Constraction reviews in Columbia, Maryland

There are not enough stars to rate this company on the level they deserve. Amazing project managers and owner who truly care about your project. Very attentive to detail, and willing to go the extra mile on every job. Look no further when in need of any kind of project.

Starcom Design/Build is a well established company in Howard County, known for their amazing work. Their team has a high level of professionalism. I would definitely recommend this company to all family and friends!

I have read every review on google and BBB and here is my assessment of Starcom. Thus far, there were several (not many) regarding higher pricing, late calls, missed appointments, telemarketing, and so on. Let's be truth to ourselves. If we can save a lot of money, we do it ourselves, right? Because our lives are busy and lack professional know how, we hire the expertise. I am a former architect/business owner and I have worked in construction throughout my younger days and I had to get out because of several factors: my body and the profitability. Regarding my body is no brainer; however, profitability was the main issue. In construction, overhead is huge and we must take that into consideration! I will elaborate on that later.

Starcom worked on our commercial building and did a wonderful job. Yes, being from the construction field, I saw some things I could have done better...but that was me. Overall, I was extremely satisfied. Due to personal circumstances and NOT money either, I had to prolong a 2 month job into a year. Starcom was very accommodating. If I had dealt with another company, they might have taken my deposit and ran off with it. I remember a construction company who under balled us to do the roof and cost~ed us $25,000 more. See~ the nature of construction business is volatile. Therefore, know who you are dealing with & how long they have been in business. If a telemarketer calls, just kindly call Starcom about the unwanted calls. If calls were not made or forgotten, give a little understanding. Yes~ it's upsetting but try to work it out. The thoughtfulness will come back 10 folds. It certainly did with me.

In regards to price quotation, I found Starcom on the medium to medium/high range. They weren't the cheapest and I expected so because of their reputation. They were once ranked nationally in the remodeling sector. Throughout the project, there were several unexpected price adjustments and increases but that is the nature of beast. Prior to a job, you are quoted for what you want done and can see. Contractor cannot quote you for finding asbestos during a project and have the contractor eat the costs. Therefore, word of caution, give yourself about 15%-20% wiggle room for unwanted and/or unexpected expenses. Be a wise consumer and be upfront with the contractor. Tell them you cannot exceed a certain defined budget.

Now~ as promised, this is where i like to discuss profitability. See~ construction business is a complicated animal and it is very difficult to make it work. That is why construction companies close so many doors and it is the #1 ranked business in the nation to defraud consumers. Do your homework. Florida leads the pack from what I have last researched.

As you might have heard and might of noticed in some of the reviews, there are those who knows the price of everything but knows the value of nothing. Today's labor cost is extremely high. Say~ You have an employee, who you pay, $25/hr, and the employer has to match his Federal Tax, not to mention State, workman’s compensation, Business/Liability insurance, health insurance, property tax, depreciation, and so on... You have very little left at the end of the day. Use common sense about how a contractor charges you. Always remember not to get too crazy about what you can gain for what you might lose. Finding a good contractor is about finding the right balance. Contractors want to make you happy.

In closing, I like to make this remark. Starcom did the work that was expected and did a great job. The cost of the project was perfectly aligned with the scope of the work. I even asked for some extras that were not in the contract and they did it, though I did ask politely and nicely. All in all, I slept peacefully at night knowing I was getting what I asked for. I hope this review helped those who are considering Starcom. Have a wonderful day!

A year ago, we finished construction on a second floor to our 1000 sq. ft. house in Takoma Park. I spoke to two other design/build firms, who told me it couldn't be done for less than $350,000. Starcom got it done for under $200,000, which was all we could possibly afford. Given that limitation, we are constantly surprised by how luxurious our second floor feels. Even with the modest building materials we could afford, our upstairs is incredibly beautiful, and oh so functional. Jerry Harman designed the space so well. It is clever and lovely and has SO MANY CLOSETS! It really has changed our lives. To be sure, we had some frustrations at the very end of the process, where it seemed like it was taking a long time to wrap up the end of the punch list. But from what I have heard this is normal in any construction project. And, since then, as a few issues have popped up, Starcom has stood by its work and come in without hesitation or question when something needed to be fixed. They're good people and they do good work.

Starcom Design Build addressed a unique shop ventilation problem with two alternative solutions that were more appropriate and less expensive than what I had initially requested. Their installation followed through with a custom tailored fit that was excellent. I recommend them as a "first contact" when looking for solutions.

Starcom Design Build did an outstanding job with our master bathroom remodel. They maximized the layout and included so much storage space. It is so beautiful I wish we would have remodeled sooner. I look forward to the next time I work with Starcom.

