KBR Design & Build
About Us
Best of Houzz 2014-2024
Services Provided
3D Rendering, Backsplash Installation, Basement Remodeling, Bathroom Plumbing, Bathroom Remodeling, Bathtub Installation, Cabinet Installation, Countertop Installation, Custom Cabinets, Custom Kitchen Cabinets, Custom Pantries, Custom Walk-in Closets, Floor Plans, Flooring Installation, Handicap-Accessible Design, Home Additions, Home Extensions, Home Remodeling, Home Restoration, Kitchen Remodeling, Project Management, Sustainable Design, Tile Installation, Universal Design, Bathroom Design, Kitchen Design, Apartement combination, apartment renovation, loft renovation, Apartement remodeling, brownstone
Areas Served
Astoria, New York, Manhattan, Brooklyn
Awards
National Kitchen & Bath Association, NARI, American Society of Interior Designers
Category
Business Details
Business Name
KBR Design & Build
Phone Number
+1 212-475-8000
Website
Address
838 6th Avenue, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Typical Job Cost
USD 15,000 - USD 1,000,000
License Number
1385161
Followers
Words cannot describe the incredible working relationship my wife and myself achieved with KBRRead Full Review
190 Reviews for KBR Design & Build
Thank you so much Hanna! We are so pleased that you love your new home and enjoyed the process to create it. The whole team and Chris thank you for being an amazing client.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! Ally is one of our most cherished designers and the attention to detail and creativity she brings to the table are second to none. While attempting renovation projects under circumstances like these are tough no matter what, I'm happy to hear that the team was able to start construction when safe and complete your beautiful project. I'll be sure that Ally, Doug, and Matt all receive these accolades. We hope that you continue to enjoy your new spaces for years to come!
--Sara
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! Your project was both beautiful and complex, and I'm glad to see that you are pleased with the results and with our work in the space. Leaks are tough -- tough to find, tough to fix, but its great to know that our team was able to rise to the challenge and help you. KBR will always be happy to help a client in need, whether its during or after the project.
--Sara
Thank you so much for the kind review. I will be sure to communicate your review to Matt and the project management team!
--Sara
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! I'm so happy to hear that you are pleased with JPs work and dedication that she brings to each and every project. The bathroom turned out stunning and we hope you get to enjoy it for many years to come!
--Sara
Thank you so much for your kind review! We work hard to ensure that our clients projects finish smoothy and with no overages. We appreciate your words and recommendation!
--Sara
Thank you so much for the kind review. Ally is one of our most talented designers, and I'm happy to hear how pleased you are with not just her design style, but also her presentation and attention to detail. Thank you for mentioning as well that we are following COVID guidelines and strive to ensure that our job sites are safe for our workers and the people who live in the home.
--Sara
Thank you so much for the kind review. I'm glad that JP and George were able to give you folks the renovation of your dreams for your bathroom and bedroom. We strive to provide our clients with effective communication and swift action when things go off track. Looking forward to working with you in the future!
-Sara
Thank you so much for the lovely review. I know all of us -- myself, Ally, and Matt -- were in love with your project and we are so happy to see how it developed and the stunning end results. Let me know when you're ready to make that bathroom a little more inviting!
--Sara
Thank you so much for the lovely review. KBR prides itself on quality of work, and standing by that work in the years to come. We are so happy hear that you are pleased with the service, creative suggestions by the team, the work in general, and the care we've been able to provide you once the project was completed. We look forward to an opportunity to work together again in the future, and we hope you enjoy your spaces in the years to come. I will be sure to pass your accolades on to the rest of the team!
--Sara
Thank you so much for your kind review. Ally and Petar both strive to provide the best service to their clients, as does Noam. We are thrilled to hear that you are pleased with both the experience and the outcome. We hope you enjoy your new spaces for many years to come.
--Sara
Thank you for leaving such a wonderful review for us. It was a pleasure to work with you again on this project, and we look forward to many more! Ally is a superstar and I'm glad her attention to detail was noticed. Slavko cares deeply about each and every project and I'm glad it shows. Thank you so much for the opportunity to work with you again, and for the future!
