Going into this huge project in home renovation was a big task. I was not familiar with anything. Eli and Donna made it easy for me to understand. I had many questions and concerns which they guided me from interior, exterior, and hardscaping. They have an awesome team of people working with them. Eli, is no joke he is on point with efficiency, quality and professionalism. Donna, is so sweet and kind with her advice in interior design. Maria, receptionist is helpful and available when I needed her. I am looking forward in the future to work with them again. Quality First Builders I highly recommend for your next project in renovation. read more

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Working with Eli and Donna was an outstanding experience from start to finish. Their attention to detail and their commitment to quality truly set them apart. Eli delivered the project on time and handled every phase of construction with professionalism and care. The entire team was respectful and punctual. There was always a big team working from Monday-Saturday. Donna brought our vision to life with creativity and expertise. The final result was not only beautiful but also functional and tailored perfectly to our needs. She was patient and guided me throughout the entire process. Couldn't have picked out my gorgeous backsplash and countertops without her! We couldn't be happier with the outcome and would highly recommend Eli and Donna to anyone looking for a reliable, talented team to bring their home or project to life. read more

Quality First Builders Inc. - General Contractors Near Me - Sherman Oaks,, California

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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. read more

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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! Enjoy the wild before and after photos... read more

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We recently completed a full kitchen renovation with Quality First Builders, and the experience was incredible--fast, efficient, and the results are absolutely stunning. Eli and his team were responsive, respectful, and organized from start to finish. Communication was seamless, the crew was meticulous, and the work stayed impressively close to budget and right on schedule. As someone who has worked in home renovation TV for nearly 20 years, I can confidently say: you won't find a better contractor in the business. I would recommend QFB to anyone and everyone. read more

Eli was straight up and honest with me rather than getting paid for taking on a project that wasn't possible. I trust this guy.

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. read more

Quality First Builders Inc. - Pardon the mess, we have a newborn, but we LOVE our new kitchen which was taken down to the studs and redone. - General Contractors Near Me - Sherman Oaks,, California

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. My home was in a state of tremendous disrepair--black mold, corroded pipes, leaking roof, windows that didn't open, rats in the attic and walls. 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. He had a vision for what this place could be--pushing out some walls, expanding the kitchen, creating a more open layout. At the time, it seemed a bit extreme, but it totally made sense. As a public school teacher, I work hard for my money; I'm a conservative and frugal person by nature, and this was easily the biggest expenditure of my life. Eli was totally upfront in telling me "There are cheaper contractors out there," which is true, and I appreciated that. But this was an investment, and I wanted to make sure it was done right and in a timely manner. 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. So I sucked it up, signed the contract, and now I am living in the home of my dreams! Eli is an experienced pro, and his 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 their patience in dealing with me and my indecisiveness, holding my hand through the process, helping me think through these important and pretty much irreversible decisions. I would regularly flip flop and change my mind about things, and never did they make me feel like a neurotic crazy person. They are pros who deal with people like me (probably crazier and more demanding people than me) on a daily basis. So when you've completed your Hamlet-like decision flux and finally commit, just a little warning--once Eli and his team get moving, things happen very quickly and efficiently. Be ready for an army of people to come in and out; it looks like craziness, but it's all a well choreographed dance. Everybody who has ever had a substantial amount of work on their home understands that unforeseen expenses emerge. You hope to be able to salvage something, but then you can't, and additional work and materials are required. That means additional work orders. In my home, we thought that we could keep the external stucco, but once the old plaster came down, it became evident that there was a tremendous amount of damage to the wood and stucco; for me to have a home that would stand the test of time, all of the external stucco needed to be replaced. This is something that wasn't in the original contract, but 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, but he wanted to make it right. 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." 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. I wish you well on your renovation project--or should I say, your renovation journey. I hope reading this review has been helpful :) read more

