Active state registration — Massachusetts home improvement registration verified in the company's name
Deep permit history — 89 permitted Cape Cod projects through 2024
What does a remodeling project cost in Greater Boston?
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from C J Riley Builder. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
General Contractor / Remodelingcustom home buildinghome additionshistoric home restoration
Itemized proposals — a 2013 homeowner praised exact parts and costs
Repeat hiring — 2013 reviewers returned for additions, siding, kitchens, basements
Owner on site — the company says Riley supervises every phase
BBB standing — an A+ grade, though not accredited
Dated written record — newest customer review dates to June 2014
Reviewer mix — several Houzz reviews came from trade partners
Lapsed older registration — BuildZoom lists 121422 inactive, once cancelled
Eighty-nine permitted Cape Cod projects between 2013 and 2024 sit behind this Osterville general contractor, and almost none of its written customer history is anywhere near that recent. C.J. Riley Builder works out of 749 Main Street in Osterville, building custom homes and guest houses and taking on additions, kitchen and bath remodels, historic restorations, commercial spaces and small jobs. The company says Craig J. "C.J." Riley started it after moving to Cape Cod in 1992 at twenty-three, and that he personally supervises each phase of construction, with Peter Nichols handling estimating and project management.
Its Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration is active, held in the company's own name. BBB gives it an A+ and lists four employees under Riley as CEO, though the business is not BBB-accredited. On BuildZoom, a score of 102 places it in the 89th percentile of Massachusetts contractors.
The customer accounts are strong and old. Houzz carries a 5.0 average across 21 ratings, and the twelve reviews on file all landed between January 2013 and June 2014. In a January 2013 review, a homeowner described calling about a rotted bulkhead door and surround, getting an estimate the same day, an itemized proposal listing exact parts and costs, a crew that showed up on time and cleaned up afterward. A February 2013 reviewer described a whole wing added onto an existing house — kitchen, living and dining area, two bedrooms and a full bath — finished on time by a builder they called a perfectionist. Another February 2013 customer said an emergency roof repair got a crew on site within the hour, before storm water did more damage. Several reviewers from that stretch had hired him more than once: an addition, house siding and a bathroom remodel for one; a kitchen renovation and then basement work for another.
Two things are worth raising on the call. The praise is real but more than a decade old, and several of those Houzz reviews came from trade partners — a lighting showroom, a home-systems firm — rather than homeowners, so ask for references from jobs finished in the last year or two. BuildZoom also lists an older home improvement registration, number 121422, as inactive and says the state showed it at one point cancelled; the current registration is the one that checks out active, so it is a fair question to put to him directly.
This is a fit for a Cape Cod homeowner planning a custom build, an addition, or a careful renovation on an older house — particularly someone who wants the owner himself on site. Before booking, confirm the current registration number, ask for recent local references, and get the itemized, parts-and-costs proposal his earlier customers singled out.
Heard around town
News & the web
Take 10: Osterville builder manages customers' dreamsMar 18, 2018
“Riley, owner of C.J. Riley Builder Inc., was a carpenter on the Cape before he spent four years in Charleston, South Carolina, helping rebuild homes in the wake of Hurricane Hugo, which hit the East Coast in 1989.”
We have worked with CJ Riley Builder, Inc. on several projects. They bring great attention to detail and quality craftsmanship to bear on all of their projects, whether a new custom home of considerable size or a smaller bathroom remodel. The communication between themselves, their subcontractors, and the customer is clear facilitating a smooth project and fewer surprises for the owner. It is a privilege to be part of a team that takes pride in both its work and in providing a product that the owner will enjoy for years to come. As a person of integrity, CJ Riley brings that with him to all he does, whether it is managing his subcontractors or walking the customer through the project process. There are no surprise change orders, no gouging on the extras. He is fair from start to finish, a quality not often found in construction.
CJ Riley is a very professional builder with experience in high end construction. His work is very high quality and he pays close attention to details. He works with the same subs and they are also high quality people. He came right in on time with the project and is always available if there is a question on something. He is a perfectionist and it shows in his work. CJ put a whole wing onto our existing house which included a kitchen, living room dining area, 2 bedrooms and a full bath. It looks fabulous!!
I have had the pleasure of knowing CJ and his company for over 15 years. CJ is a high integrity individual who has great people skills and follow up. His Company does high quality work and CJ has great creativity and vision. I would recommend CJ and his company without reservation,they are truely one of the quality builders on Cape Cod. I recently had some emergency roof repaired needed before more extensive storm/water damage was done and CJ had his crew on site within the hour. CJ's quick response and quality worked saved me from a very expensive repair.
It is a pleasure to work with CJ. He is organized, professional and has an eye for detail. His careful planning kept the project on time and on budget. We happily recommend his services.
CJ Riley Builders did a great job of repairing my rotten deck support posts. CJ was very responsive and knowledgable. I have recommended him to my neighbors.