--Sara
Thank you so much for your kind words and detailed assessment of our team. We strive to provide the highest quality of work at a fair price. The project was demanding, and needed a lot of 'thinking outside of the box', but in the end we were very happy with the outcome. And we are delighted that you are delighted?
Rob / KBR Project CoOrdinator
Thank you so much for your glowing review! We appreciate that you took time to reflect on the project and write a review that reflected the time and hard work that we put into the project. Working on pre-war units is often challenging, as so many elements need to be changed, replaced, or updated plus w have to follow the requirements of the building management.
Giselle is an amazing designer, and we are very happy that you collaborated well with her to achieve the custom look of your bathroom.
I'll be sure to pass on your words of kindness and affirmation to everyone in the team. We all sincerely hope that you folks are able to enjoy your beautiful bathroom for many years to come -- and immediately, for the holidays coming up.
Rob / KBR Project Coordinator
Slavko is an amazing project manager, and I'm happy to hear the transition was seamless. While we try to have a consistent team for each project, sometimes a shuffle is needed -- always for the better for our clients.
Alex is a whiz with building approvals, and its so nice to know that she was able to navigate your building approvals with grace and ease, saving you valuable time and money.
Rob prides himself on being no-nonsense and clear and direct with his clients -- something that I know all of his clients appreciate and leads to clear, effective communication.
The real star of the show seems to be Ally! She is one of our most highly rated designers based on our client feedback, and its reassuring to know she's hit yet another one out of the park for you guys.
I'll be sure to pass on your words of kindness and affirmation to everyone in the team. We all sincerely hope that you folks are able to enjoy your beautiful apartment for many years to come -- and immediately, for the holidays coming up.
--Sara
Thank you so much for your kind review. JP is a wonderful designer whose enthusiasm knows no bounds, and I'm pleased to hear that you had a lovely experience working with her. I'll be sure to pass your kind words to her, and the rest of team. We hope you are able to spend many years enjoying your new kitchen.
-- Sara
Thank you so much for this review! Petar and Ally are an absolute dream team, and I'm so happy that you were pleased with the service that they were able to provide in tandem. Ensuring that our clients feel both comfortable and at ease with the process and building up a level of trust is paramount to our success, and it's wonderful to see how it shows. I'll be sure to pass your praise on to the team, Ally, and Petar. We hope you are able to enjoy your new and refreshed spaces for many years to come!
-- Sara
Thank you so much for your kind words. JP is an amazing designer with a positively infectious energy and a dedication that knows no bounds. I will be sure to pass your compliments on to her, and we here at KBR hope you continue to enjoy your space for years to come.
--Sara
Thank you so much for your kind words. We're all so happy that you are so thrilled with your renovation and that we were able to help increase your property value. We hope you get to enjoy this kitchen for years to come! I'll be sure to pass your comments to the team.
--Sara
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! I'm happy to hear that your experience was so positive after hearing so many unpleasant stories about contractors -- we aim to fight that stereotype with each and every project by being on time, clear with expectations, and tight to our budgets. I'll be sure to let Petar know how happy you are with his project management. We hope you enjoy your space for years to come!
--Sara
--Sara
We are so thrilled at how beautiful the bathroom came out and that you are so happy with our design and work! We pride ourselves on our one-stop strategy which allows us to oversee all the aspects of a project and keep to tight timelines and budgets. Looking forward to the future projects we are planning!
--Sara
Thank you so much for your kind words and detailed assessment of your project. I'm overjoyed to hear that you had a pleasant experience and would work with us again. Changing personnel happens sometimes with construction projects; I'm glad we were able to reset the team and give you a five star experience. I'll be sure to pass on your accolades to your respective designer and project manager. We hope you enjoy your newly renovated spaces for years to come!
--Sara
Thank you so much for your kind words and your repeat business with us here at KBR! I'll be sure to pass on your note to the team.
--Sara
Thank you so much for you kind words. You are one of the few who understands the enormous complexity of combining an apartment and just how many people and municipalities are involved. I'm so happy we were able to pick up the project and run with it, and help you out with all of the details and deliver a beautiful product. I'll make sure that your accolades are shown to Billy and the rest of the team.