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It was a pleasure to work with Quality First Builders. Eli and Donna listened to what I wanted and offered up great suggestions to accomplish my project. The work was completed on time and within the intended budget. Any questions/concerns during the remodel were always addressed promptly. It was great to always get an immediate response whenever I contacted them. If I ever need anything done in the future, I would not hesitate to hire them again. read more

Amazing job by Eli and Donna and the people they work with. We needed our garage converted to an ADU with a second level, and Eli came in, looked at what we needed, and provided everything that needed to be done to get the ADU we wanted. Very knowledgeable, with lots of experience, Eli was referred to me by a friend who happy with his work, and I'm glad I took the recommendation. His staff is great and gets work done, and Donna helped us figure out elements so we can create the interior design we envisioned. Eli gave us a quote that we were largely able to stick to, and he finished the whole project in 3.5 months, just as he promised. Would highly recommend Quality First for their service, professionalism and getting the job done... I heard lots of horror stories from friends not getting their jobs done by shoddy contractors, so it was quite the relief when we saw that Eli knew what he was doing and the job was going to get done. read more

I can't say enough great things about Quality First Builders. This company deserves 100 Stars! After dealing with several other dishonest contractors, Eli and Donna were a breath of fresh air. Finally, I found someone I could trust. At first, I was skeptical because of prior bad experiences but Eli assured me that his team would be different. They have exceeded my expectations in every way. My project was a disaster from using unlicensed individuals that had no clue what they were doing. Eli told me he was willing to take on the challenge and make my home a beautiful new space. His crew is very professional, they pay attention to detail and they clean up after themselves daily. They are friendly, courteous and fast. His team is always on time and they show up according to the schedule. They operate peacefully and synergistically, there was absolutely no drama. They prioritized my needs. What more could one ask for. Eli corrected errors that the prior architect made with poor placing of lighting, dysfunctional cabinet design and sloppy plumbing and water drainage. Eli is extremely organized and a master communicator. He kept me in the loop with regard to every hiccup that occurred with regard to permits and inspections. The only regret I have is that I didn't find him first. They are not the least expensive but they are worth more than they charge. Take it from me! Do yourself a favor and call them if you want QUALITY home renovations. I guarantee you will be pleased. read more

Quality First Builders Inc. - JADU Kitchen - General Contractors Near Me - Sherman Oaks,, California

We were having some issues with cracks in our ceilings and called Eli asking for help. He was fantastic. Incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely looking out for us, even as he informed us that he was not the right guy to fix our issue. Even still, he walked us through who we should be looking for that would be better suited to remedy the situation and took the time to go through everything with us even though he would not be getting anything in return. Would definitely recommend. People who are genuinely interested in helping others are a rare breed. read more

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. read more

Quality First Builders Inc. - Getting ready for stucco - General Contractors Near Me - Sherman Oaks,, California

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. read more

If everyone had the same experience with a remodel that we had working with Eli, Donna, and their crew, all bathrooms and kitchens would be renovated. We had a huge project and their team delivered with high quality work, on time, and without any pushback when we have questions or changes orders. Quality First's sole goal was to update my mothers childhood family home to be a warm, friendly home for her future grandchildren. They more than delivered. Since the project was such a large scope, and the house had deep emotional attachment, we spent a lot of time researching, interviewing, and going to job sites seeing contractors work in person. Eli joked on our 5th date that maybe it was time to take the next step. The entire team is very transparent and no empty promises were made. If we had a question or an idea and it was possible, we very quickly received a detailed change order with additional cost and timeline info (granted even with the change ordered we stayed well within the initial quoted timeline). If it was not possible we received a thorough explanation if it was not up to code, or from experience Eli had a better idea. Designing with Donna was a breeze. She gave us homework assignments leading up to shopping day, and had pre-selected some materials based on preferences and budget. Our home is fully custom, with a warm, welcoming feeling. We had a closet design over and even without furniture, she commented how calming and serene she felt standing in our living room. We have already recommended Quality First to several of our friends and family, and we feel that is the best review anyone could give. But if you need proof, check out some of our before and after photos. read more

