Lotus Building Group

My experience was negative from start to finish and seemingly matches the pattern I've now seen reported by many others.

The worksite was consistently disorganized, unclean, and unsafe. They failed to protect marble countertops, existing stone flooring, and even used an antique table from a Memphis hotel as a storage surface.

The result was scratched and damaged furniture, countertops, and floors that could have been easily avoided with basic care.

Basic tasks were left incomplete for months at a time. Entire weeks went by with no one showing up to work. From June through March, little to no meaningful work was completed. We planned to fire them in March because they continually dragged their feet while promising progress that never came.

During this period, multiple other contractors and builders visited the property and all independently commented that they had never seen such a disorganized worksite. Tools were scattered everywhere, dust and debris were left unmanaged, nothing was covered or protected, and timelines showed complete incompetence. Some work was left half-finished while new work was started, creating unnecessary rework costs and delays. We were given no updates, and walkthroughs were almost never scheduled unless we asked for them.

There was little to no effort to keep multiple trades working simultaneously to move the project forward. Tasks were often redone multiple times due to poor planning and oversight.

Their "project manager" shared no meaningful updates, no explanations for delays, and no transparency. Promises that the project was on schedule were empty. Without our persistent calls and texts, the project would have continued to sit at the bottom of their priority list.

We finalized the budget and all major design decisions in November alongside our interior designer, who has confirmed this.

Despite that, the builder unilaterally changed the scope. When we asked why the budget had increased by $100,000, he sent a text admitting the scope had been changed, something we never approved. We never signed a single change order. After that, the budget kept climbing, increasing by approximately another $400,000 without a single call, text, or email notifying us.

There was never a moment where he said, Just so you know, the budget is increasing by $500,000. Who does that to a client? What kind of builder blindsides their customer like that?

Cabinets were delivered with major defects, some undersized to the point that internal shelving was exposed. Paint on cabinets began chipping within a week of handover.

The house was left with multiple water leaks, unresolved HVAC issues, electrical problems, and plumbing defects, far too many to list here.

This was a renovation of a 4,000-square-foot home that dragged on for 12 months and remains unfinished. I saw no organization, no accountability, and no quality control, but they were quick to overbill, misrepresent, and blame the customer for their own failures.

In my opinion, they are spread far too thin, taking on more work than they can handle without the team, structure, or organization to properly complete projects. Other contractors have even told us they are frequently asked to step in and help clean up or finish these projects because they are often late, behind schedule, or left in poor condition.

It is clear this company is not just careless.

They use predatory tactics to extract more money while delivering substandard, unsafe, and incomplete work. The stress, damage, and financial loss they caused me, both personally and professionally, cannot be overstated.

This was by far the worst experience I have ever had with a contractor. Hiring Lotus Building Group for a major renovation turned into a nightmare of unauthorized billing, structural failures, and gross mismanagement that left behind severe property damage and massive, unexpected costs.
Budget & Billing The budget and designs were fully finalized in November, confirmed in writing multiple times.

For months, there were no change orders. Then, in the final 30 days of the project, Lotus suddenly increased the cost by more than $500,000 without a single meeting, note, text, email, or signed approval. Their billing records are riddled with irregularities, including time entries for days when no one was on site, and labor for trim and punch work billed as in-house even though it was subcontracted. We have extensive documentation confirming these discrepancies.
Negligence & Failures Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems were mishandled from the start.

A foundation plumbing failure and multiple leaks caused extensive water damage. The DADU HVAC system leaked, and the main system for the 2nd and 3rd floors was undersized and incapable of cooling the space. We were told the property had U&O approval, but inspection records show otherwise. Structural and finish problems include uneven tile with sloppy grout, a broken sewer line, cabinets that dont fit appliances, peeling finishes, and permanent damage to marble and stone surfaces because basic protection was ignored.
Management & Communication The project manager repeatedly ignored directions, forcing costly rework.

His management of crews was disorganized, careless, and incompetent. The owner contradicted his own statements and dismissed documented concerns at every turn, making the process combative instead of collaborative. By March, the situation was so bad we attempted to fire Lotus, and that decision is fully documented through emails and texts. A final walkthrough never even happened because they canceled their own contract, abandoning the project unfinished and riddled with problems.
Summary
We have an overwhelming amount of documentation emails, texts, invoices, photos, videos, and third-party reports that confirm how this project was handled.

Lotus Building Group left us with incomplete work, inflated bills, and significant property damage. What we experienced was not an isolated mistake, but a consistent pattern of negligence, disorganization, and disregard for accountability. I would strongly caution anyone to avoid this company.
Here are some examples of how this builder lies to and gaslights its customers. This was by far the worst experience I have ever had with a contractor.

Hiring Lotus Building Group for a major renovation turned into a nightmare of unauthorized billing, structural failures, and gross mismanagement that left behind severe property damage and massive, unexpected costs.
Lotus Building Group:
Before addressing the concerns raised in your review, I must first address the $430,000 outstanding balance you owe Lotus Building Group for work we completed without the benefit of a final walkthrough or the opportunity to create a detailed punch list with you. Despite multiple documented outreach attempts via text, email, and phone, you did not respond to requests to meet onsite and review the project.
My Response:
In our opinion, we do not owe $430,000 on this project. Between the unfinished work, timesheet irregularities, property damage from negligence, and much more, we do not owe this amount. The owners never reached out to schedule a final walkthrough.

