I found this architect on website @ https://architectsban.webs.com/. And called the number 9886946588 to reach one Vinay Reddy,
The first discussion he envisaged pandora for me and told me he will do it all
Including working with the contractor I had identified and complete our dream home within our time-bound schedule.
Since, we were leasing a house (the lease was nearing completion) and were on tight schedule to complete the construction of this house
He asked for upfront 20, 000 rupees as down payment and complete package for 55, 000 (produced no receipt - even on repeat request) and failed to send the contract as well - which was promised to be sent the same day.
When I insisted that I want to see the contract - he gave some rubbish stating that he needs head office approval and lies like that, and kept me hanging to it for nearly 2 weeks.
After nearly 2 weeks, there was plan shared neither contract in my hand - I began to grew suspicious and called him - he stopped answering my calls and each time he would say he is busy at client visit etc and would call back (NEVER has he called back)
One fine evening after repeat calls, he shared plans of other clients – since he had not worked on my plan as per details shared (nearly about 4 or 5) none of which meet my requirements and when I again called him on that – he would say he needs more time
Finally after another week in waiting, I surprised him and reached his office after calling him – even though he mentioned he was away on phone, guess what he was very much in his dubious office
We had a long chat and I asked him for refund, since he is unable to cater to my needs and has not shared the plan for my needs
He agreed for refund after deducting money (nearly 3-4k) for sending plans of other clients – this shocked me and I was bit taken back, after much discussion (about 3 hrs) he convinced me to continue with him as the architect on condition that he would not traumatize me and make me run around him to get the work done (Foolish of me to fall for it again – I know, but my challenge was I needed the plan quickly and dealing with another architect meant more delay, which I could not afford)
Again, after couple of days he sent some plan that did not match my specifications given to him, again after some discussions for 3 more days he sent some other plan again completely out of line
Shared a contract by email and left out many details – I corrected them all and asked for changes to the contract (as per details I found on another website https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxhcmp1bndlYndvcmxkfGd4OjViYTZlOTJiZTcxMDk2NjA)
This time I reached his office again after much discussions and time wasted and met one Mr Sankar (which later on I discovered is the subcontractor who worked for Vinay) since, Vinay himself is not an architect, He simply gets clients and gives it to other architects such as Sankar to get the job done
Anyhow, this Sankar was a fantastic person who understood right away what exactly I wanted and assured to get it done and showed me much needed confidence which I had completely lost after dealing with Vinay,
After this discussion with Sankar, this time I wised up and mailed him a very detailed specification list of my requirements, including room positions and sizes that I am expecting, with some photographs of some houses and interiors I was expecting, bingo! This worked and he sent something closer to my requirements (about 90% there about)
I had replied to him and asked him for changes on the same, to which he outright refused and said he cannot change them, and tried to punt me by including some architectural jargon (much to my dismay I had to live with what I was given, due to shortage of time)
Now comes the time for the column marking layout and foundation related drawings which he was to share for the markings, again after chasing him continuously, he got the drawings from somebody else and without checking shared the center line drawings,
When I asked him for the plinth and column related details, he told him I have to get soil analysis done and only after checking the results he will design the column and plinth related details, I was frustrated to the point and told him that he is delaying things and I do not want the drawings if he will take so much time, since soil analysis etc means losing another day or two (and the area soil is good – my neighbors have it checked and finished construction already)
Immediately after I mentioned that I am proceeding with the work with my contractor and I have no intentions of waiting for the drawings from him, he sent across the mail in couple of minutes, so all along he kept lying to me that he wants to wait for soil analysis and then send the drawings, in fact he had them handy all along and would not have changed a darn thing after the soil analysis. (Bunch of lies)
Then I had to print the files myself from the soft copy shared – I asked him for print out and he refused saying he cannot do it, even when I mentioned I am willing to pay for the printout charges, he did not accommodate
For the center line markings the contractor completed and mentioned about the column size being 8 inch as opposed to standard 6 inch for the plot of that size, and also mentioned about couple of things he wanted to clarify including the position of the sump and other things which seemed not clear to him
Vinay refused to meet the contractor, even though I offered to get him to his office (which later I discovered since, he does not know what to discuss with the contractor – he knows nothing about it!) when I asked him to visit the site and check the markings before proceeding with excavation, he mentioned that he is away for two days and will visit after two days (so work stalled for two full days)
So this time I was almost certain that he was lying about being away – I called the office number (080 - 2571 5044) and somebody else answered and mentioned he is very much in station and had just stepped out for something
I was very frustrated with the numerous delays and discussed with Vinay that I wanted to continue work directly with Shankar, he agreed and the reminder of the drawings were to be provided by Shankar,
That said, Seekan architects banner - has many people working for it and the proprietor is this Vinay Reddy and jalihal associates etc.
KEEP AWAY FROM THEM!