Testimonials

Dear Mike,

It is with pleasure that I submit to you this personal testimonial pertaining to the completion of my garage/man cave!

Hard to believe that our relationship started with my phone call to you back in June of 2015.

I can't thank you enough for all the work you put into making my 9 year dream a reality! Your expertise was demonstrated at every step of the process. Your professionalism was constant even during times when we didn't necessarily agree on something. You displayed such a high level of quality that was never compromised from the beginning of the project to the end! Your motto of, "getting the job right the first time" could never have been more true! Your focus and vision was spot on with what I was asking for! You were always available to me by phone with great open communication!

Thank you for all the time you spent making trips to downtown Phoenix to meet with zoning officials and fighting for me in regards to my application for a variance! Your devotion to me and the project was never in question and for this I am very thankful! must also give credit where credit is due. Your job foreman, Martin was amazing. He was on the job site every day to oversee the subs work and instrumental in making sure that each step of construction met East Coast Contractors high standards. But Martin went beyond that by displaying his talent for interior and exterior design. He often would make what turned out to be valuable recommendations and suggestions that ultimately led to a much improved finished product! Martins insight was invaluable! Thank you Martin!

Fast forward to 2017 and look at what has become of that phone call! A building that gives me so much enjoyment and relaxation! A building that I am so proud to share with family and friends. The compliments I receive upon viewing are constant.

In closing, I want to thank you & Martin for making my dream garage & man cave a reality. Working with both of you has been a pleasure!

I cannot recommend East Coast Contractors highly enough to those that may be looking for someone to build the building of their dreams as well!

Please know that you may refer any potential clients to me as a reference moving forward. I would be more than happy to share my experience with them!

I wish you all the best moving forward my friend.

Steve Jackson

Dear Mike,

I hired East Coast Contractors to do a complete renovation of my master bathroom. They did a fabulous job!! It looked like something out of a magazine. I was so happy and satisfied with the job ECC did on the bathroom, that I engaged them to do a complete renovation of my kitchen. Once again, not only were my expectations met; they were exceeded. On both projects, Mr. Ablin was involved on a daily basis. No detail was left out.  Nothing was ignored. He always made himself available to answer any questions or address any concerns I might have had. He was always willing to go the extra mile. Being new to the Tucson area, he took time out of his Saturday to bring me to Benjamin Supply and helped me pick out my gorgeous vessel sinks. His clients are very important to him and it shows. I implemented so many of his ideas and am so happy with the results. He suggested a custom wine rack. It looks beautiful. Again, like something out of a magazine.

I was completely impressed and amazed how neat and organized the renovation areas were kept at all times throughout the renovations. Everyone associated with ECC was courteous and professional. All workers were prompt and beyond capable.

The work was done within the budget guidelines I had set and, although these were both major renovation projects, the work was done well within a reasonable time frame.

I am completely happy with Mike Ablin and East Coast Contractors.  Their beautiful work speaks for itself. I also had them do lighting and a sound system for my backyard. I wouldn't hesitate to hire them for any future projects.

I have -- and will continue to -- recommend East Coast Contractors to anyone who is looking for quality work at a fair and reasonable price.

Theresa D'Alessandro

Hello Mike,

I wanted to let you know that I finished the epoxy floor and we had Red do the concrete apron and this weekend began moving the boat and RV and other stuff into the new garage.  The project turned out awesomely and we are really happy with it.  I still owe you a proper letter of recommendation, but wanted to let you know we really appreciated your professional approach to the project and taking care of all the little details that make the difference between an OK job and really good one.  Thanks to you and Gary and all the ECC team for making the project a reality.

Dave Baker

We have had several jobs, large and small, done by ECC and have been extremely happy with their work and work ethic. The number one, most important thing to me has been that I can call anytime, during a job or after completion, and Rick will address any questions or concerns. They stand behind their subcontractors and I don’t have to chase anyone down.  If they say they will be there, they will be. I know the job will be done properly and this takes a lot of the stress of a renovation away. The job site is always kept as clean as possible and I’ve never had to worry about clean up because they do it before they leave. Everyone is always nice and courteous. I never have to worry about my kids hearing things they shouldn’t, which has been a problem in previous home renovations. We have a long way to go before our current house is done and as long as they are agreeable, ECC will be taking care of everything!

