Built By Newkirk

Selecting a contractor for a remodel is without question a daunting task. So many decisions and much to consider/worry about, it’s overwhelming. When we met with Brian the very first time, all of the concerns and worries were squashed. He provided a thorough explanation of what this project would entail and cost so we could make an educated, and informed decision prior to any work performed. We had the sense we would not be in this alone, and that ultimately proved to be 100% accurate. He created an extremely detailed rendering of our new kitchen/dining room which was exactly what we spoke about in our initial meeting and he heard what we wanted and brought those ideas to life. He also offered realistic expectations (which I often needed). During construction, Brian was extremely hands on throughout every step of our remodel and truly went over and above what I believe the average contractor would do. He was on site for not only the major events but also the minor. He treated our home as if it were his own and to me that is an immeasurable, rare quality. Because Brian is so knowledgeable in the aspects of every trade, it immensely reduced the inevitable stress level that comes with a remodel. I joked with him that he was like my contractor and therapist all in one. Even though the trades that performed the work were also amazing, I knew Brian was keeping a close meticulous eye. Again, peace of mind is immeasurable. Our new dream kitchen and dining room, is beautiful and we are thrilled! I implore anyone reading this, if you are undertaking a home remodel/renovation, you need someone you can trust, someone that hears your requests and will provide realistic, honest answers, someone who knows their business and is the consummate professional. Brian is all of that and more!

Selecting a contractor is on my list of the things I hate most when doing construction/remodeling, until a carpenter friend of mine suggested I talk to Built by Newkirk. I reluctantly called Brian and went into the meeting with doubt; was I wrong. Brain told us of his background as an engineer and his transition into construction. He explained the way he does business including the fact that he handles everything from design, planning, permitting and overseeing all activities as they happen on-site on a daily basis. He explained the way in which he does business which is to cover every detail ‘before’ the job starts and anticipate what may occur along the way so there are no surprises. A very different approach since most contractors will open a wall and then start to tell you what needs to be fixed (and typically not budget for). During the design phase, Brian produced renderings and plans so we can visually see what was to be built. We were able to ‘walk’ thru (on paper) how every corner of our remodel would look like. Brian pointed out the details and options so we knew, long in advance, the decision we had to make, but more importantly, he was there by our side showing us options on these decision. During the construction phase, Brain was on-site at the project every day and twice on some days. Not just to briefly show up, but to inspect all the work performed and confirm with us that we were happy with the work. Many times he was here all-day when multiple trades were working. During the finishing phase, let’s just say that for people as particular as my wife and myself… we could hardly find anything that needed correction that Brian wasn’t already on top of. Oh, and the budget…… the final price was ‘exactly’ what the initial price was. Keep in mind that this was a 9 month structural construction renovation, not a carpet replacement! Brian gave us a line-item detail bid so we were able to make informed decision on the project we wanted. We are so impressed with the results of this project …. you can see Brian’s work quality on his website (Royal Grove). (Sensitive Information Hidden) Built by Newkirk hits the mark on the points that are most important to us: •know your craft •listen to your client (even when we are wrong !) •be honest on budgeting •show up on-time •do what you say you are going to do •be thorough and detailed on your work •be caring, conscientious and proud of one’s work

I first learned about Built By Newkirk when I inquired with my building official who he recommended to consult on the construction of my custom 6500 square feet home. I planned on building myself. He gave me two referrals and Brian Newkirk quickly demonstrated his innate ability to understand my wishes, the complexities of the construction documents, and daunting requirements of the Orange County building dept. I wasted no time in contracting Brian to consult on my project. He quickly took control of project and easily worked hand in hand with me. Brian quickly understood our eclectic style and was able to make key alterations in the style of our home to make it uniquely tied to our preferences. Our custom back lit column, floating ceiling panels, and prayer room were designed, engineered, and fabricated by Brian and his team. These items are truly one of a kind. There were many notable moments during construction where Brian identified crucial structural & mechanical conflicts with the design of the floating spiral stairs and the heating & cooling system which had to be re-engineered to be built correctly. Brian easily navigated a gauntlet of issues that drag most construction companies into an endless punch list nightmare. Brian did an outstanding job of listening, advising, and project management. Brian's attention to detail and design sets the stage for the incredible and he and his team deliver just that. Brian is conscientious and cares greatly about the work they create and service they provide. I would highly recommend him to other real estate developers seeking a strong design eye, unwavering attention to detail and top-notch service whether as a consultant or construction partner. I highly recommend them to anyone considering new construction. Built By Newkirk and Brian Newkirk exceeded our expectations. It has been an exceptional experience.

Brian came highly recommended to us by our architect. She described him as organized, detail-oriented, and high-end. He was exactly that, I’m so pleased to say. Before our project started, he brought his subcontractors through one by one to meet us, and walk our home. They showed up promptly, took their time discussing each area, and were very professional. It was a great sign of things to come. We started demo in March 2020, the week before covid lockdown! It was a scary time, and completely threw a wrench in our plans to eat out, play at the park, and avoid being home. Next thing we knew, myself, two daughters, and husband were stuck. Brian set us up a temporary kitchen, kept the job site immaculate and made sure we were as comfortable as possible. His calm, controlled demeanor was exactly what we needed. The job kept rolling, we were able to communicate daily, and stay on track, and honestly, within the things in his control, it was as if the pandemic was nonexistent. As far as the project, he brought my visions to life. I had so many ideas, as did he, and we enjoyed collaborating and working toward a perfect outcome together. He also had endless resources, which made making our dream living space, possible. I would absolutely recommend Brian to anyone who wants a quality, high-end finished project. He will not cut corners or give you substandard results. Can’t wait for phase two!