--Sara
--Sara
Thank you so much for your kind review. I know that our team works incredibly hard to overcome any challenges in our way, whether its dealing with the building, the DOB, site conditions, budgets and materials. The pictures are absolutely stunning and we'll be uploading the professional photos soon for everyone to see your stunning new kitchen. I'll be sure to pass the accolades onto Petar and Ally, and I'm so happy to hear that they were able to give you such a seamless and beautiful transition from the old and to the new. We hope that you spend many more years enjoying your beautiful new kitchen!
--Sara
Thank you so much for this wonderful review. I know the whole team here at KBR are happy and elated that you are pleased with the outcome of your renovation. I'm personally glad that even after the rough start with the original project manager we were able to replace him with Jayani and she was able to make your not-so-great experience into something so positive. I'll be sure to pass on your accolades to Jayani and Alex, as well as Andrew and the onsite crew. We all hope that you get to enjoy your renovation for many years to come!
--Sara
Wow, Thank you so so so much for this amazing review! I was with you guys from the beginning, and I'm so happy with how pleased you are not just with the final construction, but with the entire process. It was indeed a long road to get here, and the results and fruits of our labor turned out fantastic. Giselle and Jayani are some of the brightest stars in the KBR team, and it always warms my heart to see their hard work recognized. We pride ourselves on overcoming challenges -- of which there were many with this existing space -- and making sure that we do everything we can to overcome those challenges, make our clients happy, and create something beautiful for you to enjoy for years to come. I'd also like to thank you for your kind words towards the team onsite preforming the construction itself -- they are, as you mentioned, often the unsung heroes of the project, and I know that Andrew is one of the greatest assets that we have the pleasure to work with. Working with you and your wife has been an absolute pleasure as well, and I know that everyone will be thrilled to see your review. I'll be sure to pass the accolades on to the rest of the team, and get Jayani her own KBR Quarterback jersey!
--Sara
--Sara
Thank you so much for your kind words and positive review! Alex and Petar worked tirelessly to get your the best design and finished product for your kitchen and it really does show -- the photographs are lovely. I'm happy to hear that not only were they able to please you with the design, but kept in mind the cat and everything he/she needed as well. Attention to detail has always been important to us and its so wonderful to know that we were able to be sensitive to everything that you wanted and needed, along with your budget. We hope that you enjoy your kitchen for many years to come, and I'll be sure to pass on your compliments to the team.
--Sara
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. Working with you and your team has been an absolute pleasure since our first onsite. I'm glad that we were able to provide you with an efficient, effective service from bidding and towards completion. I'll be sure to pass on your accolades to both Billy and Jayani. Looking forward to continued successful collaborations!
--Sara
Thank you so much for the glowing and in depth review!! Everyone here at KBR had a wonderful time working with you and Bill on your project and we're so happy that you both enjoyed the process and the finished product. I'm glad that Billy and I were able to help with sorting out after the deluge in the kitchen prior to starting work. I'll be sure to pass on the accolades to everyone on the team. We appreciate you letting us into your home to turn it into something beautiful!
Best,
Sara
Thank you so much for the kind review! I'm happy that even though, ultimately, you decided to hire someone else for the reduced scope, we were able to help you with the development and pricing out phase of the project and that you were suitably informed by Noam about the process. I'll be sure to pass your accolades on to him. Best wishes with your renovation!
Sara
Thank you so much for the kind review! I'm happy to hear that you are pleased with the results and that we could accomodate your design and needs to your liking. Working with the DOB is an increasing common hurdle that we have to jump when working in NYC and I'm glad that we were able to shepard you through the process both with the city departments and with your building management. I'll be sure to pass on your accolades to both Giselle and Gilberto so that they too know how happy you are with how your completed bathrooms look!
Sara
Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm glad that we were able to help transform your design influences, ideas and carefully laid decisions into a reality. KBR prides itself on making those transitions easy, and in smoothing out the wrinkles as everything moves along through production. I'm glad that you are happy with the result of the renovation, and with the services we were able to provide throughout. I'll be sure to pass your accolades on to Alex, and the rest of the team.
