WASHINGTON — Before Jackie Hart hired a contractor to build an additional 4.5 feet onto her Northwest house, she formulated a short list of criteria.
"I was looking for someone who had done the work for other people. I was looking for someone who was credible and who had done the work,” explained Hart.
After vetting four candidates and checking references, Hart landed on CAT Consulting Service, LLC. The company is owned by Chris A. Toussaint.
The two signed a contract in 2015 for nearly $175,000.
The 4-foot addition to the back of her house would expand the basement and allow Hart, 78, to rent out a studio apartment to supplement her income.
“I thought I had done enough research. I thought I had check off all of my boxes,” she said.
Hart told WUSA9 it took the contractor, Toussaint, two years to complete construction. At the time, a D.C. government agency approved the paperwork of a third-party inspector for the complete project.
But nearly a year after Toussaint finished the addition, a next-door neighbor alerted Hart of something concerning.
“Jackie, have you noticed this crack here?” the neighbor said.
There were cracks running down each side of the outer walls of the addition.
An engineers report showed, "There was no schedule of reinforcement of any of the footing. It does not appear that the wall had been keyed in as requested on the plans."
Simply put, the new addition was not properly connected to the existing structure. In May of 2023, the D.C. Department of Buildings (DOB) approved a permit for Toussaint to perform the necessary "alteration" and "repair" to secure it to the original house.
"My fear is Lord, please don't let this house fall in the alley," said Hart.
The DOB approved permit to repair the cracks expires May 12.
"I acknowledge the fact there are some repairs that need to be made,” Toussaint said in a phone interview with WUSA9. “It's outside the warranty but as a courtesy, I would do it but I just don't have the funds to incur that cost right now."
WUSA9 also reached out to DOB on Ms. Hart's behalf. A spokesperson for the agency told WUSA9, "The D.C. Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection is exploring all possible avenues to assist her in this manner."
In the meantime, until the contractor, Toussaint, comes up with the money to make the repairs, Hart is left to live with the anxiety that her home is cracking away from its foundation.
For consumers, The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia recommends homeowners verify the license of a contractor before signing any agreement or exchanging money.
"Home improvement businesses operating in the District are required to be bonded and insured as a condition of obtaining a license," an article from DC's OAG office states.
The AG's office also recommends looking at online reviews, get a list of recommendations, verify permits, and select a suitable construction inspections professional.