LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION
for: John Draghici, of American Restoration Service

by: Arnold Labatete (homeowner)
Chicago, IL 60640
Tel.: 773-431- 7126

November 07, 2017
To whom it may concern:

It is my pleasure to write this unsolicited letter of recommendation on behalf of John Draghici
of American Restoration Service. John was the general contractor for an insurance claim project
on the interior of my house in the winter of 2017. I had no prior relationship with John, who was
part of a list of licensed contractors I had researched. The scope of the insurance claim project
involved gutting and renovating a three level house built in 1899. The project took 8 weeks and
involved multiple work crews (carpenters, Plumbing, drywall, and painters) plus electrician at a
budget of just over $149,000.
While major remodeling is inherently stressful for almost any homeowner, John’s services as a
general contractor was invaluable, and I am extremely pleased with the final result. Specifically,
I would give John top marks in the following areas:
1. Quality of work performed. The quality of work done was consistently top notch. John
used subcontractors who were knowledgeable, skilled, and competent in their respective
trades. They were conscientious about following project specifications, and their work
product rarely needed improvement or revision.
2. Quality of work crews. The workmen whom John utilized were professional, reliable,
courteous, and respectful of the homeowner’s property and privacy. They had an old school
work ethic, good work habits, strong safety orientation, and emphasized getting the job done
right rather than doing it fast.
Their pride in their work was evident. They tidied up at the end of each workday. I also
found them to be trustworthy, and my wife and I felt comfortable with allowing them access
inside our home.
3. Project management and coordination. John’s prior experience working in construction
really paid off. He was knowledgeable about all aspects of our project, and was able to plan,
coordinate and manage the activities of different work crews effectively. He remained
closely involved in overseeing the project from start to finish. His excellent attention to
detail, strong organizational skills and commitment to follow-through are assets which
enabled him to juggle the extensive details involved in our project without missing a beat.
John’s familiarity with building codes and dealing with city hall also facilitated a smooth and
hassle-free process when it came to building permits and inspection.
4. Integrity and professionalism. Throughout the project, I was impressed with John’s
commitment to generating a top-quality product, rather than maximizing his profit margin.
When situations arose where extra work needed to be done (because of hidden problems that
were not apparent until work on the house had commenced), John (if it was relatively
minor) took care of it without charging me extra. In another situation in which I was not satisfied
with the aesthetics of paint color, John agreed with me and had the paint color changed- without
passing the expense on to me.

5. Effective communication. John kept me closely informed of delivery dates and projected
completion dates of different phases of our project. His communication by cell phone or text was
always clear, informative, and helpful. He was either available on his cell phone, or returned my
phone call within 2-3 hours. We never had a single miscommunication throughout the 2-month
project. His communication with the work crews was just as effective.
6. Responsiveness to homeowner’s needs and concerns. John’s commitment to homeowner
satisfaction was evident in his actions. On the few occasions when I brought a request or
concern to his attention (e.g., when I wanted a rail leading to the basement), he listened
attentively, and always took appropriate action that demonstrated responsiveness to my needs
or concerns.
8. Truth in advertising. In his proposal, John gave a clear breakdown of costs for each facet of
the project. His contract was just as detailed in describing the work to be done and the
itemized costs. Same with the change orders. When the project was completed, all the work
was done as described and agreed upon, and there were no hidden costs, extra expenses or
unpleasant surprises. As a homeowner and customer, I felt John delivered exactly what he
had promised, at the agreed upon price.
9. Value. I had solicited three bids for my insurance claim project. Although John’s bid was not
the lowest, I am absolutely convinced that he delivered the best value (in terms of the work
done) for the price.
10. Sensitivity to worksite appearance and neighbor relations. Our project required a huge
dumpster and there was very limited parking. John’s placement of the dumpster and
construction materials was based not solely on function and convenience, but showed a
consideration for the aesthetics of the worksite. The work crew parked their vehicles in ways
that were minimally disruptive to the neighborhood traffic, and their conduct never caused any
discomfort to our neighbors. In the two months
during this project, there was not one single neighbor complaint! Instead, three different
neighbors passed on compliments about the work crews (e.g., “those guys really work hard”).
In closing, I am very pleased with the final product which John was instrumental in delivering,
and I am extremely impressed with his work as a general contractor. In a world where shoddy
workmanship and poor service are unfortunately all too common, John is indeed a rare find. I
have been a homeowner for over 13 years, and I took this unprecedented step of writing an
unsolicited letter of recommendation for John because I believe that exceptional work should be
recognized. I would not hesitate to hire John again, or to recommend him to my friends and
neighbors. I recommend John to you most enthusiastically, and without any reservations.
If you have any questions about my experience with John, please feel free to call me at 773-
431-
7126.
Arnold Labatete
A very satisfied homeowner

