Joe is simply the best. Could not be more pleased with the work he did. Transformed our home. Highly recommended!

I'm in the business so i have high standards and expectations, but Joe managed to exceed my expectations. He installed a 12' slider onto our deck and it came out amazing. Every bit of his work was clean and meticulous. Joe was very communicative throughout the entire process, and he started and finished exactly when he said he would. Would hire again in a heartbeat. read more

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Unbelievable communication and responsiveness. Very high quality work. I have great confidence that they would not cut any corners during construction. Trustworthy. I could not recommend Modern Yankee any more highly. I would use Joe or no one for the work I had done on my house. His ethics and quality of work are unmatched. Randy T Cumberland RI read more

Bottom line: Extremely confusing communication and a huge budget jump after we had already put down our deposit. Horrible experience. We originally hired Joe to work on a bathroom remodel after interviewing a few contractors and being impressed by his seemingly high attention to detail and his willingness to work within our budget. However, while Joe's communication skills initially seemed thorough, we quickly learned that they were, in fact, chaotic and confusing. It was frustrating to send simple questions to Joe and have to wade through pages of details and long asides, trying to make sense of what could easily have been a two sentence reply. His inability to communicate clearly and concisely became apparent when we didn't even realize Joe sent us his initial budget because the numbers were buried within paragraphs and pages of text instead of being clearly laid out, as all other contractors we've dealt with do. Apparently we were the first to ask if he could send over a simple list of the budget so we could see the numbers easily. The other main reason we chose to work with Joe was because he seemed willing to work with us to meet our budget. The number we initially discussed in person was met with a response of "that will be tough, but it can be done." No commentary was given at that point on the finishings we had been up front about wanting to use and he made it sound like we'd have to make a sacrifice here and there, commenting on things like saving money on mirrors and using a stock vanity. We were pretty shocked when, after we had already signed with him and put down a hefty deposit, the budget he came up with was nearly 30% higher than the one we discussed in person, including hardly any of the finishings we had specifically discussed. We balked at the price and took the time to come up with several ideas to change up the remodel to hopefully bring the cost down. None of this seemed to make a significant impact to the budget and the price stayed nowhere near the number we first discussed. In the end, even with the most basic finishings, Joe told us that our original budget was impossible. When we expressed our frustration that this was not what we were told before, he got increasingly aggressive and hostile, a personality trait that kept coming up every time he was even gently questioned about something. When we finally laid it all out, he claimed the bathroom that we originally discussed would cost more than double our original budget. Had he ever remotely mentioned this from the start, we would never have chosen to work with him because we simply couldn't afford it. His attention to detail might have resulted in a great bathroom, but not one we could pay for. In the end, we took a big financial loss and spent hours of our time trying to work things out with someone who became downright mean in the end. read more

My husband and I recently had the pleasure of working with Modern Yankee Builders and in reflecting on the experience, it exceeded our expectations in every way. Initially we reached out to Modern Yankee to discuss adding a garage to our house. Our first impression of owner Joe Cracco was only reinforced after each subsequent meeting-- he is a consummate professional; an enthusiastic craftsman who intentionally fosters a partnership with his clients to ensure that his work in their homes will improve their lives on a daily basis. Modern Yankee's design / build process really helped us get the most out of our remodeling experience. As we discussed the ideas we had for our garage addition at the initial consultation, we mentioned that we wanted to do a smaller scale kitchen and mudroom project that included cabinetry, a breakfast bar and coat closet. We ended up breaking out that smaller project and entered into the conceptual design phase on two projects instead of just one. While we evaluated different concepts and sets of plans for the garage addition, we were able to move into plan finalization and then construction for the kitchen and mudroom remodel. It was wonderful to see our ideas come to life, and one of the keys to the flawless execution was the partnership with Joe. When we told him what we wanted to see as an end result, he would listen and ask probing questions to determine what we were looking for out of that particular aspect of our home. Our answers helped to inform the conceptual design process and therefore improve the end result. While we continue to consider the plethora of intriguing options for the garage addition, we are now enjoying the fruits of our first successful project with Modern Yankee. Joe was able to match existing cabinetry, tile, and granite to seamlessly integrate his work into our kitchen (a feat that other contractors dismissed as impossible). While we had envisioned a simple coat closet and shoe rack in our mudroom, his custom design transformed the space and made the the most of every square inch in our entryway. We could not recommend Modern Yankee more highly. If you reach out to Modern Yankee you you will see right away that Joe's attention to detail, craftsmanship, and pride in his work is second to none. read more

