d. a. kinsella company was created to make great design accessible to everyone. Our philosophy has always been that strong communication and attention to budget allow us to achieve unique design and planning solutions for every project. DBA- d. a. kinsella company
"Great, Dave stayed within our budget and our addition looks like it was part of a whole new home construction. We were really impressed with Dave Kinsella's design concepts and the workmanship was high quality even though we were on a tight budget. Dave comes from a big family so he understands money and time constraints plus he wants his projects to look as aesthetically pleasing to his clients as possible. We would definitely hire Dave again."
todd c on August 2018
d. a. kinsella company was created to make great design accessible to everyone. Our philosophy has always been that strong communication and attention to budget allow us to achieve unique design and planning solutions for every project. DBA- d. a. kinsella company
"Great, Dave stayed within our budget and our addition looks like it was part of a whole new home construction. We were really impressed with Dave Kinsella's design concepts and the workmanship was high quality even though we were on a tight budget. Dave comes from a big family so he understands money and time constraints plus he wants his projects to look as aesthetically pleasing to his clients as possible. We would definitely hire Dave again."
todd c on August 2018
10 years worth of construction experience in various industries.
"Mike and his crew were wonderful, knowledgable, professional and efficient. The quality of the work was outstanding and the whole process was smooth and easy! Can’t recommend them highly enough!"
Brianna P on November 2024
10 years worth of construction experience in various industries.
"Mike and his crew were wonderful, knowledgable, professional and efficient. The quality of the work was outstanding and the whole process was smooth and easy! Can’t recommend them highly enough!"
Brianna P on November 2024
Additional e-mail - info@better-built-basements.com. Award winning. The Mission of Better Built Basements, LLC is to have Connecticut homeowners select us as their remodeling contractor by providing innovative and affordable basement solutions. We strive to build trust and confidence with our customers with precise quotes, honest and consistent communication, professional appearance and demeanor, and accurate time lines for every project.
"Unfortunately I give BBB a 1 star rating. The project began October of 2021 with demolition, upon completion of each phase I sent an email to Better Built Basement management thanking them for their work effort and identifying items that either required further explanation and/or resolution. As the project went on, I became increasingly frustrated with their lack of communication, lack of accountability, lack of caring, and lack of skill. The straw that broke my back was when Jim (an owner) called me a f’ing c’sucker. Randy, (an owner) sent me the following email: No one has time to read your 3-page condensing e-mails. You have done nothing but complaint. It's obnoxious and draining to everyone you come in contact with. There isn't one person who cant wait to have you out of our lives. I terminated Better Built Basements on June 7th, 2022, here are some of the details of my experience: - The demo crew was excellent in and out in a day and did a great job cleaning up - The electricians were very consultative in their approach to the project, providing input on lighting and outlet placements. - Framing was mediocre. Despite using laser equipment, one wall was wavy and the ceiling grid has a large gap. Pictures attached. - New steel stud framing and pre-hung doors should be dead on straight as an arrow instead, two of the doors has an aesthetically noticeable skew. - The replacement to an existing door resulted in using the wrong hinge set for the existing mortices, inclusive of color – all the other hardware is brass they used chrome. Picture attached. - 3 of the four doors were either chipped or cracked. BBB was notified before the ‘final’ paint job, but they failed to address the issue. - I returned home the day they applied joint compound to find glops of joint compound on the floor, which I tracked around my house, and glops on wood work on a floor where no work was occurring. Pictures attached - Following the flooring installation, they left garbage in my basement for 2.5 weeks, then did not take it when they came back – in frustration I disposed of it myself. - Many of joints on the ¼ round trim molding were caulked excessively to cover up sloppy miters. - Cracked switchhplate was not replaced. Picture attached. - Sub-contractors have sub-contractors, who seem to be able to sub contract – direct employees of BBB other than the demo and electrical were rare. BBB demands using a lock box, Many people have the combination, providing little sense of security over access to the home. Overall, BBB does a bad job communicating, managing expectations and fails to deliver on their stated objectives at best they are contractors not craftsman."
