatever shelves were available. Approx. 6 weeks after initial install we were informed that AGM had severed ties with the original cabinet manufactr and they sent cabinet manufactr 2. We spent half a day walking him through the project and providing him with the list of deficiencies. Over the next 5 weeks that group was onsite an additional 3 times but we realized on the last visit that the completion pieces they had manufactured were not a colour match, were not the same profile as the original cabinets and were not a lacquer finish. We reported these deficiencies to the PM and 2 weeks later AGM send Cabinet Manufr 3. We went through the same process with them walking them through the project and deficiencies.
AGMs website states No Need to deal with contractors, No need to invite strangers into your home. Our experience was the opposite. During the initial 17 visits by subcontractors neither the GC, nor any other AGM personnel were onsite to instruct, direct or supervise their chosen subcontractors. This required that we the client obtain from AGM the schematics for the kitchen/pantry layout, walk each contractor through the site, provide basic information as to the requirements, and deal with any resulting mistakes and damage they caused which, in our opinion, there was on multiple occasions. The subcontractors supervised by us the client included, cabinet manufacturer number 1, plumber, electrical assistant, electrician, HVAC, counter manufactr, cabinet manufactr 2, cabinet manufactr 3, and cabinet painter.
The project was completed 9.5 mos after the final design meeting, whereas the AGM contract and literature states an estimated 8-9 weeks to substantial completion. Our view is that this was an excessively long delay. At 10 weeks our kitchen looked substantially the same as the day of demo and we had not seen the AGM GC once since the 3 hrs he spent during demo.
The delays were in our view caused by choices made by AGM. If AGM had not eliminated ties with cabinet manufactr 1, we believe at least 4 months of the delays could have been reduced. As well, if the GC had properly executed his responsibilities including properly scheduling and supervising subcontractors, and attending the work site on a more regular basis, we believe further delays could have been mitigated. Further, if AGM had properly vetted, supervised and monitored cabinet manufactr 2 then we believe another 1.5 to 2 months of delays could have been mitigated.
In our opinion if you want to avoid a high pressure sales process, avoid frustration, avoid having to virtually beg for the work you paid for be completed, be treated fairly, and you desire quality work completed in a reasonable time period, do NOT use AGM Renovations