# Charlie Allen Renovations **Trade:** Bathroom Remodel · **Address:** 91 River St, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA · **Phone:** (617) 661-7411 · **Website:** https://www.charlie-allen.com/ · **Languages:** English **Rating: 4.2/5** (low confidence) — from 0 reviews across 5 sources. ## The honest read Charlie Allen Renovations has been remodeling and restoring older homes around Cambridge since 1978 — the kind of design-build firm that blends period charm with modern amenities rather than gutting a house down to studs and starting over. Its Massachusetts home improvement contractor license is active, and it's been a BBB Accredited Business since 2019 with an A+ rating. What stands out here is the credential list rather than a stack of reviews: the company holds five separate NARI and NAHB professional certifications — Certified Remodeler, Certified Lead Carpenter, Certified Green Remodeler, Certified Lead Remodeler, and Certified Aging in Place Specialist — the kind of trade-association credentials that require testing and ongoing education, not just a listing fee. In a 2010 Harvard Magazine feature, the founder is described as having won preservation awards from historical commissions alongside remodeling awards from shelter magazines and the construction industry. Written customer reviews are scarce on the platforms this profile draws from — Houzz shows a 5.0 rating across 9 reviews and Google shows 5 stars from 2 ratings, but neither surfaces review text here. For a period-home renovation in Cambridge or Greater Boston where getting the historic details right matters, the certification and award record here is deeper than most — worth a call, especially for older homes. **Strengths:** - Five trade certifications — NARI/NAHB Certified Remodeler, Lead Carpenter, Green Remodeler, more - 48 years in business — restoring period homes in Cambridge since 1978 - BBB Accredited — A+ rating held since 2019 - Preservation awards — recognized by historical commissions and industry press ## Claims & citations Every claim below is backed by real evidence rows — uncited claims are dropped in code before publication. - Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor license #197942 is verified active. _(confidence: high)_ - [State License Registry](https://contractorhub.mass.gov/s/hic-contractor-search) — “MA hic license 197942 verified active” - BBB Accredited Business since 2019 with an A+ rating and 48 years in business; active MA OCABR and OPSI/HIC licenses are listed, though no complaint count or customer reviews are shown on the profile. _(confidence: high)_ - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/cambridge/profile/remodel-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-llc-0021-477726) — “Listed certification: BBB Accredited Business (since 5/15/2019)” - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/cambridge/profile/remodel-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-llc-0021-477726) — “Charlie Allen Renovations, LLC is a BBB Accredited Business with an A+ rating, 48 years in business, and active MA OCABR and OPSI/HIC licens…” - The company's Houzz profile lists NARI Certified Remodeler, NARI Certified Lead Carpenter, NARI Certified Green Remodeler, NAHB Certified Lead Remodeler, and NAHB Certified Aging in Place Specialist credentials, alongside a 5.0 rating from 9 reviews. _(confidence: high)_ - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-inc-pfvwus-pf~687929427) — “Listed certification: NARI Certified Remodeler” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-inc-pfvwus-pf~687929427) — “Listed certification: NARI Certified Lead Carpenter” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-inc-pfvwus-pf~687929427) — “Listed certification: NARI Certified Green Remodeler” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-inc-pfvwus-pf~687929427) — “Listed certification: NAHB Certified Aging in Place Specialist” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-inc-pfvwus-pf~687929427) — “Listed certification: NAHB Certified Lead Remodeler” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-inc-pfvwus-pf~687929427) — “Houzz profile for Charlie Allen Renovations, Inc. shows a 5.0/5 average rating from 9 reviews, NARI/NAHB certifications, a listed license nu…” - In a 2010 Harvard Magazine feature, the founder is described as having won preservation awards from historical commissions and remodeling awards from shelter magazines and the construction industry. _(confidence: medium)_ - [harvardmagazine.com](https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2010/06/art-of-home-restoration) — “harvardmagazine.com — Allen has won numerous preservation awards from historical commissions on the one hand, and awards for his remodeling …” - Read moved above the anchor (3.50 to 3.90): the