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We used Eli & Donna a second time to add a room onto our house. Once again, they did a terrific job. The room looks great and we love having the extra space. The work was done on schedule and when a minor issue came up a few months later, Eli had it taken care of immediately. Highly recommend. read more

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. read more

I saw several contractors and got 6 bids before selecting Quality First Builders. Angie's List didn't work out, so I relied on Yelp. Eli's quote was fair priced. Not the cheapest, but not the top of the all quotes I received. I was pleased to see so many rave reviews but I was concerned that Quality First Builders would be very busy and overbook jobs. That wasn't the case. I had that problem with my first remodel several years ago. Having an interior designer on hand was a big bonus for me. Donna, Eli's wife, was an absolute pleasure to work with. She has a degree in interior design and has a very good eye. I shared my Pinterest boards with her and she was able to get a sense of my style. If I became overwhelmed with so many options ( paint, tile, etc..) , she would give me 3 options to choose from. If I didn't like those, she would look for more. Our remodel started out as a kitchen and whole house flooring and then unforeseen circumstances occurred when the walls were opened up. Past mistakes from former contractors, termites,mold, leaky roof, etc... My husband and I were very upset and didn't plan on a major remodel. When all the problems popped up, Eli came back with a new detailed contract within 2 hours and even stuck to the original time frame! That was very impressive considering it's the busiest time of year for contractors. I won't lie...Going through a remodel can be very stressful but Eli was very good to work with. He was very transparent, no BS and stuck to all the deadlines. He is very conscience about quality work and obtaining permits / inspections every step of the way. The work crew was also very good. Wilder and Giovanni's crew were polite, worked hard and even made sure my cat and dogs didn't escape during the remodel process. That was very important to me. The bottom line.. I'm very glad I choose Quality First Builders. This was a major investment and I wanted to make sure I had no regrets. read more

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I am writing this review mainly because Eli and Donna made me feel like a part of their family from start to finish. If I ever decide to redo my kitchen or anyone I know that is looking to do a remodel, I will not hesitate to recommend them every time. I have been living in the same condo for the last 14 years. The condo was very out of date and going home after work or being home was at times something I didn't look forward to. I wanted my home to be my sanctuary, a place I couldn't wait to get to and enjoy. I made up mind to remodel the condo around September of 2023. I did research and had three different contractors give me a bid. They were all very reputable companies, all around the same price, but I felt something was lacking. I had one last quote I was going to do and that is when I found Quality First Builders. The thing that made my decision was the Company was family business, meeting Eli and Donna, and their bid came under the other 3 by a considerable amount. Eli and Donna were amazing. They handled all my questions and thoughts with professionalism and class. I was very nervous about the project but they both made feel at ease when they knew I was nervous about certain decisions. The project was a total Bathroom remodel, flooring, ceiling lights, closets and painting. Eli told me the project would take about 4 weeks to complete, they finished in 4 weeks and 3 days. Eli kept me informed every 2 to 3 days on progress and any issues he had concerns about. I also had a vision of what I wanted and color scheme. I can't thank Donna enough for bringing my ideas to life. I have been back in my condo about 3 weeks and words can't describe the joy in my heart that Eli and Donna have gave me. My friends who come over can't believe the transformation. It look like something out of a magazine. You can check the Quality First Builders website for pictures and my testimonial. I am still in touch with both of them and wish nothing but the best for them. They truly take pride in their work, are professional, but most of all they are amazing people. read more

From the moment we met with Eli, the owner, we knew he would do excellent work refinishing our two bathrooms because of the professional manner in which he presented himself. We weren't disappointed! Eli and his wife, Donna, worked with us from the beginning to the end in getting exactly what we wanted. Eli organized his crew in sync with the necessary processes while Donna took us shopping and helped us design our visions for each bathroom. Eli's bid was more attractive because the design phase was included. His price was reasonable and we couldn't have been more pleased with his crew of workers who completed the job. We definitely recommend Eli and Quality 1st Builders, INC. read more

