John Torres, Hawk Tower Builders, Con Artist

John Torres, Hawk Tower Builders, Con Artist

Investor · Cibolo, TX · Member since 2016 · 2 posts · 1 vote
If you are a real estate investor in San Antonio, beware of a con-artist named John Torres, with a sham of a company called Hawk Tower Builders. I hired this guy to do a rehab for me in September of last year. He said the rehab would take two months, but at the the one month mark, he wasn't even half done. When I confronted him about it, he projected another two weeks. Of course that was a lie. His crews worked on my house sparingly at best. There weeks that went by without any work being done. He always had some excuse. His billing practices are unprofessional at best, but very likely fraudulent. I put a down payment on some materials and work, which were never delivered. He tried to defraud me out of $7,800 for pluming that had been budgeted for $1,800. When I questioned this is when the facade completely unraveled. He showed up a week later, after failing to answer many phone calls and basically quit my job. This was one whole month after he was supposed to be done. I sent him a bill for services and materials not rendered, and we agreed on a figure plus materials. He also ruined the foundation with his unpermitted plumbers chipping it up to lay some pipe. This was in January. Later that month the materials were supposedly stolen so the value had to added to the agreed upon cash payment. In February he agreed to pay me $2,500 a month until the debt was paid, starting March 31st. Of course he didn't pay and won't answer his phone. I guess I'll just see him in court.
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  • Investor · Kyle, TX · Member since 2015 · 113 posts · 102 votes
    10y

    Wow, that's terrible. Is this projected now completed?

  • Wholesaler, Rehabber and Landlord · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    10y

    Unfortunately that is the downside to using contractors. If they do not come recommended from others in the business, they may not be as good as they make themselves out to be.

    Network with other investors and get recommendations. At the Alamo Investors Assn., subgroup: Flip- Group we traded names of all kinds of contractors. It might be worth the $150 per year for you.

  • Contractor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2015 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    First is first, why did you pay him for things not done? A few questions about your practices also: why did you not embed on your contract that if he does not show up 2 days out of any given 7 days, the contract is cancelled? why did you not put a penalty clause on the contract? why did you wait 3 weeks without work? why did you give too much money for materials, or why didn't you accompany the contractor when buying materials? Why would you file a long term court process when you can simply go after contractor bonds (if applicable)?

  • Investor · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2013 · 88 posts · 44 votes
    10y

    it's regretable that you used this guy.  I had similar experience with him on rehab.    At least you cut your losses before it got even worse.  

  • San Antonio, TX · Member since 2016 · 1 post · 0 votes
    10y

    We used him on a project that started in October and he just filed bankruptcy taking all the money and doing only 5% of the work. He convinced the bank to Give him 50% of the rehab project money up front. The company is under his wife's name Heather and his house is under a possible relative. He is shady and criminal. He should be in jail.

  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    10y

    @Stan Edwards  don't know these people.. but I have done a few deals in Texas and gotten the contractor burn as well. that is one tough place to do business when no one needs a license or bond.  I won't do anything in that state anymore.

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