Custom Basements of New England LLC

Chelmsford Basement Remodel Lisa and her crew (especially her program manager Joel) far exceeded our expectations for our complete basement remodeling project, by way of quality, timeline & flexibility. From demo, framing, electrical, putting up walls, to cleaning, the team did an outstanding job. Lisa was open to our needs and brought constructive recommendations to the overall design, which resulted in an amazingly functional and beautiful space for our family. Seamless interactions with town inspectors, being appraised of project costs through requested amendments, as well as regular updates on the stage of the project and completion date, made this extensive project easy for us . The basement is now the favorite space for everyone in the family thanks to Lisa and her crew. We would highly recommend this team and would use them again in a heartbeat. Also happy to give references for the Lisa and the team. Thanks again Lisa, Joel and the crew. Harry & Sophia

I can't say enough good things about this professional, well-organized and detail-oriented company. Lisa's team of seasoned craftsmen cover all the bases, from framing to finish. Her eye for layout and design made it easy to take our project from concept to reality. Of course, no project goes perfectly, but my measure of whether a company is worth hiring is not never getting anything wrong, but what are they willing to do to make it right. This is where Custom Basements of NE separates themselves from the competition. We always felt their priority was to "make it right"and please the client. Lisa and her team took our basement from dark and dingy to magazine cover fabulous!

Amazing - one of the best experiences I’ve ever had working with any company. We got quotes from 3 different companies when renovating our basement; Custom Basements clearly demonstrated experience in basement remodels and provided a quote which was far more detailed and reasonable than other estimates. The entire process was seamless & communication was clear throughout the project; Joel and Lisa were a pleasure to work with. Our new basement is an amazing new play space which our 3 young children will enjoy for years to come. As other reviews here can attest, Custom Basements offers high quality, exceptional service, professional & highly experienced workers, reasonable prices (possible given their high level of experience), and impressive and timely communication with the homeowners. If you want to have a great experience remodeling your basement and work with one of the best companies in the area, I wholeheartedly recommend hiring Custom Basements for all your basement needs.

*We would give 4.5/5 stars if possible* Overall, we are very happy with our completed product and are much enjoying the added space. Custom Basements provided a quality product for a good price and in a timely/efficient manner. The budget had to increase slightly due to some unforeseen circumstances but was still significantly lower than competing bids and on schedule. Lisa was very informative and helped guide us through some design decisions, although the earlier stages did feel somewhat overwhelming. The primary carpenter that was on-site the most was friendly and respectful of our property, which made us comfortable having him in our house so often. Communication with the lead builder could have been better; It was often vacant, lacking detail, or overly blunt. We would recommend Custom Basements but if you are to pursue a project with them, we suggest looking at all available pictures and having a clear vision in mind as the project moves quickly and most of the details (other than paint, certain fixtures, etc) need to be decided on before you start and cannot easily be changed. With this vision and the ability to make quick decisions as-needed during the project, you’ll be happy with the end product.

We used Custom Basements of New England to finish our basement and we are very pleased with the end result. The crew for every step of the process were professional, prompt, and tidy, and answered any questions we had on the project. The work was completed within the timeframe we had originally discussed with Lisa. We were kept up to date throughout every step of the process on scheduling and project status. The project manager, Joel, was particularly helpful on day to day activities, adding some recommendations, and answering any questions we had throughout the process. We are excited to enjoy our new, beautiful space with our family!

I am very happy with my new basement I got exactly what I wanted . Lisa and her team were extremely professional and kept me in the loop on a daily basis of who would be working each week it was done on schedule and in was very impressed all round. I highly recommend them for any basement remodeling no matter how big or small as they are extremely capable and well priced .

We're very happy with the work done by Custom Basements of New England. From start to finish, their process was clear, their work was professional and efficient, and they completed everything on budget. Lisa and Joel communicated with us each step along the way and were a pleasure to work with.

