Quality First Builders in Tarzana

Review №1

2024-05-07 15:16:43

Quality 1st Builders lived up its name. We recently hired Eli and Donna to completely renovate a 900 square foot condo in a luxury building, while we were not regularly in town. Their work was high quality and we are very happy with the result. Eli and Donna were very communicative and put in extra effort to manage the project smoothly in our absence. We appreciated Donna’s design services - to us that was a big benefit in working with Quality 1st.We would be 100% satisfied, except that the project ended up a bit delayed and we had to move in before the project was completely finished. However, we believe that it would still have been quicker than had another contractor handled the project.

Review №2

2024-04-11 22:12:48

I am writing this review mainly because Eli and Donna made me feel like a part of their family from start to finish. If I ever decide to redo my kitchen or anyone I know that is looking to do a remodel, I will not hesitate to recommend them every time.I have been living in the same condo for the last 14 years. The condo was very out of date and going home after work or being home was at times something I didn’t look forward to. I wanted my home to be my sanctuary, a place I couldn’t wait to get to and enjoy.I made up mind to remodel the condo around September of 2023. I did research and had three different contractors give me a bid. They were all very reputable companies, all around the same price, but I felt something was lacking. I had one last quote I was going to do and that is when I found Quality First Builders. The thing that made my decision was the Company was family business, meeting Eli and Donna, and their bid came under the other 3 by a considerable amount. Eli and Donna were amazing. They handled all my questions and thoughts with professionalism and class. I was very nervous about the project but they both made feel at ease when they knew I was nervous about certain decisions.The project was a total Bathroom remodel, flooring, ceiling lights, closets and painting. Eli told me the project would take about 4 weeks to complete, they finished in 4 weeks and 3 days. Eli kept me informed every 2 to 3 days on progress and any issues he had concerns about. I also had a vision of what I wanted and color scheme. I can’t thank Donna enough for bringing my ideas to life.I have been back in my condo about 3 weeks and words can’t describe the joy in my heart that Eli and Donna have gave me. My friends who come over can’t believe the transformation. It look like something out of a magazine. You can check the Quality First Builders website for pictures and my testimonial. I am still in touch with both of them and wish nothing but the best for them. They truly take pride in their work, are professional, but most of all they are amazing people.

Review №3

2023-01-13 23:20:45

In December of 2021, we had a house fire that did an extensive amount of damage to our home. After the house was ready to be rebuilt, we decided to interview multiple contractors. From recommendations from friends and family to reach outs to some well-reviewed people in our area, we had no shortage of people to go with.When we met with Eli and Donna, we immediately felt like they understood what they were dealing with. Both from a house and a personality standpoint. Both of us are extremely picky people but very strong in our convictions of what we wanted our remodel to look like. They handled both of us with ease, helping to explain certain unforeseen situations and extra costs that come with renovation a fire-damaged 90 year-old home.Not only does the house look great, but the speed of the construction from start to finish was almost unbelievable. When we first met with Eli he told us we’d be back in our home before the end of the year and I scoffed. Our insurance had told us that they estimated this being an almost two year long repair. They had the house ready in just about seven months.After our plans were approved, the rebuild went smoothly minus a few hiccups including extra damage and remediation that had been previously overlooked by our insurance. Their attention to detail and thoughtful design really helped us transform our home back to a place we wanted to be in after the trauma of our house fire.Donna was so helpful in walking us through our floorplan options and working with us on the design details to make our home feel like ours. She sourced vendors that had similar furnishings to what we were looking for and at price points we were comfortable with.I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone, even if you’re worried about being a little on the more high maintenance side like we are.

Review №4

2024-02-28 22:52:52

We had a pipe break and flood our downstairs. Essentially half our house had to be gutted and redone. On top of all that my husband and I were expecting our first baby. As work began we discovered a tremendous number of things which were not up to code or were on the verge of even more disaster (our whole house needed to be re-plumbed because the original pipes from the 60’s were disintegrating)To say this was a stressful situation is a wild understatement. But Eli and everyone at Quality 1st are absolutely amazing and made this process SO MUCH EASIER.Every single member of their team are excellent at what they do and the communication was constant. We always knew what was going on, what we needed to take care of, and when the next steps were coming. When I say I am absolutely stunned at the speed and quality of their work I don’t know if it really conveys how much I mean that. We are so, so grateful to Eli and the team for pulling off what I consider a miracle.When we were first dealing with the damage we heard so many stories about people being out of their homes for over a year while things got repaired. We were back in our home, with our baby, after just three months because Eli wanted us and our newborn daughter back home ASAP.They aren’t inexpensive, however I believe that is because they are honest and upfront about the ACTUAL costs of projects and don’t spring charges on you later. Also, Donna does a wonderful job giving you options for the finishing and fixtures in a variety of price points and designs.Aside from being truly excellent at what they do, they are also exceptionally wonderful people.When we finally get around to replacing the rest of our drafty original windows, and for ANY home project we have after that, Quality 1st will be the team I call.

