"Review by John Haugh, Greencastle, PA. Project: remodel master bathroom and make it handicapped friendly. The Conrad Homes work team (Patty and Blake) were excellent to work with and did an outstanding job. They were completely cooperative in taking our suggestions and doing the work as we wanted. I would not hesitate to have them help with any future remodeling jobs we might have at our home in the future. The work done on our master bathroom was clearly superior to the work done on our bathroom by the builder when the home was built in 2010."
"The owner Justin came to my house to give an estimate and he was easy to talk to. He was down to earth and I was able to ask every reasonable and unreasonable question I had. His office manager Jess answered all my questions through email courteously when I had them. The crews were quick, responsive, and careful in my home, especially around my curious dog. I asked for a very elaborate and difficult herringbone tile backsplash. The team handled its tediousness beautifully. The estimate was much lower than another company I had researched. I plan to use Adam contracting next year to replace my roof ... yes, they do that, too!"
"As with a lot of homeowners, we were scared stiff about starting a home remodeling project after all of the horror stories we had heard from friends. We were pushed off the edge by a master shower that stopped working and could not be repaired without tearing up the walls. We dove in after reading great reviews about VKB and totally lucked out by getting matched up with Calvin when we walked into the store. From start to finish this has been an amazing experience starting with the design phase, to demolition, construction, and final walk through. Calvin was perfect for us. He first asked us to collect pictures of bathrooms while he took meticulous measurements of our space. He then held our hands through what he called an “organic process” of designing our dream bath. What was really fantastic was when we had to choose tile, he walked us next door to the humongous tile store (where he was previously the store manager!) and smoothly guided us through one of the hardest choices to make with the perfect recommendations. The project was then handed to Al, the construction manager, and again we totally lucked out. I highly recommend this team of Calvin and Al. The construction phase went super smoothly. The workers are extremely clean and respectful. Everyday they lay down clean tarps and cover the carpet they are walking on with sticky plastic sheets. (We have white carpet upstairs and after they were done and a quick vacuum it is absolutely good as new!) Demo day was painless, no dumpster... just hand carried away in a truck. Construction happened pretty much daily from 8-4. We didn’t have to be home when the team was here and we felt absolutely comfortable leaving them home unsupervised. I am an orthopedic surgeon so I’m very precise about measurements. Each night I would sneak into the bathroom and measure everything, and I’m telling you all of the measurements were spot on! Also of note, they taped up two plastic sheet barrier walls between the master bedroom and bath which left the bedroom perfectly clean and livable with zero dust. We slept in our own master bed during the whole master bath remodel. In the end the project took one week longer than expected (this happened over Xmas holiday) and right on budget with no HGTV surprises. Al kept in close touch throughout the project and would text back immediately whenever we texted him with a question. Jose was also incredible during the entire remodel. We absolutely love our new bathroom and we honestly can’t think of any choice that we would change looking back. After this fantastic experience we are already planning our kitchen remodel with VKB next year. I will absolutely insist on my same team of Calvin, Al, and Jose. I have no fear of my next remodeling project"
"He's been working for me about 12 years now. They have done everything in my house and rental properties. He did plumbing, additions, HVAC, painting, electrical, and framing. He did everything. He's excellent, always does a great job. He also did a roof for me."
"VKB Frederick remodeled our basement and turned an area that was mostly being used for storage into a space our family can actually enjoy. We wanted it to feel comfortable and finished, but also practical enough for everyday use. This was our first renovation of this size, so we had plenty of questions throughout the process. The team was responsive and explained things in a way that made it easier for us to make decisions. We also appreciated the crews attention to the finishing details because those little things really make a difference once the project is complete. The basement no longer feels like a basement. It feels like another level of our home, and we are using the space far more than we expected. We?re very pleased with the transformation and would recommend the VKB Frederick team."
My name is Robert Congedo president of KMA Associates, Inc, I have the following licenses: Class A Virginia, Maryland contractors, Maryland home improvement, Montgomery contracting, PG county contracting, Calvert Co contracting, District of Columbia contracting, land disturber certified from Virginia. I have over thirty years of experience from building houses in all price ranges, in all of these areas. I spend a lot of time on every job to make sure things are done right. All of my homes have appraised for 10 to 30 percent higher than the cost to build. I can offer you competitive pricing as I have low overhead and years of experience with all my subs. I build one at a time. All my estimates are free and depending on the detail are exact prices. I have never increased price on any project without the owner's approval in writing.I also carry over two million in liability insurance . I can find lots in any area and have available architects to help design your home.
