Britton Homes LLC

My wife and I were very leery of going forward with our extensive kitchen remodel, after a very bad bathroom renovation experience. The folks at Britton homes made the entire process a great and rewarding experience. The quoting process was very straight forward and easy to understand. They laid out a very precise schedule, and worked very hard to stick to it (we had some changes that pushed out the timing a bit, but they did everything in their power to get us back on schedule). It is very evident that they have a great relationship with their subs, and work that the subs did reflect that as well. They were very accommodating during the construction phase, helping us manage as we were without a kitchen for 2 months. Now that the project is done, we are extremely happy with the final product, and couldn't be happier with the work that Jim, Patrick and Dan did for us. We whole heartily recommend Britton Homes!!

ors we have ever worked with

Initially trying to contact Jim was difficult we played phone tag for more than a week but due to the time just prior to the Labor Day weekend and then the week afterwards it seemed reasonable that a delay was normal for getting a response. When Jim came to our home he seemed informative and to have potential ideas for our project but in the end after verbally providing some ideas his follow up on the work never happened.

We called Jim to help us prepare for sealing up the attic space after an energy audit by the Conservation Services Group (through N-Star and Mass Save). CSG recommended a cover for the attic entrance (through a pull down ladder from the second floor ceiling). However, a short wood knee rail would prevent it from seating properly over the opening. Also, the knee rail had an electrical outlet attached to it. Jim sent an electrical contractor and then came over himself to remove the knee wall. As usual, the job was done quickly and professionally by all involved!

Britton Homes has been by far our best experience dealing with a general contractor. Their subs were professional and answered all our questions thoroughly; they often had suggestions on making something work better. When things did not go as expected, communication was clear and prompt--for example, when knob and tube wiring was more extensive than expected. When we were disappointed with some of the finish work on the tiling, Britton Homes came back and addressed every issue until we were satisfied. While the schedule did slip about a week past the original estimate, communication about it was clear and they did their best to work around our needs to not disrupt our plans.

Our renovation project went extremely well. Jim Britton is an exceptional contractor. He is a strong administrator, extremely personable, and possesses expertise in most aspects of the renovation. (If he is not certain about a particular aspect of the renovation, he expresses that and goes to his subcontractor experts for information needed.) We worked out many details (design plans and cost estimates) with him and his son, Dan, including the writing of the contract. Our planning stage included many detailed discussions and revisions. We were impressed by the amount of time and detail on the part of our contractor that went into this stage. It allowed for a full understanding (between client and contractor) of the scope and details of the project and allowed for a very smooth process once the renovations began. We were invited to look at one of his ongoing projects which gave us a deeper understanding of some of the aspects of our project. Included in the planning was a plan for setting up a temporary kitchen during the renovation. The plan included the building of a temporary (but real) wall with a door between the renovation area and the rest of the house. As a result there was no dust in the rest of the house and we were able to comfortably prepare meals daily. The only thing we didn't have was a kitchen sink, so we used a lot of paper/plastic and a bathroom sink. The wall also kept the noise level down and protected our pets from the construction area and vice versa. Also, when they first gutted the family room area (before the kitchen was gutted), they put up a tight plastic wall between the kitchen and family room (ceiling to floor) with a zipper to enter and exit the area. They also temporarily moved our television from the family room to the living room and temporarily wired it, along with our internet. When the renovation was completed they moved our furniture, etc. so that the carpeting and painting could be done in the main part of the house and upon completion of that phase moved everything back. Upon completion of the project our total cost was within one per cent of Jim's estimated cost for the project. This is a remarkable accomplishment and shows the accuracy, detail, and tight planning of all aspects of the job. This builds a strong trust relationship between the client and contractor. Though Jim's prices may be slightly higher than other contractors, they are extremely accurate and inclusive and are well worth every penny! Our renovation took approximately 10 weeks. Jim and his subcontractors kept to a schedule which we had delineated up front. They actually came in slightly ahead of schedule! There was hardly a day when work wasn't being done on site. The kitchen cabinet company that Jim recommended was excellent. The owner developed a design that was both creative, met our needs, and came in at an affordable price. The installers were pros. All the subcontractors Jim hired were excellent. They not only are experts at their job, but they also were always very cordial. It is clear that Jim runs a tight ship with high expectations. He is very fair with his subcontractors and as a result is well respected by them. The rapport between Jim, his sons, and the subcontractors translated into an extremely high quality work product/renovation. In addition to the high quality, on time work, everyone cleaned up daily. It would not be uncommon to see Jim doing vacuuming as well. There were some inevitable glitches as we went along. Remodeling an existing structure means we would run into some unforseen issues. We were always able to work them our very equitably with Jim. When necessary, Jim and/or his subcontractors came back to adjust, fix, etc. and were always pleasant. Our punch list piece went very smoothly as well. This is a time when remaining tiny details need to be taken care of. This could be frustrating to a contractor and client. But Jim was incredibly patient and worked with us on every final detail. He came to the house to fix one of these details and spent three hours on it until it was perfect. We love our renovation! If we were to do more work we would hire Britton Homes. How many people can say that a renovation was actually fun and had a great result?! We can, thanks to Jim Britton and his coworkers. We already have friends who have seen our house and are calling him. We strongly recommend him!

