Quality First Builders Inc.

We hired Quality First Builders to build an ADU over our detached garage. Eli and Donna were a pleasure to work with. We were most impressed by their efficiency: Eli promised he could complete the project in 4 months, half the time that other contractors estimated, and he delivered. Their team is extremely dedicated and will put the work in to stay on schedule. The quality of the work is excellent and we are very happy with the results. Everyone on the team was professional and courteous. They worked with us to minimize disruption (as much as possible) to our backyard. Donna, who handles design, helped us figure out all the details of what to order (we would have been lost without her). In order to stay on schedule with the quality they insist on, sometimes we would need to make decisions quickly; Eli’s communication style is direct, which was a good fit for us. This also meant that we knew that when an issue or delay arose, he would take care of it promptly. Overall, the construction process went smoothly and we are delighted with the final product.

My wife and I started our home renovation project in Oct 2024, and when looking for the right contractor, we really connected with Eli and Donna. We essentially tore our 1300 sq ft 2 bed/2.5 bath home down to the studs and built it back up, so it was a big job. Eli and Donna were the only contractors we spoke with who seemed to take a genuine interest in our job. They were enthusiastic and took our thoughts and ideas in stride as we brainstormed the best way to tackle the renovation. Eli even took us to a similar project he was working on in the area to get a sneak peek at the type of work his team could handle. This really gave us some insight and peace of mind that they were a good fit. Eli and Donna were also very quick to reply compared to all the other contractors we were talking with. They took the initiative, helped us refine our design, and were super upfront about the scope of work and timeline. Another huge positive for us in deciding who to work with was the fact that Donna helped with the design/finishes. My wife and I had a specific aesthetic in mind, but with our day jobs and other life events, we didn't always have the time to really dig and sort through thousands of styles of materials and finishes. Unlike other contractors, Donna was able to provide extra help in guiding us to pick materials and finishes that we liked but also fit within our budget (interior and exterior). So, while they might be more expensive than some other contractors out there, they really show their worth in the extra care towards design, and they are lightning fast. Our home was finished and move-in ready by Feb 2025, which was astonishing considering we had multiple unexpected items come up (new plumbing mainline for the entire property, for example). Our house was originally built in the 1920s, with updates over the years from previous owners. The updates were sometimes shoddy at best. Eli and his team did an amazing job renovating all the sketchy past work. They turned our tiny galley kitchen into an epic and inviting dream kitchen. They opened the whole house up and made it functional and sharp. All in all, Eli and Donna were the right vendors for us for this job. I think if we went with any other contractor, it would've taken twice as long, and we certainly wouldn't have the attention to detail on things like kitchen cabinetry, floorplan design, customization, tiling, finishes, etc., If there were any specific feedback I'd give to make the experience even better, it would mainly be on the organizational side. I'd recommend a collaborative spreadsheet to increase transparency with the client in a more straightforward way. Other than that, we had a really solid experience and are extremely happy with our home!

Where do I begin? At times it feels like my life is just a series of poor choices. But when it came to hiring a contractor, I finally made a good choice—a really, really good choice—by trusting Quality First for my epic home renovation. When I met Eli, I saw something different from the other contractors who came to look at my home. I felt like I was talking to an artist rather than a contractor, someone with a strong vision for what my home could be. Eli had been recommended to me by a good friend of mine who had work done on his home, and the quality of Quality First was evident to me. Eli and Donna are experienced pros, and their team is exceptional. During the demolition, his foremen Gio and Wilder, came across some paperwork, pictures, and jewelry that they set aside for me. They could have easily tossed these things, but the fact that they didn’t is a reflection of their thoughtfulness and integrity. The two of them and everyone who works with Quality First are professional, hard working, and just really good people, which is something I was not expecting at all in this business. Okay, so I’m just this dude that doesn’t spend a lot of time thumbing through design magazines or scrolling Pinterest. Choosing floors and tile and fixtures and vanities and lights is totally outside my comfort zone, and I was so grateful to have Eli’s incredible wife Donna help with the design and purchasing. Ideally, a person should go into a project like this with a clear picture of what they want—but I didn’t have this. I really didn’t know what I wanted, so I depended heavily on Donna’s suggestions, and I couldn’t be happier with the result. Like Eli, she is a clear and responsive communicator, extremely patient with me. So many times throughout this build I had problems thinking through the myriad decisions presented to me. I cannot overemphasize Eli & Donna’s patience in dealing with me and my indecisiveness, holding my hand through the process. When it became during the build that the old stucco on my home couldn’t be salvaged, Eli wanted to make it right. The quote he gave me for the stucco was far below what he should have charged me; he must have taken a loss. There were other things that Eli basically threw in that weren’t in the original contract—an upgrade of the back patio overhang, cabinets in the laundry room, a linen closet. Throughout the entire build, I got the sense that he didn’t want anything his hand touches to be anything less than his company’s name would suggest, “Quality First.” As an educator, I try to teach my students that the principle of reciprocity is alive and well in this world. When others do something good for us, we feel an obligation to return the favor. I’ve never written an online review on these sites ever before, but I feel an obligation to bring my experience of working with Quality First to light. Thank you!

