Back To Basement reviews and comments by customers

In late 2019, we had decided that we
wanted to tidy up our existing basement space to to provide enough room for some exercise machines and storage spaces. We contacted a number of basement conversion companies including Back to
Basement. We liked and were impressed with Rubi immediately. His enthusiasm was compelling and his obvious knowledge both deep and impressive. Over a period of weeks we discussed what we might do
with the space. He was responsive and thoughtful. Gradually the project grew in ambition and scale as we thought more carefully about what we wanted. Rubi was both patient and kind. He was clear from
the start about what could be done and what it would cost. By March 2020 we had decided what we wanted and that we would go with Back to Basement. We have never regretted that decision. Work started
in August 2021 and was finished be the end of the year. We could not be more pleased with what has been produced. The quality of everything done has been very high indeed. Rubi was endlessly
thoughtful about how to achieve some of things we wanted. There was very rarely a moment when he said that something we asked for could not be done. Invariably, he would go away, think about the
problem, and then come back with a solution. Rubi and Tal, Rubi’s son, were on site everyday which of course increased our confidence that the work was being done properly. There were a delight to
have around (as were the other people who worked for Rubi). Always polite, interesting and incredibly hard-working. The talk rarely stopped but Rubi and Tal are two immensely kind, nice and good
people. Life in our house is certainly quieter now but it is less interesting. A few points to make from our perspective about Rubi and BAck to Basement: (1) He is very busy and you will have to
wait. It is worth the wait. (2) The quality of work he and his son, rest of team, produce is very high and in particular is very good value for money. He will be clear about what is included in the
price. If you want more, then specify it and you will be charged more. (3) Rubi is completely honest and straightforward to deal with. His directness can be a bit disconcerting to begin with but once
you realise you are dealing with someone who is honest, straightforward and doing his best to get things right, the relationship becomes an easy one. He tells it as he sees it and tells it honestly.
(4) The initial quote Rubi gave us was not exceeded save where we added things along the way. Even where we did add things Rubi did his best to source things at the best price and seemed genuinely
horrified by the cost of a couple of things we bought telling us he could have found them cheaper. (5) We would be delighted to have him back. We have never dealt with any builder who has Rubi’s
enthusiasm and pride in what he does. He is genuinely good man, excellent at his job and now someone we would regard as a friend. He does have some eccentric ideas … but he would the same about
me!

We did a lot of research before choosing Back to Basement, and it paid off.
Rubi spent time going through how things would work, and presented us with different options, to make sure that we were completely happy and understood the process.
We could have gone with other companies who could start the job earlier because Rubi had a waiting list. However, we discussed that it was worth waiting a few months to get the right people on the job.

When the time came, I was expecting lots of mess and disruption. Whilst converting a basement is never going to be tidy, Rubi and his team were very respectful of our home and kept things as ship-shape as they could be.
Considering we had a cellar that was damp and unusable, we now have a clean, dry room that is really versatile. It was well worth the investment and has added value to our home.

Leann and tony Wan, Rothwell, 2021

Rubi and the team were complete professionals from start to finish.

They have transformed our cellar (and access to it via the kitchen) and we couldn't be happier.

They are reliable, trustworthy, and hard-working. They stuck to time and cost as originally agreed (other than the extra bits we asked for as we went along!). Their attention to detail was amazing and nothing was too much - even fitting a tricky second-hand solid oak floor, the small tiles in the shower, and knocking down the kitchen wall! Always friendly and positive they became part of the family - the kids loved coming home to see "the builders"! We would 100% recommend Back to Basement - you won't regret it!

Luke Williams

Otley, Nov 2020

The work Rubi and his team completed is to remove a structural wall and put in a replacement beam was excellent. Transformed the room and everything is so much brighter now! Made the process very stress free, kept me informed the whole way through, and made sure any important decisions were talked through with me first.

Really nice guy and very knowledgeable about his trade and the quirks of old houses in the area. I would definitely recommend him and will use him again in the future.

Andy Statham

July 2020

Rubi and his team were amazing.