Shane and Jennifer Burgess

Dear Mike and Rick with East Coast Contractors,

I cannot thank you both enough for the amazing job you and your company did for us!  You went above and beyond the call of duty to make us happy.  I really do appreciate you installing the chandeliers and hall lighting in such a short amount of time, everything looked fabulous for the baby shower I was throwing!  Everything was handled in such a professional manner!  I really am looking forward to working with you all again on future projects.

Erica Rauch

Our home was completed in 1989. It is adobe brick with functional wooden vigas, lintels, beams, corbels and more, all hand hewn.

Over the years we recognized some degradation of the outside exposed wood, thought mainly due to sun and rain. We kept patching and repainting with more durable paints. This all seemed fine until some exterior wood features began to fall off the house. Upon closer inspections, it was found nearly every viga, lintel, beam & corbel was devastated not only by rain and sun but termites. The damage was so severe, the wood could be chipped off or penetrated with a finger.

Earlier repair attempts were made by local adobe specialists, recommended by many neighbors in similar situations. Those repairs were more cosmetic than structural and failed within a year.

The construction could not be easily duplicated--let alone the task of disassembling the home to replace the damaged wood and returning the home to its previous state.

East Coast Contractors was recommended by a family member whose experience was very positive.  Upon East Coast’s arrival, every type of inspection was made, not only to give them a feel for the project but more importantly to advise me of my options. The first step was to expose and analyse the damage. I found I agreed with their assessments on all aspects and felt comfortable to proceed.

The issue of the hand-hewn wood was one of the most important. Any replacements had to match the originals. East Coast was cooperative and meticulous in their efforts to provide sample after sample until we were satisfied. This was no easy task. The entire house depended on this visual.

East Coast did a fantastic job. I cannot imagine a better experience. Every aspect, every employee was precise and professional. I couldn’t be more pleased with their work and sometimes amazed by their solutions to the problems they encountered. It’s also hard to imagine in a project of this magnitude of house. Neat, clean and organized it stayed at all times, never interfering with our daily life.

In my mind, there is no other construction company than East Coast who could have done this project and exceeded my expectations. It was an incredibly good experience.

Mark A. Fraze

To Whom It May Concern:

It is our pleasure to recommend East Coast Contractors (ROC License #226100), as provided by Michael Ablin and Richard Lindsay. They recently managed and executed a significant home renovation for our home in Skyline Country Club Estates. The project included general contractor duties including coordinating with the H.O.A., our interior decorator, ordering of all necessary materials, and comprehensive project management.

It was important for us to find a contractor with superior craftsmanship and with a total commitment to client service. We found all of these attributes in East Coast Contractors. Their attention to detail at the bid-phase, in particular, was a meaningful investment and paid off as the project unfolded.  Throughout the process, their dedication to the project insured that the renovations were completed on time, within budget and to the standard of execution expected. A critical element to the completion of our project was the quality of the sub-contractors East Coast Contractors selects. They have equally high expectations of the quality of their work, including respect for our home and property.

Our project ultimately encountered several unanticipated issues requiring East Coast’s immediate attention. We found the ability to communicate and strategize with Michael and Richard critical to the resolution process. In this sense, we found the interaction to be truly collaborative and highly beneficial. They took care of elements that were neither on our radar nor on the formal project plan. This level of professionalism paved the way to the success of the end product. It is rare to find this caliber of execution at a time when quality craftsmanship is increasingly rare. East Coast clearly prides itself on a strong work ethic and it is evident in the final renovation.

Since the conclusion of our project, we have worked with them exclusively on other projects and enthusiastically refer them to family and friends. We are happy to discuss our experience personally.

Grand and Michelle Senner

Dear Rick,

When I first heard that your Company Motto was “Building it right the first time”, I wasn’t certain if that was simply a nice marketing phrase or if you really meant it. After having worked with you now over the past six months, I absolutely know that those words are reality.