Relationship: Client Project Date: August 2010 Project Price Range: $50,000 - $100,000 I copied this from an old review, realizing it's been 7 years. They're work still stands. I've worked with both cheaper and more expensive contractors, and often had the work start to fall apart within a year or so. I still say they are consummate professionals. They are consummate professionals.  I had heard from numerous friends that big projects are nightmares to live through, even if you like the results once they are done. I had heard that projects always go over time, and over cost, usually by horrendous amounts, and in ways that are hard to track. I had had the experience of hiring people to do work that later fell apart, or had to be redone (like a wall put up in front of the water shut off valve). With Modern Yankee the planning is meticulous, the work is beautiful, the cost is laid out down to the individual nuts and bolts, and 3 years down the road is as solid as the day it was built. Moreover every person who worked on site seemed to follow the same professional code. In fact, when I walked by the work area one day I saw a note posted reminding the workers that I had given permission to use the downstairs powder room and they were to remember to wipe surfaces after themselves. Such small details of concern make a difference. The other think I would say is that I believe Joe will tell you the truth regarding what you need. We had an idea about some things we wanted to do, but he did a thorough review and let us know about some structural things that were likely to create problems left undone. He could have let us spend a lot of money on surface glamour, and left us with real problems when and if we sell. Not that he is not creative and quite ready to do something elegant and exciting.... but whatever the budget or scope, it will never be slapdash. Would I hire them again? Actually yes, we have another 15k project on his docket as I write this. Would I recommend them? Unreservedly yes. read more

We have had a professional relationship with Joe Cracco and Modern Yankee Builders for 10+ years. We recently sent Joe an "appreciation" email, and we would like to share this with you: Hi Joe... We don't say this enough. We appreciate all you have done for us for so many years, which has greatly improved our home and living area. You have secured our drain pipes so that in heavy rain storms, the water doesn't end up in our basement. Same goes for our skylight window in the master bedroom - you worked your magic on that area years ago. You have upgraded our indoor living spaces with a clean and functional look. You have insulated our attic, in spite of the meeses that had lived there in years past! And in 2015, you completed the patio, landscaping, pizza oven, and all the underground work that went along with this monster project. We had no surprises, in that you gave us the timeline and cost up front, AND you hit all of your targets precisely - on time and on budget. We have two sets of friends who have each recently gone through a renovation project. Both of these projects went over budget, and neither was completed on time. One person is still waiting for her contractor to repair his mistakes and then finish the remainder of the job. We listen to these horror stories, and suddenly we think of the experiences we have had with you - both big jobs and small jobs - you always take pride in finishing the job professionally and with beautiful results. Thank you for caring about each job as if you were working on your own home. Thank you for giving us sound advice through your recommendations of tradespeople or other professionals we may need. Thank you for living up to your high standards of workmanship/excellence, and expecting the same from your tradespeople. This brings us (and probably all of your customers) peace of mind. read more

I've just started a kitchen remodel. We're still very early in the design process but so far I've been struck by Joe's open mind, open ears and respect for my concerns and ideas. I believe we're heading down an exciting path. We began the project in August 2016 with exterior elements and started back up mid-January 2017 with the interior. The project is complete and I am over the moon with the results. The kitchen is beautiful and I can honestly say that I hardly felt the "pain" that is usually associated with the sort of disruption that occurs with a kitchen remodel. Joe's pursuit of excellence and dogged attention to both detail and timeline gave me tremendous confidence in his work. (We would even have finished ahead of schedule if the building inspectors could have come by sooner!) Everyone associated with Modern Yankee Builders was equally professional. One of the main reasons I selected MYB was the importance they place on clear communication and they were true to their word. I felt that I had a true partner in this project. Joe listened to my ideas, needs and concerns and together we sought solutions when we came upon an obstacle. I must say that due to Joe's excellent planning, those were few and far between! I heartily recommend Modern Yankee Builders for anyone looking for excellence, creativity, reliability, professionalism and partnership for their next project. Can't wait to post photos of the kitchen to share their excellent workmanship. Project update: More than a year later and I'm still pinching myself. I can't believe this kitchen is so beautiful. Over the past months since completion there have been just a few odd tweaks that have been necessary and every time Joe has been there for me in his usual professional and consummately competent way. Thank you for being a partner in this endeavor! read more

This is my second review of Joe Cracco and Modern Yankee Builders. We hired Joe to remodel the 1980s wet bar in our home, as well as to re-tile and refinish the guest bath tub and shower. The last job Joe did for us was a master bath remodel, and the work he did was amazing. There was no question about hiring him again. Once again, we couldn't be more pleased with the work that was accomplished, as well as the professionalism and attention to detail with which all work and communications were executed. Joe Cracco is simply the best. read more

I hired Modern Yankee Builders to rebuild the kitchen of my 1920s front gambrel. I wanted to keep the 1920s feel of the house, but with all the features of a 2013 kitchen. After talking with Joe Cracco, the owner of Modern Yankee Builders, I knew he got it and I was confident he had the skill to complete the project to my expectations, on time and on budget. One concern I had with this project is the unknown problems that you encounter when you tear down walls in an old house. This project was no exception. It's another reason I chose Modern Yankee Builders. I was confident Joe would figure out a solution to any problem we encountered. And he did. His workmanship and professionalism exceeded even my high expectations. He is a true craftsman. I love my new kitchen!!! It's now my favorite room in the house. read more