We recently had 2 bathrooms remodeled and are very happy with the results. We met with Eli, the owner, several times before signing our contract and, he provided everything he promised. The sub-contractors were knowledgeable, reliable, clean and on-point with all aspects of the painting, plumbing, sanding, prep work, etc. Donna, Eli's wife, was awesome. She is an interior designer and helped us with the selection process when ordering the flooring, tiles for the shower and the bath tub, wall color, cabinet color selection, all the bath accessories (tub, toilet, glass shower door, facets, hardware) window coverings, etc. We felt very comfortable under Eli's supervision. He was professional and honest throughout the 5 week process. Thank you Eli & Donna for 2 beautifully renovated bathrooms. Judy & Craig read more

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Eli and First Quality Builders did a good job at remodeling my bathroom and kitchen. They made suggestions about the type of kitchen cabinets I should get and I am happy that I followed their suggestions re a corner lazy Susan cabinet, pull-out cabinets, and countertop lights. Eli and his crew were totally professional--the best part is that there were no job delays. When Eli said someone would be there at 8 am on Tuesday-they were there at 8 am on Tuesday. Eli promptly responded to all my calls and texts. It has been over 6 years that the work was done, and everything still looks wonderful and works. The only issue I had was that in the bathroom, the worker replaced my medicine cabinet in the original space in the wall without thinking as it was completely off- center to the sink and vanity. They had to take it out and redo the inset. That should have been done correctly in the beginning. Otherwise, I am very happy with the work done. read more

Eli and Quality First Builders did a great job on our bathroom remodel. Eli was very upfront and honest about the time and cost of the project. He was responsive to our calls and texts and the whole crew did a great job. We are very pleased with the results. I would definitely recommend them and hire them for any future projects. read more

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! read more

We had overall quite a positive experience with Eli and Donna doing an extensive remodel (starting with gutting): we redid the kitchen/dining room and a bathroom in a contemporary style, and created of a small laundry room, in our 60-year-old home. Quality First is far from the cheapest, so not for everyone, but the service level is high, and the quality seems to be as well. Anything that isn't quite right will be fixed. Donna has a great eye for design but she generally provides well-thought-out options and lets the customer specify, unless her preference is explicitly requested.  Communication between designer and general contractor is good because they're a couple!   Things were generally done right the first time, and on the rare occasions they weren't, it was fixed promptly.  Eli has a forceful personality which one might have to resist occasionally, but always trustworthy and honest.  We are very happy with our beautiful new kitchen/dining, bath, and laundry! read more

Quality First Builders Inc. - General Contractors Near Me - Sherman Oaks,, California