Lou Z on September 2022
Additional e-mail - info@better-built-basements.com. Award winning. The Mission of Better Built Basements, LLC is to have Connecticut homeowners select us as their remodeling contractor by providing innovative and affordable basement solutions. We strive to build trust and confidence with our customers with precise quotes, honest and consistent communication, professional appearance and demeanor, and accurate time lines for every project.
"Unfortunately I give BBB a 1 star rating. The project began October of 2021 with demolition, upon completion of each phase I sent an email to Better Built Basement management thanking them for their work effort and identifying items that either required further explanation and/or resolution. As the project went on, I became increasingly frustrated with their lack of communication, lack of accountability, lack of caring, and lack of skill. The straw that broke my back was when Jim (an owner) called me a f’ing c’sucker. Randy, (an owner) sent me the following email: No one has time to read your 3-page condensing e-mails. You have done nothing but complaint. It's obnoxious and draining to everyone you come in contact with. There isn't one person who cant wait to have you out of our lives. I terminated Better Built Basements on June 7th, 2022, here are some of the details of my experience: - The demo crew was excellent in and out in a day and did a great job cleaning up - The electricians were very consultative in their approach to the project, providing input on lighting and outlet placements. - Framing was mediocre. Despite using laser equipment, one wall was wavy and the ceiling grid has a large gap. Pictures attached. - New steel stud framing and pre-hung doors should be dead on straight as an arrow instead, two of the doors has an aesthetically noticeable skew. - The replacement to an existing door resulted in using the wrong hinge set for the existing mortices, inclusive of color – all the other hardware is brass they used chrome. Picture attached. - 3 of the four doors were either chipped or cracked. BBB was notified before the ‘final’ paint job, but they failed to address the issue. - I returned home the day they applied joint compound to find glops of joint compound on the floor, which I tracked around my house, and glops on wood work on a floor where no work was occurring. Pictures attached - Following the flooring installation, they left garbage in my basement for 2.5 weeks, then did not take it when they came back – in frustration I disposed of it myself. - Many of joints on the ¼ round trim molding were caulked excessively to cover up sloppy miters. - Cracked switchhplate was not replaced. Picture attached. - Sub-contractors have sub-contractors, who seem to be able to sub contract – direct employees of BBB other than the demo and electrical were rare. BBB demands using a lock box, Many people have the combination, providing little sense of security over access to the home. Overall, BBB does a bad job communicating, managing expectations and fails to deliver on their stated objectives at best they are contractors not craftsman."
Lou Z on September 2022
25+ years of experience! Our mission is to be a provider that brings back the personal touch with our customers. We will build a relationship that will last a lifetime after you see our quality work. As a locally owned and operated business, we feel invested in our clients and constantly strive for customer satisfaction. Call or message us to schedule an estimate today! GC# HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR HIC.0666371
"Excellent. He showed up promptly and persevered on a difficult situation. All well now. He cleaned up very well. I am very happy and while it can be trying to go through something like this, Alex is positive and skilled and he did a masterful job."
Carolina w on January 2025
25+ years of experience! Our mission is to be a provider that brings back the personal touch with our customers. We will build a relationship that will last a lifetime after you see our quality work. As a locally owned and operated business, we feel invested in our clients and constantly strive for customer satisfaction. Call or message us to schedule an estimate today! GC# HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR HIC.0666371
"Excellent. He showed up promptly and persevered on a difficult situation. All well now. He cleaned up very well. I am very happy and while it can be trying to go through something like this, Alex is positive and skilled and he did a masterful job."
Carolina w on January 2025
Connecticut Basement Systems is your trusted expert for basement waterproofing, crawl space repair, basement finishing, and foundation repair. Using patented, warrantied products, we provide permanent solutions for your home. Have a wet, flooded basement or crawl space? Tilted or bowing foundation walls? A basement you want to finish? We have a solution. We proudly serve homeowners and businesses all throughout Connecticut & Westchester County, NY. Call us today for a free inspection and no-obligation, estimate. Financing available. Additional phones - (203) 881-5090. Award winning.