The remodeling project that you undertook for us has turned out considerably better than we had ever anticipated. As you know, there were many surprises that were encountered when walls were opened up and things turned out to be a bit more involved than we expected. Throughout the entire project, your understanding of the various issues that arose during construction was extraordinary. The extra communication was especially helpful, since we were not on site for most of the construction.

Additionally, the quality of your employees, as well as the quality of your sub-contractors was of the highest caliber. They were careful, thorough and detail-oriented, as well as considerate in terms of how they did their jobs. We were most impressed that the job site was cleaned at the end of every work day.

Your specific knowledge of the various construction issues and your ability to arrive at workable solutions to problems and come up with viable alternatives was most impressive. Your attention to the smallest details was reassuring, and it gave us confidence during construction that the project would be completed in a highly competent manner!

We look forward to working with you again in the future,

 

Scott & Beth Keeve

In March, 2008, we needed to have repairs made to our Santa Fe style house:

• Stucco
• Roof Water Leak
• Painting Exterior House and Walls

We contacted East Coast Contractors, explained our needs, time requirements, and our physical limitations in dealing with various sub-contractors, especially in evaluating their completed work.

Rick Lindsay and Mike Albin reviewed our needs, and evaluated the work required. They invited several sub-contractors to evaluate the job requirements on site and the bind on the job. Rick submitted a work schedule for each sub-contractor, explaining what work was required and how it would be completed.  Rick would be responsible for all dealings with the sub-contractors and insuring that the quality of their work was completed as contracted for.

The project started on schedule and finished on schedule. Rick met with each sub-contractor each morning to review the work to be performed that day, which included resolving any issues from the prior day. Rick assisted with required prep work and assisted in resolving any issues as they were brought to his attention during the day. During the painting phase, we experienced very strong afternoon winds which interfered with the sprayers. Rick rescheduled the painters to schedule their days starting at 6:00 am in order to keep the work on schedule. Each sub-contractor policed their work areas each day before leaving, and Rick, before leaving for the day, met with us to review the project progress and status.

We are completely satisfied with the results of the work performed on our home and would not hesitate to use East Coast Contractors again.

 

Henry and Audrey Serry

Thanks again for the terrific job that you and your company did to solve a serious outdoor drainage problem that Mary and I had at our home.

You were recommended to us by neighbors who had the highest praise for your work… we now know why!

The job was completed in a timely, professional and fairly-priced manner. I was very impressed with you and your entire crew’s attention to detail through the entire process.

The next time we need a general contractor you will be our first, second and third phone call.

Please feel free to use our name as a satisfied customer of East Coast Contractors.

Bring on the monsoon!

 

John A. Marks

I received your letter regarding East Coast Contractors and want to give them my best recommendation. They have exceptional ethics and are very concerned with providing the best possible experience to their clients.

I have been a high-end residential interior designer for many years and have worked with a significant number of contractors over those years. I do a high level of design work and have been given the 2013 Master of the Southwest award by Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine. Before I recommend any contractor to a client I use them for work on my own home so that I can observe their way of doing business and the quality of their work.

My husband and I had a flood from a burst water line in the concrete foundation of our home which was constructed many years ago with unstabilized mud adobe. The area of the flood was right next to an exterior supporting mud wall, so its integrity could well have been compromised; water is, of course, the great enemy of mud adobe. I called East Coast for help. Mike and Rick were extremely through in testing for any possibility of water damage inside the mud wall as well as a contiguous frame/stucco wall. The flood required extensive repairs inside and outside as well as running a new water line to the connection point in the house which was quite complicated. And all of the finish work had to be done to perfectly match the hand plastered interior walls with custom glazing as well as replacement cabinets and tile work that had to look like it belonged to the old original architecture. The work that they did was very high quality, their communication was exceptional, and the problems that popped up during the course of the work were handled professionally and in a timely manner. We are completely happy with the work they did for us. East Coast Contractors genuinely cares about their clients and I could not recommend them more highly.

