The quickest way to find a vetted builder or contractor on Cape Cod is to start with the free HBRACC member directory. Filter by the kind of work you need, where your house is and your budget, then check the company’s state registration and license before you sign anything. Every company in it is a member of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod and has signed on to the association’s code of ethics.
Here’s how to get the most out of the directory, and what to check once you have a shortlist.
What is the HBRACC member directory?
HBRACC is the trade association for the people who build and remodel homes on Cape Cod. Its 300-plus member companies include custom home builders, remodelers, architects and designers, electricians, plumbers, heating and cooling companies, landscapers, and the lumberyards and showrooms that supply them.
The directory puts all of them in one place. Members build their own listings, so what you see comes straight from the company: what it does, where it works, the kind of projects it takes on and how to reach it.
How do I search the directory for the right contractor?
- Pick a category. Start with the type of work, like Home Builders, General Contractors, Remodeling / Additions, Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling or Architects & Design. Most companies choose one or two categories, so you’re seeing the work they actually want, not everything they’ve ever done.
- Open Advanced Filters and set Area Served. Choose Upper Cape, Mid-Cape, Lower Cape, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, the South Shore or the South Coast. A great builder in Falmouth may not take a job in Provincetown, and this saves you that phone call.
- Narrow it by project. Project Specialty filters for kitchens, baths, additions, ADUs, waterfront, whole-home renovations, new construction, and historic and antique homes.
- Set a budget tier. Companies pick a tier from $ to $$$$ based on the bulk of their work. It’s a rough guide, not a quote, but it keeps you from calling a firm that only builds multimillion-dollar houses about a bathroom.
- Search by keyword or zip code. Try specific terms like “cedar shingle,” “spray foam” or “kitchen design,” or enter your zip code and a radius.
Listings with a logo, photos and video are Enhanced listings, and they show up first in results. Every member company is in the directory either way, so scroll past the top few before you decide.
What should I check before I hire a contractor in Massachusetts?
A directory listing tells you who a company is. It doesn’t replace your own homework. Before you sign, check these:
- Home Improvement Contractor registration. Anyone doing work on an existing, owner-occupied home with one to four units has to be registered with the state. Look the company up on the state’s HIC registration search.
- Construction Supervisor License. Work on a building’s structure generally needs a licensed construction supervisor. You can check a license on Mass.gov.
- Insurance. Ask for certificates for general liability and workers’ compensation, sent to you directly by the insurance agent.
- Recent local work. Ask for two or three Cape projects from the last couple of years and call those homeowners. Ask how the contractor handled surprises, not just whether they liked the result.
- Who pulls the permit. The registered contractor should. If you pull it yourself, you may not be eligible for the state’s Guaranty Fund, which can repay homeowners up to $25,000 of actual losses when a registered contractor doesn’t pay what a court or arbitrator orders. The state’s homeowner resources page explains how it works.
What should a home improvement contract include?
In Massachusetts, any home improvement contract over $1,000 has to be in writing. It should show the contractor’s registration number on the first page, start and completion dates, a detailed description of the work and materials, the total price and a payment schedule.
The deposit can’t be more than one-third of the contract price, except for special-order materials that have to be bought before work starts. Don’t sign a contract with blank spaces in it, and know that you have three days to cancel a contract you signed at home. The state keeps a full list of required contract terms, and it’s worth ten minutes before you sign.
What permits does a Cape Cod project usually need?
Almost anything structural, electrical or plumbing needs a permit from your town’s building department, and a good contractor will tell you which ones up front. On the Cape, a few extra reviews come up often:
- Conservation commission. Work near a wetland, beach, bank or marsh (generally within 100 feet) usually needs a filing with your town’s conservation commission before construction starts. On the Cape, that covers a lot of lots.
- Board of Health and Title 5. If your house is on a septic system, adding a bedroom means the Board of Health checks that the system can handle it, and some towns count a den or a heated porch as a bedroom. The state has more on Title 5 septic rules.
- Historic districts. Along Route 6A, the Old King’s Highway Regional Historic District reviews exterior changes, and several towns have their own historic commissions.
Ask every contractor on your shortlist which of these they’ve been through in your town lately. Someone who knows the local boards can save you weeks.
What should I ask a contractor on the first call?
- Have you done a project like mine in this town recently?
- Who will be on site day to day, and who do I call with questions?
- When could you realistically start, and what could push that back?
- How do you handle change orders and allowances?
- Will your own crew do the work, or subcontractors?
- What warranty do you give on your work?
You’ll learn as much from how they answer as from what they say. A contractor who’s clear about schedule and change orders on the first call tends to be clear about them on the job too.
Frequently asked questions
Does it cost anything to use the HBRACC directory?
No. The member directory is free and open to anyone, and you don’t need an account to search it.
Does HBRACC membership mean a contractor is licensed?
Not by itself. Members agree to HBRACC’s code of ethics, but the association doesn’t license contractors. Check Home Improvement Contractor registration and, for structural work, the Construction Supervisor License with the state.
What’s the difference between a home builder and a general contractor?
Home builders mainly build new houses. General contractors run remodels, additions and repairs, and bring in the trades for each part of the job. Plenty of companies do both, which is why you’ll see some listed in both categories.
Do I need an architect?
Most custom homes and larger additions start with an architect or designer, who draws the plans the building department reviews. For a kitchen or bath remodel inside your existing footprint, a design-build remodeler can often handle design and construction together.
How do I find a contractor for waterfront work?
Open Advanced Filters, choose Waterfront under Project Specialty and set your Area Served. Then ask each company about its recent conservation commission filings in your town.
Where can I see work by HBRACC members?
The BRICC Award winners show some of the best residential projects on the Cape each year, and HBRACC’s At Home magazine covers Cape homes and the people who build them. There’s more in Homeowner News and Tips.
What if I can’t find the kind of company I need?
Email the HBRACC office at admin@capecodbuilders.org or call 774-330-3140, and the staff will point you in the right direction.