"The visit to my home in West Hartford was a nice affair. The technician explained everything. He even mentioned that I had to get a plumber to remove the sink away from the wall, so the work could be done to repair the window and wall area, but I did not hear him mention that I had to pull permits. The problem with this permit pulling issue is that I never initiated the pulling of permits, and this also is a red flag for me. The pulling of a permit should always be done by the contractor who is doing the job. It ensures that the permit pulled is to code. It ensures that the permit pulled follows local ordinance and CT. laws and statutes regarding construction, and that also includes consumer protection mandates in the State of Connecticut. Having me pull the permit to allow the CT. Basement Systems to do the work is a big, red flag, and it can result in my home owner's policy being cancelled if the permits are pulled either after the fact, or the permits pulled do not line up with the inspection process. I can also be fined by the town for pulling permits after the fact too. I've had my furnace replaced. The plumbing company who replaced the furnace followed state law and guidelines. Especially, since funding provided through a loan from a Credit Union chosen by the State of Connecticut ensured that permits were pulled correctly, legally. The same applies to my roof being replaced. The roofing company pulled the permit. Having a customer whom you are charging in excess of $20,000 to pull a permit is putting that customer in legal jeopardy, which is unacceptable. If I sell my house, and I had the work done in my basement, and the permits were pulled by me. The person who bought my house could sue me for an incorrectly pulled permit. How would I answer questions from the town about the technical aspects of the job, which should be handled by the contractor directly? Why introduce another layer of bureaucracy that slows down communication? Have the contractor pull the permit, so that the contractor and the municipality, town or city can communicate directly, and the pulling of the permit is done correctly and legally. How would I know, when the town should be doing an inspection during or while the job is being completed or after the job is completed? This should never be a requirement of the customer to pull the permit for a job to be done. The tech who visited my home mentioned that I had to hire a plumber to move a basement sink, but they did not mention about pulling of permits, but I went and re-read the quote again, and it is at the bottom of the quote page under "Customer Will" that states not only hiring of the plumber but also pulling permits and scheduling inspections. I did not have this job financed by CT. Basement Systems. I, instead, decided to get a home equity loan. If I did not get the home equity loan, then decided to go with CT. Basement Systems financing, then I would be screwed. The best thing I did was slow the process down, seek my own financing, and ask larger, bigger, deeper questions that prevented me from making a mistake by allowing this work to be done."
Marcus L on August 2023
Connecticut Basement Systems is your trusted expert for basement waterproofing, crawl space repair, basement finishing, and foundation repair. Using patented, warrantied products, we provide permanent solutions for your home. Have a wet, flooded basement or crawl space? Tilted or bowing foundation walls? A basement you want to finish? We have a solution. We proudly serve homeowners and businesses all throughout Connecticut & Westchester County, NY. Call us today for a free inspection and no-obligation, estimate. Financing available. Additional phones - (203) 881-5090. Award winning.
"The visit to my home in West Hartford was a nice affair. The technician explained everything. He even mentioned that I had to get a plumber to remove the sink away from the wall, so the work could be done to repair the window and wall area, but I did not hear him mention that I had to pull permits. The problem with this permit pulling issue is that I never initiated the pulling of permits, and this also is a red flag for me. The pulling of a permit should always be done by the contractor who is doing the job. It ensures that the permit pulled is to code. It ensures that the permit pulled follows local ordinance and CT. laws and statutes regarding construction, and that also includes consumer protection mandates in the State of Connecticut. Having me pull the permit to allow the CT. Basement Systems to do the work is a big, red flag, and it can result in my home owner's policy being cancelled if the permits are pulled either after the fact, or the permits pulled do not line up with the inspection process. I can also be fined by the town for pulling permits after the fact too. I've had my furnace replaced. The plumbing company who replaced the furnace followed state law and guidelines. Especially, since funding provided through a loan from a Credit Union chosen by the State of Connecticut ensured that permits were pulled correctly, legally. The same applies to my roof being replaced. The roofing company pulled the permit. Having a customer whom you are charging in excess of $20,000 to pull a permit is putting that customer in legal jeopardy, which is unacceptable. If I sell my house, and I had the work done in my basement, and the permits were pulled by me. The person who bought my house could sue me for an incorrectly pulled permit. How would I answer questions from the town about the technical aspects of the job, which should be handled by the contractor directly? Why introduce another layer of bureaucracy that slows down communication? Have the contractor pull the permit, so that the contractor and the municipality, town or city can communicate directly, and the pulling of the permit is done correctly and legally. How would I know, when the town should be doing an inspection during or while the job is being completed or after the job is completed? This should never be a requirement of the customer to pull the permit for a job to be done. The tech who visited my home mentioned that I had to hire a plumber to move a basement sink, but they did not mention about pulling of permits, but I went and re-read the quote again, and it is at the bottom of the quote page under "Customer Will" that states not only hiring of the plumber but also pulling permits and scheduling inspections. I did not have this job financed by CT. Basement Systems. I, instead, decided to get a home equity loan. If I did not get the home equity loan, then decided to go with CT. Basement Systems financing, then I would be screwed. The best thing I did was slow the process down, seek my own financing, and ask larger, bigger, deeper questions that prevented me from making a mistake by allowing this work to be done."