Discussed the job and he suggested I'd be better served with a handyman.

Overall, I can't rave enough about Britton Homes. I would recommend them to anyone that is looking for a reliable, trustworthy, knowledgeable and experienced Contractor to do work on their home. This project was a huge undertaking and it required a lot of time and energy to bring to fruition. My husband and I spent a little over a year working on what we imagined our home to be in the future. We put a lot of effort into finalizing our vision of how we wanted our home so we can accommodate a growing family and for our house to become a home that we could live in long term. In January we started to begin to look at Contractors to start the beginning stages of our project. I started my research here on Angie's List to found a few Contractors to come and bid on our work. We met with about four Contractors that I found on Angie's list. When we met with Jim it was clear that he was a front runner. We found his personality and style one that really clicked with my husband and I, he had great ideas in our initial meeting, and more importantly we felt a comfort level with him that we didn't with others. Having done our research on Angie's list, we knew Britton Homes wasn't the cheapest option. This is why we gave the pricing of B in our report. Britton Homes isn't the cheapest quote we got but the saying is really true that you get what you pay for. Britton Homes is top notch in their work, communication, effort and final product. They are worth the money. When it came to making our final decision we felt strongly that to have a large project such as this we needed someone knowledgeable and more importantly trustworthy. We found that with Britton Homes. What we really liked about Britton Homes is their detailed quote. We felt as we got ready to start the project that we really knew where we were spending our money. Jim helped us refine our vision and worked with us to make it come to life. We felt confident going into the beginning stages of construction that we knew what we were getting into and what to expect. Everyone has heard their horror stories when it comes to home remodeling. This was something we were trying to avoid at all costs....especially while we were expecting a little one on the way! Construction can be a stressful process especially with the level of work being done and the fact that we were still trying to live in our home during construction. However, working with Britton Homes was a great process. We not only worked with Jim but also with his son Dan who oversaw the day to day with us. Dan was someone who my wife called one night at 8:00pm with a Home Depot question and he answered...when he was at the Red Sox Game! Communication is key and Britton Homes delivers excellence at every step of the way with our project. There were small bumps in the road as in any project which can be expected. But the key is that they never turned into large bumps because Britton Homes stepped in and took action. With any project little blips come up here and there. It happened with our older home and is to be expected. Jim walked us through our options and always gave great advice. We felt informed to make a right decision which was very important. The project was completed on time and probably even a little bit ahead of schedule. The fact we had a mild winter helped but Britton Homes stuck to their timeline. We could not be happier with our finished project. When you walk into our home it is like it has truly been transformed. It has exceeded our expectations and is a finished product we are truly proud of. We can't stop showing it off to all our family and friends! Bottom line, we highly recommend Britton Homes. They are a top notch in their quality, service and strive to deliver excellence. This was a very elaborate project and we could not be more satisfied. We built a great relationship along the way with our work with Britton Homes which is something we think they should be proud of. We highly recommend this family business!