Starcom is an incredible, family operated business that has helped us with our new build. Carly is very talented and has a great eye for design. You will not be disappointed by selecting this company for your next project!

We reached out to Starcom when we were considering adding a second story to our house. Bill Miner and his project partner took a lot of time to carefully look at our house and explain the challenges associated with such a project. We opted to stick with a single level, and had them replace our roof instead. Even on that comparatively small and inexpensive project, Bill spent a lot of time discussing shingle options with us. Most importantly, his team redesigned elements of the roof to divert water away from trouble spots -- solving our persistent leak. We will definitely consider Starcom for future home projects.

Starcom did a great job with a complex set of renovations which included wall treatments, flooring, stair and railings, closets , doors, painting, etc. This was our third project with Starcom. Each one has been done with great skill and attention to detail and respect for the needs of the client.

We had a handicap accessible addition completed by Starcom in 2023. We are very happy with the work. It's really stressful to go through construction and there is always some issue that comes up. Starcom handled issues as they appeared professionally.

Starcom remodeled a half bath into a full bath in our guest room. We had consulted with many contractors, and starcom was the only one that truly responded to our needs, developed a design as per our requirements and did a good quality work. We enjoy the space very much with the comfort of a full bath. The process of inspections and permits prolonged the project by a few weeks, but all's well that ends well. Thank you for your good design and for listening to the customer's design requirements.

Entire kitchen remodel, all the way down to studs - the end product was fantastic, high quality work. They knocked it out in 3 weeks. The price was competitive - which when you add in the quality + speed, makes it a deal. Would gladly work with them again.

We did a complete kitchen remodel in our 20 year old Western Howard County home. I was nervous about the project because, well, it's our home, and we were about to have workers that we didn't know in it. My wife and I met with Bob and Jerry and I knew we were with the right guys. Throughout the whole project I felt at ease and comfortable with them in our home. That was #1 for me. Oh and yes, the finished product is amazing. I love it but more importantly, the Mrs. still says she loves it all the time! Thank you Starcom. We strongly recommend you!

I have used Starcom for several home improvement projects over the years and most recently they built a detached 2-car garage for me. They did an outstanding job in completing the project on time and budget. Their workmanship was top-notch. I would highly recommend them!

Hired them to restore my handicapped brothers house. One of the worst mistakes I have ever made trusting Starcom. Work quality 4/10.
Honesty especially from the the head of the company concerning many very important things zip. Some of the staff is ok. I can honestly say they took advantage of my family all the way around. Starcom sent me an email the other day I assume by accident. The email was asking customers to leave a good review with BBB. The one that left the best review won a 50 dollar gift card.
Bribing customers for reviews to me is very shabby.

I contracted w/Starcom on 02-25-16 to spray foam insulation under my house and add supports. Talked w/ Mr Minor initially.He was professional,knowledgeable and to the point. Once agreed, he helped me to get financing for the project. He and the professional installers were courteous and knowledgeable and were willing to explain what they were going,why it was done and how long it would take. They started the work quickly and after the initial start finished the work over 3 days. TOP NOTCH professionals. I will definitely use them again

Starcom built a first floor master bedroom/bathroom for us and did a fabulous job! They closely worked with us to design our envisioned layout and maximized the space perfectly. All staff and contractors were professional and courteous. Building materials and workmanship were top quality.

Starcom gave me the master bathroom of my dreams! I had a basic idea of what I wanted it to look like but the designer executed my vision perfectly. We expanded the old bathroom into a linen closet and it is now double the size. Remodeling can be very stressful but everyone I spoke with was thorough, knowledgeable and respectful. I highly recommend Starcom to anyone looking to remodel.

Starcom built a 20 x 20 addition onto my home. We wanted to maximize the kitchen/dining/family room area so that it was open concept and better for entertaining. The design was executed perfectly and we absolutely love our new space. If anyone has hesitations about a home remodel, call Starcom! They know what they are doing.

Starcom recently designed/built/finished a garage and sunroom for us. From start to finish, we had no issues and were impressed with the quality and efficiency of their work. All of their people were friendly, courteous and very professional. Another fact we really appreciated was the open communication, especially in this new way of COVID19 life, with Bob, the owner. He strove to keep us informed and in the loop, and for that we are most grateful. We’d gladly recommend Starcom without hesitation, and would absolutely hire them again for future work if needed.

My brother and his wife used Starcom for an addition and I loved the results. I was so excited to start our kitchen project and the designer was very receptive to our ideas. Our new kitchen looks fabulous, all thanks to Starcom. I am so happy with the results. The owner, Bob, was very friendly and knowledgable throughout the whole renovation process. The whole crew was respectful and courteous. They treated our home with care and did very nice work as well. THANK YOU STARCOM!