--Sara
Thank you so much for your kind words! Everyone here on the team appreciates it so much. Your project was beautiful, complicated and at some times challenging with the building and the city, but we were able to work through all of these steps in our way to deliver a beautiful apartment for you. We are all looking forward to coming in for professional photos so we can add them to our website and do your renovation justice!
Please enjoy your space through the holiday seasons along with your family, and have a great new year. I'll be sure to pass your accolades on to Billy and Yosi.
--Sara
Thank you so much for your kind words! We pride ourselves on being clear with scopes from the beginning of our projects, and that our designers can deliver finished materials that fit within our clients budget and tastes. The apartment came out absolutely stunning -- thank you for posting the photos along with your review! I will be sure to pass on your accolades to both Michelle and Alex, who I know both worked extremely hard to make your visions for your apartment come true. We here at KBR hope you enjoy your beautiful space through the holidays this year!
-- Sara
Thank you so much for the kind words and accolades! We here at KBR are so excited to know how happy you are the finished project and with our process. Being a one stop shop is our speciality and I'm glad that we were able to make the process easy, worry free and simple for you and your family. Enjoy the newly renovated apartment throughout the upcoming holiday season! I'll be sure to pass your affirmations onto Alex, I know he, as did I, very much enjoyed working with you throughout this renovation.
--Sara
Thanks so much for your lovely review. This project was a doozy! All of the additional paperwork and nonsense that surrounds bringing in the additional plumbing can sometimes but a terror, but I'm glad that we were able to navigate it smoothly for you and that you ended up with the functionality of space that you wanted -- opening up that kitchen, the additional bathroom, and bringing more light into the space. I know that myself, Billy and Kurt have enjoyed working with you through this process, and hope that we can help you again in the future!
--Sara
On behalf of the KBR Team, thank you so much for the great review of our renovation of your Manhattan apartment. Successful renovation projects are the result of a 'team effort', including having a great client to work with. We really enjoyed working with you personally and all agree that your ideas and input allowed us to deliver a renovation that we are all very proud of.
Please stay in touch, and do not hesitate to forward us renovation questions that you have in the future.
We'd love to have you as a reference for future clients, and hopefully you'll recommend friends, family and colleagues to KBR in the future.
Best wishes,
Rob
--Sara
Thanks so much for working with us again for your latest project! It was an absolute pleasure to renovate your bathroom. We hope, that, like your kitchen, you continue to enjoy it for many years to come. Looking forward to the next project!
--Sara
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We pride ourselves on delivering results and making the process as easy and smooth as possible for each of our clients, and we're so glad this was able to shine through. I'll be sure to pass your accolades on to the rest of the team. We hope you enjoy your newly renovated apartment for many years to come!
--Sara
We thank Paul for his kind words regarding our design and development teams, and would like to address his production experience.
This project was a very unique process due to changes and challenges due to particular crew first assigned to work on this particular project. As explained by Paul, their quality of work was not up to par with what we would consider to be KBR standard, due to some personal issues surround the foreman of said crew. Because of that, we had the crew removed and replaced with a new team part way through the project. This did cause a lag in production and some items to be done over, in order to bring the level of quality up. We worked dilligently with Paul to accomodate him throughout this unusual process and to make sure he was comfortable and compensated along the way, through credits, reimbursements, change orders free of charge, etc. We apologize, and have apologized in person to the reviewer, for the difficulties transpired in his project; however, we felt this changing of personnel and the subsequent changes to the construction schedule necessary to ensure that the end product was reflective of KBR's standards and finished product.
Regarding the discussion of pay structure and timing related to personnel on site -- this is not standard KBR practice -- and specific to this team that we no longer do business with.
KBR would also like to address that we do schedule a weekly meeting between project manager, designer, and client to discuss the status of the project, as long as the client is available and willing. We strive to so everything that we can to get a 100% satisfaction rate from our clients past, present and future, but unfortunately, this is a situation where some elements outside of our control contributed to a less than perfect experience. We have taken step to ensure that this doesn't happen again.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review. We here at KBR appreciate your kind words, as well as your honesty regarding the process -- construction is a long a difficult road, and I'm happy that everyone here at KBR was able to help find solutions and smooth over those bumps quickly and efficiently, and in such a way that it did not dampen your overall experience with construction here in NYC, tumultuous as it often is. We're all extremely happy that you are so pleased with you renovation, and wish only the best for you and your family as you enjoy the new spaces we've created for you.