They converted our cellar into a stunning kitchen and from start to finish. Rubi kept us informed throughout. He was knowledgeable and very professional. The team also did our living room and bathroom to absolute perfection.

We would recommend Back to Basement to anyone requiring cellar conversions and other general house works and looks forward to using Rubi and his team again in the future.

Rach Brook

Wortley, Leeds

July 2020

During all the challenges that lockdown brought, Rubi still managed to deliver the works we had planned.

We are now happily enjoying our new living space which was uninhabitable before.

I would highly recommend that anyone who is considering having work done gets a quote from Back to Basement. Great communication, honest, and delivered the finished product within the estimated time. Many thanks for a job well done.

Ian Maudsley

May 2020

Hi, Rubi,

Thanks again - and your hand-picked team- for your excellent work. You have transformed a dark, damp, and dingy basement into a lovely light, dry and user-friendly space for the family. Also, the super-modern pump you have installed ( almost invisibly) in one corner will suck away into the main drains any of the underground water which tended to infiltrate the front part of our basement.I also appreciated how considerate the Back to Basement team was with their customers, explaining everything they did as the work progressed ( which was very interesting indeed), and causing the minimum disruption to our household.

I found the price very reasonable and paying by installments very convenient.

I would certainly highly recommend Back to Basement to everyone who is looking for all-around excellence.

I really believe everything I wrote!! Hope it doesn't sound too "inflated", and that you can use some bits of it on your website.

Best wishes to you and all the family from us all,

Helen.

Leeds 8

If you want a one-stop property work solution carried out to a high standard, Rubi kasuto comes highly recommended.

I'd seen Rubi Kasuto a couple of years ago on a TV program where he bought a house at auction and refurbished it to a high standard. The house was very similar to mine so when I decided to have a new kitchen/diner and bathroom installed, his was one of three quotes I got for the work. He wasn't the cheapest but the no-nonsense, fully itemized quote included all necessary electrical work and removal of all waste which the others didn't so he got the job.

What you quickly discover when dealing with Rubi, his enthusiasm for and commitment to the project. He's always available to discuss any part of the job and always ready to make suggestions based on his considerable experience. I ended up having extra work done at a reasonable cost over and above the original quote. Walls were knocked down and chimney breasts removed. Wiring and plumbing were installed. All joinery work was carried out along with any necessary plastering, glazing, floor laying, and painting and all to a high standard of workmanship.

Jon Douglas

Ebor Mount Leeds 6

THIS COMMENT WAS FOUND ON WHICH? WEBSITE

"Rubi Kasuto (owner of Back to Basement)and his team did an outstanding job on our cellar conversion. Spending a large amount of money to convert our home in this way was not something we undertook lightly. Of all the people who came to quote, Rubi was the most trustworthy and certainly one of the most inexpensive. He was a natural character, very reassuring, and knowledgeable in his field. We went to see some properties which Rubi had already converted and spoke to the owners before we made up our minds. His quote was very comprehensive and the job came in exactly as quoted - despite the fact that Rubi discovered the digging out of an entire room under the house was much more complex than he expected and he honored his quote just the same. And despite a couple of slow weeks where it felt we might be behind schedule, Rubi soon caught up and the job actually completed ahead of the due date. He also helped us in getting the required building regs from the Council. Rubi was also a very hands-on operator and was there every day of the conversion. I would not hesitate to recommend him and would be happy to let prospective viewers see his work before they proceed."

Google reviews

Lucy May

Rubi and his team gave
us excellent advice on correcting a previously converted basement that was flooding (original work not done by this company!) They completed all the work in a professional and timely manner, making
sure everything was

Ffion Hughes

We used Back to Basement for our cellar conversion to create a
playroom. We chose them as they had a lot of ideas and were enthusiastic about what they do. This was their differentiator and we are pleased with the decision we made. They were very tidy and a nice
group of guys, we would have them back for building work in the future.

Nathan Abimelech

I hired Back to Basement and
couldn't be happier. The chaps did a fantastic job of converting a basement into an en-suite and have always been on hand since. I'd highly recommend Back to Basement to anyone!