Linda Robinson

The purpose of this letter is to provide a very strong recommendation for East Coast Contractors. My wife and I engaged them to construct a combination casita/astronomical observatory adjacent to our house in Vail. This project was extremely complex; it included not only architectural considerations to match our existing structure but also the technical and special details relating to the placement and operations of a large telescope and the building to house it.

Our project was a 500 square foot quest house (casita) with one of the interior rooms to be outfitted as an observatory. This room required special isolation foundations for the telescope, separate insulation was custom made by a company in Chicago which specializes in such equipment, but the design and construction of the building had to meet unusual demands to accommodate this roof unit.

The project began with the selection of the location for the building. In addition to the usual aesthetic, code, and HOA rule considerations, there were additional factors such as alignment relative to the celestial North Pole and line of sight clearance for the telescope. While not trained specifically in the technology required for an observatory, both Mike Ablin and Rick Lindsay quickly learned the critical details and then in a number of visits determined the best location given all factors. My wife and I were very pleased with the aesthetics and practicality of the location and indeed our building has turned out to be extremely attractive. We believe the care taken prior to any construction regarding location and the various legal and code factors was a key to the overall project success.

The actual construction proceeded very smoothly under the direction of Mark Fatovich of East Coast Contractors. He is a true professional and his care and workmanship is evident in the building. Our existing home contains specific architectural features we wanted to duplicate such as stained, grooved, and grouted concrete floors, granite and tile detail in the bathroom, and large wood posts and beams with complex decorative detail. All of this was accomplished with great success. We can honestly say the overall construction greatly exceeded our expectations as to quality, craftsmanship, and timing.  Several visitors have already remarked they could not tell the building was not part of the original house construction.

Any project of our complexity and scale encounters the occasional delay or need to rework some detail of the construction. These incidents were minor in terms of the overall scope and in all cases were successfully resolved without any questions or negative discussions.

Even the installation of the sliding roof unit went better than planned. It was a very cold, windy day and despite this a crew from East Coast Contractors was up on the roof all day assembling and installing this large, complex roof unit. Everything fit as planned and worked perfectly.

Overall communication during the work was excellent.  Mike and Rick are honest, straightforward and deliver on what they say they will.  I have no reservations in recommending their work and would be happy to discuss this in detail with anyone considering contracting with them.

 

Robert Rieger

My husband Tom and I want to express our utmost satisfaction with Mike Ablin and his team at East Coast Contractors. Mike came into our lives at an emotional time. My mother had died and we had made the decision to keep the family home. We contacted several companies about the project and East Coast Contractors stood out immediately because of their quick response time, their honesty about costs, and perhaps most importantly for me, a sensitivity about the project.

Mike and his team are great communicators. We live in the Bay Area and have been working on this project long distance. Mike has been excellent at keeping us in the loop, via phone calls and emails.  Our project really changed in scope over time and Mike was very upfront about the changes in budget etc., and worked hard to save us money as well. He was always available to meet with us at our convenience when we came to town (always on a weekend). Our home was always clean we when arrived and I for one appreciate the bottle of wine always left on the counter.

Mike also put us in touch with an excellent landscaper who created a beautiful low maintenance yard for us.  He made himself available to receive furniture, audio equipment, and even picked up an outdoor table for us on his own time. We had to have an estate sale and again Mike was there making sure our house was secure.

Mike is the only contractor we have ever come across who does not ask for money before work is completed. East Coast Contractors came up with a fair payment schedule based on the stages of the project.  How many contractors does one come across who turns down a payment, telling you that, “the work is not yet completed on stage 2 etc.”?

The project overall on the house evolved from something quite basic to a more upscale job. We know it must have been a challenge for Mike and his firm to work with a client who was out of state. We trusted him to make a number of decisions about the house on his own. As of our last visit a few weeks ago, we are happy to say that choices we’ve made about the house both individually and jointly have been excellent.

We have never been willing to recommend any contractor we’ve used in the past and between numerous moves and some very old houses we’ve used plenty. Mike and his team are consummate professionals. We would recommend them to anyone contemplating a re-model without reservation and with much enthusiasm. He was a true partner in our project.

Dana and Tom