Patrick and his brother, Dan, oversaw the entire project. Patrick had provided us with a calendar with dates and services performed. The project began on time and for the most part, finished on time, which seems to never happen in remodeling. Patrick responded well to questions and gave clear invoices when payments were due. The brothers also oversaw subcontractors to ensure quality work as well as neatness of work. We were concerned about our hardwood floors and they protected them and even cleaned up each and every night. Their team of subs were polite and professional. We are extremely pleased with the final outcome. We have already recommended them to others and hope to have them return to remodel our kitchen in the near future!

Patrick Britton was extremely meticulous at every stage. Detailed proposal, careful with numbers, great work with his subcontractors. He was pleasant and knowledgeable - the entire team was pleasant to work with. Everything went according to schedule - they were in our house for about three weeks. They were very neat, keeping dust and disruption to a minimum. When things went awry, they informed us immediately and fixed the problem, minimizing drama. They were patient and flexible when we had last-minute ideas. We would be pleased to work with them again.

He got back to me quickly. However, Patrick was unable to provide a quote as his company does not have experience in handling rehabs involving loans.

Michael Lynch Remodeling did a great job for us - I submitted a review on them also.

We can't really say, since we only met with them during the planning stages of our project and did not actually hire them to perform any services.

Jim explained the options for different model doors and the key options on each door. Jim also worked with the local Jeld Wen representative where we had questions on how the doors worked. He worked with us on picking the handles and locks that matched the style of the house. Jim's team removed the old door (which was drafty) and installed the new door. They spent time working on a stain that would match the existing interior trim. They replaced the trim on the door's exterior and repainted the siding and trim with the original colors. My wife and I had questions on how the doors closed, the left door which needs to close and latch first when both are open. The doors swing out from the center, so sometimes getting the first door positioned before latching can be tricky for new owners. Jim brought some Jeld Wen installers over to answer our questions about how the doors closed. The Jeld Wen installers arrived before Jim and looked over the installation. They said (without prompting) that it was the best installation for that model door that they had seen (they spent several minutes showing us where most installers have trouble but not in our case). The issue with the left door is that, by design, there is no stop to hold the door in place while you latch it. If there was a stop then it would be in the middle of the doorway on the floor where people would trip over it. We've since learned the trick and close the left door without thinking. The job was done on time and at the estimated price. We thought they did a very good job but getting independent verification was icing on the cake.

Jim worked my wife and I on several options for windows. We inspected the state of all windows in the house to determine if full window replacements or sash replacements were needed. Only 2-3 windows had sill/trim issues; otherwise, the window sills and casings were good. For that reason, we opted for replacing the sashes. The sills on two of the four porch windows were in serious need of replacement. Jim had Marvin's representative come over and measure all windows and explain the construction of the sashes. When the windows arrived, we gave over the two car garage to Jim's team as their workshop. They carefully and methodically unpacked all of the windows such that they could easily match up the correct strength jamb liners. They heated the garage (it was well into the fall) so they could paint the exterior and stain the interior of all windows. Jim's team worked with us on matching the existing wood trim colors in the house. It looked like Santa's Workshop in the garage for a couple of days but the advantage was that once all the stain and paint had dried they walked the new sashes directly into the house and installed them. They didn't have to pack the windows at the shop and bring them up for the installation. HavingJim's team working in the garage also allowed us to see progress on staining and painting on a daily basis (and there was always progress). Since we were replacing a different model sash with Marvin's tilt packs, Jim's team made wood trim (stop) that covered part of the jamb liners. This last touch (plus the match on the stain) made the windows look like they had always been there. They also had to trim the stools of some windows so that the Jamb liners or sash fit correctly. Once they were done, you couldn't tell that any other sash had been in the windows. The casement windows were a tricky job in that the windows weren't really designed to have the glass replaced. Jim brought in Federal Glass to to work on the two casement windows while his employees handle the 20+ double hung windows. Federal Glass did a good job of easing the glass out of the casement rails. Most of the glass came out with some patient work. Where needed, Federal Glass repaired any scratches or breaks in the rails. The end product looked like the new glass was the original glass. They cleaned up the garage when they were done and you couldn't tell that they were ever in the house once they were done. The job was done at the estimated cost and on schedule. This was the first job that Britton Homes performed for us. We contacted them based on a recommendation from a friend who showed us Britton's window replacement work at his home. Our friend was so happy with the work that he dug out Britton's card out of his office and strongly suggested that we speak with Jim. That recommendation was a big part of our starting to work with Britton Homes and our continuing good experience with them.