Rubi and his team converted our basement last year; I suppose it has taken me this long to write a review because we have spent all our time enjoying the wonderful space he created! Rubi went out of his way to ensure that we ended up with a great, innovative, professionally finished and highly usable space. Both he and his workforce were always punctual, hardworking and friendly. Rubi was on site most days and project managed the whole operation with minimal fuss and a constant eye for detail. Payment structures and cost breakdowns were detailed and professionally outlined. Rubi went ‘the extra mile’ coming back after completion to carry out unscheduled additional work, he also rushed over when we had a self-inflicted issue with our pump weeks after he has finished the work, both free of charge. He even took time out to help mend our fence, again without additional charge. Back to Basement are fantastic value for money, we ended up with an even better space than originally envisaged and I cannot recommend them highly enough.

Sam and Vicky Crawley June 2016

Before I make a comment I must say I am not connected to this company in any way other than as a customer. Rubi went out of his way to provide a great service even to the point of helping my daughter move a fridge a week AFTER the job was done! The damp, cold, wet basement was converted to a completely dry and warm room and has been finished to a high standard throughout and I would be more than prepared for anyone thinking of having a job done to come and take a look for yourselves. I cannot recommend Back to Basement enough. You won't be making a mistake in choosing this supplier.

Joe Blackman.

We had our basement converted and a new kitchen fitted on the first floor by Back to Basement in April-June 2011. In our initial chat with Rubi Kasuto, who owns and runs Back to Basement, he came up with creative solutions and useful ideas on how to maximise the space available. The work was carried out to a high standard and Rubi has a good attention to detail - he was working on site most days and project managed all the work including electrical and plumbing. This made communication with him very easy if changes needed to be made. It was useful to have Rubi's eye for design as it meant that if something didn't look right, he'd check to see whether we wanted to proceed and suggest other possibilities that might work better. Like any job, a reality is different to the plans (eg structural problems) - Rubi excelled in overcoming these problems and took personal pride in ensuring the best possible outcome for the client. For example, our bathroom door couldn't go where we had originally planned so he changed the layout of the bathroom to make it work. Rubi also built us a bespoke set of units to enclose free standing appliances in the utility room, which looks really good. We would definitely recommend to others who are considering a basement conversion.

Anthony Nicely and Harriet Wright

Bramley, Leeds

"Rubi and his Back to Basement team have just completed a basement
conversion for us in a through terrace in Chapel Allerton. We could not be
happier with both the finished basement and the way in which the job was done.
Rubi is a rare commodity in this day and age. He doesn’t cut corners takes
pride in the work undertaken and shares his experience in offering suggestions
that maximise space and design. The quote was more competitive than any of the
other companies we considered with no hidden extras.

Thanks again, Tim and Dee."

Chris and Susan Basement

What I wanted was a dry basement, what I got was an extra floor to my house that will get a lot of use as well as adding value to the property.
The damp smelly unused basement was transformed into a beautiful bar and lounge area including a wonderful fully working reconstructed open log fire. By careful planning, it was also possible to include a utility room and a toilet.
The work was finished within the timescale quoted despite some of the worst weather we have had in years.
Being built in around 1860 the basement threw up a few problems but nothing seemed to faze Rubi who just dealt with the problem and carried on as if it was nothing.
All aspects of the work were carried out to a high standard and everyone involved showed pride in their work.
One of the most important things to me was that Back to Basement dealt with everything from beginning to end so I had nothing to worry about.
Rubi's quote for the job was on a par with other companies but the actual cost was slightly less than quoted.
I think it's Rubi's eye for detail and innovative ideas that make him stand out from the rest.
I would highly recommend Back to Basement if anyone is thinking of undertaking a similar project.

Horsforth Leeds

Just a quick note to thank you very much for the recent work you carried out in transforming our basement into a wonderful living space.The end result has been a truly staggering and has greatly exceeded our expectations.

You and your team deserve high praise for the way you carried out the work. The team worked very hard and coordination between the different trades was very efficient with no delays between each phase of work. We also were impressed with the way you worked with our third parties.

Your obvious eye for design and personal pride and care in your work has resulted in a high-quality finish throughout.