Marcus L on August 2023
At Connecticut Custom Creations™, we specialize in transforming kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and attics into beautiful, functional spaces tailored to your needs. We take great pride in helping people build their dream homes, a core value that drives everything we do. As an owner-operated business with over a decade of experience, I bring seasoned expertise to every project, no matter the size. Whether it’s a small renovation or a large-scale remodel, we’re committed to delivering exceptional results with care and precision.
"We hired CTC Creations to renovate our kitchen after reading multiple positive reviews, and we had high hopes for the work Dustin and his team were going to do based on our initial discussions. While Dustin communicated promptly and seemed responsive to our needs initially, unfortunately right after the contract was signed and deposits paid, his initial work and behavior related to our project became very problematic… We encountered multiple issues: Not only did he take advantage of us financially related to an initial electrical project that his sub-contractor did for us (charging us over $400 an hour a simple outlet swap out), but he demonstrated a lack of knowledge on basic construction elements such as how to install a replacement window and LVP flooring, and most disconcerting, he is now refusing to return ANY of $4,000 deposit we have given him, telling us that we will need to hire him in order to get our deposit back. When we tried to resolve the issues, he refused to be reasonable and instead assessed multiple cancellation fees as well as a restocking fee for supplies he had not purchased. We are very unhappy with how we have been treated, and are disappointed with how he and his partner have refused to acknowledge any of these issues and are now inappropriately refusing to return the unused deposit funds."
Jim A on July 2024
At Connecticut Custom Creations™, we specialize in transforming kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and attics into beautiful, functional spaces tailored to your needs. We take great pride in helping people build their dream homes, a core value that drives everything we do. As an owner-operated business with over a decade of experience, I bring seasoned expertise to every project, no matter the size. Whether it’s a small renovation or a large-scale remodel, we’re committed to delivering exceptional results with care and precision.
"We hired CTC Creations to renovate our kitchen after reading multiple positive reviews, and we had high hopes for the work Dustin and his team were going to do based on our initial discussions. While Dustin communicated promptly and seemed responsive to our needs initially, unfortunately right after the contract was signed and deposits paid, his initial work and behavior related to our project became very problematic… We encountered multiple issues: Not only did he take advantage of us financially related to an initial electrical project that his sub-contractor did for us (charging us over $400 an hour a simple outlet swap out), but he demonstrated a lack of knowledge on basic construction elements such as how to install a replacement window and LVP flooring, and most disconcerting, he is now refusing to return ANY of $4,000 deposit we have given him, telling us that we will need to hire him in order to get our deposit back. When we tried to resolve the issues, he refused to be reasonable and instead assessed multiple cancellation fees as well as a restocking fee for supplies he had not purchased. We are very unhappy with how we have been treated, and are disappointed with how he and his partner have refused to acknowledge any of these issues and are now inappropriately refusing to return the unused deposit funds."
