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"There were several challenges specific to this project. First, it is was our first remodel ever - so we were novice clients and needed a GC that could provide an extra level of guidance for us. Second, the project was done remotely - we lived 500 miles away and could only visit the project periodically, so we needed someone who was a very good communicator and easy to access. Finally, the home had never been updated, so there were many unknowns about what might be discovered during the demo and remodel stages. We bought the home in 2012 on a short sale "as-is" and rented it out until we started the remodel.

At the bid stage, Danny Montijo (CEO of DM Building) provided the most detailed proposal by far. His pricing was also very competitive. He had been recommended by the architect who had drawn up our plans and he was at the top of our Angie's list search as well. We made our decision to go with Danny based on the referrals, his bid and phone conversations. He proved to be a very good communicator throughout. Since he doesn't do any of the hands-on work himself, he was very prompt in returning calls - phone/txt/email are his main personal tools. His very detailed bid/estimate proved to be a very helpful document throughout the project, as it was easy to see what was included and what wasn't. 

Quality-wise, the project was first class. During our periodic visits, we were able to talk not only to some of his team, but also to some of his subcontractors. Danny's requirement for high quality was constantly brought up unsolicited. Subtle aspects of higher quality were regularly pointed out. - from tile work, to painting, to cleaning up. Really, at every step, every decision.

The bid was fixed price; we never had a situation where Danny came back to us and complained about an aspect of the project going over budget if the task proved more difficult than expected. He was extremely fair and ethical. He was also straightforward - if he ran into a problem or felt he needed to recommend something that was originally outside the scope, he did so, provided a price, and we felt it was fair. Some of the discoveries during the demo and remodel were ugly ones in terms of budget and schedule (e.g. we learned we needed to re-pipe all hot & cold water and there was a recommendation to install all new drainage under the house, which we decided to do). We also made requests for additions/modifications that were outside of the original scope, such as adding some electrical, putting new insulation in the attic, etc. In a couple of cases, costs of the scope additions came back higher than expected, but we never felt like we were being taken advantage of - it was just a matter of the actual costs being higher than what we expected based on initial verbal discussions. 

Another positive aspect was Danny's willingness to provide his opinion (or say he didn't have one), if we asked him a design question. In a couple of cases where Danny had strong feelings about a particular design plan that we hadn't yet implemented, he volunteered his opinion. A couple of those recommendations proved to be very beneficial. Danny was also helpful in steering us toward products (e.g. doors & handles) where had no knowledge of what to order or specify. He recommendations were generally for high quality at a good price with a proven vendor.

Danny was also very skilled in managing interactions with inspectors. His good people and communication skills are very valuable in those aspects. He handled many behind-the-scenes aspects of the project without us having to worry about them. 

The only "problem" we had with the project was overall schedule. The project was supposed to take 4-5 months, but wound up taking much longer. One factor was the long-distance/remote nature of the project. Our general inexperience in remodeling/construction and our lack of availability when certain decisions needed to be made also played a role. Another factor was availability of subcontractors or crews. The project was done during a period of peak demand for good GCs and subs; one of the unpleasant learnings we had as clients was that project schedule was more dependent on subcontractor availability than anything else and that GCs have little to no control over that aspect. Even with his own staff, our project was competing with other commitments, so a delay on our end with a decision sometimes translated into subs or his own staff no longer being available. For quality and cost reasons, it appeared that Danny uses only certain subs, so if a key one is not available when the project is at the "ready" stage, it can be a problem. 

Good news conversations are easy to have; you find out about your GC and he finds out about you when you have to discuss bad news (such as ugly discoveries about the home's infrastructure that only become evident during demo or a schedule delay, etc). We found that we could have these difficult discussions in an open and respectful manner with no finger pointing or acrimony. 

His staff that we interacted with were very professional and polite and clearly had good chemistry when they were working together. He has very experienced staff who like working for someone with a focus on quality and doing things right. 

In the end, the overall result was outstanding in terms of how the remodel itself turned out. Danny lived up to his high marks on Angie's list. We have received many compliments about the remodel, including from subs who have worked on various aspects of it and know what they're looking at when they see the work of others on the project. After we moved into the home, if a problem popped up, Danny was very quick to respond and fix it. 

On the payment and financing side, everything went smoothly - Danny was easy to work with and very fair.


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"Sarah was great at getting to know what styles I liked and understanding what I really wanted my place to look like. She came back with options to choose from and adjusted just a bit after giving me room to provide my feedback. The designs came out great and people are really impressed when they come to my home. They always ask who designed it, and now you know 🤣 I highly recommend Sarah if you want similar outcomes! I really enjoy coming home everyday now, and it’s very much thanks to Sarah’s interior designs! She also helped coordinate some of the purchasing, which was super helpful, and is generally well organized. She used to work for a firm that charges much more, so you’re getting all that experience without having to pay for quite so much overhead."

"After they redid our counter tops and island, we had them paint out cabinets and build shelves up to the ceiling. The communication was on point this time and the results speak for themselves. Would definitely recommend them to anyone for any home project."

"Connie is very professional. She knows design and offers valuable suggestions. She promoted her ideas learned from years of experience, but she listened and respected our thoughts and desires too. She was also very friendly. Our kitchen remodel turned out very well. I have been seeking her help now on an additional project involving furniture, an area rug, lighting, and wall décor. She strives for excellence in all that she does."

"Charles is a wonderful designer who helped us with our new home! Highly recommend!"

"I worked with Denise to remodel a bathroom and am very happy with the results. Denise helped us design changes to the bathroom and coordinated a reliable contractor. She sourced the material we needed and presented different sample options, which made choosing them simple. She handled the ordering and kept us updated on timing and delivery throughout the process. The design is beautiful and fits our home perfectly and the quality of work is exceptional. I highly recommend Denise, as she listened to what we wanted and helped us create an amazing result. She listens, manages the moving parts and is great at communicating! Denise is an excellent choice and I plan on using her in future projects."

"Susan has a fabulous senses of taste, balance, color, texture, proportion and space. She is a very experienced professional at decorating and is an absolute pleasure to work with. Mine was a big job and Susan made great effort to keep costs down. We have a combination of designer and handmade furniture, accents and fixtures to make it interesting as well as retail. Our ground floor is transformed into a beautiful updated cheerful and functional space. I can t wait for her help with the upstairs!"

"Dina is a very talented interior designer. She is great at bringing in fresh ideas and cordinating different styles"

"I hired this landscape designer to transform my backyard, and I couldn't be happier with the results. The designer was professional, creative, and attentive to my needs throughout the entire process. The end result was stunning and exceeded my expectations. Highly recommend!"

"I entrusted DS Legend Home Builders with the interior design of my new home, and they did not disappoint. The designers brought creativity and a keen eye for aesthetics, transforming our space into a stunning and functional environment. They listened attentively to our preferences and lifestyle needs, incorporating them seamlessly into the design. The result was a perfect balance of style and practicality. DS Legend Home Builders interior design service is worth every penny and more."