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Quality First Builders did a full remodel of our 2-bed, 2-bath condo in Santa Monica. The result is spectacular, and very well suited to our needs. Eli provided a detailed quote, with lots of specific information broken out. It was very clear what was included and what was not. Eli and Donna were both able to provide expert advice and guidance. During the quote process, Eli identified some problems that others did not, which is one of the reasons we chose to go with Quality First. There was an attention to detail that was reassuring. The project encountered some significant challenges, including the discovery of some questionable electrics and plumbing as a result of the previous owner. These added to the cost and the duration of the project, but I do not blame Quality First Builders for that -- I do not think these issues could have been foreseen until demolition was complete. Eli and his team took deadlines seriously, and although the original deadlines needed to be revised to account for these additional surprises, the work was completed ahead of the revised deadlines, which we really appreciated. The project included: - Full kitchen remodel - Extension of cabinets and counter tops through dining room - Full remodel of two bathrooms - Custom floating shelves and mantle - New doors throughout - Paint and flooring throughout - Installation of recess lights and light fixtures throughout - Tiling a large patio area, and replacing trellising So it was a large and complex project, and the result was of a high quality. Time and money both ran over, but seemed to be within reason, given the surprises left by the previous owner. There seemed to be a genuine sense of urgency and of efficiency throughout the process. The reason I cannot quite give a 5-star review is that the process was an extremely stressful one for us. To be fair to Eli and his team, the main points of stress were where third parties were involved. Anything that was completely within Eli's control was handled smoothly and well. His team does not do everything, however, and so we had to work with some other companies to fix the air-conditioning, replace the fireplace, hook up cable and internet, install closets, and replace the tile drop-ceiling in the hallway. We also had to interact with a very frustrating and unpredictable inspector. There were a lot of challenges where these different groups intersected, and where it wasn't clear who was responsible for what. We had to be more directly involved than I would have liked, and the communication was often stressful and at times became heated. My recommendation to others would be to handle as much of this sort of work as possible either before of after the main work is done. There is a clause in the contract about not working with third parties, for good reason, and in our case it turned out to be unavoidable (e.g. we discovered the AC work we had done prior was not properly permitted so the inspector would not sign off on anything else, the fireplace had to be installed before the tiling around it could be complete, etc). Eli was flexible in allowing this, and I appreciate that we got to a great result in the end, but the journey was bumpy at times. Both Eli and Donna injected creativity and problem solving. For example, the way the master bathroom was previously laid out was not up to code, and the inspector drastically limited our options, and caused Eli's team to have to do unnecessary re-work, which was frustrating. We were able to make the best of a bad situation, and the result is good looking and functional, even though our original plan was not allowed. The look and layout of our kitchen and dining area were more within our collective control, and together we achieved a really distinctive and appealing design, thanks to Eli and Donna's input. Thank you to Eli and Donna for working with us through all these challenges and getting to a great result. read more

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We chose Quality First Builders to remodel our master bathroom and kitchen because of the great reviews we saw on YELP. And because of our initial meeting with them, we did something we rarely do...we decided to go with them without getting any other estimates. So I really can't say how reasonable their estimates were, but it felt in the ballpark of what we thought it might be. The company is owned by Eli and his wife Donna. Eli takes care of contracting the workers, and Donna is an indispensable part of the equation in that she helps in picking out the fixtures, and the furniture, and the colors, and cabinets, and tile and grout, and everything else you can imagine. Honestly, there's no way we could have selected all the myriad of choice possibilities that need to be made without Donna's help. She is schooled in interior design and she miraculously comes for free as part of the package. We were told the project was going to take about 5 weeks to complete, which hearing the horror stories of other contractors promise of estimated time to complete a project, we were skeptical but hopeful. As demolition and construction began, there was some unforeseen additional work that needed to be added to the original time plan - partly due to the inevitable 'surprises' one finds during construction and also because of additions we requested. And, through no fault of theirs, items ordered to complete the project took far longer to arrive than we hoped, so there were several weeks added to the completion of the project. All in all, however, we were extremely pleased with the quality and timeliness of the work that was done, the professionalism of the workers, and most importantly with the way our master bathroom and kitchen turned out. We couldn't be happier. So, highest recommendations to Quality First Builders to anyone considering remodeling their home. read more

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I hired this company to remodel a kitchen and two bathrooms. I did the cabinets and demolition. They were supposed to do the rest. It was not a big job but they were still wanting to charge me $50,000. My family has been in the construction business since 1962, and we have been the contractor on every home we have built for ourselves, so I know my stuff. I hired Quality First because I didn't want the hassle of finding the subcontractors myself. Eli and Donna were very personable. They seemed knowledgeable albeit expensive. I thought I would be getting licensed and experienced subs for the price. BUT...Their employees were hacks. I had to ask them to fix mistakes over and over and they would not listen to me. I was constantly frustrated and stressed by their shoddy work and disrespectful attitude.The plumber installed a faucet on crooked pipes and then had to break through the wall to fix it. Electrical socket boxes were crooked...switches didn't work...AND THE WORST PART...The so- called electrician taped my electric lines together, which were not Romax (required) and then left them on the attic floor surrounded by insulation. They didn't use wire nuts let alone conduit. I could have had a fire. They also left garbage, the old fans and ducts in the attic hidden under the insulation. This way the inspector would not see it and they would not have to clean the mess. When I asked Eli for certain things he would say they were not "code". I had to Google the codes and show him he was wrong. I had a photo of the way I wanted my Granite. His place did it wrong and then refused to remedy it. I had a fix in mind but they would not listen. They should have done it over at their expense. I now have had to pay other professionals to fix a lot of things that Quality First didn't do correctly. And to top it off, I was harassed by Eli several times to give him a good review. If you are not an informed consumer, Quality First may make your remodel or new build look good...but you have to see what's underneath. I would not recommend this company. They do unprofessional work. read more

