Repeat clients — reviewers on second and third projects, plus neighbour referrals
Registration active — MA home improvement licence 172639 verified in the registry
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 Innovative Home Solutions, L.L.C.. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
Big additions — permits up to $300,000 for garage and master-suite builds
Ahead of schedule — a 2022 job finished a week early after scope grew
Owner credentials — construction supervisor since 2008, BPI building analyst
Quiet since 2024 — newest reviews are from May 2024
Dated record — 15 of 24 accounts predate 2021
Tenure claims clash — 20 years, 14 years and 25 years all appear
Older registration — BuildZoom lists a second HIC, 178497, as inactive
Homeowners keep coming back. Across a decade of reviews for this Billerica contractor, one pattern repeats more than any single compliment: second and third projects. A 2022 reviewer opened with 'This was our 3rd project with Doug' and added that they had referred him to two neighbours; a November 2023 client had an addition built and then came back years later for a deck; a 2016 reviewer wrote 'We went back for a second project'.
Innovative Home Solutions is Doug Merluzzo's company, running out of Billerica since 2012, and its Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration #172639 is active, held in the company's own name. The Better Business Bureau has accredited it since 2017 with an A+. Merluzzo also lists a Massachusetts unrestricted construction supervisor licence held since 2008, plus BPI Building Analyst and mould inspection and remediation certifications.
The work is additions and full-room remodels, not small repairs. Building permits back that up: a $250,000 three-car garage addition with a master suite and living room above in Dunstable, an $86,200 Billerica kitchen where a wall came out and a beam went in, a $65,000 family-room addition on helical piles, and a $300,000 Burlington garage-and-bedroom addition. A May 2024 client described three separate projects — bathroom, kitchen, then dining room and den — and singled out 'ability to manage costs and change controls'.
Schedule and budget come up constantly. An April 2022 reviewer said the job finished a week ahead of schedule even after they voluntarily expanded the scope, with regular progress photos while they lived elsewhere. An April 2023 kitchen-and-bathroom client said it came in 'on time and within the established budget'. A 2016 addition let the family stay in the house throughout, which they credited to the crew's tidiness.
Two things to note. The written record has gone quiet — the most recent reviews date to May 2024, and 15 of the 24 accounts predate 2021, so much of what you're reading describes work from a while ago. And the company's own tenure claims don't line up: its website says over 20 years, BBB records the business as started in 2012, and its Houzz page simultaneously claims 'over 25 years combined experience' and that Merluzzo has 'over 10 years'.
For an addition or a gut kitchen in the Billerica-Burlington corridor, this is a properly registered, long-running shop whose customers hire it again. Ask for a recent reference — the last year or two isn't represented online.
Read the comments
Most recent comments
5.0May 1, 2024
My wife and I hired Innovative Home Solutions to complete 3 home remodeling projects: bathroom, kitchen and finally dining room/den. Quality of work is excellent, customer service top notch and ability to manage costs and change controls superior.
I have used Innovative Home Solutions for two projects. The built and addition onto my home and a few years later I had a deck build. Both projects came out wonderful. I would highly recommend Doug and company for all projects large or small. They are professional and courteous, considerate and highly trustworthy.
I used Innovative Home Solutions for a kitchen and bathroom remodel and could not have been happier. Doug and his team were professional, knowledgeable, and very easy to work with. They were responsive and communicated effectively from start to finish. Doug had great ideas, performed high quality work, and was even more of a perfectionist than me. The job was completed on time and within the established budget. I would highly recommend Innovative Home Solutions.
This was our 3rd project with Doug, and he was very professional as always. The kitchen came out awesome, and Barbara was very helpful throughout the process. We are very happy and would highly recommend! We referred Doug and company to two neighbors and both projects are done and customers are very happy. We all rave about Doug's work ethic and transparency during the job.