My wife and I discussed the kind of paint to use for the job with Jim at length as there were many options to think through. Jim explained all the costs and options. The job started and completed as scheduled (with a break or two due to weather). The painting team checked in with us daily and acted on all feedback we gave them as the job progressed. The team repaired siding and molding trim where needed. Everything was cleaned up at the end of each day. The shed doors were rotted along with some of the sill around the shed. All repaired in the style of the shed. JIm's team removed the screens and delivered them for repairs at Federal Glass. Once repaired, they reinstalled the screens. The job was well done. No signs of trouble found (or expected) in their paint job.

We just finished a major home renovation with Britton Homes and were impressed with the knowledge and integrity of Jim and his team. Jim brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to our project and guided us through the myriad of decisions that come with home renovations. Britton homes is a family run business with long standing relationships in the field so their subcontractors all work together well. We had so many details and schedules to coordinate it was amazing how smoothly and quickly it all went and we credit it to Jim and his son Patrick who were a consistant presence at our house and always available to us by phone. We couldn't recommend them more highly and couldn't be more happy with the results.

Jim Britton's standards are higher than mine, and it's my home! He made sure that everything was done to perfection. Jim is easy to reach by phone or email and he is responsive to any questions or concerns while the job is progressing. Though I am sure it is possible to find other companies that might have quoted a lower price for the work done, none would have matched Britton Homes' quality, and, I might add, my homeowner's insurance did not think that his pricing was unreasonable. I live in a condominium village and Jim's reputation here is outstanding. The consensus is that if you want the job done and done right, Britton Homes is the company to contact. Several of my neighbors have had them install new windows and sliding glass doors, and, on at least one occassion, Britton Homes did the job a second time, after the first contractor didn't do the job right. This is the second time Jim has done work for me. The first project involved repair work resulting from replacement of copper water pipes that were corroded and leaking. The work involved replacing/painting a very large ceiling and painting walls in one large room and two hallways and a stairwell. Additonally, Jim had to open up closet walls so that the plumbers could access the pipes for the second floor bath. When doing this task, he suggested that it might be a good idea if he cut the plaster out, framed it with wood and screwed it to the studs in a way that would allow it to be removed in the future, if the plumbing failed again and plumbers needed access to the area. Jim makes sure that all of your possessions are safe and out of harm's way before work begins, and put back in their original positions when the work is complete. Besides all of this, Jim Britton is a gentleman.

I decided to renovate my kitchen, a relic of the 1960s, with the goal of modernizing and also adding much more storage and counter space in a very limited area. I had some ideas about how that could be done, and looked for a contractor through Angie's List. Britton Homes was one of two highly rated choices in my area, and is the one I selected. Patrick took my rough ideas for the kitchen and made them happen. From the design stage through demolition, rough plumbing and electrical, carpentry, cabinets, flooring, and final trades and finish work, Patrick was there to help with every aspect of the project. Even though my kitchen is relatively small, any project like this is teeming with decisions and details. I was an involved client throughout, making the critical selections of appliances, cabinetry, countertops, flooring, and so forth. Patrick made that process much easier, giving his suggestions where appropriate. During the actual work, Patrick was on site during critical phases and from time to time otherwise. When issues arose (as they always do) he was quick to step in to provide a solution and get the project back on schedule. One example may illustrate this. The new range hood required installing duct work and a roof cap for the exhaust. The first vent cap leaked in a heavy rainstorm (fortunately it was detected before any significant damage occurred). Patrick quickly arranged for a roofer to come out and check the installation, and when that roofer couldn't make it (his truck died) Patrick had a second roofer there within a day. The roofer replaced the original vent cap and did a great job sealing it. There were no more leaks and the project schedule wasn't impacted. In the end, the remodeling was completed on time (except for one minor holdup beyond Patrick's control) and on budget (except for my own extra spending to upgrade several items). I'm very satisfied with the result, and can't give enough kudos to Patrick and Britton Homes.

