Contractors

[mountainview]

Has anyone had any problems with Edward and David Higa aka Higa Construction aka Higa Masonry aka Ed's Masonry and Carpentry aka D&S Construction?








Edited by - mountainview on 09/27/2007 09:05:02

[handsoff]

On the HPP board there is a comment about a HIGA Construction. Don't know if it is the same. Hope this link works
http://hppneighbor.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=construction&action=display&thread=1126160149

[Fishboy]

I'd recommend caution here before you condemn someone as guilty simply by name. The name "Higa" is not uncommon, and the posting on the HPP Board cites Higa Masonry, not Higa Construction. Don't get me wrong, I'd be skeptical also, but the person who posted that also said they learned that the company was bogus after the fact when they checked the business license number. I'd do the same in this instance.

Aloha, Brian

[mountainview]

I think it might be the same company using a different name. Because we too gave them a majority of the money and we made a second payment also. They came maybe 2 hours a week and then they came 2 days in a week. They have $9,700 worth of my money and the walls are not completed yet and he's asking for more money. All I hired him for was concrete, framing, siding, and windows. I gave them a check on March 30, 2007 and currently my home has incompleted walls. I also found out that someone filed a complaint against them last month because they are taking their money and not completing the job. Be very careful. Do not hire this company!!! And warn all those who might be thinking about it. The guys name is Edward David Higa.



Edited by - mountainview on 05/24/2007 06:38:35

[Green]

We had Higa Masonry replace a broken door frame, They did a lousy job and the door didn't shut properly. When we called and asked them to fix it he said he'd be out the next day, he never showed up. Unfortunately we paid them already. Don't think they were capable of fixing it anyway ! The guys name is Edward Higa !

[mountainview]

I knew it was the same guy. Just let me know if you need to contact them. They are practicing under the name Higa Construction. They might be changing their name again. I heard Ed lives in Keaau somewhere. I still have to get his address because he owes me $5677.13



Edited by - mountainview on 05/25/2007 06:31:13

[Green]

He only stung us for $400, but I had to redo his work.

[Kahunascott]

Not to sound rude but why would anyone pay a contractor for work that’s not started?
No way Jose! You’re setting yourself up just what happened. If you contract to make progress payments you only pay for work completed to date. If they don’t have the capital to purchase the materials then I would cross them off the list of possible contractors.
Furthermore you need a contract with a lien waver in it that will hold you harmless for materials that the contractor didn’t pay for. That supplier can file a lien on your house and when you want to sell it, refinance it or take an equity loan on it you must first settle the lien and maybe interest to. It's also public record that you have a lien held against you.
Oh, did I forget the liability waiver If they get hurt on your property? (Hawaii has a standard form I got on line) A one or two man shop isn’t required to carry workman’s comp. If they file a claim on your property they just might be building your house for themselves.
Another important factor is references and not ones they pick. Get a list of projects they worked on in the last two years and make some calls. Or better yet get a referral from someone you know.
Buyer Beware…….

[Jeffhale]

It might be to late for this suggestion. Obviously you've got a poor contractor and it's sounding like you are gonna be sorry about it. And keeping in mind that they have likely completed projects before, just not all as presumed and they are slow. But the more you irritate them the more they'll avoid you.

The last time i had a problem with a contractor was an elevator company. They took over a year to install my modified elevator whereas it should have been completed in two months. it was a five story apartment building and I could not rent out the 4th and 5th floors for all this time too, So, it was costing me dearly. They didn't care, took their sweet time and i was into them for some big cash which would be unrecoverable. Worse was, if i got rid of them I'd have to nearly pay double for another company to take over the liability. So, i milked them along, patiently, wasn't easy.. Then when they weren't looking (virtually) I found this young aggressive red hot attorney, gave him 50 bucks to threaten em with a letter.. Got their attention!!

Thing is, i never let on how MAD I was until my attorney, lets say; 'encouraged' em.

[Carey]

They may file a mechanics lein on your property. (You will need a lot of data to prove your side. Get all of the phone records & start LEGALLY taping any phone contacts (you must inform them that this call is for or on the record...) You will find that your contract is not very conclusive. If it is a form contract that they supplied, you may be liable for THEIR legal fees & such. You want to read every bit of fine print, now (much better to do it prior to signing & paying)
At this point, you will find that it will not be easy to get your money back. The best that you can hope for is that you get a comprise where they finish up some of the work for the amount outstanding. Be prepared for the fact that neither of you will ever be happy with any solution, but it is better for your house if you are able to get them to willingly assist you. Contact the Building Dept. & the Better Business Bureau. Both of these can act as mediators. As for impounding their tools, you had better make sure that you have legal grounds, & also remember, if these guys are willing to screw around with you, do you want to make them madder - it is a small rock, and they do know where you live...
We had a building contract go sour back on the mainland (our contract was much more specific, & the builder did not get a permit prior to starting a job...the Building Dept. came through for us, but even with the fact that the builder lost a suit, was barred from building in the state (license removed), we still ate a much larger loss than you have so far (the original loss + the legal fees)
One reason a contactor changes names is that the losses & suits are to the company...company goes under, there goes your ability to claim.