Jim A on July 2024
East Bay Home Repair provides professional handyman and home renovation services to its clients. We offer quality repairs and maintenance and take pride in our work with service you can trust. We have years of experience in home improvement and renovation services. We have established strong and lasting relationships with our clients through our professionalism, attention to detail and ensuring customer satisfaction is our top priority. Whatever your project, we'll make sure it is done right. My Handyman services offers high quality at a reasonable price to meet your budget. In addition:- No estimate fee. Financing always an option. Reliable and highly skilled professional. We enjoy working with people and we are extremely committed to meet our client's satisfaction. Thank you for your business. We look forward to working with you.
"Adie was a pleasure to work with, and his crew really knew what they were doing. His quote was far below quotes by other contractors (normally a warning sign), but he clearly knew his stuff and my confidence in him was well-founded. I changed several details as the project went on, and Adie was happy to work with me and make any adjustments. There were delays caused by tile suppliers, but Adie worked to find other sources, and rearranged other commitments to make sure our project was completed as soon as possible. My only constructive criticism is that the quote was not itemized (which was ok for me at the time), but that caused an underestimated cost of the glass enclosure to go unnoticed in the budget until the end of the project. We’d made many changes over the course of the project, so were not unprepared for the higher cost of the glass, but I’d have known sooner if the budget had been itemized. Overall a great experience though and I would use East Bay again in a heartbeat!"
Larry K on June 2024
East Bay Home Repair provides professional handyman and home renovation services to its clients. We offer quality repairs and maintenance and take pride in our work with service you can trust. We have years of experience in home improvement and renovation services. We have established strong and lasting relationships with our clients through our professionalism, attention to detail and ensuring customer satisfaction is our top priority. Whatever your project, we'll make sure it is done right. My Handyman services offers high quality at a reasonable price to meet your budget. In addition:- No estimate fee. Financing always an option. Reliable and highly skilled professional. We enjoy working with people and we are extremely committed to meet our client's satisfaction. Thank you for your business. We look forward to working with you.
"Adie was a pleasure to work with, and his crew really knew what they were doing. His quote was far below quotes by other contractors (normally a warning sign), but he clearly knew his stuff and my confidence in him was well-founded. I changed several details as the project went on, and Adie was happy to work with me and make any adjustments. There were delays caused by tile suppliers, but Adie worked to find other sources, and rearranged other commitments to make sure our project was completed as soon as possible. My only constructive criticism is that the quote was not itemized (which was ok for me at the time), but that caused an underestimated cost of the glass enclosure to go unnoticed in the budget until the end of the project. We’d made many changes over the course of the project, so were not unprepared for the higher cost of the glass, but I’d have known sooner if the budget had been itemized. Overall a great experience though and I would use East Bay again in a heartbeat!"
Larry K on June 2024
We have industry experience since 1995. We specialize in all phases of remodeling for your home, business, bathrooms, kitchens, finishing basements, and more! We guarantee your satisfaction, and we won’t leave until the job is done right. We pride ourselves on the quality work we provide, while delivering great customer service! Check out all the services we offer below and call -or- click to schedule a free estimate today!
"Smooth, easy, and friendly. Years later I needed information on the installed windows for warranty purposes. I called KKS for that information and he took the time and effort to go back 18 years to give me the information I needed to put in a warranty claim. Friendly and helpful."
Kervin 44 Maple Trail Coventry W on November 2023
We have industry experience since 1995. We specialize in all phases of remodeling for your home, business, bathrooms, kitchens, finishing basements, and more! We guarantee your satisfaction, and we won’t leave until the job is done right. We pride ourselves on the quality work we provide, while delivering great customer service! Check out all the services we offer below and call -or- click to schedule a free estimate today!
"Smooth, easy, and friendly. Years later I needed information on the installed windows for warranty purposes. I called KKS for that information and he took the time and effort to go back 18 years to give me the information I needed to put in a warranty claim. Friendly and helpful."
Kervin 44 Maple Trail Coventry W on November 2023
Dolphin Home Improvement LLC is a family owned and operated company that has been serving Connecticut for over 20 years.We all know there are plenty of options when choosing a contractor whether you're in the market for Roofing,Siding or Windows but we feel that our service, products, workmanship and industry knowledge is a tough package to beat.Honesty and integrity always come first when you’re dealing with Dolphin Home Improvement LLC.You’ll get a contractor that has the experience and expertise to create superior quality . We stand behind the quality of our work and guarantee 100% customer satisfaction.