"Howard Shires From American Home Contractors came out to my house today and repaired my roof. He arrived on time and did a great job. I would highly recommend Howard to anyone needing roofing work."
"We selected Talon for building our screened porch, and they did a stupendous job. This was a project that was very complex, especially with the way our home’s roof comes into the space. I went with Talon over so many other contractors because of the level of trust we had with them, that they care about quality, the full understanding from them that they wouldn’t take the job on if they didn’t feel it would work, and their professional attitude and incredible knowledge. All throughout construction, they showed incredible care while working, and were extremely respectful of our property and daily routine. They went the extra mile so many times to ensure this was well built. They take immense pride in their work. It’s an added bonus that everyone we talked to were extremely kind, they are all good people, and it was such a pleasure to have conversations with everyone who works at Talon. If you have a home project you’ve been considering, don’t hesitate, contact Talon now!"
"After talking to and receiving quotes from 6 contractors we selected BK Contractors (Bret) for our remodel. The project included creating a new home office that needed to be insulated and sound proofed, a home theater, a kid’s playroom, half bath, and craft / arts center. Additionally, the hot water heater needed to be relocated with new plumbing lines run. Bret and his team were very professional and great to work with!!! Starting with the design and contracting process, Bret was easy to work with. He was more than happy to spend as much time as needed to help design the project. Like most people, we had a limited budge. Bret was able to offer options that allowed us to stay within our budge while maximizing our design. As for the contract, Bret’s scope of work and contract was thorough and left no doubt we select the right contractor. Within days of signing the contract Bret had the building permit in order and his guys were hard at work. The framing, electrical and plumbing rough-in were competed within a few weeks. All of his employees are very professional, polite, respect your home as if is it their home. At the end of each day, the work site was swept clean and the trash taken out. Throughout the entire project Bret was ALWAYS available and just a phone call away. I would absolutely recommend BK Contractors and will certainly use him again."
"I quickly received an estimate on adding insulation to a colonial. The work was scheduled shortly after that. (~1-2 weeks from what I remember). Workers arrived on time and were pleasant. Part of the job included one of the workers climbing through a hole in a ceiling, since there was no access to the attic in that section of the house. That attic section was also the only access to the area above a cathedral ceiling. They spent quite a bit of time making sure that there was insulation between all the beams in the roof above the cathedral ceiling. This insulation makes a huge difference. Initially it was the initial 1965 insulation, ~1 1/2 inch thick and absent in sections. Now it is R44 and was a great investment. It was well worth the cost considering they insulated a large colonial in addition to a section of house that was not easily accessible and took more time than expected. They did not charge more than the estimate."
One starting point to find a local home builder is to collect suggestions from friends and neighbors. However, it’s still wise to do some more research before you hire a builder. Read reviews to supplement any word-of-mouth recommendations. Check sources like Angi that have standards and criteria in place to screen the pros it lists can also help you find more reputable local home builders.
Green homes are often more expensive to build, averaging around $200 per square foot compared to the $150 per square foot you’d spend to build a standard home. However, green homes can save you money on your utility bills by consuming less energy or creating energy using solar panels or wind turbines on-site. They’re more expensive to build, but they often end up costing less in the long run.
Whether it’s more affordable to gut a house than build a new one depends on the markets where you'd be buying and selling. However, it’s usually less expensive to renovate a home than to build new construction.
Most homeowners pay between $100,000 and $200,000 for demolition and remodeling costs, whereas the average cost to build a new home is between $139,000 and $531,300.
Ultimately, a work warranty is only as reliable as the contractor you’ve hired. That’s why trust and reputation are such important factors, in addition to having a solid contract and confirming appropriate licensing, insurance, and bonding. When looking for a contractor, it’s a good idea to read online reviews and ratings to see what kind of experience past customers have had. Issues with your contractor can make for an unsatisfying renovation process, but a reliable contractor can make the process go as smoothly as possible.
A construction manager is particularly useful in the case of a large-scale build with custom design elements, so it’s usually worth it to hire one. They can help manage your budget, maintain quality control, oversee timelines, and navigate unexpected hurdles. While construction managers are pricey, they can actually save money in the long run by identifying cost-saving opportunities and ensuring the project stays within budget.
The Frederick, MD homeowners’ guide to home building services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
When building a home, going custom gives you the freedom to create your dream house. Learn about the cost to build a custom home and the factors to consider.
Thinking about a custom home building project? Learn about design options, average construction costs, and how to hire the right local pro for your new house.
Building your dream home starts with hiring a builder. Here is how to find a builder who understands your needs and preferences for your brand-new home.
