CALIBUILDER - San Mateo, California

Faraz M.

A year and a half after I started working with Calibuilder, I'm glad that we worked with them, and satisfied with the final result. I would gladly refer them to our friends who want to remodel or build a custom home.

For background, we have been working with a full service architecture studio to renovate and extend our home. The project architect had many nice ideas and thoughtful designs, and we were looking for a reasonably priced contractor who could (and would be willing to) communicate with a detail-oriented architect. We had already tried a contractor that, while reasonably priced, had difficulty and unwillingness to communicate with the architect and follow their guidelines. Alternative contractors who had experience with full service architects were either 50-100% more expensive or had a very long wait time to start or finish the house.

When Ramin, the CEO of CaliBuilder was introduced to us, he understood and appreciated the custom and artful nature of our project from the get-go. He was passionate about good design, and loved all the details provided by the architect, viewing it as an advantage to reduce ambiguity in planning and execution of the project. The project architect was also very happy with the open communication style, responsiveness, and the fact that when facing an issue they would reach out to the architect with a "Request For Information", as opposed to deciding and executing on their own.

All this was at the same time as providing an affordable price, a flexible timeline, and a commitment to finish the project on-time. The project was staffed almost round the clock, with various crews and subcontractors working in parallel as long as they were able to not step on each other's toes. CaliBuilder accepts a handful of projects in the Bay Area at any time, therefore their very nice site supervisor (Ari) can dedicate a good amount of high quality management for each project. CaliBuilder's awesome finish supervisor (Azeen) also spends high quality time on the job site, working with their crew and the architect to understand and execute on every detail of the project. Both Ari and Azeen have great rapport with their crew and have a good sense of what could be delegated to them and what needs their deeper involvement at the execution time.

As with any construction project, there are always imperfections and mistakes. What matters is the ability of the builder to understand the reason for issues and take immediate remedial steps. CaliBuilder was great in this regard too. For example, when the newly installed Heat Pump malfunctioned on a cold winter Friday evening, they took immediate action, dispatching their crew to investigate and address the issue. CaliBuilder demonstrated their commitment to addressing raised issues throughout the project.

To help with a smooth execution, here's my advice to the future clients of CaliBuilder:

- Make sure you communicate with the team (architect + builder) often, and respond to their questions early. Also make sure material is available and stored properly well in advance. Not blocking the crew is CaliBuilder's key to an affordable and high quality execution.

- If you are building a custom home, work with your architect and CaliBuilder to distinguish "typical" work vs "custom/uncommon" work, so everyone can be on the same page about sequencing and details of the work. For example, everyone knows how to sheetrock, mud, and paint a wall. So no specific sequencing guidance is needed. But if you are installing a light fixture or ceiling cladding that is not commonly installed, it's important to work as a team to ensure that subs/crew get the sequencing right.

- Trust the builder if they are asking you to stay away from certain materials or methods. They know their crew and subs the best. Work with the architect to find alternatives that the builder is comfortable with.

Overall, I'm very happy that we had the opportunity to work with CaliBuilder, wish them success, and look forward to seeing their future projects.

Harrison V.

Ramin and Ari did a great job on our big home renovation project. They worked well with the architect and the city and we love the finished project. Calibuilder worked with us every step of the way and was very communicative and always available to talk with us. Best of all, they delivered on time and on budget.

Roneal J.

Calibuilder is helping me with major renovations on a two unit property I recently purchased. I couldn't have asked for better partners on this journey. Not only are they trusted advisors but I now consider the whole team friends. Ramin, Azeen, and Arash are knowledgeable, honest, and overall great people. Throughout the entire process they've demonstrated that they have my best interests in mind.

Built in 1911, my property was in pretty bad shape. I interviewed 5 contractors (narrowed down from a list of 10 from yelp reviews, referrals, etc.) before making my decision.

My primary selection criteria were price, vision/expertise, and someone who'd be a true partner.

Overall costs were an important factor. Calibuilder was competitively priced- not the cheapest, nor most expensive option.

Construction is not my field of expertise so most important to me was having a true partner. I needed someone I could trust and lean on. That's exactly what I got with Calibuilder starting with my first meeting with Ramin. He listened to my thoughts and provided recommendations and multiple options.

As can be expected when working with such an old building, there were some surprises and bumps along the way. We overcame these because the communication was really great. Again, I always felt that they were trying to do what was best for me.

Some before and after pics of the first unit are included. I will update this review when the second unit and exterior is complete.

First unit is within budget and everyone that has seen it has raved about how beautiful it turned out!

Tracey L.

I recommend the exceptional services of Calibuilder for anyone looking to remodel their home in San Carlos or the surrounding area. As an owner of an older home, I was initially apprehensive about the remodeling process, but from the moment my husband and I met Ramin Parsa and his team, their professionalism and expertise were evident.

They took the time to understand our vision and offered valuable suggestions to enhance our ideas while respecting the character of our older home and telling us what could and couldn't be achieved, in our budget.

