# O'Neil Fine Builders

**Trade:** General Contractor / Remodeling · **Address:** 129 Belcher St, Essex, MA 01929 · **Phone:** (508) 328-4244 · **Website:** https://www.oneilfinebuilders.com/ · **Languages:** English

**Rating: 4.2/5** (low confidence) — from 1 reviews across 6 sources.

## The honest read

O'Neil Fine Builders is a father-and-sons outfit working out of Essex, on Massachusetts's North Shore — the kind of design/build shop a homeowner calls for a full kitchen or bathroom remodel rather than a single quick fix. Jim O'Neil started the company after 15 years learning the trade, and the family says it has been building and restoring North Shore homes since 1990; today Paul, Daniel, and Lucas work alongside him, and the company states 22 years in business covering Essex, Beverly, Manchester, and Wenham. Its Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration checks out active with the state.

What's written about them so far is thin but consistent. In a January 2026 review, a homeowner referred by an Ipswich real estate broker described working with James and Paul directly on a kitchen remodel and a new bathroom, praising them for supplying a written offer that spelled out allowances up front — the kind of clarity that heads off surprises mid-project. Back in 2019, North Shore Magazine picked the company as an Editors' Choice, crediting it for courtesy, craftsmanship, and integrity.

There isn't much more to go on yet — no other detailed reviews have turned up on Houzz or BuildZoom, though neither shows a complaint either. A couple of directory pages list older, unrelated license numbers; the state's own active registration is the one that matters.

This is a good fit if you're planning a real kitchen or bathroom renovation and want a family crew that puts the allowances in writing before work starts — just know the public track record is still short, so ask to see recent project photos or talk with a past client directly before you commit.

**Strengths:**
- Family crew — father and three sons run the jobs together
- Active MA license — state registration verified in good standing
- 2019 magazine pick — Editors' Choice praised craftsmanship, integrity
- Jan. 2026 review — client praised the written offer's clear allowances

## Claims & citations

Every claim below is backed by real evidence rows — uncited claims are dropped in code before publication.

