"We used VKB for a complete bathroom makeover based on positive reviews online and found out how good they really are! This company knows how to do customer service and makes your home more beautiful! Junior was our designer and eased us through the design process. This was our first major renovation and Junior explained each step and what to expect. Jason Ali, project manager, was constantly coordinating, checking and communicating as the work unfolded. And to our delight, Pedro, crew leader, Ricardo, and Jose turned out to be our dream construction team. They were sensitive, polite, and skilled as they worked so hard each day. They kept things as neat as they could and without fail, cleaned up well each day. The project yielded some small problems and challenges but each was identified and solved. We could not be more pleased. Gary and Kate C"
"Green Studio Builders (and specifically its owners, Chris and Nicoleta Papadopoulos) helped me take a financially devastating
situation with my house and turn it into an opportunity to create a home that I love. A little backstory: I bought my home in Hyattsville in 2009. It was a single family detached colonial with a three-story addition on the back-side of the house. In 2010, I was told by a county inspector that the addition was un-permitted. It wasn?t clear until 2012 just how faulty the construction of the addition was. Long story short, it became clear that the repairs needed to bring the addition up to code were going to cost 150K or more. It took me a year find a way to finance the repairs. Once I had, I hired an engineer and architect to draft rough plans to inform estimates. Enter GSBuilders.
When I met with Chris for the initial walk-through of my home, he was sympathetic, attentive, and optimistic. I felt immediately at ease and could tell that he was an expert who would take great care in fixing the mess I?d inherited. He recommended a complete demolish and rebuild, adding valuable square footage and ensuring that things would be wholly right. He was the only contractor to suggest a complete rebuild. The added value was double the added cost! When his estimate came in as one of the most competitive for a rebuild, I was delighted.
Chris and Nicoleta made their support clear from the start. Chris spent his own time cleaning up the messes in the plans drafted by the architect and engineer I'd previously hired. He and Nicoleta both helped me navigate a personal health crisis in the middle of the project, meeting me on site to provide reassurance and welcoming me to their offices regularly with advice and espresso. Nicoleta spent hours helping me coordinate finishes. She acted as my designer at no extra charge. even making trips to tile stores and walking me through other finished project sites (with owner's permission) for inspiration. Nicoleta has a generous heart, exquisite taste, and great strategies for creating beautiful spaces on a budget.
I also owe a debt of gratitude to William Reyes, the foreman assigned to my project. When Chris and Nicoleta had to tend to a family crisis of their own, William stepped in and held my hand through every step of the project through completion. Every renovation has its hiccups and I always knew I could count on William (Mr. William as I took to calling him because he always called me Miss Pamela) to come up with a great solution that would keep the project on track. In some cases the obstacles became opportunities for improvement! I couldn?t have asked for better.
I could write for pages and pages about the specific ways in which GSBuilders saved my house and my sanity. Thanks to Chris and Nicoleta, my grief over this unexpected financial blow has become delight in my beautiful home. I am forever grateful and cannot recommend their services highly enough. I can, however, offer individuals venturing into a project with GSBuilders some advice that will make everyone?s life easier.
1. Start your project with GSBuilders from the drafting stage.
My only regret is that I didn?t find and work with GSBuilders and their engineers and architects from the start. They have a well-coordinated team and the quality of the work for the price can?t be beat. Save yourself the headaches and trust them with it ALL!
2. Know the specifics of your budget and start collecting photos of spaces and finishes you love.
Nicoleta can work magic within your preferred style and budget, especially if you have specific price points for finishes and have a clear aesthetic. And even if you don't, Nicoleta will help you figure it out. That is tremendous added value.
3. Keep the GSBuilders team on speed dial and never hesitate to call.
Chris, Nicoleta, and William all made it clear to me from the start that they were willing to help at every turn, but sometimes I didn?t reach out because I didn?t want to be a bother. MISTAKE! It became clear that transparent and regular communication made everyone?s lives easier. The team always got back to me within hours if not minutes and was happy to be in the loop. A connected team is an empowered team.
4. Stop by the office.
The espresso is hot and strong and you may even come on a birthday and get a cupcake! In any case, you?ll get a warm welcome and all the support you need to navigate your renovation.
Thank you to the whole GSBuilders family for your love and support in this journey. I?m eternally grateful for you all!
"Outstanding. Looking for high quality siding/Hardie Board, roofing, windows, I highly recommend Sunshine Contracting. About a month ago they finished putting Hardie Board on our Tudor-style home to replace rotting wood and stucco and did a fabulous job at a very fair price (we checked others). The crew was fantastic. Hard working, considerate, friendly, respectful – and talented. I was amazed by their skilled precision and dedication to doing the job right. Nate, the supervisor, kept progress moving efficiently. The crew leader, Ken, knew his stuff and is well-spoken. The house looks beautiful and the Sunshine team ensured everything was cleaned up, put back in order, even preserved gutters. Ryan, the owner, took extra measures to ensure we got the custom colors and other features we wanted. The team was exceptionally respectful of our having to work at home, observed proper social distancing, and scheduled work in stages to be far less disruptive than we thought it would be. We were dreading this job, but the experience with Sunshine put a smile on our faces."