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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. read more

I want to thank Eli and his wife Donna for pulling this kitchen remodel together ahead of schedule even after we had a slight change order as a result of one of our low bearing walls by the architect. This was the first time my wife and I had gone through a remodel and based on my experience, I can tell you it was a very stressful process. Eli took the time to explain the process and told us to leave the worrying to him. Eli was really easy to work with and responded to my texts whenever I had a question along the process. After finding Eli on Yelp, I selected Quality First Builders as my contractor of choice based on the fact that he took the time to put a rendering of what my kitchen remodel would look like. Personally, I find it hard to visualize a remodel without a drawing that shows me what the end product will be. Eli put the rendering together and after some slight modifications, we decided to proceed with the remodel. Donna was there to help make some of the decision making much easier by letting us know what we needed to buy and giving us options on tile, appliances, etc. She met with us on a Sunday to select backsplash and the granite for our island as our busy schedules would not permit otherwise. We appreciate the fact she took time from her family to meet up with us. I certainly appreciate the fact that Eli provided a payment schedule of when money had to be paid based on completion of the work. I had heard horror stories of contactors taking money from clients ahead of any work being done and their projects were never completed. If you are looking for a reliable contractor, no need to look further. With all remodels, there are good things and there are some things that could have gone better. I felt that the framing and the stucco part of the project dragged longer than I would have thought. I understand that certain unforeseen circumstances can delay the process, but felt we could have saved some time. Wilder and Giovanni got things back on schedule as they proceeded to do the drywall and painting in just 3 days. One other thing that I would have done differently in the remodel would have been to redo the complete drywall of the ceiling because some of the blending between the new project and the original work of the house was noticeable. Overall, we are very happy with the final results and the remodel couldn't have turned out better than what was presented (you be the judge based on the pictures presented). We have received several compliments from our friends and they have been WOWED by how the remodeled turned out. They have told us that the house looks newly transformed. We have hosted several sporting events at our house since the remodel and the talk is always the kitchen. Thank You Eli and Donna for our Kitchen Remodel! read more

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We purchased our second house in Sierra Madre at end of 2013. The house was built in 1983 and it was vacated for two years before we bought it. So the condition was pretty bad and needed lots of upgrade works. Since then we did a LOT of research and interviewed a number of contractors. During this long process we were really exhausted. Almost devastated, we start to look on yelp for help. After reading all the reviews we contacted and interviewed three contractors, Eli was one of them. At our first meeting, Eli spent a long time listening to our needs and answering our questions. Then he started to give us really helpful suggestions and fresh ideas we've never heard from any other contractors, which opened up our mind. We were sold right there but still wanted to know his price since there's two other estimates came in before him. Couple days later he came back again with a proposal and a design layout from his interior designer, Donna. Of all the contractors we met, there's nobody delivered a 3D design layout! The fact that you can actually see the result before the project even starts is a HUGE plus. His estimate was the most reasonable compare to the amount of works from the proposal. The other main reason we choose him because he seemed very passionate about his work. We did remodel our whole house, included a brand new kitchen, three brand new bathrooms (one master, two full), electrical upgrades, living room remodel, dinning room remodel, new LED lighting, new ceiling, new floor, new windows/doors, etc. For a big project like this could be really frustrated and stressful. But with Eli and his team showed up for work everyday and making sure every little detail for us, we got great confidence and peace of mind during the whole construction. Eli was always available on phone/text with any questions or concerns from us, and always kept us informed about the process. Not only he did a phenomenal job on our house, his interior designer Donna also helped out so much when getting the right tile, stone, counter top, backsplash, color theme, design style...you name it! The craftsmanship from Eli and his team was beyond our expectation. But without Donna's finish touch on design we will never get a dream house just like the one you see in the deco magazines. We are so glad we hired Eli and Donna from Quality First Builders! The work is done now and we are so happy with the new look of our house. We got so many compliments from family and friends. Highly recommended Quality First Builders for any remodeling works you need at great price. Thank you Eli, Donna and the wonderful team! It was a pleasure to work with you! read more

