It all began with a “chance meeting,” when we called a contractor to change filters for our heat pump & perform an air quality test. We are nothing if not yappers, so we struck a conversation with the technician. We told him we were hoping to remodel our single-story “Levittowner” with the primary purpose of making our home asthma/allergy friendly. He provided us with contact info for “The Doms,” who are childhood friends of his.
Shortly after, we called them to set up a meeting. When we met, we expressed our goals & answered all questions we could at the time. We showed them our concept floor plan, and they provided us with contact info for an architect so we could design our dream home. Originally, we were not sure of the scope of project and their ability to complete it given how young they are. Those fears were unfounded.
We met the architects and they made sure our original plan was structurally sound. They amended it to change placement of laundry room, sliding glass door as well as to add a powder room. “The Doms” set a day aside where we could meet the over 20 subcontractors they selected for this major renovation. This meeting was an active conversation between all subcontractors & us, fielding questions from all phases of the project. The site visit was well organized, and they had architectural designs throughout the house marked up for each subcontractor’s area of responsibility.
Shortly after this, they provided us with a detailed list of places to visit to select kitchen & bathroom designs, flooring, siding, etc. All vendors were people known to them personally & provided excellent service apart from one vendor, for whom they had an alternative vendor lined up within seconds of us expressing our disliking them. Construction materials were bought with utmost care to be mindful of VOCs & the upcoming “price changes”. They even found a paint that was not only VOC free, but after the paint dried, it would actively clean the air. This level of diligence is what sets them apart.
Prior to the start date, they provided us with a highly detailed 16-page scope of work for the project. During this entire time, as well as for the duration of the project, they never failed to get back to us promptly.
We moved out on 4/1/25, and work began as we drove away. They met multiple problems along the way including poorly supported walls, termites, and other things one would find when walls are gutted down to the studs. They managed each problem quickly, at a reasonable cost, and in such a way that the construction schedule was not delayed significantly. Their versatility was made clear when they found asbestos. They adapted on the spot & found a cost-effective company to remediate it while in the context of rearranging the schedule of multiple subcontractors working simultaneously.
When there was a significant mistake, of which there was only one, they made us aware & it was rectified before the day was over. They bring their proud military service to their job & are relentless in problem solving & getting things done. 143 days after the project started, they obtained a certificate of occupancy for us. Finishing touches took another month. Even with this rapid pace, they were consummate professionals & everything was done by the book. They were approved for all pre-project permits at the first presentation & all 10 site inspections by the township passed on the first go around.
The reason for the renovation has been a success, and we are so grateful for all they did. We have gone from having asthma/allergy flare ups several times per month to none. But they did so much more than that. The house is structurally sound, well organized with an open concept, energy efficient, has tons of natural light & is beautiful. People who were familiar with what the house used to look like are stunned by the changes. People who have never seen our house before all comment on how beautiful it is. The cherry on top is the appraiser telling us that had we not lived in the house before, he would have classified it as a brand-new house.