A.W. Holmes Contracting, LLC
Plumber · Portsmouth, VA
Our verdict
Fast, quality work on routine jobs but office management issues create friction on insurance claims and follow-up communication.
Scores are our editorial reading of published customer reviews — not a verification, license check, or guarantee.
Our opinion, based on the 5 reviews we analyzed from Google, Yelp and BBB · Analysis updated Jun 2026 · How we decide ↗
Only 5 reviews analyzed — treat this assessment as a first impression, not a track record.
What reviewers praise
Technicians arrive promptly and complete work efficiently—2 reviews praise ahead-of-schedule arrival and quick problem isolation.
Cited in 2 of the 5 reviews we analyzed.
Strong workmanship on complex renovation projects; 2 reviews highlight professional execution on major jobs including 1940s house systems.
Cited in 2 of the 5 reviews we analyzed.
Pricing fairness noted in 2 reviews, with one reviewer explicitly mentioning work stayed within budget on large renovations.
Cited in 2 of the 5 reviews we analyzed.
What reviewers report — the concerns
Other directories bury these. We think you should read them before you call. Every concern below comes from the reviews it cites.
Red flag
2 of 5 reviews (40%) describe hostile or unprofessional office staff behavior, including manager accusing customers of insurance fraud and refusing further assistance.
Cited in 2 of the 5 reviews we analyzed.
Red flag
Pattern of abandoning warranty jobs mid-project; customer forced to hire competitor after 7+ days of inaction on approved repair.
Cited in 1 of the 5 reviews we analyzed.
Office communication and follow-up severely deficient—1 warranty claim stalled for over a week despite promised 2-day approval, with repeated unreturned calls.
Cited in 1 of the 5 reviews we analyzed.
Manager refuses to provide itemized documentation needed for insurance claims and denies assistance with claim processing, creating customer roadblocks.
Cited in 1 of the 5 reviews we analyzed.
Questionable diagnostic accuracy—one reviewer reports technicians recommended wall removal when job was completed in under an hour by another plumber.
Cited in 1 of the 5 reviews we analyzed.
Keep it in proportion: these concerns are cited in 2 of the 5 reviews we analyzed. Most reviewers report positive experiences — see the full rating picture below.
The evidence — in reviewers' own words
Critical
“First off, the technicians were extremely nice and fixed the issue in a timely manner. My issue is with the manager, Sherri/Sherry (not sure of the spelling). She was very unprofessional and rude to not only myself, but my husband and mother. My insurance company requested a invoice with the exact issue listed on the invoice and she refused to put what the cause for the blockage was. The technician did advise while …”
“They were quick to take the service call fee for my warranty company and told me they would have an approval to fix my shower within two days max, it has been over a week and I keep calling the office and getting nowhere. I’m going to have to pay another company to come finish this job since this one clearly has no intention of taking care there customers. Looking at other reviews, it’s clear this is not an isolated …”
Positive
“Both techs arrived ahead of schedule to work on my tankless hot water heater and wasted no time getting to the bottom of the issue. The were able to isolate the fault get my unit operating again while we wait on the replacement part to arrive. Fantastic service all around!!”
“I had A.W. Holmes completely renovate both my kitchen and my master bath. These were huge jobs as my house was built in 1940. I will always call on them (especially J.T.!) to work on any project in my house. They are professional and they work to solve issues. Which my house had a ton of! They are honestly the best and very fair with pricing.”
Quotes are reproduced verbatim from public reviews on the platforms shown; we select which to feature, and selection reflects our editorial judgment. Report a quote that doesn't match its source ↗
The rating picture
Small sample — we've analyzed only 5 of 214 reviews so far. Treat this as a first read.
Newest review in our sample: Sep 2024.
Should you hire A.W. Holmes Contracting, LLC?
Best for
- Water heater install/repair
Hire if
- You need high-quality work that holds up over time
- You need transparent, predictable pricing with no surprise fees
Think twice if
- You need predictable, consistent service across every visit
- You want detailed upfront explanations
- You need airtight scheduling and guaranteed arrival times
- You need rock-bottom prices with zero flexibility on the quote
Advice derived from the review analysis above — how we decide.
Own A.W. Holmes Contracting, LLC?
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Nearby: Portsmouth · Chesapeake