We always felt that nothing was too much trouble and the fact that you were always available on the phone or willing to come back to the house outside the working day also contributed to our trust in you.

We would certainly be happy to recommend you to prospective customers and would be willing to act as a reference site.

Scott, Mary and Niall Johnston

Braeside, Newlay Wood Ave

Horsforth Leeds

Naomi Brain

Armley.Leeds

Back to Basement have recently converted our cellar into a one bedroom flat. We have been amazed by the results, it is light and airy and every space has been used in the most effective way.

We really valued the creative ideas that Rubi came up with, thinking of ways to make space feel larger, or creating storage solutions.

The staff were all friendly, and their work is excellent. Several people have since come over and been surprised at the high quality and great finish.

We would definitely recommend Back to Basement, they were good value for money, and we have got a great flat at the end of it.

Naomi Brain - Leeds 12

Terry and Emma

Otley

"From the time that Rubi came to the house to give us a quote - after a thorough useful discussion - we had every confidence in him. Where some other builders had seen barriers or impossibility, Rubi saw solutions. That, in a nutshell, was what I most liked about his approach: he has a 'can-do' attitude that certainly reassured us and came as a relief. A lot of hard work was done by Rubi and his team, and we are more than pleased with the result. Our 'new' cellar has transformed the house: the first word from friends or relatives who have seen it has either been 'Wow!' or 'Fantastic!' Rubi knows his stuff and I should recommend him wholeheartedly. We are now saving up for a loft conversion!"

I hope you manage to get some rest - and lots of chocolate - over Christmas.
Terry & Emma. 18 November 2010

Sue and Antony Gatewood

Chapeltown, Leeds

Dear Rubi and Back to basement team.

We are extremely happy with the basement conversion and are pleased we have found such a reliable hard working and honest team to carry out the work.

The job was finished to a high standard, with attention to detail and left clean and tidy. we would be happy to recommend you to others and would definitely use your service again.

Yours sincerely

Antony and Sue Gatewood Chapeltown Leeds

Michael and Jill

Dear Back to Basement (Rubi & Team),

I wanted to write you a short letter of thanks regarding the cellar conversion you undertook at our home.

Initially, when deciding to convert our cellar, we were with mixed emotions, basically, would the disruption, hassle, and the cost is worth the results. We considered many potential companies (with varying size) to undertake the work, and from the outset, the confidence, understanding of our requirements and advise you and your team displayed was far ahead of the competition.

Another key factor in our decision to go with your company was the willingness to manage all aspects of the project from start to finish. We dealt directly with yourselves and received a single quotation for the complete job (excavating, tanking, plumbing, electrics, walling, plastering etc.), but we still had the flexibility to select all the fixtures and fittings. Whilst the work was being undertaken, we found your team very courteous, they respected our home to minimise disruption and looked after the security of the property on the days when we were working away.

As with most building work, the final fit and finish of the job are one of the most timely aspects, again this was something that you and your team took personal pride in. At all times I felt your prime concern was to have a happy customer at the end. Also, I have a keen eye for workmanship, and this is something I could see being applied (as well as experience) to the challenges at hand all the time.

For a couple of months now we have been enjoying, the extra living space, however with a job of this magnitude, I pessimistically always expect something to go wrong in the future and the true measure of any building company, is the aftercare service. Today, I noticed what appeared to be water coming from under the skirting board in the cellar, on the face of this I thought it was possibly a problem with the extraction of water from the cellar (especially as it was raining very heavily outside). I phoned you, and within 30 minutes you were on-site troubleshooting. You found the root cause of the problem to be related to a blocked drain for the kitchen above, causing water to come down from this above room, which was naturally nothing related to the cellar conversion. Upon, assisting me to find the problem, you declined to let me pay you for your time and expense. Hence, another reason why I have put pen to paper, as very few companies would have responded in the way you and your team did today.

Please feel free to use this as a letter of reference/recommendation with your future potential clients, and don't hesitate to ask if a client wishes to speak to me in person, before choosing Back to Basement for their home.

I wish you all the best for 2008, thanks again.

Best Regards

Michael Allen & Jill Monaghan
-------------------
Horsforth, Leeds

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