Review №5

2019-07-10 00:17:17

As soon as we met Eli and Donna from Quality First Builders we knew they were they right team to hire for our project. We spent a lot of time interviewing different contractors in a span of months but nothing provided us the combination that Eli and Donna had.They did a tremendous job with our new construction. Eli picked up the pieces from our last contractor and built the home that we envisioned. We couldnt have done without Eli and Donna. They make such a great team with Elis construction expertise and Donnas eye for interior design. Donna made the whole process of selecting designs, fixtures and appliances so much easier because it would have been a nightmare without her. Eli was constantly in contact to make sure we were aware of the progress every step of the way through. They were both very conscious of our budget and made sure to keep us in line. Even the neighbors complimented on how professional the team onsite was. I can honestly say that Eli goes above and beyond to make sure you are happy.I’m sure many will read this and have their own experiences or heard or horror stories of bad contractors. You won’t have to worry with Eli and Donna. They are professional, honest, trust worthy and they are always responsive!

Review №6

2019-03-30 20:40:44

Quality First Builders did a full remodel of our 2-bed, 2-bath condo in Santa Monica.The result is spectacular, and very well suited to our needs.Eli provided a detailed quote, with lots of specific information broken out. It was very clear what was included and what was not. Eli and Donna were both able to provide expert advice and guidance. During the quote process, Eli identified some problems that others did not, which is one of the reasons we chose to go with Quality First. There was an attention to detail that was reassuring.The project encountered some significant challenges, including the discovery of some questionable electrics and plumbing as a result of the previous owner. These added to the cost and the duration of the project, but I do not blame Quality First Builders for that -- I do not think these issues could have been foreseen until demolition was complete.Eli and his team took deadlines seriously, and although the original deadlines needed to be revised to account for these additional surprises, the work was completed ahead of the revised deadlines, which we really appreciated.The project included:- Full kitchen remodel- Extension of cabinets and counter tops through dining room- Full remodel of two bathrooms- Custom floating shelves and mantle- New doors throughout- Paint and flooring throughout- Installation of recess lights and light fixtures throughout- Tiling a large patio area, and replacing trellisingSo it was a large and complex project, and the result was of a high quality. Time and money both ran over, but seemed to be within reason, given the surprises left by the previous owner. There seemed to be a genuine sense of urgency and of efficiency throughout the process.The reason I cannot quite give a 5-star review is that the process was an extremely stressful one for us.To be fair to Eli and his team, the main points of stress were where third parties were involved. Anything that was completely within Elis control was handled smoothly and well. His team does not do everything, however, and so we had to work with some other companies to fix the air-conditioning, replace the fireplace, hook up cable and internet, install closets, and replace the tile drop-ceiling in the hallway. We also had to interact with a very frustrating and unpredictable inspector. There were a lot of challenges where these different groups intersected, and where it wasnt clear who was responsible for what. We had to be more directly involved than I would have liked, and the communication was often stressful and at times became heated.My recommendation to others would be to handle as much of this sort of work as possible either before of after the main work is done. There is a clause in the contract about not working with third parties, for good reason, and in our case it turned out to be unavoidable (e.g. we discovered the AC work we had done prior was not properly permitted so the inspector would not sign off on anything else, the fireplace had to be installed before the tiling around it could be complete, etc). Eli was flexible in allowing this, and I appreciate that we got to a great result in the end, but the journey was bumpy at times.Both Eli and Donna injected creativity and problem solving. For example, the way the master bathroom was previously laid out was not up to code, and the inspector drastically limited our options, and caused Elis team to have to do unnecessary re-work, which was frustrating. We were able to make the best of a bad situation, and the result is good looking and functional, even though our original plan was not allowed.The look and layout of our kitchen and dining area were more within our collective control, and together we achieved a really distinctive and appealing design, thanks to Eli and Donnas input.Thank you to Eli and Donna for working with us through all these challenges and getting to a great result.

Review №7

2020-03-12 00:52:24

We had overall quite a positive experience with Eli and Donna doing an extensive remodel (starting with gutting): we redid the kitchen/dining room and a bathroom in a contemporary style, and created of a small laundry room, in our 60-year-old home. Quality First is far from the cheapest, so not for everyone, but the service level is high, and the quality seems to be as well. Anything that isnt quite right will be fixed. Donna has a great eye for design but she generally provides well-thought-out options and lets the customer specify, unless her preference is explicitly requested. Communication between designer and general contractor is good because theyre a couple!Things were generally done right the first time, and on the rare occasions they werent, it was fixed promptly. Eli has a forceful personality which one might have to resist occasionally, but always trustworthy and honest. We are very happy with our beautiful new kitchen, bath, and laundry!