"My second time using BK Contracting and I couldn't be happier. Just bought a single family home in Leesburg as an investment property. Bret's team remodeled the kitchen (installed all new appliances, fixed some plumbing and replaced the linoleum floor with tile). The kitchen looks absolutely amazing with the stainless steel appliances and the high quality floor.
He also totally overhauled two bathrooms including the entire floor with tiles, replaced all the vanities, toilets, mirrors and lights. Basically, two whole new bathrooms.
The basement had some shoddy work to be repaired. There were entire dry walls missing and all sorts of weird electrical cabling. Bret's team fixed all of it and honestly, it looks about as different as it gets.
All the work was completed in less than 3 weeks and I was able to place the home on time. Consequently, the home was leased out in less than 12 days to a new tenant and I could not be happier.
Best of all, I had to text Bret at odd hours on a Sunday with a broken thermostat / heater issue, and he promptly responded with valuable advice on what the problem was and how to mitigate it. Not sure who else would have given me free advice on a Sunday.
Overall, a huge fan of BK contracting. I had a flooding in my personal home earlier in 2015 and BK Contracts totally rebuilt my basement (insurance claim) and it looks so much better than before.
Bret's a real gentleman and a man of his word. He has always stayed very close or below his budget estimates and I know I will be using him for future renovations of my investment properties.
"Had a great experience working with Sam for the initial walkthrough. Very friendly and provided a competitive estimate on the spot. Crew arrived on time, completely covered/protected all floors, cabinets, and furniture. Did a great job painting almost two full floors of my home including walls, trim, stairs, spindles, doors, and frames. Touched up all areas of concerned and did a good job cleaning up afterwards. Would recommend and use them again in the future."
"Very good work on my mother's house. Adam, the project manager, was very helpful in measuring and recommending the fixtures and cupboards. etc., which I then picked out and ordered from Home Depot. Everything was done quickly and the clean-up was thorough with minimal intrusion on the home health aide's schedule. Planning to replace living room rug with wood and will definitely hire them for this. "
"This was a great experience. The Team was top notch and very kind. They were very professional and did a great job cleaning the windows. They were careful and respectful of the home and belongings within. I will be using them again!
Custom Home Builders questions, answered by experts
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.
Yes, you can finance new construction, though the process often requires a different type of loan than one for an existing property. There are several financing options available:
Construction-to-Permanent Loan: This is a common option where a single loan covers the building costs and then converts into a traditional mortgage once construction is complete and you move in.
Construction Loan (Stand-Alone): This type of loan provides funding only for the duration of the construction project. Once the house is built, you will need to pay the loan in full, typically by securing a separate, standard mortgage.
Builder Financing: Some custom homebuilders offer their own financing options, which may only require a down payment to begin the building process.
Bridge Loan: This can be a useful short-term loan to fund your new construction while you are in the process of selling your old home.
Home Equity Options: If you are building a second home, you might be able to use a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or a cash-out refinance on your current property.
It's also important to be aware that some lenders may have restrictions on financing for DIY house builds, so be sure to verify that you can secure financing before starting your project.
Framing is often the most expensive phase of building a house because it’s time-consuming and requires a lot of materials. It costs between $20,000 and $50,000 on average, depending on materials and labor costs. Before construction begins, it’s possible that purchasing land is the priciest step in the process. Some plots of land sell for $3,000, while others cost upwards of $150,000.
Renovating or remodeling an existing structure is usually less expensive than the cost to build a new house. That’s because you can save on the costs of new building materials, laying a foundation, framing the entire building, and installing new materials and utilities throughout the house. However, if a home is in very poor condition or is incredibly old, you could spend more on upgrades and restoration compared to building from scratch.
If you want to make your home eco-friendly, enjoy low maintenance, and love the fact that its looks will take people’s breath away (and not because they were trying to blow your house down), then a modern brick home is right for you. You can hire a mason to get the building process started for your brick home.
But if you’re not fond of the color and don’t want to deal with the process of repointing or other repairs, consider going with vinyl or wood. These materials offer a lower cost. While they tend to require more maintenance, they don’t cost nearly the same as exterior brick house repair.
The Dumfries, VA homeowners’ guide to custom home building
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Wondering how much it costs to build a house in Washington, D.C.? Use this guide to cover all your bases, from permits and planning to construction and finishing touches.
One of the best ways to expand your home is to build up. That said, the cost of adding a second story in Washington, DC, can range. We'll break it down here.
Garages increase curb appeal and have a high ROI. Use this guide to learn about the average cost to build a garage in Washington, D.C., and budget for your project.
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.
