Friendly, flexible, creative and extremely dedicated

Relationship: Client

Project Date: 2020

The team at Newschool Builders did an incredible job updating our beloved but shabby 1970s ski condo. We are thrilled with the result- the quality of the workmanship is top notch! The team was friendly, flexible, creative and extremely dedicated to our project from start to finish. We highly recommend them to anyone embarking on a major renovation project.

Jacob & Hillary - Stowe, VT

Top Notch Craftsmen

Relationship: Client

Project Date: 2021

Blake and his team were fantastic to work with from start to finish. We fully renovated a 2000sf Townhouse in 2020, including reconfiguring the space, installing new HVAC, adding a bathroom, replacing stairs, and raising the roofline and replacing windows. The project was well organized and on-time, billing was transparent, communications were great, and the craftsmanship is top notch. Their subcontractors are very good and responsive, as well. We'd happily work with NSB again.

Jennifer & Jason - Warren, VT

A+ for both the building process and quality of our finished home

Relationship: Client

Project Date: 2021

New School Builders deserves the highest marks for building our 4000+ sqft home. NSB takes pride in quality craftsmanship and attention to detail, both of which are evident in every single corner of our custom home. Communication with our project manager, Pat, was excellent throughout the project. Even though we threw Pat a couple big curveballs, he handled them with a smile and was able to pivot and keep our project on track. The 2020 pandemic created so many challenges for builders (supply chain, personnel, changing business rules, etc.), but once again, NSB managed these with ease. NSB deserves an A+ for both the building process and for the quality of our finished home.

Ron & Kris - Stowe, VT

An Absolute Pleasure

Relationship: Client

Project Date: 2020

It was an absolute pleasure to work with everyone at Newschool. The project was completed on time and did not have any surprise cost overruns. They communicated every few days with photos and emails, and phone conversations when necessary.

Blake, Andrew, and Tom, and all the other people who worked on the project were very professional and I would highly recommend them and will definitely use them again. Their workmanship and attention to detail exceeded our expectations.

Paula - Warren, VT

On time, Under Budget

Relationship: Client

Project Date: 2019

Working with New School Builders was an excellent experience. We have been though many building projects and this was by far the best. Blake and his crew are extremely professional, easy and fun to work with and up to date with the latest building techniques. The quality of their work and attention to detail is excellent. We felt they always had our best interests at heart. Our home was finished on time and came in under budget. We appreciated that the finance piece was tracked digitally and at any given time we could see where we stood within our budget. We would highly recommend New School Builders for any building project.

Bob and Cindy

Truly Unparalleled

Relationship: Client

Project Date: 2019

We hired Newschool Builders upon recommendation from a family friend. Though we had never seen any of their work in person, we decided to meet with Blake, the principal and owner, to discuss turning our 80's Vermont house into a more updated and efficient full time home for our family of four. We were impressed with Blake's genuine and personable manner and could tell that he truly cares about his craft; we knew that we could trust him immediately. When he presented us with an incredibly detailed estimate, timeline and projection, we knew that we would be kept up to date with the building progress every step of the way. His team of craftsmen and subcontractors that he surrounds himself with were respectful, kind and detail oriented and took great care in everything they did for our family. Our site manager was available for questions and conversation daily and every detail that we asked for was completed on time and on budget. The level of organization and project management was truly unparalleled - after experiencing projects with other builders, we feel this makes Newschool unique within the industry. Blake made it a priority to make sure that our year-long project would be completed so that our family could move in before the holidays as we hoped; he and his crew truly made us feel like we were his only clients. The quality of materials used and level of finish work are simply beautiful. We are extremely happy with the end product and grateful that we entrusted Newschool Builders with our home. We would highly recommend Blake and his crew for any level of project. They will be our only phone call if we ever need building work done in the future.

Micah and Aimee

Top Shelf

Relationship: Client

Project Date: 2019

Newschool Builders are a top shelf organization. Blake is an outstanding project organizer with accurate budget details and monthly reviews. Pat is a very caring, conscientious project manager who always puts the customer's needs first. They are true craftsmen and produce a quality product. They built us a beautiful house and we couldn't imagine working with a better crew.

