What Others Say

Happy customers are our companies most valuable assets – We believe that excellence is doing ordinary things... extraordinarily well –

Our goal is your complete satisfaction with the experience of doing business with our company –

See what our valued customers had to say ...

As an architect, I am very careful to recommend and use only those contractors upon whom I can depend to provide exceptional value and superior craftsmanship, to follow my contract drawings carefully, to develop a cordial working relationship with both architect and client, to keep the job moving according to schedule and to finish on time. In this regard, I have found Construction By Design to rate at or near the top in each of these categories. –Stephen Friedlaender, HMFH Architects, Inc.

A lot of their restoration and renovation work has a timeless quality to it in that for years to come, the renovation still maintains a true sense of quality. CBD's finished product is done with pride of craftsmanship and their workers do the job as if they were doing it for themselves. –Jared Wollaston, Real Estate Broker & Partner of FWC Partners, Building Restoration & Design

Dan Baker has a thoughtful approach to construction: looking for the most cost effective way to get things done, anticipating what might be a problem, and providing clear, concise options and recommendations. On many construction projects, the owner and contractor are on opposite sides of the table, arguing about money and who's responsible for what. With CBD, I always feel that they are on my side of the table, doing what's best for the owner and the project. –Marsha Hannon, Senior Project Manager, Cascap, Inc.

CBD is large enough to have the expertise required for complicated work, but still are customer oriented enough to provide very personal service. I would recommend CBD without qualification. –Bill Cohen, Property Owner

I cannot but appreciate with each passing day the quality and workmanship CBD did on my Back Bay condo renovation. It has been 8 years since "the overhaul" and it looks as good as the day it was done. (And no call backs either.) But more importantly, as a business person I appreciated your ability to commit and keep to timetables. Lastly, for any prospective client, I appreciated how your word was your bond. Every time my wife or I requested a work change, you indicated immediately if there would be additional costs. With all the changes we made, there was nary a one which resulted in a budget overrun. For any prospective client, the question to ask is would I use CBD again. The answer is – yes!! –Scott Nystrom | Condominium Owner

From planning to conception, working with Dan and his team has been a pleasure. This construction project was our sixth but our first in the Boston area. Dan was recommended to us and we included him in our review of prospective contractors. We selected Dan based on the depth of his knowledge, his creative solutions and his calm demeanor. His team has been professional knowledgeable and dependable. As a significant aside, they have also been delightful to work with. Our project is now complete and we are thrilled with the results. We would consider no other contractor in the Boston area. Based on our recommendation and on their own observations, our condo association has engaged CBD to work on two projects with a third in the works. We would not hesitate to recommend CBD to those with even the most exacting standards. –Anthony and Lorraine Vaccari | Homeowners

We are involved in many community organizations in Boston. Through these involvements, we have been exposed to many people in the construction business. When we initiated the renovation of our brownstone in Boston's Back Bay, we worked with four other recommended contractors, and were displeased with each. Our displeasure was centered around the contractor's inability to do the job, i.e., lack of expertise in the trades. The second reason for our displeasure was dishonesty. The contractor would say that a staff member would be at our job site and would bill for that individual when the individual was actually on another job! In contrast to the above-described experiences with other contractors, working with CBD and Dan Baker has brought joy to our lives. His staff has extreme professional expertise – showcase and museum-quality performance. Also, whenever there is a difficult decision or roadblock, Dan Baker is there personally to help his staff and solve any problems. In fact, we have witnessed Dan Baker working beside his staff at our home. His billing rates are fair, and he is absolutely honest. When he gives a quote, he meets the quote and does not go over the mark. We have recommended CBD on many occasions, including for a difficult project that they completed at Boston's historic First Corps of Cadets Museum. On this project they installed a complex air conditioning system to provide climate control for priceless artifacts from our nation's history. An important point to note about CBD is that after a construction project is completed, the staff is available to come to provide the ongoing maintenance that our homes require. No job is too small or unimportant. We recall one wintry weekend night when CBD rushed to our home to help us with our frozen front door that wouldn't close. CBD is the homeowner's "911". In short, we feel that CBD is the best construction contracting business in the Greater Boston area and beyond. They have expertise, honesty, and they care. –Dr. Dean Saluti and Marjorie Cahn | Property Owners

Bob and I highly recommend without any reservations Dan Baker and his crew at CBD. The crew was professional, punctual and trustworthy and cleaned up daily. Dan was always available by phone and responded in a timely fashion to any emergency. If something was not satisfactory, Dan corrected it without any questions. Bob and I will definitely contract with Dan and CBD for our future house projects. –Dr. Katherine Morgan and Bob Gee | Property Owners