"Very professional and personable! They were very detail oriented and did the job in a very reasonable time. They made sure that everything was to how we wanted and explained everything. Would absolutely use them again with some other work in the future!"
Brandon T on March 2025
Dolphin Home Improvement LLC is a family owned and operated company that has been serving Connecticut for over 20 years.We all know there are plenty of options when choosing a contractor whether you're in the market for Roofing,Siding or Windows but we feel that our service, products, workmanship and industry knowledge is a tough package to beat.Honesty and integrity always come first when you’re dealing with Dolphin Home Improvement LLC.You’ll get a contractor that has the experience and expertise to create superior quality . We stand behind the quality of our work and guarantee 100% customer satisfaction.
"Very professional and personable! They were very detail oriented and did the job in a very reasonable time. They made sure that everything was to how we wanted and explained everything. Would absolutely use them again with some other work in the future!"
Brandon T on March 2025
We specialize in all phases of remodeling for your home, business, bathrooms, kitchens, finishing basements, and more! We guarantee your satisfaction, and we won’t leave until the job is done right. We pride ourselves on the quality work we provide, while delivering great customer service! Check out all the services we offer below and call -or- click to schedule a free estimate today!
"My house is close to 100 years old. It has a lot of issues that took some creative construction problem solving. Mick was able to tackle each project and my house is beautiful as a result! Mick is hard working, pleasant and very skilled. I would recommend him in a heartbeat!"
Amy L on November 2024
We specialize in all phases of remodeling for your home, business, bathrooms, kitchens, finishing basements, and more! We guarantee your satisfaction, and we won’t leave until the job is done right. We pride ourselves on the quality work we provide, while delivering great customer service! Check out all the services we offer below and call -or- click to schedule a free estimate today!
"My house is close to 100 years old. It has a lot of issues that took some creative construction problem solving. Mick was able to tackle each project and my house is beautiful as a result! Mick is hard working, pleasant and very skilled. I would recommend him in a heartbeat!"
Amy L on November 2024
Generally, general contractors charge between $50 and $150 hourly, though not every contractor charges by the hour. If charging based on the project, you can expect a markup of 10% to 20% of the construction cost. You can expect to pay between $300 and $500 daily if charged by the day.
General contractors are the ones that coordinate home construction projects. They are in charge of the day-to-day oversight of the subcontractors to ensure that the project is completed on time and to resolve problems as they arise. General contractors:
Complete pre-construction planning, both with the customer and crew
Provide realistic cost estimates
Develop construction timelines
Ensure deadlines are met
Acquire permits as needed
Purchase supplies and materials
Before hiring a general contractor for your home project, it’s a great idea to write down a list of questions to discuss with each prospect. Some example questions to get you started include:
Which types of insurance do you carry?
Can you provide a list of references?
What is the expected timeline for this project?
How will my project be supervised?
Will you hire subcontractors for the job?
What is the best way to communicate changes?
Will you obtain all of the required building permits?
While city and state laws vary on general contractor licensing requirements, hiring an unlicensed general contractor could lead to poor quality work, costly future expenses, and potential code violations. Be sure to check our state licensing tool to review the local general contractor guidelines for your area.
As you browse our pro listings, take note of the “Angi Approved” badge. Angi Approved businesses meet our standards for certification which include:
The owner, principal, or relevant manager passed a criminal background check
Required to have applicable state and local licenses
Maintain an average star rating of 3.0 or better on our network, if they have at least one review
Paying to advertise their services
Meeting any other eligibility criteria required by Angi
Keep in mind licensing is different from certifications. A license is a legal requirement to operate a business, while certifications are voluntary.
Yes, most general contractors require a down payment for project completion. A reasonable down payment for a contractor is 10% to 25% of the total project cost, though that will vary based on project size and location. The down payment helps cover the upfront costs of materials and permits and helps ensure payment for the project at hand.