I have been wanting to put into writing how much we appreciate your hard work, flexibility, superb workmanship and friendship over the past year. From conception to completion we couldn’t be happier with our new home. You and your team are truly gems in a business that sometimes has a bad reputation. We count ourselves as fortunate to have had the experience to work with you and to get to know you along the way.
~ Sandy & Steve Giusti
Anson and Dylan James and the guys at Patriot have saved us from many problems in our house caused by our previous builder. They have done an excellent job of troubleshooting problems that have arisen. Throughout the many long hours and projects they have been clean, hardworking and meticulous. All for a very fair price. We would (and have) highly recommended them to anyone who would listen. Best of all, our kids love them.
~ D & M Hogan
You did an INCREDIBLE job. I am so impressed with the quality of your work!!! "Thank you" so much...for everything...the job that you all have done, - for your patience, perseverance & integrity - and for you willingness to work with me/us as you have. Thank you again, a million times over!
~ Jan Montague
Thank you for the meticulous and beautiful work you and your crew have done on our home. Your efficiency made the transition into our new home manageable. The personal warmth and work ethic of your crew made it easy to have you in our home. I would wish you luck but you do not need luck because you have something much more reliable, great skill and a wonderful work ethic.
~ Mary and Tom Hines
Patriot Custom Homes is the best builder/ general contractor firm that I have worked with. The owners are very reliable and easy to work with. The crew is very skilled and very detail-oriented, producing very high quality work. They are specialized in building, remodeling and redesigning green, clean & energy efficient custom homes. They are experienced with modern architecture.
I recommend them without any hesitation.
~ Ipek Ozer
I was immediately drawn to Patriot after hearing about a 'crazy contractor installing triple-pane windows from Canada..' because, coming from Europe where energy costs are high, green construction and saving energy are very important to me.
Dylan has endless patience and was comfortable with us working out designs as we went along, or using unusual materials in our quest for a simple "minimalist" design. He took it all with grace and a sense of humor and his analytical and common-sense thinking kept us sane and saved us from many mistakes!.
He and Anson mentored us through this complicated project in the very cold winter of 13-14. They talked to the elusive National Grid to install a gas line to the house, built a two-floor addition on a severe slope that other contractors said could not be built on, replaced single-pane steel windows with highly-insulated windows from Germany, and gutted half the existing house. Since we were living in the other half with two small kids we saw daily how he and his crew were always true to their word, honest, and kept our interests and budget at the top of their minds. Our kids loved seeing the process of building and Dylan's crew were happy to answer kid questions. We wouldn't dream of asking anyone else to do future projects and it has been a pleasure getting to know him and his team.
Dylan, Anson and their crew are honest, pleasant and professional. Dylan's civil engineering background was essential in safely building our addition on a steep slope, and he has tons more common sense and logical thinking than anyone we have met in this business. He is absolutely trustworthy and we left the house and its contents in his charge when we had to go overseas for longish periods.
Over the years we have known Dylan (our project took a lot of planning!) we saw many of his other projects and in each; we talked to owners who feel as we do that Patriot is the best in the business. We have learned so much from him, and feel his nuggets of advice should all be collected into a book.
We wanted a contractor who would be on our side, but also tell us we're nuts when we need to hear that. We also wanted someone to be comfortable with design decisions that were important to us, but perhaps unusual in the US. In Patriot we found this and more. Dylan humored our preferences and found the best and most economical way to do some very tricky stuff.
Some of the fun stuff we 'threw' at Dylan included installing a Japanese cedar soaking tub from Alaska (but installing it so it can be lifted out); using concrete epoxy for a seamless, tile-less wet bathroom; making a circular skylight out of a square one; asking for doors flush with the wall, but wanting them to open into rooms not out; and tinting gypsum plaster to make it whiter and then leaving it unpainted. Dylan and Anson remained unfazed and good natured throughout. I think it would be hard to say this about any other contractor. They really 'think green' and are true craftsmen, taking on only the number of projects they can 100% commit to doing a good job on. In Lexington, which is enjoying a building boom of spec houses this is rarer than a lottery win. We feel privileged that he is our contractor and we have enjoyed the process (and hope he has too).
~ Silvia Cavallini
We’ve completed three projects on our home in Wellesley with Patriot Homes and are very pleased both with how the projects turned out and with the process of getting to completion. Dylan and Anson James are knowledgeable, pleasant, personable and creative, and have a commitment to craftsmanship that seems quite rare today. In addition, we felt they cared not only about each project itself but about how that project affected our home and our family. They and their crews were punctual, neat and considerate and we are completely satisfied with the results.
We would work with them again and recommend them wholeheartedly.
~ Steve & Rebecca Sullivan
Dylan and Anson are a pleasure to work with. Their attention to detail, high level of craftsmanship and extensive knowledge of sustainable building practices bring a lot to everything they work on. Their effective and collaborative approach with the design team and their subcontractors results in great projects.
~ Reisen Design Associates
We have worked with Dylan and Anson and their crews on many projects, ranging from very large to very small. They bring to each project an extremely high level of professionalism and commitment to each project’s success, including the quality of construction and craftsmanship, schedule, budget, and client satisfaction. They carefully think through every detail, often coming up with better ideas for how to achieve design goals, never compromising on quality or aesthetics.
~ Carl C. Oldenburg, AIA
We were extremely fortunate to hire Dylan and Anson James of Patriot Custom Homes, LLC. I have rarely dealt with a contractor as smart as Dylan, and who has such amount of integrity and honesty. He was the builder of our VERY complex new house, and managed to navigate through many "rough spots" without being phased. He would always come up with a solution to the most recent problem that would be within budget and on schedule.
I found Dylan’s quote to be the best value for our money. Not the least expensive, but we got a lot more in terms of both quality and “stuff” than the least expensive quote - all of which enhanced the quality and feel of our new house.
Dylan would probably tell you that I am a very demanding customer, who rarely settles for less than perfection. With Dylan and his crew, I did not have to!
I cannot speak of Dylan and his crew highly enough. They get an A+++++ from me.
~ Client
In 2012, our family set out to renovate and add on to our mid-century home in the Five Fields neighborhood of Lexington. As an architect, it was important to me to maintain the integrity of Walter Gropius' vision for the neighborhood while upgrading outmoded systems.
When it came time to interview contractors, we were given many recommendations by friends and colleagues. After interviewing a few candidates and not finding the right 'fit', we asked neighbors who resoundly recommended Patriot Custom Homes ("PCH").
As an architect administrating construction contracts around the world, arguing with contractors is a daily occurrence, and not one that I wanted to bring into our home. We wanted to collaborate with a team who would become partners in the building process. We found that partnership with PCH.
Dylan, Anson, and the team that they have assembled are highly skilled craftsman who are a pleasure to work with. During the construction process we engaged in creative discussions that enhanced the design concept, developed new construction techniques, and delivered a project that everyone is proud of which will last the test of time.
In short, it was a dream to work with Patriot Custom Homes, and would recommend them without reservations.”
~ Bradford J. Prestbo, AIA, CSI, CDT
Architectural Advisors
My husband and I recently completed a major renovation of our home in Lexington with Patriot Custom Homes. We couldn't be happier with the services provided by Dylan and Anson James. From initial meeting to final punch list the Patriot team was punctual, attentive, safety conscious, and respectful towards all members of our multi-generational family. They are creative, even headed problem solvers whose meticulous attention to detail was in evidence at every stage of the project. Their business is run with the highest ethical standards and integrity, and they choose their team thoughtfully, with customers in mind. The end result: no drama, expectations exceeded, and a beautiful finished product.
~ Lucy Boyer