Custom Design and Build, LLC

Donny was referred to me by a relative, who had work done by him when he was lead on a remodeling project just prior to starting his own business. I was likely one of the first clients of this new company, but clearly Donny has a deep history in the area and is well connected with electricians, landscapers, plumbers, and anyone else a general contractor might sub to. He has an easy charm which explains the network of high quality craftsmen who are happy to work with him, and which serves him well when dealing with clients. He has never been anything but a pleasure to work with. I should preface this by saying I went into this assuming that the experience would be a nightmare. I was buying an old, foreclosed house on my own, and felt like a sitting duck with my stereotypical female lack of understanding of anything relating to home improvement. I fully assumed I'd end up working with someone condescending who blew off deadlines and inflated prices. What a delightful surprise to find a company that is honest, provides high quality work, quotes fair prices, and treats the client with respect! In fact, I honestly don't know how I would have gotten through this past spring without Donny. He was a lifesaver in so many ways that I have to edit myself in order to keep this review at a reasonable length. Whenever he called me to let me know there was a problem, he also had a solution ready. He always kept me informed, but didn't let problems turn into my nightmare to manage. As a busy single mom, this means a lot to me. When they couldn't test the new hot water heater because something was wrong with the electrical system, he got an electrician out there almost immediately (I believe it was a Friday night) and found an extensive issue that needed to be fixed before I moved in. Donny made sure things happened. He stayed on top of whether and when providers showed up, and he was pickier about the quality of the work than I would have been. When the County came by with a bureaucratic technicality with my fence, Donny was on top of resolving it for me. Over and over, he made what could have been a painful process relatively easy and at a fair price with no surprises. I think the best thing about working with Donny's company is that he was excellent at listening to what I wanted and suggesting a solution that made sense. When I told him a landscaper was encouraging me to mulch the barren moonscape of a yard (previously used as parking), he pointed out a much more sensible solution that was also considerably cheaper. Donny never makes you feel like he's selling something. He really is genuinely there to provide a service, and it's clear he takes pride in a job well done and a happy client. I have called him at times with some crazy stuff, and he has always been gracious with advice or solutions, even when those solutions don't necessarily translate into a paid job for his company. He listens to what you're trying to achieve, he understands the limits of budget that we all have, and then applies his expertise to suggesting ways to approach the project. He graciously provided quotes on many things I didn't ultimately end up doing on the house, and I appreciate his patience. When you buy a new place, there are always so many things you want to change or fix, and it's difficult as a layperson to know which are huge, complex projects versus which might turn out to be affordable today. He was very accommodating with offering different approaches and steering me away from unnecessary costs. He also didn't seem to mind the "scope creep" when I kept tagging on, "oh, can we do this too?" items. Eventually, I'll want to do several more things on the house, like replace the kitchen cabinets, and I wouldn't dream of contacting anyone else to do it. Donny delivered everything on time, in budget, and with high quality. He was accessible and responsive at all times. He answered a zillion questions, and solved problems with finesse. I highly recommend his company, without reserve.