From beginning to end, which went exactly as planned, Lisa and her team did the most amazing work renovating my basement. They built us an office, music room, built in storage and a living space. It took a little vision with a rough drawing handed off and they ran with it. I was involved as little or as much as I needed/wanted to be. The project was on time, and on budget. All decisions and staging of sub-contractors/inspectors were effectively communicated via text. Every person that stepped foot in this home during the renovation was respectful and extremely knowledgeable. It was an exciting process checking out the team's progress each and every day (took less than 4 months all-in). The most memorable part for me was chatting with all the workers during breaks. Every one was so nice! It made the project interesting and educational. The family is extremely satisfied with the end product and it was worth every penny!! Highly recommend!!

Finding Custom Basements of new England to handle our basement renovation was a real stroke of luck. As a survivor of several past home-improvement projects, both large and small, it was a welcome surprise to work with a company that delivers on its promises in the estimated time frame. This is a first-class company, with excellent communication and project management. They consistently kept us informed on what to expect and when. The project progressed through work and inspections at a steady clip with no surprises. Custom Basements also fields a super crew. Whether in design, carpentry, plumbing, or electrical, the team is very experienced, reliable, friendly, and flexible. The initial design process resulted in a unique plan that perfectly balanced our desire for beautiful finished space and smartly upgraded utility areas. We were grateful for their high quality of work and ability to adjust creatively and cost-effectively to changes in design along the way - an essential quality when dealing with renovations to an older home. Working with Lisa, Joel, and their team was a true pleasure and the results were exactly what we were looking for.

We recently had our basement remodelled by Custom Basements of New England. We couldn’t be happier with the result. From the beginning of the process both Lisa and Joel were extremely professional and worked with us to get the basement we always wanted. We now have a wonderful family space that we enjoy daily.

Custom Basements of New England Review The basement of our house was largely unchanged from the time it was built in 1965. The floor was asphalt tile, and the walls (where finished) were fake Pecan paneling. The ceiling, again where finished, was “popcorn” plaster. The laundry area was concrete foundation and bare ceiling joists, with exposed pipes, ducts and wires etc. The space to be renovated was ~ 650 sq. ft. We solicited quotes from 4 contractors: one declined to quote; two “ghosted” us after submitting a quote( these quotes were unreasonably low…. with one contractor not wanting to involve the town building permit process). We contacted CBNE after seeing their sign at another property in Sudbury. Lisa worked with us on a renovation plan, and we could not be happier with the results. The project manager, Joel, and the lead carpenter, Emerson, were great explaining each step of the process. We were even able to continue using our laundry facilities while the construction was going on. The areas were kept clean during the construction. The materials used were top notch (although the options for flooring could be expanded somewhat). The project was finished on time and on budget. Over the past 50 years that we have been in the house, we have had four major renovations: bathrooms; kitchen (twice!); and an extension with a deck. Our experience with CBNE has been the best experience (by far!) of any of these projects. We should have gone to them at the beginning of the quoting process… we would have saved 6 months of dealing with other contractors who were not really interested in doing the job.

Lisa and her team did an incredible job finishing our basement including a bedroom, full bathroom, play area, and living area. The entire process was very well coordinated between all contractors, home inspections, and change requests that we made. The pricing was very reasonable and all changes were discussed transparently in a timely manner. Overall, we would highly recommend the custom basements team for whatever you are looking for in your basement renovation!

Lisa LaGambina and the Custom Basements of New England team finished our basement over a period of 8 weeks from March to May. The entire team including Lisa, Joel (the lead PM), and the crew was a pleasure to work with – everyone was professional, punctual, courteous, tidy, and highly responsive. We were always kept informed of the progress of the job, next steps, and any delays to upcoming activities. Lisa offered many helpful ideas on the design. Joel clarified questions, explained options, and provided good recommendations. The individual crew members were knowledgeable and performed high quality work. Any minor punch list items that needed to be made were promptly addressed. The scheduling and planning were exceptional, and the work started and ended exactly in the specified timeframe. We are very happy with our finished basement, and highly recommend Custom Basements of New England.

Lisa and her team are excellent. We were very happy with the services provided. Lisa was clear and straightforward. Joel worked with us to make the best possible use of our space. The materials are good and no shortcuts are taken. The end result is even better than we could have anticipated. 100% recommend.