--Sara
Thank you so much for the kind words and the accolades for Giselle and Latif -- I'll be sure to pass your affirmations onto management! In the meantime, enjoy your improved usability in your space, and say hi to the cats for us! I know Latif will miss Bob Marley and Nike a lot!
--Sara
Regarding the review left above, KBR would like to take an opportunity to discuss the situation. We are proud of the work that we've done in this apartment and have no qualms about the quality, communication, and our ability to work in co-op and condo buildings all around NYC.
KBR would like to point out that in this case (the main reason) for this negative review is due to the fact that the client is seeking to leverage KBR in an attempt to avoid honoring his contract regarding his final payments.
The issues between KBR and the building management were trivial, and in the case of the most egregious accusations from the building to KBR were actually found to be the fault of another contractor working in the building.
KBR works in doorman buildings, co-ops, and condos on a constant basis. All of these entities require extensive verification of workers compensation, liability insurance and all applicable master plumbing and electrician licenses. If KBR did not use the highest caliber tradespeople possible, we would never receive approval by the building management or co-op board to do the work in the first place.
In the case of 'budget driven design', we can work with budgets and do frequently work with extremely tight budgets; in this case, the client was warned by our design team that the items being selected were going to down the budget, and we were told to purchase those items anyway. Regarding usability, specifically in this case, the integrated recessed LED lights are made to be installed, and then do not need to be changed for the lifetime of the fixture; in this case, the client was unhappy with the temperature of the light and we had made arrangements to replace it at our expense but were unable to once this dispute started.
Regarding timeliness, KBR was on track to finish the project on time before the building intervened stepped in, and had we been allowed in the building the project would have been brought to substantial completion, as outlined in our contracts, within the timeline laid out.
Regarding the work done in the apartment, the project manager, and general communication, KBR prides itself on working with project managers and teams who can communicate effectively between the job site and the office. The project manager does oversee the work on site daily for each of their projects and keeps in constant communication from the office through to the site.
Regarding the point of contact for a project, it is simple; during design, the designer is the point of contact, during construction, the project manager is the point of contact. During any either of times in the process, both are available via phone and email as needed. KBR firmly believes that this system allows for us to maintain proper control of the project and jobsite, and allows us to keep many sets of eyes on the same project and improve the productivity across the board. This is a system that has been in place since the inception of KBR; it has never failed us and was an integral part of this project. - we stand firmly behind our work and principals.
Thank you so much for the kind words and the review! Both of your bathrooms turned out so amazingly beautiful, and its certainly a project that we are excited to have in our portfolio. I'll be sure to pass on your accolades to Michelle and Andrew, whom I know both enjoyed working with you and putting together your amazing spaces. Looking forward to working with you again the future!
Best,
Sara
Everyone here at KBR is so excited to see how happy you guys are with your renovation and with our team. It was an absolute pleasure working with you, and we'd love to be able to collaborate in the future! Enjoy your beautiful new kitchen in the coming holidays.
--Zak
Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful review of KBR. We're so thrilled to hear how happy you are with the transformation, and with our team here in the office and in the field. At KBR, we pride ourselves on being able to bring only the highest levels of service and craftsmanship to our projects, and I think the photos are the 'proof in the pudding' of what were able to achieve in your space. We're also pleased to hear how much you enjoyed working with Andrew -- I'll be sure to pass on your compliments to him! Enjoy the upcoming holidays with your newly renovated home.
--Sara
Thank you so much for reaching out to us here and for the lovely review! Working together on a project in a remote fashion, as you live out of town, can be a challenge, but I'm thrilled to hear that you are happy with our communication and our team. Enjoy your new space, and looking forward to collaboration in the future!