John and Kathy

Superb Craftsmanship

Relationship: Client

Project Date: 2019

We had a great experience working with Newschool Builders on our home renovation. From our initial estimate to the day we moved back into our house their professionalism, expertise and enthusiasm for the project made the experience of renovating our house stress free and enjoyable. Blake provided a comprehensive estimate and a monthly analysis of how we were doing vs. budget. This allowed us to make informed decisions thru the project and helped us to come in under budget. Our site manager Tanner was always a few steps ahead of the process, anticipating issues and keeping us on schedule. Any problem was quickly communicated, usually with multiple options to solve it and detailed explanations as to the pros and cons. The entire team was hardworking & skilled and were a pleasure to work with. Most importantly, Newschool’s experience and superb craftsmanship resulted in a home that far exceeded our expectations. We can’t say enough good things about them and would highly recommend Newschool Builders. We’d use them again without hesitation!

Mark and Loren

Set The Bar High

Relationship: Client

Project Date: September 2017

We had an excellent experience working with Newschool Builders on a significant renovation project in the Mad River Valley in late 2017. We live out of town and could not be on-site consistently, forcing us to put a lot of trust in Blake, Tanner and team. They really exceeded expectations on every front. A few things stood out:

1. The finished project looks amazing, thanks to their skill, hard work and good taste. We did not use an architect or designer on this project, and relied on their team to help us think through a number of smaller design decisions. Blake and Tanner provided great suggestions and explained options clearly.

2. Communication was consistent and professional. They responded to emails promptly (often within a few hours), pro-actively raised issues and laid out options with clear trade-offs. They also offered opinions at appropriate times to steer us in the right direction. In addition, they used software that allowed us to track the project status, review pictures, change orders and follow tracking against budget via smartphone and web interface. Given we were remote, this level of communication was critical.

3. They finished on-time, and on-budget. We threw a number of major changes their way during the project, and they still completed the project by the end-date that we established at the start of the project. For each of the changes, they provided cost estimates and then delivered within the expected range. The team is incredibly reliable - always on-site and working hard. I never had to worry about someone showing up on-time or work stalling.

4. They are nice guys who seem to enjoy and take great pride in their work. The project was a lot more fun because we really liked Blake, Tanner and other members of the team. We always felt that they really cared about the success of the project both in terms of finished product and our satisfaction with the process.

I would HIGHLY recommend Newschool Builders for any project large or small. We've completed a few renovation projects in the past, and Newschool established a new bar for what to expect from a builder.

Travis and Zoe - Warren, VT

Legacy Relationship

Relationship: Client

Project Date: January 2016

Blake and his crew are hardworking and knowledgeable. Blake is a problem solver, and has great connections with subcontractors. Easy to work with, very concerned with my satisfaction as a client, and timely. I have hired Blake and Newschool Builders twice (once for a renovation to a remote camp which was done better than our imagination could of hoped for, and now for a three-home complex that is very demanding since it is renovation of a historic home to become a multi unit development that is high performance and full of detail). Newschool can do it all, from renovation to new construction, and do it well, timely and within the budget. The best contractor I have ever hired.

Richard and Kinny - Warren, VT

Highest Recommendations

Relationship: Client

Project Date: July 2014

Newschool Builders finished our basement to a high spec for a spa and gym area as well as remedial exterior work to our guest cottage. They managed all aspects of the project with creative solutions and to exacting standards of themselves as well as their chosen sub contractors. Cannot recommend them enough!

Daniel - Stowe, VT

Just Right

Relationship: Client

Project Date: September 2013

Newschool Builders did an amazing job on our home renovation. Blake and his crew were incredibly professional, managed the job well and on time, and their craftsmanship is beautiful. We would definitely recommend Newschool Builders for any project - big or small. They are knowledgeable, have a great sense of style and give just the right amount of advice when needed. We loved working with them.

Jonah and Sarah - Waitsfield, VT

Utmost Honesty

Relationship: Client

Project Date: July 2015

We hired Newschool Builders to build our home. Blake and his crew offered friendly and knowledgeable service, as well as exhibited superior craftsmanship, strong problem solving skills and utmost honesty. We would recommend them to anyone!