I contracted with CBNE during the Covid period in 2021 and because of work backlog, construction could not begin for six months. Construction began on schedule and was completed on schedule at the contracted price. In my initial meeting with Lisa I present my design of what I wanted. With her years of experience Lisa made a number of excellent suggestions that greatly improved my design. During the construction period Lisa was constantly in touch with me concerning the construction work schedule, city inspections and my reviews of phased tasks. CBNE's construction crews were very professional, punctual and a pleasure to work with. I was totally satisfied with the completed project and recommend CBNE without reservation.

We recently completed our basement refinishing project with Custom Basements of New England and could not be more thrilled with the results. The additional spaced has transformed our home. I still cannot believe that just a couple of months ago, we had a cold, dark unfinished basement and now we have a beautiful and bright finished space that we enjoy every day. Lisa and her team were responsive and communicative throughout the process. Not only did she deliver exactly what she promised, she helped us define the best way to use the space while maintaining ample storage with cost effective and space efficient suggestions. She kept us up to date throughout every step of the process and didn’t blink an eye when we had last minute changes to the scope of the project. The various members of the crew showed up on time, and were friendly and helpful throughout the project. I highly recommend Custom Basements of New England!

We are extremely happy with our basement renovation and highly recommend Custom Basements. We met with two other contractors and incredibly pleased with our decision! Incredible customer service – the communication and project management is first rate. Lisa collaborated with us in the design and guided us through the entire project - we spoke frequently throughout the process. Joel, the project manager, the carpenters, and construction team are extremely professional. We requested a design change mid-way through; Lisa and the team accommodated and did everything necessary to satisfy our request! The quality, workmanship and final design was more than what we expected. The basement and layout maximized the area and created a warm inviting space for our family. Thank you Custom Basements!

We hired Custom Basements of New England to finish the basement of our 115 year old house (see the Before photo). We hired Custom Basements because when Lisa came out to visit for the first time she was very thorough and detailed, worked up a floor plan and provided a quote, whereas other contractors were very vague, saying we could do this or that but nothing specific. We liked that Custom Basements specialize in basements so are very experienced with different basement situations, and that they offer both regular construction (drywall etc) or using a basement system with ceiling and wall panels. Our remodel included a new bathroom and a wet bar/beverage center. The work began a little later than originally planned (due to COVID) and there were some delays due to delivery issues - these were things mostly out of the company's control. I would like to add that Lisa is very proactive about buying materials for projects well in advance of the project start and works hard to try to mitigate the current supply chain issues. Overall we were very happy with the work that was done, especially by the carpenters, plumbers, plasterers and painters, all of whom were patient, professional and nice to work with. We are thrilled to have an additional 500 square feet of space in our house, and would definitely hire Custom Basements of New England for another project.

We are thrilled with how the team at Custom Basements of New England finished our basement. We had started with an unfinished basement and their team created over 1300 square feet of beautiful living space. We added a bedroom, full bath, wet bar area, media and gym space. They definitely lived up to their motto of, “on time and on budget”. We added a few upgrades along the way and were able to work them right in. The team was there when they said they would be, management was easy to communicate with and get a hold of, the contractors did quality work, they were clean and everyone was professional. I have no hesitancy in recommending them to others.

We wanted to finish our basement and reached out to several contractors. They came out and took weeks to provide quotes – some of which were ridiculously high. Lisa from Custom Basements of New England came out took a look, provided some ideas & recommendations. Then she took about half an hour to come up with a price estimate. I was impressed by her efficiency, knowledge and speed. We decided to go with her even though we had to wait for 2 months to start the job. Her team is awesome and the time estimate she provided was spot on. Very rarely does a contractor finish work according to schedule (with all permits pulled). We are very happy with the quality of the work and would recommend her and the team without any doubts.