What set Calibuilder apart was their unwavering commitment to honesty and transparency throughout the project. They provided clear, detailed estimates, and kept us informed about any unexpected issues or potential changes, always offering cost-effective solutions. This level of integrity gave us peace of mind and made the remodeling process much less stressful.

Their use of modern communication tools like Slack and Telegram greatly improved the efficiency of the project. We appreciated being able to quickly share ideas, ask questions, and receive updates in real-time. This streamlined approach kept the project moving smoothly and helped us feel constantly connected to the progress.

Perhaps most importantly, Ramin's responsiveness was unparalleled. Whether we had a concern, a last-minute change, or simply wanted an update, they were always quick to respond and address our needs.

I wholeheartedly recommend their services and would not hesitate to work with them again in the future.

Denise M.

Originally I was working with what I thought was a really modern, tech-savvy general contractor, "Company E". But after the design process (which went pretty smoothly), Company E without any real explanation transferred the construction portion of my contract to CaliBuilder. Initially I was befuddled as to why. Ultimately, I was GRATEFUL and FORTUNATE that it happened, as CaliBuilder was proactive with their expertise and professionalism from Day 1, and proved time and again to be superior to my prior GC, who it became more apparent were not experienced contractors. I would have suffered had my contract remained with Company E.

A few (unfortunately of MANY) examples of Company E's inexperience/ineptitude that CaliBuilder caught and immediately addressed:

1). MEASUREMENTS: Company E required me at the beginning of the construction process to purchase materials via their website. It was convenient and customizable, but they didn't seem to review my choices. My sink was TOO BIG for my countertop; the upper cabinets were TOO LONG to fit over the bottom cabinets, which were TOO SHORT in relation to the wall; Company E was able to get my sink exchanged for the correct size, but to save time CaliBuilders and I pivoted and simply moved the upper cabinets to the opposite wall, and made modifications to the countertop and lower cabinet so that it fit the room properly;

2). SAFETY: My renovation was to convert our garage to a senior-friendly safe living space. And yet, Company E approved a purchase I had made on their website for a certain type of shower floor tile. Which, when the bathroom was being worked on, CaliBuilders pointed out that the floor tiles would be SLIPPERY when wet and therefore DANGEROUS. Company E would not exchange these tiles (they said it was too late) so I decided to keep them for future tile work (for a wall). Why could a GC not catch basic issue such as this, especially knowing it was meant for an elderly resident?

3). UNNEEDED ITEMS/QUANTITIES: With Company E's guidance I purchased laminated flooring plus necessary supplies AND unnecessary supplies. CaliBuilder's installer was puzzled why I had purchased so many rolls of underlayment for flooring that already had it incorporated into their planks. Had we used the underlayment, it would have VOIDED the warranty on the flooring. There were also way too little or too many gallons/units of paint and other items, despite the fact Company E had dimensions of the proposed rooms. Some items I was able to return for refund; some I had to take as a sunk cost (but again, potentially usable in future renovation projects);

Anyway, I could not ask for a better team in CEO Ramin and Project Manager Ari. They were thorough, flexible, and patient in our multiple discussions and meetings (in person/via zoom/text/calls) -- with the numerous issues that inevitably come up in during construction (both expected and unforeseen). They always provided me options on ways to tackle with pros/cons and costs, including drawings for clarity. I really appreciated we could together think outside the box to solve problems. Their invoicing system was very helpful with detailed descriptions and progress to date, with the convenience of being able to pay by click of a button.

LESSON: I learned the hard way NOT trust a fancy-looking website, even one with great reviews! Hard to tell sometimes with rating sites, but do your research on your potential GC. I for one felt CaliBuilder has more than come through with my expectations and needs that I already know I will be reaching out to them for future renovations, and I have recommended them unreservedly to friends and family. THANKS SO MUCH, Ramin and Ari! Looking forward to working with you again. I'm very grateful for the beautiful work your team has done for our garage conversion, including all the upgrades to electricity/plumbing/HVAC, in bringing our property up to code, and for putting up with soooo many frustrations, many of which started with my original GC.

Arup C.

Calibuilder team was great, things you are looking for is timely delivery, clarity and transparency on change orders, and a team that wants to go over and beyond. They delivered

Tim H.

Ramin and his team are outstanding and thoughtful contractors. Over the last five years they have performed a whole house remodel for us and finished multiple follow on projects on our homes to this day. Cannot recommend highly enough!

Herman M.

We were looking to expand and renovate our home and talked to a number of different firms. CaliBuilder was professional and left a lasting impression with us upon our first meeting.

Ramin is tech-forward. Zoom, Virtual Earth, Slack, and Trello are just some of his go-to tools and as a tech person, I appreciate that as it makes my job that much easier.

Ramin is responsive and attentive. He's clear with his communication including the scope of work and timelines to completion. His crew is professional and accommodating. What's more, he actually delivers on his promises!

He did a fabulous job remodeling our home!