Our introduction to Kaiser Construction
7/13/2023
Our journey with Megan Kaiser of Kaiser Construction began back in January 2022. We had toyed with the idea of renovating our home for years and were finally in a position to go ahead. Furthermore, the property market was thriving with low interest rates, and we were entertaining the idea of selling our home. Our dream was to buy a farm, and the favorable market conditions appeared to be nudging us in that direction. However, our home needed some modernizing before we could put it on the market.
Our introduction with Kaiser Construction came about quite by chance. We attended an open house in our neighborhood, which was being managed by Rachael Kaiser DRE# 01884530, a real estate agent with the well-known Compass Realty. Intrigued and impressed by the open house, we decided to invite Rachael over to evaluate our home, to understand its market value "as is" and the potential uplift with some renovations.
Rachael mentioned that her sister, Megan Kaiser, ran a construction company and was an "outstanding general contractor." We were open to the idea and agreed to a meeting with both of them. Little did we know, this decision would mark the start of a year-long nightmare, leading to what we now consider the biggest regret of our lives due to the financial burden and calamity Kaiser Construction has caused.
When we met, the sisters made quite the impression. They came across as a formidable team – Megan, a licensed real estate agent herself, seemed to have a flair for design alongside her construction expertise. It felt like we were getting a designer and a general contractor all in one.
Furthermore, we fully intended to list our home with Rachael once the renovations were completed and when we were ready to sell. We were swayed by the prestige associated with the Compass name and believed that an agent associated with such a reputable company couldn't possibly lead us astray. As it turned out, this assumption was far from accurate, and we couldn't have been more wrong.
Below is our BBB review for Kaiser Construction which sums up our nightmare renovation:
We initiated a home remodeling journey with Kaiser Construction, which sadly devolved into an agonizing ordeal. The ambiguous "wiggle" contract gave rise to countless conflicts, highlighting Kaiser's deficiency in honesty and integrity. Their unprofessional conduct was glaringly apparent during the exterior painting phase. Despite showing premium lifetime paints initially, Kaisers unlicensed painters chose to forgo the essential primer layer. In an act of deception, they switched to using low-grade paint and failed to apply two coats.
Their negligence permeated other areas, notably the premature interior painting and kitchen cabinet refinishing. Kaisers corner-cutting approach to interior painting mirrored their exterior work with poor performance due to uneven coverage. Essential steps were overlooked in the kitchen cabinet refinishing, and an inferior paint used, resulting in a finish that started to peel a week later. The consequence of their blunders is the cost of redoing the cabinets.
Our primary bathroom was a testament to Kaiser’s unpermitted and substandard work. An improperly glued pipe led to black mold inside our walls, while an off-centered drain mandates demolition and reconstruction. Further, other issues include kitchen cabinetry issues: uneven kitchen island staining, incorrectly made vent hood, and structurally compromised cabinets, further underscoring their lack of craftsmanship.
We filed a claim with the CSLB and the Contractors Bond. The construction consultants report would state Kaiser failed to meet an acceptable standard of workmanship and found Kaiser in violation of CSLB’s License Law by performing unpermitted work and recommends a significant portion of the work be redone. We were successful in the CSLB arbitration hearing with an award issued. Our distressing experience with Kaiser Construction highlights the need for due diligence in home renovation projects. Always obtain multiple bids and ensure a clear contract.