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Review 2/5/2011
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DO NOT TRUST TOP CONSTRUCTION! January 11, 2011 my elderly father (87 years old), from Ventura California, called to alert me that he had just written a check for $975 and had signed a contract for a termite home remodel project that would cost $9750 and was to begin the next day. He had given them a check for $975. I was alarmed that this had happened so fast and asked, what happened? He had been convinced that some friend or acquaintance of theirs had asked Top Construction, "a local contractor", to call and give him a free termite inspection. To his surprise, "two nice guys from Jerusalem" showed up the next morning, did an inspection, said they were experienced contractors, convinced him that his porch was in imminent danger of collapse and talked him into signing a contract on the spot. I called my brother-in-law, who is a California contractor and asked his advice. He looked up the reviews on this site, became suspicious and called Top Construction to check on their contractor licenses.
As it turns out, one of the guys had just gotten his contractor license that day and the other 30 days prior. They said they were local, but actually operated out of Glendale. My parents are on the Gov Do Not Call list, and this was a cold telemarketing call. I called my father back and said this is happening too fast, I don't trust Top Construction and I want to cancel this project. He said, I can't, I already signed the contract. I explainted that we had 72 hrs and a reputable contractor would not rush him. I then called Pini, the contractor who had written the contract, and he continued to give me a hard sell, saying that my parents were in imminent danger, that the two porch posts were hollow and were about to fall down and if it was the price, we could negotiate and by the way, "IF" it needed tenting, they would put my parents up at the Holiday Inn for no further cost.I mentioned the reviews on this site and he said, after being in business for over 20 years, there are only a few bad reviews, so you can ignore them. I said no, consider this project canceled and please mail back the check. He said, better yet, I'll hand deliver it. I said NO, do not contact them again and mail the check back. Which he did.
My father later explained that he had wanted to call and consult with me during the inspection and expressed hesitation, but the men ignored him and before he knew it, he had signed the contract. He said he felt scared that there was immediate danger of the porch collapsing and felt pressured to proceed. My brother-in-law and a neighbor, who is also a contractor/carpenter, have since inspected my parents home. Both report that there is minimal termite damage, the porch posts are solid except for a few inches, that there are no structural problems and there is clearly no need to rush a remodel project. Also that the contract was poorly written and stated, if tenting was needed, that would be an additional cost.
In my opinion, these men were dishonest, charmed my trusting elderly parents and tried to take advantage of them. Had this project proceeded, I am concerned that it would have been very disruptive for my parents, they are too old and frail to monitor the project, and it could have gotten into substantially more work and expense. I am giving Top Construction one star because there isn't an option to give a minus ten. This predatory company should be closely monitored by the California Licensing Board.
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