Great company! The owner, Lisa, knows basements. She met with us, listened to what we wanted to do and made recommendations based on her vast experience. Her recommendations resulted in a better, more open design (and saved us money). She was up front and honest about the process and the timeline, and uses the best basement products on the market. Her crews cleaned up every day and were very respectful of the home. Crews were working consistently throughout the project to keep it on track. The end product is of VERY high quality, with no cut corners. We love our new space and highly recommend Custom Basements of New England.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Custom Basements of New England Basements and Lisa LaGambina. We have been dreaming of/putting off finishing our basement since we bought our home 15 years ago. We wavered between finishing the basement and installing a large master bath. When the pandemic hit and 2 of us were working from home and a third was learning virtually, we knew we needed extra space and decided to bite the bullet and hire a contractor. My husband and I both researched on our own, and we both found Custom Basements of New England. My husband was impressed with the photos, and I was excited to work with a woman-owned business. Lisa spent lots of time with us designing the perfect space. When we told her that we were considering a larger master bath, she designed a beautiful spa-like bathroom in the basement. We also installed a gym and a home office, while leaving plenty of storage space. I want to stress how professional and helpful Lisa and all of the workers were. We were apprehensive about having people in our home during COVID, but we rarely knew anybody was there other than the typical sounds of construction, and we always felt safe. Lisa would text us every day and let us know who to expect and when, and everybody was respectful and helpful. When we ran into an issue with the bathroom (on a part that we ordered), Lisa worked with us to come up with a solution that saved us hundreds of dollars and countless days of frustration and delays. The project was completed well within the initial estimated timeframe and there were no hidden costs. We are thrilled with the result and are so grateful that we found Custom Basements of New England.

We hired Custom Basements of New England to completely gut and remodel our basement for us. Our house is approximately 100 years old and over the years, and several owners, a lot of less than stellar work has been done in that basement to the point where it was easier to demolish it and start over than to try and patch what was previously done. They were able to do it all, take down walls, remove an old utility sink, replace leaky and cracking old lead sewage pipes, and even brought someone in to demo and repour the concrete floor (there was a 6" difference in the floor from one side of the basement to the other!). We worked with Lisa and the project foreman was Joel. They were both amazing. Lisa was super responsive to all our questions, completely upfront with the cost and potential issues that could arise once they started demolishing (we knew the floor would be an issue but found a couple other problems they were able to fix for us), and did her best to keep the project on time and on budget. She also helped us make some design decisions that kept things moving along (I'm admittedly not the best at decisions on paint colors and such). Joel was such a pleasure to work with, always around making sure the work was up to their high standards, answering our questions about what was going on, great at communicating days that would be noisy or more invasive in the main house, and really gave us confidence that the finished basement would be top notch quality. I should also mention Humberto, who did a lot of the work in the basement. His work looks great, he was very respectful of the fact that we were both working from home most days due to the pandemic, and he did a great job of cleaning up after himself and not leaving a huge mess or a lot of waste in the basement or around the yard. Now we have a wonderful new basement to add to the living space in the home with a nice half-bathroom/laundry room, a little semi-finished storage space that houses the utilities, and a big space for a living room/playroom for our toddler. We couldn't be happier with our new finished basement and the extra space it's given our home.

Fabulous! Lisa and her team at Custom Basements of New England are talented, trustworthy and efficient. Our basement started out as a cold, subterranean, concrete box and swiftly morphed into a warm and inviting playroom/office with a cheerful laundry and storage space. We opted for the wall-panel system and love how cozy and modern the space looks with the big bonus of avoiding mold problems sometime down the road. We also loved Lisa’s recommendations regarding lighting, flooring, plaster and paint. Humberto, our carpenter, was charming (from a distance amidst the global pandemic,) but also incredibly capable, handling everything from tile work to trim... and fast! Major progress was made everyday! I would not hesitate to call Lisa if you need a basement contractor! On time, on budget!

Best decision I have ever made when I hired this company to finish my bare bone basement. Lisa and her team are truly experts in this field. When Lisa explained to me what materials will work for the basement and why we do not use certain materials proved to me they really know what they are doing. The price quote was also reasonable in comparison with other contractors because they make the process seamless and easy for you as the homeowner. From the moment you sign your contract with them, you really do not have anything else to worry about. They secured the permits and city inspection. I cannot be any happier with my choice. Everything was seamless and they finished the project 10 days ahead of time! When usually there are project delays. They deserve an A+, really. Lisa and Joel (project manager) are very approachable anytime you have questions. I definitely recommend Custom Basement 100%.