Live-in renovations — 2023 reviewers stayed home through additions and gut remodels
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 Conneely Contracting. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
Porch defects — 2021 reviewer reported loose posts, no final walkthrough
Dated praise — most five-star Google reviews were written by early 2023
Not BBB accredited — the A+ grade comes without accreditation
Conneely Contracting is an Arlington, Massachusetts design-through-build remodeler hired for whole-house renovations, additions, and kitchen and bathroom remodels, plus custom cabinetry, millwork and historical restoration. The company says Martin Conneely, a lifetime Arlington resident, started it in 1991 and still runs it; the BBB profile lists the corporation as started in 1991, incorporated in 2003, with nine employees and Kerri Conneely as vice president and Caitlin Conneely as manager.
Its Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration, number 193148, is verified active with the state registry in the company's own name.
The written record is deepest on large, disruptive projects. A homeowner writing in February 2026 describes a full bathroom conversion from tub/shower to walk-in shower with new electrical, plumbing, window and tile, and praises the subcontractors and the cleanup at the end of each day. In reviews from 2023, homeowners described two new bathrooms built in one year, an extensive basement remodel involving walls, HVAC and a bathroom, a 2019 Arlington house extension run by a project manager named Eric, and a 1905 Arlington Heights home restored while the family lived in it. A 2017 kitchen-led remodel that grew into a seven-month job drew praise for communication and a site left clean every day, and a condo association wrote about a rebuilt front porch and a full re-shingling with historically correct trim. Google shows 4.6 stars from 19 ratings; Houzz shows 5.0 from two reviews, both written in 2014.
Two accounts run the other way and are worth raising directly. In an August 2022 review a homeowner said a full renovation left structurally inadequate work per an engineer's report, multiple missing permits, and items not built to the Massachusetts State Building Code, and that the owner did not respond for five months. In September 2021 another homeowner said a demolished and replaced back porch came with unreliable scheduling and miscommunication, loose posts in the decking as soon as it was installed, no follow-through when it was raised, and no final walkthrough. Ask how the company handles a punch list and a post-completion defect claim, and confirm in writing which permits it will pull.
Sources also disagree on basics. Houzz still lists the company at 15 Ryder Street, which Arlington news reports it has vacated, and repeats an older "over 20 years" blurb, while the BBB and the company's own site both date the business to 1991. The BBB grade is A+ although the company is not BBB accredited, and the company says it belongs to NARI and Remodelers Advantage.
Conneely is a reasonable call for an Arlington-area homeowner planning a large, design-led renovation who wants a long-established local builder — with the permit and defect-response questions settled up front.
Heard around town
News & the web
ARB green-lights proposal to build microbreweryMar 24, 2025
“The brewery, which has operated at pop-up events around town since 2023, is set to begin construction on a brick-and-mortar spot at 15 Ryder St., previously home to Conneely Contracting Inc.”
First Steps: Our New Front Porch Welcomes Families - The Children's RoomNov 17, 2016
“Martin Conneely and Conneely Contracting, Inc., have supported our mission and our house renovations for many, many years. He and his skilled team have always worked tirelessly and meticulously to support the historic aesthetic of our treasured house. This summer they contracted with us to renovate our entrance, the first steps in welcoming our families!”
Martin Conneely: TCR's Unsung Hero - The Children's RoomApr 11, 2016
“In 1991, he founded his own local company, Conneely Contracting Inc. (CCI), following in the footsteps of his mentor and father who owned and operated a local roofing company”
Connelly Contracting did an excellent job with our complete bathroom remodeling. We converted our tub/shower to a walk in shower, replaced the vanity, new electrical, new plumbing, new toilet, new window, new tile floor and new tiling throughout the shower. Their staff is very professional and their subcontractors are excellent. They are neat, always cleaning up at the end of each day. The entire process went smoothly. Their recommended supply team did a great job at guiding us through picking out our plumbing fixtures, vanity, sink, countertops and tiling for the floors and walls. Overall we would highly recommend the Connelly team for your next home project.
Mary and Bob Bertazzoni
I’ve hired Marty and his team on multiple occasions from renovating a kitchen to remodeling/reconfiguring our first floor to include a new full bathroom, bedroom and 1/2 bath. Very professional, great communication and fabulous work! I couldn’t be happier with their work from start to finish and I highly recommend them to everyone.
Review for Conneely Contracting Inc.
We are extremely pleased with our projects with Conneely Contracting. This year (2023) they created two new bathrooms for our home, transforming a pantry off the kitchen into a beautiful bathroom with shower AND completely updating our aging upstairs bathroom.
Pictures are worth a thousand words, and this review includes six photos which show their beautiful work. What the pictures cannot tell is how friendly and respectful the workers were, what good communication we had, and what a pleasure it was to have the team members in our home.
What a great team! Conneely Contracting works with an amazing group of long-term subcontractors, and each brought their professionalism, expertise, and pride in a job well done. Everyone involved -- the demolition team, the tile crew, the wonderful plumbers, the electricians, the carpenters, and the finish painters -- did an outstanding job. We were especially grateful for the design and project management by Eric and Caitlin, and the carpentry expertise and attention to detail by John.
We are saving up for another large project for our home, and look forward to working with Conneely Contracting again!
We had an overwhelmingly positive experience with the our house extension project carried out by Conneely Contracting Inc in the heart of Arlington back in 2019.
The project manager, Eric, whose dedication and expertise were paramount to the project's success, deserves the highest accolades. From the outset, Eric exhibited remarkable organization and communication skills.
Not only was the project completed on schedule, but the flexibility demonstrated in adjusting timelines according to our needs was truly commendable. The quality of the work delivered surpassed all expectations. The attention to detail, craftsmanship, and commitment to perfection were evident in every aspect of the project.
The house extension seamlessly blends with the existing structure, and the final result is a testament to Conneely Contracting's commitment to excellence.
All the workers (carpenters/plumbers/electricians etc) arrived promptly and maintained a respectful and organized work environment throughout the project's duration.
I wholeheartedly recommend Conneely Contracting to anyone seeking a top-notch contractor for their construction needs and Eric and team have earned our highest respect and gratitude!!!