...Continued Brian constantly did little things, some behind the scenes, to help us. Examples: When City Hall threw roadblocks on our plans, Brian worked to resolve the problems. When he noticed that the architects plans for our new 2nd story balcony had inadequate roof coverage and that there was no local source of water when we needed to clean the balcony, he corrected both errors on his own. We only found out about it later. The garage was not included in the plans, but Brian noticed water damage to the walls and had it repaired. He also utilized some Quartz stone left over from a bathroom counter and installed this as the counter top to a sink in the garage. Did we mention that all these little additions did not cost us anything? Brian was on the job ALL the time. He was not one of those contractors who occasionally popped in to check on things. Continued...

Looking for a Contractor? We have just the contractor for you! Brian Newkirk (Built by Newkirk) did an extensive whole house remodel for us, starting with our architect’s plans (from Erin LeMaster ) and a year later delivering what the plans called for, plus a lot more. What we wanted in a contractor was someone who could closely work with our architect, hire top-notch sub-contractors, and keep them on schedule and budget. We give Brian an A+ on these things. When we were deciding which of three contractor bids to accept, Brian actually took us to visit one of his current jobs where we talked with the owner and we saw the quality of work Brian does. The other contractors showed us pictures. By the way, Brian’s bid was the lowest. And after we accepted Brian’s bid, he came over and went through the plans, pointing out where we could same money. Continued in next review.

We decided to buy an older home in disrepair in a great neighborhood and make it our “forever home” by tearing it down and rebuilding. Hiring a general contractor to help us on this journey was stressful. The bids from contractors came back all over the place. The super low cost “I can build this entire house in 6 months” bids, the over the top “my design/build services start at $$$,$$$” bid, and finally the two reasonable bids I narrowed it down to. I chose Built by Newkirk to build our home and I am thrilled that I did. You will not find a harder working, more dedicated home builder to work with. Brian successfully managed the project, set realistic expectations, brought great design ideas to the table and followed through on every single thing he committed to. You can’t ask for anything more from a contractor. If you want to rest easy knowing that no corners were cut and you got what you paid for, hire Built by Newkirk!

Home construction is a scary thing to pursue, but we felt completely at ease with Built By Newkirk. With our busy lives we were not always able to check on our house, but we were always kept in the loop with what was going on, what needed to be addressed, etc. We interviewed 3 different companies to help us realize our dream home, and there was never any question for us as to which one we needed to pick. Brian was the most prepared, honest, and enthusiastic individual we met with, and the quality we were shown at that first interview matches the superb quality craftsmanship that went into building our home. We have now lived in this house for nearly 3 months and our friends and family are as impressed as we are when we take them around the house. It’s better than we ever dreamed it could be and we know it’s because we went with Brian at Built by Newkirk. We’d recommend him a million times over to anyone who asked.

We own a two story home and needed to give the entire outside of the house a major facelift (i.e. roof, siding, paint, masonry, planter, doors, windows, tiling, railing, and more). This was a very large scale project and we did not have a lot of experience with construction projects. Built By Newkirk (BBN) was highly recommended to us. Brian came out and met with us to discuss the initial pricing and scope of the project. Of the different companies we interviewed, Brian stood out the most. He was completely honest and forthright and transparent in his pricing and how the project would go. Additionally, he demonstrated a very keen understanding of construction theory and practice (of which we have very little). As we broke ground on this project, we were reminded each day that we made the best decision by going with Brian. He was very attentive in managing all details of the project. He was an effective liaison between his subs and us--explaining what the guys were doing, why they were doing it, their expected time of completion, and answering any questions or addressing any of our ideas as we added to the project. Most importantly, the quality of Brian's work has no match. He used the best materials and processes and we are very pleased with the outcome. We frequently get compliments on our house from neighbors and passers-by. We highly recommend Built By Newkirk.

We were completely pleased with Built by Newkirk from plan bid to job completion. I wish I had another job for him! Brian kept us informed along the way AND finished ahead of schedule. His subcontractors were all extremely competent and proud of their craft. With Brian’s attention to detail, he thought ahead about things that didn’t even cross our minds. He meticulously supervised the job. We now have the most wonderful master suite. His technical knowledge extends beyond construction to bring everything together – TV, music and lighting all done when we moved in! We felt like we were the most important client.

Finding an honest and licensed contractor with integrity is not easy in Los Angeles. However, Built by Newkirk was an amazing experience. The owner, Brian, was very considerate of my ideas and is truly a master/perfectionist with what he does. I have recommended him to many friends and he has continued to meet everyone’s desires and expectations beyond comprehension. Worth every dollar!

LeMaster Architects has had the opportunity to work with Built By Newkirk in multiple capacities on several different projects. Brian is a skilled craftsman, an adept project manager and a talented designer. From concept to completion he is able to translate the client’s vision into a finished product that is perfectly suited to their unique lifestyle. Through careful planning and diligence he is able to work with the client, architect, consultants and subcontractors to create beautiful environments that are well built and masterfully detailed.