I have been a client of Cochrane Construction for almost thirty years. I first met Jon when I walked in my neighborhood and saw him on a job. I had been remodeling with another contractor, and there had been a fire during construction for faulty wiring of a steam shower unit.
Free of charge, Jon came by and looked at my home. He offered suggestions, but didn't try to steal the business. After I finished the work, I never used anyone else for my home projects again.
I am a trial lawyer, a detail oriented and attentive person with my home contractors. If one says he is going to do something and in what time frame, I will expect compliance. There is typically a lot of money involved, as well as time, and we are allowing someone access to our nest, our home. Before and since finding Jon, I had heard horror stories of jobs over budget and time frames which severely stressed the homeowners.
When I put out a bid for the 4400 sq. foot home I built in 2006--I knew it was going to be about a million dollar job. ( The home is now worth over 4 million). I never seriously considered using anyone but Cochrane Construction, but put it out to bid to others recommended to me, because I wanted to educate myself.
I got back a two page bid, a 5 page bid, and Cochrane's 89 page bid for the project. Jon's bid detailed every nail which would be used, every potential upcharge which could happen (such as changing a tile pattern in a bathroom), and made it obvious that if I never kept him waiting for my choices of appliances, tile, flooring, cabinets, etc., he would build my home in nine months. That's exactly what he did. I have never before or since EVER heard of a home this size being built in that time frame.
My home is beautiful and I have had almost no issues in 13 years. Jon and his company remain highly responsive when needed, and I have referred them to many friends by saying, "if you don't use Cochrane Construction, I don't want to hear about it when there are problems on your job." My cousin who bought a new home in Santa Monica a few years ago used them to extensively remodel, and thanks me regularly, as she too hears horror stories from people who had terrible experiences with their contractors.
Like Heirloom A who posted her anonymous review below in October 2020, I never wrote a review for Cochrane because they are so busy, they work by word of mouth and don't get business from Social Media---
But I feel compelled to comment on her negative review.
First, this woman doesn't seem to know subs work under a contractor's license by law in California. Second, why post a review TWO years after the job?? If she was so concerned that "unlicensed" workers were in her home, why not bring it up to Jon, who would have explained it to her?
Comments about "out of warranty...?!" Jon values his clients and if he didn't make them happy, he couldn't exist by word of mouth only. Think about it. I had an issue with a plumbing matter in my master shower, and repaired it. Jon asked what he owed (I replied nothing)--after 11 years!!!
Similarly, while I bandy about the "F' word fairly often, I have NEVER heard Jon say anything disrespectful about anyone, ever. Far from being a misogynist, Jon has more integrity in the way he runs his business than anyone I have dealt with in 33 years of law practice. The story Heirloom A tells about a hidden houseguest, being close enough to overhear a conversation, know who was speaking, and about what they were referring---without those talkers sensing their presence is just specious. And that houseguest never told the homeowner for two years because they didn't want to "complicate matters..?" If this rings true to you, so be it.
Finally--she ends her review saying she is choosing to tell her friends. Two years later. Hmmm......if her "friends" are people reading Yelp reviews, that's just sad.
Do your research when hiring someone--and if you can get word of mouth recommendations, that's the way to do this. and achieve the desired result.
Cochrane Construction is probably the most honest and best company I have ever dealt with, and continues to be. read more