Quality First Builders Inc. - This is the amazing kitchen remodeling before & after photo. Eli did a fantastic job to our new house. - General Contractors Near Me - Sherman Oaks,, California

After finding Eli on yelp, I called him to give us a bid. From the get go, he was enthusiastic, easy to talk with, and knowledgeable. He was quick to provide a contract (we were excited and wanted to get started ASAP), stuck to the pricing on the bid, and was always available. His wife was amazing and provided ideas for the finishing details, like lighting and color schemes too. We recently finished our major kitchen remodel with Quality 1st Builders and couldn't be happier. We will definitely use Eli whenever we have other home improvements. read more

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Met with Eli and Donna just over a year ago. I hired them to completely gut and remodel my kitchen, master bedroom and bath. I have a spanish style house that was built in the 1920's and has numerous add-ons and additions. Most of the previous work that had been done was not done correctly, but Eli was able to correct and/or find a solution for all of the problems that came up. He completed the work on time and on budget. Even after the work was complete he came back out to do some touch up on a few additional items at no cost. Everyone compliments on how amazing our kitchen is and it's all thanks to Eli. read more

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As soon as we met Eli and Donna from Quality First Builders we knew they were they right team to hire for our project. We spent a lot of time interviewing different contractors in a span of months but nothing provided us the combination that Eli and Donna had. They did a tremendous job with our project. Eli picked up the pieces from our last contractor and built the home that we envisioned. We couldn't have done without Eli and Donna. They make such a great team with Eli's construction expertise and Donna's eye for interior design. Donna made the whole process of selecting designs, fixtures and appliances so much easier because it would have been a nightmare without her. Eli was constantly in contact to make sure we were aware of the progress every step of the way through. They were both very conscious of our budget and made sure to keep us in line. Even the neighbors complimented on how professional the team onsite was. I can honestly say that Eli goes above and beyond to make sure you are happy. I'm sure many will read this and have their own experiences or heard or horror stories of bad contractors. You won't have to worry with Eli and Donna. They are professional, honest, trust worthy and they are always responsive! read more

Quality first builders just finished a project for us. We had purchased our first home in woodland hills and wanted to do some updates to it. We met with several contractors while we were in escrow because we wanted to start on the project right away. Eli was one of the 3 contractors that we met with to discuss our project. We wanted to do a kitchen remodel, change the flooring in the rooms and remodel one of the bathrooms. The kitchen in the house wasn't really big, so we didn't think that there was much change to be made to the layout. When we met with Eli for the second we were surprised, our kitchen didn't look like we imagined. It looked better! Everything went really smoothly with the remodel and we enjoyed the whole process. read more

I loved Donna's design work on a previous job and her ideas on the new bathroom were equally great. She recommended Eli and his crew was a as impressive as Donna. They worked fast and showed up when they said they would. I'd like to say everything went right but come on, there are always going to be unexpected things happening when you remodel. The true test of a contractor is how they react to those things and they did so brilliantly. They were able to do all my adjustments and never once told me what I wanted wouldn't work. And it didn't cost me anything more. Overall, I'm incredibly pleased. Thank you for your good work. read more

