Disclaimer: This website shares our factual experience with RMB Home Improvement LLC and its operator, Ryan L. Brown, who now uses the name RMB Contractors on social media. All statements are based on documented evidence and are not intended as legal claims of fraud or theft, which are under investigation by the Missouri Attorney General (Complaint No. CC-2023-07-003514). We aim to inform our community and seek others with similar experiences. For official information, contact the Missouri Attorney General.

Our Story

My name is Joe Knapp. My wife Melissa and I were born and raised in Ripley County near Doniphan. We left after graduation for school and work, always dreaming of returning to build our forever home. In 2022 we were finally able to move back to the area and purchased a small property outside Ellington. We began Gnomestead Farms to create a legacy for our family. Hiring RMB Home Improvement was meant to bring that vision to life, but their failures tested our resilience. This website shares our story to safeguard others chasing similar dreams in our community. We hired RMB Home Improvement, operated by Ryan L. Brown, for three construction projects starting in July 2022. We paid a total of $44,900 across these jobs, expecting quality work and timely completion. Unfortunately, the work was either incomplete or defective, leaving us to finish our home ourselves while living in it. Below, we outline our experience to warn others and connect with anyone who may have had similar issues. Ryan L. Brown now operates under the name RMB Contractors, as seen on his business Facebook page (facebook.com/RMBhomeimprovement) and LinkedIn profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-brown-02601a158). Recent posts show he is still active in construction, but we found no record of “RMB Contractors LLC” in the Missouri Secretary of State’s database as of April 17, 2025. This name change followed our interactions, raising concerns about transparency.

The Construction Projects

  • Job 1 (July 2022): We paid $2,950 for soffit, fascia, exterior doors, and window removal. The work was completed, but we would later learn that the quality was poor, with issues like sagging and falling soffits requiring later repairs. Ryan did repairs when asked at the time so we saw no reason for alarm. My soffits continue to unexpectedly sag and fall to this day.
  • Job 2 (August 2022): We paid $4,450 for demo of one room, framing walls, a loft, stairs, and pocket doors. The work was partially completed, leaving us to finish significant portions ourselves. At the time, we knew we were going to proceed with a larger build so it made sense to hold off on completing certain pieces as they would be taken care of in the larger build.
  • Job 3 (January to July 2023): We contracted for a full house build, estimated at $50,000, and paid $37,500 upfront and during progress. The contract, signed on June 28, 2023, promised completion by July 21, 2023, including a 5-ton propane HVAC (88k BTU), plumbing, electrical, drywall with insulation, and a tiled master bathroom. Only a 3.5-ton electric HVAC, a water heater, and minimal work were delivered, valued at approximately $7,594.68 based on receipts. The remaining $29,905.32 is unaccounted for, and Ryan stopped communicating after July 14, 2023.
The work on Job 3 had serious defects, documented by a professional contractor. Electrical issues included too few circuits, incorrect wire gauges for appliances like the dryer and water heater, unsecured wires, and wires running against metal and screws, posing safety risks. Drywall was installed without insulation in several areas, requiring removal and replacement. These issues forced us to redo much of the work ourselves, incurring additional costs.

Business Name Changes & LLC Formation

During our interactions (July 2022 to July 2023), Ryan operated RMB Home Improvement as an unregistered business. On September 24, 2023, after our contract and Attorney General complaint, he formed RMB Home Improvement LLC (Charter Number: LC014495585), which remains active as of April 17, 2025, per Missouri Secretary of State records. The filing listed “Brown Companies LTD” as a return address, but we found no record of this name as a registered entity. In 2025, we discovered Ryan rebranded his business Facebook page to RMB Contractors. Despite this change, no “RMB Contractors LLC” appears in the Secretary of State’s database, suggesting he’s using the name informally, possibly to distance himself from past obligations. This pattern of name changes—RMB Home Improvement, “Brown Companies LTD,” and now RMB Contractors—raises concerns about his transparency with clients.

Our Actions

We’ve taken several steps to address this situation: Attorney General Complaint: In July 2023, we filed a complaint with the Missouri Attorney General (CC-2023-07-003514). Despite their letters to Ryan, he has not responded, as noted in their September 20, 2023, update. We continue to work with them to seek resolution. Public Awareness: We placed an 8’ x 4’ sign in our yard in Ellington, Missouri, to warn others, but it hasn’t connected us with other affected clients. This website aims to reach a broader audience. Legal Options: We are engaged with an attorney and exploring options to recover funds, as our payments predate the LLC’s formation, making Ryan personally liable. We’re also monitoring for bankruptcy filings, as advised by our attorney.

Photos and Videos

Here are some photos from myself and a professional contractor showing the defective and unfinished work.

Documents

Below are redacted documents supporting our experience. Private information, such as full addresses and personal identifiers, have been removed to protect privacy.

Other Links & Resources

Call to Action

If you’ve had a similar experience with RMB Home Improvement LLC, RMB Contractors, or Ryan L. Brown, we encourage you to come forward. Your information could help our case and protect others.
Please Contact:
Missouri Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division: Complaint No. CC-2023-07-003514Lesha Bommel, Senior Advocate573-751-8810[email protected]
Or, file a complaint online at https://ago.mo.gov/get-help/programs-services-from-a-z/consumer-complaints
Unique Site Visitors:
Contact Us
Email us at R[email protected] to share your story confidentially. We aim to warn our community about our documented experience and prevent others from facing similar challenges. Thank you for visiting our site. - Joe & Melissa Knapp
Last Updated: April 21, 2025