‘You shouldn’t have to beg anybody to do their job’: St. Louis couple says contractor left renovation projects unfinished

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - What was supposed to be a celebration gift for Evita and Everett Anderson has turned into an expensive burden.

“It was basically like a gift to myself and my wife. She had just graduated from nursing school as an RN, and I beat cancer twice,” Everett Anderson said.

The Andersons say they hired Lee and Marquita Evans, a couple they had befriended decades ago, to remodel their basement. The Evans’ own ASAP Evans LLC.

Last fall, the Andersons agreed to pay $8,700 in labor costs and purchase the materials themselves. According to their contract, the job start date was Oct. 7, 2025, with a Dec. 13 completion date.

Fast forward to June, and the Andersons’ basement remains unfinished.

“You shouldn’t have to beg anybody to do their job. We had a contract that we agreed upon, and you should uphold your end of the obligation,” Everett Anderson said.

Payment records and text messages over a period of months show repeated delays and missed work days.

The Andersons say that between labor and materials, they’re out well over $20,000.

The couple says furniture and other items fill the first floor now. The couple is preparing to pursue legal action. Their attorney sent a letter demanding that the job be completed by June 5, 2026.

Court records show another St. Louis couple sued ASAP Evans LLC in 2023. They allege the company didn’t finish a renovation after entering a contract. In court filings, Evans denied those allegations. The case was later dismissed without prejudice because the couple who filed it failed to appear.

“It’s like victim after victim,” Evita Anderson said.

Robin Prince says that in 2024, she had a verbal agreement with the couple that they would build her deck.

“They would call me and say we need $500 for materials. I cash app’d it to them. They said they need $450. I cash app’d it to them,” Prince said. “I got a $3,000 cashier’s check and gave it to them because I need it done.”

Prince says after that last payment, the work stalled. Her deck was left unfinished for nearly two years. She eventually paid someone else to finish the work.

“In total, I’m going to say five grand. I guess he must have felt guilty because he gave me $500 back,” Prince said.

“The issue is stopping him from doing it to somebody else,” Evita Anderson said.

Lee Evans declined an interview and comment and referred questions to his attorney. He never sent their contact information. The clients say their trust is broken.

“No, he did not finish my desk. I told him that he couldn’t finish my deck. I don’t trust you now,” Prince said.

“You took from us financially. Make it right financially,” Evita Anderson said.

Since ASAP Evans LLC did not complete the basement renovation by June 5, the Andersons say they plan to file a lawsuit against the business next week.

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office investigates claims like these if reported. The AG’s office encourages consumers to file complaints with their office if they are in a similar position.

Consumers can also file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. The BBB suggests using a credit card to pay contractors.