Update on review. Our bathroom remodel is completed and we couldn't be happier with how everything turned out. Eli and his crew worked diligently to complete the project. Eli and his crew stand by the quality of their work. Here are some photos. read more

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We selected Quality First Builders for our master bathroom and half bathroom remodeling project and were very happy with the results. As normal, we had several contractors bid on the project and discussed design ideas with each of them. We had a good feeling after discussing with Shai and with Eli, and liked the idea that Donna would help with the final interior design. Shai described in detail each step of the process with the approximate timeline and presented a very detailed written proposal (unlike some of the other bids). Although they were not the lowest price bid, Eli was willing to work with us on the price so we decided to move forward. The project started with a complete demolition of both bathrooms that was done efficiently and with good cleanup afterwards. It did mean we were down to only one bathroom for a few weeks but we knew that would be the case going into the project. The rough electrical, plumbing, and framing all went smoothly and then we had to wait a few days for the city inspector to come out and inspect the work. Then the wall lining and hot mop took a few more days before waiting again for the city inspector. During this period Donna helped us make the final decisions on tiles for the shower, bath surround, and floors and in selecting the matching paint color for the walls. Things really started to take shape after that with the all of the tiles being installed and the vision of our new bathrooms started to become a reality. We did make a few design changes to the semi-custom vanities as we went along but Eli and Donna were very helpful and understanding as we made those changes. It did incur some extra cost and time but at the end of the day we were happy with the changes we made. The final plumbing and electrical hook ups were done after the vanities were installed, along with the frameless glass shower, and freestanding bathtub. Final touches included the mirrors and matching medicine cabinets and a large LED mirror for the half bathroom. We are very happy with the final results and think the remodeled bathrooms look great. Overall the various contractors did a good job - especially the plumber who came up with a great solution to overcome a tricky pipe routing problem. Giovanni and his crew were a delight to work with. The only slight negative was the electrical contractor (as I mentioned to Eli) who fussed a bit over fixing a minor problem with the height of the lights above the mirror and who put the wire outlet for the LED mirror in the wrong place despite being told several times were to put it. But those issues were fixed in the end and didn't really detract from the overall great job done the Quality First Builders team. Our sincere thanks to all for a job well done !! read more

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Hired Quality First to remodel our bathroom. Their proposal was very reasonable in terms of cost and schedule. Their work was of quality and completed AHEAD of time which is almost unheard of in the construction business. As a bonus, Donna helped with the design and purchasing of fixtures and tile which was greatly appreciated. We are already in the planning stages of our project with Quality and look forward to working with them again. read more

Quality First Builders Inc. - General Contractors Near Me - Sherman Oaks,, California

We suffered a major leak last year, causing an immediate need to remodel our kitchen. We interviewed six general contractors prior to making our selection, asking nearly every question we could think of to ensure we made the right choice. From the very first meeting, we knew Quality First Builders was the right fit for us. Whereas each of the other 5 candidates gave various (sometimes opposing) solutions for the soffit in our kitchen, Eli was the first to get his hands dirty to find out what was feasible and cost-effective. He was a straight-shooter, set proper expectations and followed through during the entirety of our project. His subcontractors were all top notch and worked hard to ensure we were happy with the final product. Our entire kitchen remodel took 5 weeks from start to finish (including Christmas and New Years). The teams were clean, courteous, and detailed. Donna was a great help on the design aspect of the project. She joined us on our shopping trips to find countertops, flooring, and backsplash and provided helpful recommendations for hardware and other finishing touches. Her eye for design was spot on and her connections in the trade made the entire process so much easier than had we tried to wade through on our own. We love our new kitchen and had a great experience with Quality First Builders. We highly recommend them to anyone looking for high quality home renovations and plan to use them again in the future for our next set of projects. read more