--Sara
Thank you so much for the kind words for all of the members of the KBR team. Everyone here certainly enjoyed working with you and we are so happy we were able to give you the kitchen of your dreams, and in your budget. I'm sure some wonderful homemade bread and cheese has come out of that kitchen since then!
--Sara
We appreciate you reaching out through Houzz and leaving such a lovely review. We're so thrilled to see that you are so happy with your renovation -- it was truly a pleasure to work with you and your family through his project. Thank you!
--Sara
KBR is proud of the work we performed on this fantastic project. The job came out great, on time, on budget and looked so good that when the happy clients made their final payment post-punchlist, we had our photographer capture the phenomenal craftsmanship employed on this build out.
In the course of an extensive production such as this, there are literally thousands of lines of scope and materials involved. Occasionally, minor obstacles emerge along the way. KBR is and has always been committed to overcoming every challenge that might arise during the construction process.
It goes without saying that these accusations are outlandish and unfounded.
For example, KBR works in doorman buildings, co-ops, and condos on a constant basis. All of these entities require extensive verification of workers compensation, liability insurance and all applicable master plumbing and electrician licenses. If KBR did not use the highest caliber tradespeople possible, we would never receive approval by the building management or co-op board to do the work in the first place.
With regard to all other issues presented in this "review", we resolved or attempted to resolve all of the client's concerns, including concerns that the client has to pertain to work performed after KBR received final payment for a job well-done.
The KBR team is proud of the work performed on this project, the space was completely transformed, to the exact specifications of the architect's drawings, on time and on budget. If anyone would like further details regarding this project, we'd be more than happy to share our perspective on this particular project and its outcomes with you, however, we'd also be happy to simply let the final project photos tell the story.
Thank you so much for the kind words, Marc. We're glad to hear how happy you are with your renovation and with the KBR team as a whole. I'll be sure to pass along your compliments to Michelle!
In service,
I'm glad that Tom was able to walk you through the renovation process, both with KBR and in general for NYC, in order for you to make as informed a decision as possible. Navigating a remodel in the city can be difficult, and KBR prides itself not only on completing projects, but on making sure that our clients are as educated as possible. Best wishes with your renovation!
--Sara
Thank you so much for the lovely review! I'm so glad that we were able to swoop in and save the day after the issues you had with your previous contractor, and that you enjoyed working through the process with our team here at KBR. The end result is one beautiful bathroom -- and I'm very pleased to hear how happy you are with the results. Like you said, construction can be a difficult process, and here at KBR we pride in taking the guess work out of everything and taking hold of the reins in order to make sure that you have a fantastic renovation, with as little headache as possible. I'll be sure to pass the accolades onto Tom, Margo, and Andrew!
--Sara
Instead of laying out a "defense" of some of the issues raised by Jen , we'll just leave an image of her kitchen before and after her renovation , and mention that the entire project came in at around 40% the average cost for this type of renovation in NYC. I am very proud of the work that KBR performed on this project , and , will reach out to Jen separately.
Just kidding...
Thanks for the positive review, Nina!
On a more serious note, all of us at KBR thank you for your business and are happy to know that you had a positive experience.
Zak here from KBR.
We showed up for the appointment.
There was a lot of back and forth regarding what time we'd be getting access to the loft. Claudia had to coordinate with the owner etc., we had made an arrangement to check in to finalize when to come over. Claudia called, said that she was in the space, it was just a few blocks from our offices in the Flatiron district, I jumped in a cab, and was at the address provided, ten minutes later.
The initial estimate was for exactly $73,575 worth of labor, with an additional 20-30K in TBD items. I furnished a full estimate within 24 hours, which is almost unheard of in our industry. The reason being, that Claudia had expressed that she was very short on time and needed to make decisions regarding moving forward, immediately.
The initial scope of work presented to us included two bathrooms, work in the kitchen, bedrooms, glass dividing elements, sliding doors, skylights, roof repairs, flooring, entertainment system installation and painting.
The pricing we arrived at is neither high nor low, but rather exactly mid-level, if Claudia had googled average nyc prices for the full-scope of work that we were asked to calculate a cost for, inclusive of two bathrooms, a kitchen, flooring, painting and extensive glass and room sub-division, I think that she, or anyone else would find that a probable labor budget of between 70-100K is far from unheralded, and far from "high", in Claudia's case, the entire renovation of the space would have come out to around 2% of the total property value at the time of purchase.
