Benchmark Builders, LLC

I worked with Benchmark Builders LLC, we did a whole home remodel. They were straightforward to work with and also had a lot of fun. They are a down-to-earth builder that made the process enjoyable. Were their hiccups? Yes, but all in all I would work with them again and I love my home. Nick the owner was a pleasure to work with.

When we hired Benchmark Builders LLC in Santa Rosa for our job in 2021, we would have given them 5 stars, due to the stellar reputation of their CEO (who built the custom homes on their website before co-founding Benchmark with two new partners in 2020). After the CEO unexpectedly passed away in 2022, the company went to 3 stars, due to factors discussed below. After one of the two remaining partners resigned in mid-2023, they dropped to 1 star. We understand that Benchmark is only three years old and the remaining owner had never built a custom house before ours, so they may improve as they grow. However, during our project, we have experienced Benchmark's level of across-the-board technical acumen as inconsistent, never superior, and too often barely acceptable. Their scheduling feels inept, and they never meet their own many ever-changing completion dates. Their attention to detail needs much improvement. They often don't directly oversee their onsite subcontractors. They tend to issue change orders to the fixed cost budget they proposed, with no advance approval (and threaten to pull subs and file liens if we don't pay immediately without question). Their planning, communication, and follow-through skills are very poor. And they state that they prefer not to work with or consult with architects (they refer to design blueprints as "just pictures"). Over the course of our build, we have observed that Benchmark rarely puts in full 8-hour workdays on our site, is never onsite for anywhere near 30 hours per week, never works on weekends, and shuts down for business at 11 AM on Fridays. This has the effect of Benchmark building our house on a part-time basis compared to other contractors in our neighborhood (many of whom work on Saturdays). The Project Manager they assigned to us a year into the job is simultaneously overseeing two rebuild jobs a half-hour drive away and is not a journeyman or licensed carpenter (though that might not be necessary), but does somewhat adequate work when receiving the full support of Benchmark's upper management. Benchmark's upper management only very rarely visits the site and their customer service approach toward us is often surly, disrespectful and feels very threatening. Upper management's attitude is that Benchmark is never wrong, never apologizes, and all problems are someone else's fault--subcontractors, the homeowner, the architect, the county, the HOA, the suppliers, the subs--everybody but Benchmark. Overall, Benchmark Builders LLC might be okay for uncomplicated remodels and rebuilds, but for our home they have proven to be a regrettable choice. They tackled the job to what has become floundering, disappointing, and even depressing results over these first 19 months. For now, we are weary and wary from the long struggle with this young firm, but are willing to continue giving them a chance to right the ship (we have little choice; we are seniors on a fixed income). If things improve, we'll update.