Over the years, we have experienced several condominium renovations and the building of a custom house in New York. Jim Britton's performance is equal to the best of the contractors with whom we have dealt. We had very exacting requirements for this renovation and Jim's professional approach and attention to our desires resulted in a successful accomplishment of our wishes. Jim's response to our request for a quote/proposal on the renovation of our newly purchased condominium in Wayland, MA was the most complete and detailed estimate we received. Although Jim's estimate was not the least expensive, his detailed costing of each item we had specified gave us confidence that there would not be many unexpected costs or "extras" at the end of the project. It was clear from the start that he understood what we wanted and was prepared to satisfy our expectations. On our first face-to-face meeting with Jim, we were introduced to several of his suppliers (for Kitchen & Bathroom cabinets, Granite, Tile, Plumbing Fixtures, Glass Shower Doors, etc.) who were similarly responsive to our tastes and desires. We were able to find exactly what we liked without shopping further. His subcontractors and craftsmen were equally responsive to our wants and dedicated to quality results. We were living 150 miles away from the renovation site, and usually limited our visits to meet with Jim at the site to less than 2 hours every three weeks. Jim always accommodated our meetings with a punctual arrival and an efficient discussion of his and our questions and concerns. In our absence, Jim addressed the inevitable problems encountered and communicated his suggested solutions with us by telephone or email (i.e. the wall we wanted to remove in the kitchen was filled with plumbing piping affecting the units above and below our condominium unit. Jim proposed a successful rerouting of the plumbing, so that the overall desired redesign of the kitchen was possible). We would not hesitate to use and/or recommend Jim Britton and his team for any renovation or new construction project. It was a pleasure working with him and we feel fortunate that we selected him for this project.

My experience with Britton Homes overall is that their work is impeccable. Jim takes the time to hear the customer and is very fair when there are inevitable changes on the project. He knows his trade and has great employees and subcontractors that coordinate well and all work is top-notch. If there ever is a problem, he gets it fixed. I tried to save some money by hiring some of my own subcontractors (electrician plumbing, flooring) and probably would not do that again as a project took too much of my time and was much longer than if I let Britton Homes manage all aspects of the project. Britton Homes may seem a bit more expensive than some competitive bids, but in the end I think the acutal cost to complete the project will be close. As we finalize the punch list this week, I am looking forward to enjoying the new suite.

Our experience with Jim Britton was a pleasure from the start. We had interviewed four contractors--Jim was neither the least expensive, nor the most expensive. But he was our clear favorite. He inspired confidence, was clearly experienced, and had a very friendly, level temperament. Throughout our 3-month experience, we have been continually impressed with the clear communication, the attention to our needs and requests, and the overall quality of the workmanship. We are currently in the last few weeks of a major project--a point where you might expect the tensions to mount! But on the contrary, we continue to be very happy with Jim and his subcontractors, who are clearly very loyal to him. Our project has proceeded at a steady clip, and is still on-schedule! Jim has worked to keep us within our budget, and has been fair and honest with us throughout the project. Jim's company worked well with our architect, and they have also been able to integrate new details as we made decisions along the way. The quality of the workmanship is very good, and the carpentry needed to renovate our 1921 bunglaow (but also meet building codes) sometimes needed to be creative! We recommend Jim Britton and Britton Homes of Ashland without reservation for any renovation project.

We liked this company very much but in the end chose Dimensions 3D instead. We were very impressed by the suggestions, the attention to detail in their estimate, their responsiveness, and their courtesy. They have excellent ratings, which we know are very well deserved.

I really liked the guy who came; I thought he was very professional and friendly. I really liked him personally but the quote was too high.

Very professional, knowledgeable and friendly. We have not moved forward with the project yet for budget reason, but are considering it in the near future.