Evangelina Toney
1540 North Lavergne
Chicago, Illinois 60651
773-564- 0694

November 9, 2017

Dear Reader:
I am writing this letter in reference to the outstanding job Mr. Ioan Draghaci and American Restoration
Services completed on my home. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Draghaci during a very tragic time in
our life where our home was burned down. I met with several contractors who were in business for
many years and some who had been in business only a short period of time. I must say I never imagined
the type of uncaring and unprofessional people you meet during this time. However, this was not the
case with Mr. Draghaci and ARS. Mr. Draghaci was very professional, and knowledgeable of the
information and questions I had regarding the process to rebuild our home.
American Restoration Services in the leadership of Mr. Draghaci amazed me by the work they
completed to our home. I was informed by my insurance company that the funds available to repair our
home were under the actual needed amount to complete the repairs. There was much work to be done
with a budget that was very limited. The insurance claim involved various tasks to be completed interior
and exterior work this would include plumbing, electrical, structural, etc. In the beginning I was very
nervous because I’ve heard horror stories about contractors. I heard how they would screw you over
and leave your home with many cover-ups. Cover-ups meaning that I would be left to complete various
repairs often because they were not completed correctly. I was happy to see that ARS was willing to
walk me through step by step of the process, create a plan for repairs, and provide weekly updates of
the work to be completed with an open door policy. I was able to stop by at any time to see the
progression of the work being completed. During the 6 months of working with ARS, I would often
become overwhelmed because I was so nervous about the outcome. Mr. Draghaci continuously
ensured me and my family that their goal was to rebuild our home as though it was their own. I was
given a completion date of September 30, 2017 for all repairs to be completed and for my family to
return home.
I didn’t think it was possible, I must say I am overjoyed with not only the fact that Mr. Draghaci and his
team were able to meet the deadline but with the spectacular work that has been completed.
I want to particularly highlight, they laid out a specific plan for completing my home and got the job
done right within budget. The finished work is amazingly beautiful.
Mr. Draghaci deserves an A+ in the quality of work performed, professionalism, project management,
coordination, communication, commitment to meet deadlines and responsiveness to needs and
concerns of the homeowner. I would gracefully refer Mr. Draghaci for future work needed to family and
friends. Please feel free to contact me if you wish to speak regarding the completion of this job.

Best Regards,
Ms. Toney

Evangelina Toney

To whom it May Concern:
It is with great enthusiasm that I write this letter of recommendation in support of
American Restoration Builders.

A total home renovation is one of the most daunting tasks anyone can ever
undertake!  From brainstorming design elements to completing the entire
makeover, American Restoration, Inc. were consummate professionals. 
Throughout the process, we were put at ease with frequent consultations and
frequent communication.  Both John, and Team, were knowledgeable, flexible
and listened to our needs. The end result is that our home is more beautiful than
we had dreamed. We would recommend no other builder than American
Restoration, Inc.

I met with numerous builders before deciding on American Restoration, Inc. I
decided to contract with American Restoration once we toured actual project
sites, – I was impressed with the quality of work.

Furthermore, I can honestly say that as our home transformed with American
Restoration, Inc. we were thoroughly impressed with the personal support offered
to our family, professionalism and integrity.

American Restoration made our home building experience a pleasurable one.
Thank you for a job well done!!!"

Sincerely,
Ellena Pleasant & Family
923 N. Humphrey
Oak Park, IL
773-368-7977

Evangelina Toney