Tom Norris Homes

Tom is a general contractor, and also has a license for design/​architecture. He does additions, remodels, and new custom builds. When we used him he didn’t have the design license, but he helped us design our custom home. As the general contractor (GC) it’s his job to coordinate all the other contractors so that they aren’t falling all over each other, and stuff that needs to be done is done before a given trade comes in (e.g. plumbing is in before drywaller shows up).
We actually interviewed several GCs before selecting Tom. Tom emphasized «green» building, and was more open to other building products than many of the others. We used «OmniBlock» to build our home, which he fully supported.
Tom uses a ‘cost-​plus’ system. The advantage of this is that he has no incentive to cut corners to increase his profit. He gets a percentage of the cost as his fee. A contractor who says he’ll build your home for $xxx, xxx is locked into that price. So the more he can scrimp and compromise the more money he’ll clear. Not with Tom and ‘cost-​plus’. You literally have control over the quality and cost of your home because you decide what everything will cost (i.e. if you go cheap, you get cheap; if you go high-​end, you’ll get high-​end).
We’ve been in our home nearly 6 years now. The few problems that arose were handled without any hassle, and we’re quite happy. I’ve recommended him to anyone who asked, without reservation. Tom is a straight-​shooter.