Joel and Mckenzie - Warren, VT

Seamless Out of State Communication

Relationship: Client

Project Date: May 2014

My project was a complete renovation of my Vermont home, including the expansion of three separate rooms, a new kitchen, all new heating and electrical systems, new windows/doors and renovated bathrooms. At the time of the renovation I was living and working out of state but the communication with the Newschool team was seamless. I developed complete trust that the work was being done properly and this was confirmed during my site visits. Starting with our first meeting the team provided excellent design recommendations which dramatically improved the finished product. Scope changes were handled with complete transparency, I never had to question any of the costs on the project. I couldn't be more pleased with the renovation process as it unfolded or the the final results.

Gary - Warren, VT

Fluid Adaptation to Changing Scope

Relationship: Client

Project Date: March 2011

In 2010-11, we had another child on the way, and were in serious need of more space in our Warren home. When we decided to expand our house rather than go through the grueling process of moving, we began looking for local builders. We happened upon Newschool Builders when a neighbor whose house they were working on recommended them. From the first meeting, we felt that Blake was the builder for us: friendly, enthusiastic, full of ideas, and above all, respectful of our time crunch and budgeting needs. From the first scraped load of dirt to the final driven nail, the entire process went about as brilliantly as possible (from our end), which is something that I don't say lightly. So much of that was due to Newschool's quality craftsmanship, but also, and perhaps ALMOST as importantly, their ability to fluidly adapt to the shifting scope of the job. In the end, we would hire these guys again, as they say, in a heartbeat.

Jay and Kate - Warren, VT

Recommended by Architects

Relationship: Client

Project Date: March 2017

When I started working a year ago with my architect, Jim Sanford, he stressed the importance of hiring a great contractor to execute the complex design work we had in mind. I left that part in Jim's hands, and he selected Newschool Builders, who he described as head and shoulders above other local contractors. It was great advice from Jim, as Newschool Builders did an absolutely phenomenal job both in quality of workmanship, and importantly, coming in exactly on time. I set the target date for completion by June 30, and the furniture was moved back in that very day. Considering the scope of the work done, that was quite an accomplishment to achieve.

Additionally, Blake Hackerson of Newschool Builders gave me a lot of important input on ideas that hadn't been considered in the architect's original plan, which really helped give the apartment a very complete look. Moreover, Newschool Builders put in a lot of hours designing the intricate ceiling work with LED recessed lighting, which was a significant cost savings to me vs the hourly charge for the architect to have done all that work.

Many thanks to Blake, Everett, Ian, Joel and all of the rest of the Newschool Builders team, along with Jim Sanford's vision, who transformed our apartment into something truly extraordinary. It gives me joy every day to appreciate the incredible craftsmanship and artistry in the apartment now. In one word - awesome.

Todd - Warren, VT

It Takes a Team

Relationship: Client

Project Date: February 2017

We hired Newschool Builders to remodel our beloved Vermont ski home into a permanent residence. Blake, his project manager Pat, and the entire team did an outstanding job. They understood and respected our connection to the home and did an excellent job of marrying the old with the new. Our home challenged their carpentry skills with uneven walls, floors and ceilings. They surpassed our expectations with their attention to detail and clean trim work.

Everyone we met from Newschool including the subcontractors that they recommended had a great attitude, friendly, positive and patient. They listened to all of our concerns, answered all of our questions and worked with us to come up with creative solutions. They were an integral part of creating our home.

Best of all, they delivered on time and on budget. The detail and transparency with their financials was greatly appreciated. Blake takes great pride in delivering quality work and goes out of his way to make sure his clients have the best experience possible. We have been through several remodeling projects and this one was by far the best.

Perry and Valery - Warren VT

Bring Your Vision to Life

Relationship: Client

Project Date: March 2009

My house had a perfect location for a sunroom. I wanted walls of windows, a place where I could be a part of my backyard woods no matter what season of the year in Vermont. My specific list of design requests required artistry and a lot of detail work along with insightful understanding to allow my ideas to become a reality. The guys at Newschool Builders are the ones you want. Stop looking for a construction company. If you can dream it, Newschool Builders can bring it to life.