packet shows five verified third-party trade certifications (NARI/NAHB) and a magazine feature naming preservation and remodeling industry awards, none of which are captured by the comment-text arithmetic or the durable rating signals, on a 48-year BBB-accredited firm with an active state licence. _(confidence: high)_ - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-inc-pfvwus-pf~687929427) — “Listed certification: NARI Certified Remodeler” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-inc-pfvwus-pf~687929427) — “Listed certification: NARI Certified Lead Carpenter” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-inc-pfvwus-pf~687929427) — “Listed certification: NARI Certified Green Remodeler” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-inc-pfvwus-pf~687929427) — “Listed certification: NAHB Certified Aging in Place Specialist” - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-inc-pfvwus-pf~687929427) — “Listed certification: NAHB Certified Lead Remodeler” - [harvardmagazine.com](https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2010/06/art-of-home-restoration) — “harvardmagazine.com — Allen has won numerous preservation awards from historical commissions on the one hand, and awards for his remodeling …” - Historic home restoration _(confidence: high)_ - [Official Website](https://www.charlie-allen.com) — “A Cambridge, MA design-build general contractor specializing in remodeling and restoring older homes, blending modern amenities with period …” - [harvardmagazine.com](https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2010/06/art-of-home-restoration) — “harvardmagazine.com — Allen has won numerous preservation awards from historical commissions on the one hand, and awards for his remodeling …” - Period home remodeling _(confidence: high)_ - [Official Website](https://www.charlie-allen.com) — “A Cambridge, MA design-build general contractor specializing in remodeling and restoring older homes, blending modern amenities with period …” - [Official Website](https://www.charlie-allen.com) — “Company history (self-reported): Since 1978, Charlie Allen Renovations has remodeled and restored scores of homes in the Greater Boston area…” - Specializes in General Contractor / Remodeling _(confidence: high)_ - [Official Website](https://www.charlie-allen.com) — “A Cambridge, MA design-build general contractor specializing in remodeling and restoring older homes, blending modern amenities with period …” - [Official Website](https://www.charlie-allen.com) — “Company history (self-reported): Since 1978, Charlie Allen Renovations has remodeled and restored scores of homes in the Greater Boston area…” - Also offers Bathroom Remodel _(confidence: low)_ - [Official Website](https://www.charlie-allen.com) — “A Cambridge, MA design-build general contractor specializing in remodeling and restoring older homes, blending modern amenities with period …” ## License Status: **active** (#197942, hic) — verified against the official MA state registry on 2026-07-02, never self-reported. Re-check at the official registry: https://contractorhub.mass.gov/s/hic-contractor-search ## Sources - [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Charlie%20Allen%20Renovations&query_place_id=ChIJFVjlP1d344kRO87FRBt32zk): 5.0★ from 2 ratings - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/cambridge/profile/remodel-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-llc-0021-477726): Listed on this source - [Official Website](https://www.charlie-allen.com): 48 yrs in business · Self-reported profile and service details - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-inc-pfvwus-pf~687929427): Listed on this source - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/charlie-allen-renovations-inc-pfvwus-pf~687929427): 5.0★ from 9 ratings - [Exa](https://www.bestprosintown.com/ma/cambridge/charlie-allen-renovations-/): 6 web mentions across the open web (each linked to its source) ## Mentions Unverified third-party mentions found on the open web — relay with attribution ("a Reddit commenter said…"), never as Tavlee's own finding. - “https://www.charlie-allen.com/” — u/arthriticrage in r/CambridgeMA (2026-05-26) — https://www.reddit.com/r/CambridgeMA/comments/1tizj3j/non_maga_contractors/onzgya7/ - “Allen has won numerous preservation awards from historical commissions on the one hand, and awards for his remodeling prowess from shelter magazines and the construction industry on the other.” — harvardmagazine.com (2010-06-29) — https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2010/06/art-of-home-restoration --- Data freshness: last scanned 2026-07-02T23:53:46.827Z. Cite as: Charlie Allen Renovations — Tavlee (https://tavlee.com/contractor/charlie-allen-renovations-cambridge) Source: https://tavlee.com/contractor/charlie-allen-renovations-cambridge