We have full documentation of text messages, emails, and phone calls not once did they reach out for a final walkthrough. In fact, they never reached out to do any walkthroughs without us emailing them to try to schedule one.
Lotus Building Group:
The work had already been delayed for weeks due to your inability to finalize designs, yet you later required completion within six weeks to meet the opening date for your short-term rental, SeekStays. My office also made repeated, documented attempts to collect payment, none of which you have acknowledged to this day.
Response:
Another lie by the builder. We have confirmation from our interior designer that all major design selections and the scope for the project were finalized in November 2024.

I had not been holding up any aspect of the project. The builder literally would not show up for weeks until I threatened to fire them. I did not require completion within 6 weeks. I told the owner I needed this completed ASAP when the project started in June 2024.

I asked multiple times if things were on target to finish in December 2024.
They initially started the project and essentially forced me to use their interior designer. That designer quit 2 months into the project for no reason after literally doing no work. I then brought in my own interior designer who finished all designs and scope for the project by November 2024.
We are not going to pay for:Work that was not finishedFixtures that were not installedNegligence on plumbing, electrical, and HVACFabricated timesheetsIncredibly poor craftsmanship on tile and cabinets
Lotus Building Group:
During construction, our crews encountered multiple guests who had paid you a substantial amount for reservations, only to arrive and find the property under construction without a Certificate of Occupancy and without furnishings. Many of these guests contacted Lotus directly, seeking assistance in reaching you after their own attempts went unanswered, leaving them without accommodations for important events they had planned to celebrate at your property.
Response:
Thank you for admitting that you continuously lied about when the project would be finished.

We were initially told the project would be finished by December/January and then for sure in March, then April, then May, and finally June.
I understand delays, but there was never any effort to meet deadlines. When I brought up a deadline, the owner gaslit me and said I never said I needed the project done at a specific time. We have emails and texts confirming otherwise.
Lotus Building Group:
This project began in summer 2024 but did not receive final approved designs from you until February 2025, during which you paid $796,000 for completed work none of which was questioned by you, any inspector, or any professional on the basis of structural failure or poor craftsmanship. You raised no concerns regarding billing.

As you know, Lotus operates with full transparency through our construction management software, BuilderTrend, which provides clients with real-time access to budgets, invoices (with detailed line items), and receipts, as well as daily photo logs documenting progress.
Response:
Another lie. Final approved designs were finalized in November 2024 by the interior designer. We have confirmed this with the designer, who will back us up on this claim.
As of February 2025, the total amount paid was not $796,000. The builder seems confused that figure was close to the agreed final budget.

Yes, the builder uses BuilderTrend, and I emailed them in November, December, January, and February quadruple-confirming that the budget was finalized. I even had to remind them of line items they didnt include.
Multiple times I asked: Please make sure to account for X, I need a finalized budget. I did not question the budget because we had an agreement. ONCE the builder started raising the budget out of nowhere in May, a month before completion, I sent a text asking what was going on and why the budget was going up when everything was finalized months before.
Lotus Building Group:
Additionally, this property has been listed on the short-term rental market since June 1, without affording Lotus the opportunity to conduct a thorough final walkthrough.

This review, posted more than two and a half months later, fails to account for the condition of the property during that time.
Response:
All issues and photos were taken in early June. We have multiple third-party repair crews, mitigation teams, and contractors with detailed receipts confirming multiple leaks and negligence from the builder.
The builder canceled their contract how could we schedule a walkthrough? They also failed a gas mechanical inspection and didnt notify us, then canceled their contract a few days later.
Lotus Building Group:
While repeated delays occurred awaiting your design approvals, in April under your urgent request to meet your opening deadline we mobilized multiple teams to execute final design applications, including cabinetry, per your documented specifications and approvals. The cabinet height, width, depth, materials, and finish were completed exactly as approved, as pictured.
Response:
Nothing changed about the scope of the project, yet the cost almost doubled.

This seems predatory. I dont understand what the builder means by waiting on design approvals. We finalized designs in November 2024. There is not a single email or text from them asking me for design decisions.
Lotus Building Group:
The additional photos you have posted were taken by you during construction, prior to completion, and without any prior communication to us about alleged issues.

It is clear this review is an attempt to discredit our work and reputation, while avoiding payment of not only the $430,000 you owe Lotus, but also your bank loan and to other vendors and suppliers you engaged for this project.
Response:
The photos I posted were not taken during construction they were taken in June after you claimed the project was finished.
This review is not an attempt to discredit your work; it is an accurate representation of my experience. The claim that we are avoiding payment to our bank and vendors is a false and disturbing accusation. Every vendor involved in this project has been paid except Lotus.
Lotus caused significant damage to our property through negligence and predatory billing practices after finalizing a budget, then arbitrarily raising it by $500,000. The owner admitted in text message that the scope changed, even though no change order was ever signed.
I am overall quite concerned with the owners ability to understand any aspect of this project.

Based on these statements, Im not sure if he was even involved at all.

It feels like he cannot accept an ounce of responsibility. If this is someone you want to work with, just know Lotus is not a company of its word you will be gaslit and lied to.