"My designer, Junior, helped me through the entire process. He was so customer-focused and professional. Jason, the project manager, and Walter, Team Leader, ensured a smooth demolition and rebuild of my bathroom. The entire team was outstanding and truly dedicated in ensuring I was completely satisfied. Great work!"
"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!
"The WHOLE House project with Sunshine Contracting: Sunshine is the best "big" contractor in the area which gives them the resources to get the material and support services in place in a very timely manner. Yet, they feel like a family owned business that is vested in every client relationship they have. The project manager was in touch by phone, text, or onsite every day. The staff is personable, sincere, and pro-active with their communication. The installation team was frighteningly hard working, efficient, and dedicated. More importantly, the work team engaged us daily, proactively, and consistently. They worked so hard that they inspired me to want to help. Cold water and bad jokes were the best help I could do. The team leader looked young, yet, he had complete command of the products, problem solving, team leadership, and daily engagement with this (solid diy background/thinks he knows things) customer. I have huge respect for him and his team of installers."
"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."
"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
The early stages of building a house are harder than the later stages; laying the foundation and framing the house are two of the most challenging steps. However, it varies for everyone. Some people have difficulty installing HVAC, plumbing, and electricity, while others find it harder to plan the house and secure the necessary permits.
Craftsman-style homes are predominantly found in the Western United States, specifically in Southern California, where the style originated. Since the climate was mild and there was access to plenty of natural resources, Southern California became a hub for this style at its inception. That being said, if you consult with an architect near you, you can have a Craftsman-style home anywhere.
Typically, architects do not build homes in a hands-on sense of doing the actual framing, roofing, or other building. Architects usually do not have the training and experience to build the homes they design. An architect would need to know how to do the specific trades required to build a house, which is possible but not a common practice. A general contractor or homebuilder typically oversees the actual details of building the house that the architect designs.
Building a new home can be more expensive than buying an existing one, depending on the housing market in your area. Many homeowners still find that building a new house is worth the investment as they can choose the exact layout they want, as well as to choose their own floors, wall coverings, appliances, and finishes. If you live close enough to the build site, you can also stop by to check on the builder’s progress, which can provide some peace of mind that the project is worth it.
Building a house without blueprints is not advised. It will prevent you from obtaining necessary building permits and meeting building codes and is likely to result in shoddy construction and unsafe living conditions. Detailed blueprints ensure that a house is built to exact specifications and is constructed safely and structurally stable.
The Montclair, 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.