I have worked with Construction By Design professionally over the past twelve years. During that time, I have always found CBD staff to be honest, approachable and reliable. I trust their ability to handle all aspects of a project regardless how big or small – they are truly a full service agency. Most importantly, I know they approach all projects with the forethought they would use in their own homes. They do not take short cuts, they figure out the correct way to resolve a problem and address the root of the problem instead of just treating symptoms. Having used many contractors in my professional capacity, I knew I wanted to call CBD when a need arose at my house. My house was struck by lightning in August of 2006. The resulting fire caused significant damage. Dan Baker personally came by at his first opportunity. I was so reassured to have someone there I could trust. CBD's work on my house was everything I could hope for. Without exaggeration, my house is better now than it was before the fire and I am very grateful to Dan and his crew for all their efforts. –Marianne Delorey | Director of Property Management, Cascap Realty, Inc.

I have been using CBD's services since 1989 when they finished the construction of our present home in Cambridge. CBD is a responsible firm which manages their projects on time and within budget. They are prompt in answering calls and when asked, have worthwhile recommendations and professional advice. When the work has to be done, they arrive at the appointed hour and date. They are clean and after each job is finished, the locale/area is left in order. The workers are attentive and reliable and the finished product is correct and what is expected of serious professionals. This for me is worth every dollar charged. They are very efficient in coordinating the various trades, thus relieving me of much stress. I recommend CBD highly to others. –Mario Torroella | Architect, HMFH Architects

Working with the crew CBD is a pleasure. They are responsive, timely, have good control of subcontractors and a good rapport with clients. And most importantly, they listen to the architect! –Terrence Heinlein | Architect, Terrence Heinlein and Associates

The best aspect is the ability to always reach them with any questions or concerns and expect a very quick response. The projects with which I have been involved with clients have proven good workmanship and on time delivery. –Sandra Fromm | Realtor, William Raveis, RE

We like working with Dan. His crew is great. He himself is reliable, and he's a straight talker who will negotiate on design features, price and help us identify savings. We feel he gives us a fair price and good service. Dan's also a very pleasant person to work with. We certainly expect to use him on future projects. –Bradley Day | Cascap Realty, Inc.

"We come up with the ideas and Dan Baker and Construction By Design help us orchestrate them. Dan has a great network of all the different subcontractors and engineers, even architects, that we need... You can have wonderful ideas about what you want something to look like, but you have to have a person who can build it. That's Dan and his crew! It's fabulous to have a contractor that can handle demolition, construction and renovation – the entire project." "Dan isn't the cheapest, but he's very clear and up-front about price... In restoring old buildings, little things will come along that require you to move a wall or comply with a code. With Dan, there are no surprises, and that in itself saves a great deal of money." "Dan always puts one person in charge on the job, that person is responsible for assuring that everything is done. The guys are very polite and work well not only with us but with the abutters and the neighbors." "At times it is amazing to think of all the many decisions... to make our home so very special. We know that without CBD it would not have happened." "I have worked with CBD on numerous projects. CBD is the company I turn to for their expertise in committing my designs to reality." –Jared Wollaston | Real Estate Broker, Hammond GMAC & partner, FWC Partners, Building Restoration & Design

Dan Baker and his crew did a good job and did it within the specified time and budget. As a matter of fact, I was so pleased that I paid him a bonus! That's saying a lot for someone like me, who's an architect and therefore somewhat jaded when it comes to builders and re-modelers. –Ed Frenette | Architect and Condo Owner

As a matter of fact, this is the first time I ever complimented a builder. I had not one complaint. Dan Baker and the Construction By Design crew were orderly, regular and prompt and they met all their commitments. –Dean Barry | Condo Owner

Frankly, I had never used a builder I'd use again. It was my architect [Paul MacNeely of Jeremiah Eck Architects, Boston] that recommended Dan Baker and Construction By Design. Construction By Design's proposal was not the lowest, but it was by far the clearest and Dan had a very good understanding of what had to be done, which was a lot. Even now, ...I will find Dan easy to work with. Dan's a good record keeper, and he's also reasonable to deal with. Construction By Design's foreman and crews are very professional and the quality of their work is excellent. –Gretchen Fox-Stein | Property Owner

I work with Dan Baker and Construction By Design frequently. He and his crew know how to build what the best architecture expresses. –Americo Andrade | Architect, Americo Andrade & Associates