Review №8

2019-10-24 19:18:02

We chose Quality First Builders to remodel our master bathroom and kitchen because of the great reviews we saw on YELP. And because of our initial meeting with them, we did something we rarely do…we decided to go with them without getting any other estimates. So I really can’t say how reasonable their estimates were, but it felt in the ballpark of what we thought it might be.The company is owned by Eli and his wife Donna. Eli takes care of contracting the workers, and Donna is an indispensable part of the equation in that she helps in picking out the fixtures, and the furniture, and the colors, and cabinets, and tile and grout, and everything else you can imagine. Honestly, there’s no way we could have selected all the myriad of choice possibilities that need to be made without Donna’s help. She is schooled in interior design and she miraculously comes for free as part of the package.We were told the project was going to take about 5 weeks to complete, which hearing the horror stories of other contractors promise of estimated time to complete a project, we were skeptical but hopeful. As demolition and construction began, there was some unforeseen additional work that needed to be added to the original time plan - partly due to the inevitable ‘surprises’ one finds during construction and also because of additions we requested. And, through no fault of theirs, items ordered to complete the project took far longer to arrive than we hoped, so there were several weeks added to the completion of the project. All in all, however, we were extremely pleased with the quality and timeliness of the work that was done, the professionalism of the workers, and most importantly with the way our master bathroom and kitchen turned out. We couldn’t be happier.So, highest recommendations to Quality First Builders to anyone considering remodeling their home.

Review №9

2023-10-27 16:45:10

Quality First Builders Built us a new construction 2 story ADU with 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths & a full kitchen with an island. We filled in an existing pool we had, and redesigned the backyard to allow space for the ADU.We initially found Eli through BuildZoom, and also met with several other contractors. What we appreciated Elis honesty--he provided a detailed quote with line items broken down. It was very clear what was included and what was not. Everything was done on time and he kept us in the loop of what was going on. We were told in advance what was needed and when it was needed by so it made the process much more smooth. Knowing what finishes we wanted and having a timeline made purchasing things easier. Eli and his workers were very professional and always left the job site clean and orderly at the end of every day. The result is beautiful, and the process was great! I would definitely work with them again in the future and refer them to future friends and colleagues.

Review №10

2019-03-26 17:52:55

If you are in the middle of a search for a reliable contractor, you really can stop here. Eli is your guy. we have worked with a few different contractors over the years, and Eli easily ranks at the top of all those I have worked with.This specific project was a remodel of the upstairs of a 1920s Spanish colonial in Silver Lake. It involved knocking down some walls, and converting an old office space into a master suite to include a walk-in closet and a new bathroom. Also remodeling the existing bathrooms, bedrooms, and hallway. Also: all new plumbing, rewiring, install a large beam, lots of framing work, extensive new drywall, refinishing original wood floors, all new tile for walls and floors for bathrooms, original stair rail and refinish, new stair treads and landing, new exterior doors and windows, and large window in shower.It was actually a pretty big project despite the modest sqaure footage.Everything went really smoothly. All the workers were fantastic, very nice, and seemed genuinely interested in making sure we were happy.We had a few changes come up along the way, which is of course inevitable. With prior contractors, it always seemed like a fight to change anything. But with Eli, there were no problems. He just changed or fixed what was needed until we were happy.Some little examples that made me extra happy:1) In the new bathroom, we installed a steam shower, and all the details were perfectly accounted for. The ceiling and all niche edges slope perfectly, the generator was installed well, and the glass seals everything in! It is fantastic. I wouldnt have known to account for these things without Eli, and he made it all happen.2) The tile work was incredible. With help from Donna, we selected hand made tiles. She was always right on top of making sure the tiles were ready on time and made sure delivery went fine. Their tile workers did an absolutely fantastic job installing all the tile. It looks stunning. Without Eli and Donna, we wouldnt have had all these top quality materials and workers to make it all happen.3) The window in the shower. It took some ingenuity to get the window to work within the plans and not require extensive structural work. But it is a glorious window. It spans nearly wall to wall and brings in a ton of light! They even framed it in so that it shows essentially no ugly vinyl frame from the inside, and it looks fantastic.4) We installed two new wood picutre windows, and they match perfectly to the rest of the original windows we wanted to keep in the house. Eli even coordinated to have moudling custom cut to match the old out-of-production style, so all the new doors and windows match beautifully. Nice touch!5) We had some original components we wanted to keep and incorporate, and Eli and his crew made them all work. We were able to keeping some original hardwood doors and update the mortise locksets. We were also able to keep the original wood rail - little things that really help the character of the whole house.4) We had some plans drawn from a prior architect, and they needed some updated. Rather than us having to do it, Eli made sure to get them updated so everything was ready, and handled all the leg work with that.5) We needed to live in the house while the upstairs was being done. The crew really went above and beyond to drape off everything so there wasnt such a huge mess, and made sure all the plumbing and electrical were always ready for us to use in the rest of the house by the time we got home. We didnt have to spend a single night in a hotel, and not a single problem!6) Clean up was superb! Beyond expectation.In the past, my relationship with contractors has always been sort of meh. But with Eli, I really am over-the-top happy with how everything turned out. Thanks Eli and Donna!