By Claudia's own admission, the next time she reached out to us was six weeks prior to when she would have optimally liked to start work. Without knowing what kind of time frame would be needed for building approval, finalizing design and acquiring all finished materials necessary, expecting to be able to kick off in six weeks, in the height of summer, is being a bit optimistic, it's not impossible, or even terribly difficult to get everything together in that time frame, but it is dependent on quite a few variables, at least one of which, namely = building approval, can be unpredictable. We've had building approval for direct replacement style remodel projects take less than a day, we've had approval for direct replacement projects take several weeks, every building is different.
When Claudia reached out, she cut the scope by more than 66%, but that's actually irrelevant.
We gave Claudia a revised labor estimate based on the new, revised scope of work.
I was out of the office for three workdays. Sometimes it's nice to see your family in the summertime.
When i returned, several of our existing projects in production had expanded because the clients decided to incorporate additional scope, plus, in the time that Claudia had been deciding on what she wanted to do, KBR had taken on additional projects.
Claudia's project would have actually been far less than 50K, and, we would have been overjoyed to do the work for her, as, our portfolio is ---full--- of projects well south of that figure. We still do "one off" kitchens and baths, have recently wrapped up a few, and have more in production. While it is more often the case that we are engaged in full-apartment renovations, we do one or two room renovations all the time, granted we have the labor to execute such projects. Unfortunately, when you wait a very long time to move forward, at the height of the renovation cycle in this city, and then decide to move forward with one and only one company, sometimes you run the risk of that company being unable to mobilize their labor at the drop of a hat.
When i realized that Claudia hadn't reached out to any other Design / Build firms, and was really under the gun in terms of a time-crunch, I put forth great effort to find tradespeople, whom KBR has trusted in the past, who are in good standing, do excellent work and are fairly priced, and, not surprisingly, at the height of summer......they were all busy.
It took some time, but, I finally found a firm that could have helped Claudia out, unfortunately, Claudia had already posted her review. So, I reached out to her, and, offered to put her in touch with the firm that I was able to source. Claudia declined my assistance at that point ( and refused to reconsider her rating of KBR ).
We never lied to Claudia.
We do projects below 100K all the time.
Starting the process of getting a full-apartment remodel project underway, six weeks before your target move-in-date, in the middle of summer, is not "early in the process".
What -did- KBR do?...We arrived at the time agreed upon to perform the on-site estimate. We expedited the furnishing of a quote for Claudia within 24 hours as per her request. We made timely adjustments to her proposed scope, as per her notes and recommendations. We empathized with her when she finally let us know that she'd like to move forward and we didn't have any available labor, and, we reached out to try to find people to help Claudia with her remodel. Lastly, we found a firm able to do her work. Although, there's no possible way, that all of the work would have been done by closing anyway, as, by Claudia's own admission, that was four weeks away, and she had not yet received building approval, had elevation, layout, existing or proposed drawings generated, or, anything ordered, not tile, not fixtures, not vanities, not plumbing items, no glass, no accessories....nothing.
Let's put this in perspective, it's October, a good time to start thinking about buying snow tires. I go to my local mechanic and i ask, "how much will it cost me to change all my current tires to snow tires?" My mechanic gives me a quote. I call my mechanic and ask, "How much to change out just one tire?". My mechanic is now on a ski trip, because it's already snowing. He comes back 72 hours later and tells me it'll cost 75% less than it will to change out all four tires. I wait some more, and then, during a blizzard, i swing by my mechanic and say " ok, i'm ready, let's do this.." My mechanic informs me that in the time it's taken me to come in, other cars have pulled up, and, the garage only has so much space and so many mechanics. My mechanic says he feels bad, and that he'll reach out to some local mechanics he knows, sadly, because there's a blizzard, all the other mechanics he knows are also busy. I go home, i write a scathing yelp review, my mechanic calls me with a referral for someone to change out my tires. I refuse the referral.
-KBR Team
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