Jean and Ken - Waitsfield, VT

Andrew Volansky, AIA - Volansky Studios

Relationship: Colleague

As an Architect, I prefer working with general contractors who are collaborative, receptive to ideas and can bring their experience to the table to better a project. I find Newschool Builders energy and receptiveness to learning how the design manifests client goals to be refreshing. It isn't always obvious how a design has accomplished a particular client goal and a few thoughtful questions can bring to light why certain details or architectural moves were made. I value Newschool Builders interest in understanding the underlying design concepts as it helps them to make more appropriate project specific decisions during the construction phase. This approach, in my opinion is paramount to a successful project.

I often say that Newschool Builders have left a string of happy clients in their wake which speaks volumes in my book.

Andrew - Stowe, VT

Masterful Attention to Detail

Relationship: Client

Project Date: September 2015

Newschool built our garage and shop and finished a bay on our main house with special attention to the Victorian era exterior details to match the existing structure. From the moment our project started with the site work, through the framing and completion, there was masterful attention to detail. The project was completed on time and on budget. We enjoyed working with Blake, the crew and all who were involved in bringing the project to fruition. If at all possible, we will utilize Newschool Builders for any and all of our future projects.

Dee - Burlington, VT

High Quality Work, On Time & Budget

Relationship: Client

Project Date: March 2015

My wife and I hired Newschool Builders to convert an unfinished basement area into a media room and office along with a half bathroom. We could not have been more pleased with the results, for a number of reasons:

1. Engagement, integrity and good communication: Blake, the owner of Newschool, was directly involved from start to finish of the project. We came to have a great appreciation for his honesty, integrity and open communications throughout the process. He made great suggestions at the planning stage and was always straightforward about costs. We greatly appreciated that he would sit down with us at regular intervals during the construction to go review progress and to alert us to any possible unforeseen costs.

2. High quality results within budget: Most importantly Newschool did quality work with which we've remained very happy for the 3 years since completion. They did so within our agreed budget and with no unpleasant surprises.

All in all, we had a highly satisfactory experience with Newschool Builders and would recommend them highly to anyone looking for a contractor in this area. Should we undertake any new projects in the future, Newschool Builders would be our first choice!

Geof and Jenny - Waitsfield, VT

The Beginning of a Relationship

Relationship: Client

Project Date: September 2017

We contacted Newschool Builders for the installation of a new front door and side lights. The Newschool team was wonderfully efficient and our experience was simply fun. It was a small project, however the team did nothing short of professional and perfect. We have larger projects coming up and thrilled to have professionals we already trust and enjoy!

Justina - Waterbury, VT

Susan Teare - Professional Home Photographer

Relationship: Colleague

I love getting a call from Newschool Builders to photograph their projects because their work is of very high quality, carefully crafted and genuinely built with attention to detail. They are involved in a wide variety of projects - from commercial to residential - that are all thoughtfully designed and constructed with seamless collaboration. It is really a pleasure to be able to work for these guys year after year!

Susan - All Over, VT

Ellen Strauss, AIA - Sanford Strauss Architects

Relationship: Colleague

It has been a pleasure to work with this crew of young 'can do' guys! They bring a lot to the table, figuring out great details that really look good and still meet the highest energy efficiency goals. Their communication is great as we work on new construction and gut renovation. I look forward to a long productive relationship.

Ellen Strauss - Waitsfield, VT

Client for Life

Relationship: Client

Project Date: June 2013

Newschool Builders completed a major renovation and custom addition for us in 2013. They were experienced and detail oriented from the budget to the smallest details of our home. They were great communicators and so much fun to work with, patient with changes that we made to the budget and plan, incredibly organized, thoughtful and an overall joy to be around. They are tech savvy and we used Houzz and other media to hone our vision and share ideas, an enjoyable and efficient way to manage our large project. Their fine woodworking skills were an added bonus as they completed all kinds of gorgeous custom projects in our home, from built-in shelving and bathroom cabinetry to a custom fireplace mantel and a beautiful handcrafted dining table made using hand tools and reclaimed wood that we sourced together. We have worked with Newschool on many projects since and every time they amaze us with their fine craftsmanship, attention to detail, timeframe and budget, and their great sense of design. We will be working together for many years to come.

Ty and Madhurii - Fayston, VT