Eli and Donna helped us with a complete home remodel and really demonstrated the benefits of working with a design build firm. From the start of the drawing stage for the plans, they worked hard to understand and carry out our vision. The planning and permits went smoothly and we started construction quickly. Eli's crew is efficient and tidy and every week there was major progress. Eli is good at communicating the week's plan and if issues came up, he would get on them quickly and offer up solutions to keep things moving. While the construction was going on, Donna helped us with the design and shopping. She has great taste and broke down the shopping into manageable chunks based on what was needed for the construction timeline. She knows good vendors and worked hard to get us discounts whenever possible. Now that the house is done, everyone is thrilled at how it turned out. Eli and Donna really live up to their business motto of "Quality First." The inspections were all passed on the first try and I never doubted the quality of their work. They keep their word and whenever they said they would do something, it would get done. That is probably the most important thing in construction: to be able to have that kind of confidence in the builders you work with. Thank you Quality First!

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.

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.

I had the pleasure of working with GC Eli and his talented interior designer partner, Donna, on the construction of our 1200 sqft ADU, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the results. From the very beginning, Eli showcased an impressive level of knowledge and expertise in the field. He approached every aspect of the project with a solutions-oriented mindset and helped make the process really smooth from start to finish. Eli's reliability, trustworthiness, and professionalism were crucial for helping make the entire construction process go smoothly. We built during the pandemic, which created all kinds of issues outside of our control (supply chain issues, delays from the city, etc.) but he handled them all like a champ. He consistently exceeded our expectations with his attention to detail and commitment to quality work. Donna, Eli's interior designer partner, was an invaluable resource in helping us select the perfect finishes for our ADU. Her keen eye for design and ability to understand our vision ensured that our living space turned out even better than we had imagined. Together, Eli and Donna make an great team, and their dedication to our project was evident every step of the way. I also want to give a shout out to Carlos, who was a rockstar foreman. He was reliable on site and had impeccable attention to detail. We are absolutely thrilled with the end result, and I wholeheartedly endorse Eli and Donna for anyone looking to undertake a construction project. They delivered on their promised timeline and high level of quality, and we couldn't be happier with our beautiful finished project.

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.

It has been a pleasure working with Eli and Quality First Builders. We converted our garage into an ADU and the process was better than we could have imagined. Eli was very professional, trustworthy and communicative from the beginning of the project through the end. It was evident that he has great crews and subcontractors that work for him. I've already referred Quality First Builders to a friend and will continue to do so. I would definitely recommend giving Eli and his team the opportunity to work on your project.

We hired Quality First Builders to renovate our galley kitchen, install a beverage bar, install an extensive built-in media center with an electric fireplace and hidden bookcase door (very cool!), and install new flooring, trim, doors, lighting and paint throughout our home. Overall, we are very pleased with the process and the work that was done. They stuck to the timeline originally discussed and even finished work a week earlier than expected. Communication throughout the process was good and the crew they brought in was super professional and helpful. Eli and Donna always responded to my questions within a timely manner and were happy to explain things. Donna was very helpful during the design stage, and helped make the process of choosing finishes way less daunting, and fun! Unanticipated costs did of course come up over the course of the project, which is to be expected. Some costs, however, we felt should have been anticipated and discussed earlier, however they were mostly minor given the scope of the work being done. Though most of the execution was very smooth, there were some things we wished were planned for better. For instance we ended up with an extra door we didn’t need because the media center hadn’t been fully planned out earlier in the process. There are a lot of moving parts during renovation, and I encourage anyone, especially first time renovators, to ask a lot of questions throughout. As I said, Eli and Donna were both always happy to explain things further. Eli clearly laid out how the pay installments would work from the start, and was clear about what was included and excluded in the pricing. I did wish some costs were itemized further, as some of the pricing seemed more generalized, but overall we were happy with the convenient payment process. Despite some tiny bumps, we would absolutely recommend Quality First Builders! We have heard of nightmare scenarios from others about working with unreliable contractors and renovations going way over schedule. That was not the case with Quality First. Eli and Donna are great people and very pleasant to work with, they answered our questions, worked hard to deliver a quality product on time, and responded to last minute fixes in a timely manner. We’re very happy with the finished result!

We found Eli and Donna from a friend who highly recommended them. We had them total remodel our master bathroom and it turned out great!!! All of the workers and craftsmen they used were top notch! Everyone was very nice and did a great job. Even about a month after the job is done, we are still admiring all of the great attention to detail they put in. We would definitely recommend them and will be calling them again when it comes time for our next project.

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 Eli's 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.