Quick summary in case you don't want to read the rest: he showed up on time everyday, he gave excellent options and suggestions, he has a great network of affordable and talent subcontractors, and his pricing is very reasonable. Message me for pictures - who knows if I'll every post some before and afters.
I recently purchased a home in Pleasanton that needed quite a bit of work (new kitchen, remodel master bath, new floors, new closets, and the outside next year). I was thinking about hiring my own subcontractors with the help of Yelp but most of the 5 star guys were out of my price range, especially in markup Pleasanton. I was referred to Ray through a friend and I couldn't be happier. He's a jack of almost all trades - those jobs where he feels somebody else will do a better job, he'll source it out. He did this for an electrician, and a mason to re-do my fireplace. Both were excellent and very reasonably priced.
As far as the rest of the process went, I hit NO snags. Ray was a top builder for Rayland Homes before the market tanked and he went to work for himself. For every item of the house I remodeled, he brought me up to speed and thoroughly explained my options. He was a perfectionist when he went to work and took just as much pride in the house my wife and I did. My wife has a smile on her face everytime she's staring at the undercabinet lighting shining off the beautiful greay granite. I'm smiling because she cooks me a bomb meal in our bomb kitchen. Ray helped my marriage more than any councelor could (not that we need it incase she reads this)!
Pricing was also very clear. I probably paid 25-35% less than if I sub'd everything out myself. Use Ray to get the most bang for your buck. read more