- Its Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration is active, verified against the state registry under O'Neil Fine Builders Corp. _(confidence: high)_
  - [State License Registry](https://contractorhub.mass.gov/s/hic-contractor-search) — “MA hic license 138916 registry-verified active — registry holder of record: O'NEIL FINE BUILDERS CORP.”
- A homeowner referred by an Ipswich real estate broker praised working with James and his son Paul on a kitchen remodel and new bathroom, citing a written offer with clear allowances (January 2026). _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT21SNlpEQkdNMjFtVEc1NlRIZE1ORlF4VTNSSWIwRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x71f21cb3e4daeddd!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOmR6ZDBGM21mTG56THdMNFQxU3RIb0E%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Our real estate broker in Ipswich recommended O'Neil Fine Builders to us and we're glad she did. James (dad) and Paul (one of the sons) w…”
- North Shore Magazine named it an Editors' Choice pick in 2019, crediting its commitment to courtesy, craftsmanship, and integrity. _(confidence: medium)_
  - [nshoremag.com](https://www.nshoremag.com/bons-home19/blueprint/design-build/) — “nshoremag.com — O’Neil Fine Builders sets itself apart from others in the area with its lived commitment to its three core values of courtes…”
- A family business: Jim O'Neil founded it after 15 years in the trade, and his three sons Paul, Daniel, and Lucas work alongside him. _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Official Website](https://www.oneilfinebuilders.com) — “Company history (self-reported): Jim O'Neil started O'Neil Fine Builders after spending 15 years in the field learning the trade; the family…”
  - [Official Website](https://www.oneilfinebuilders.com) — “Ownership (self-reported): Family-owned and operated by Jim O'Neil, working alongside his three sons (Paul, Daniel, and Lucas O'Neil).”
- States 22 years in business, based in Essex, MA, with a stated service area covering Essex, Beverly, Manchester, and Wenham. _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Official Website](https://www.oneilfinebuilders.com) — “O'Neil Fine Builders is a family-run design/build general contractor based in Essex, MA offering new construction, additions, kitchen and ba…”
  - [Official Website](https://www.oneilfinebuilders.com) — “Self-reported 22 years in business”
  - [Official Website](https://www.oneilfinebuilders.com) — “Stated service area (self-reported): Beverly, Manchester, Wenham, Essex”
- A design/build general contractor handling new construction, additions, and kitchen and bathroom remodeling. _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/o-neil-fine-builders-pfvwus-pf~663953800) — “Services offered (Houzz): New homes, additions, kitchens, bathrooms, roofs, porches, rot work”
  - [Official Website](https://www.oneilfinebuilders.com) — “O'Neil Fine Builders is a family-run design/build general contractor based in Essex, MA offering new construction, additions, kitchen and ba…”
- The only detailed customer account on file is a five-star review of a kitchen and bathroom project, and Google shows a perfect rating from its lone review. _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=O'Neil%20Fine%20Builders&query_place_id=ChIJeeUn2oci44kR3e3a5LMc8nE) — “Google: 5★ from 1 ratings”
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT21SNlpEQkdNMjFtVEc1NlRIZE1ORlF4VTNSSWIwRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x71f21cb3e4daeddd!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOmR6ZDBGM21mTG56THdMNFQxU3RIb0E%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Our real estate broker in Ipswich recommended O'Neil Fine Builders to us and we're glad she did. James (dad) and Paul (one of the sons) w…”
- Specializes in General Contractor / Remodeling _(confidence: high)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/o-neil-fine-builders-pfvwus-pf~663953800) — “Services offered (Houzz): New homes, additions, kitchens, bathrooms, roofs, porches, rot work”
  - [Official Website](https://www.oneilfinebuilders.com) — “O'Neil Fine Builders is a family-run design/build general contractor based in Essex, MA offering new construction, additions, kitchen and ba…”
- Also offers Kitchen Remodel _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT21SNlpEQkdNMjFtVEc1NlRIZE1ORlF4VTNSSWIwRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x71f21cb3e4daeddd!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOmR6ZDBGM21mTG56THdMNFQxU3RIb0E%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Our real estate broker in Ipswich recommended O'Neil Fine Builders to us and we're glad she did. James (dad) and Paul (one of the sons) w…”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/o-neil-fine-builders-pfvwus-pf~663953800) — “Services offered (Houzz): New homes, additions, kitchens, bathrooms, roofs, porches, rot work”
  - [Official Website](https://www.oneilfinebuilders.com) — “O'Neil Fine Builders is a family-run design/build general contractor based in Essex, MA offering new construction, additions, kitchen and ba…”
- Also offers Bathroom Remodel _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT21SNlpEQkdNMjFtVEc1NlRIZE1ORlF4VTNSSWIwRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x71f21cb3e4daeddd!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOmR6ZDBGM21mTG56THdMNFQxU3RIb0E%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Our real estate broker in Ipswich recommended O'Neil Fine Builders to us and we're glad she did. James (dad) and Paul (one of the sons) w…”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/o-neil-fine-builders-pfvwus-pf~663953800) — “Services offered (Houzz): New homes, additions, kitchens, bathrooms, roofs, porches, rot work”
  - [Official Website](https://www.oneilfinebuilders.com) — “O'Neil Fine Builders is a family-run design/build general contractor based in Essex, MA offering new construction, additions, kitchen and ba…”
- Also offers Roofing _(confidence: low)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/o-neil-fine-builders-pfvwus-pf~663953800) — “Services offered (Houzz): New homes, additions, kitchens, bathrooms, roofs, porches, rot work”

## Ownership

- Identifies as family-owned — the business's own statement, not independently verified.

## License

Status: **active** (#138916, hic) — verified against the official MA state registry on 2026-09-07, never self-reported.
Re-check at the official registry: https://contractorhub.mass.gov/s/hic-contractor-search

## Sources

- [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/o-neil-fine-builders-pfvwus-pf~663953800): Listed on this source
- [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=O'Neil%20Fine%20Builders&query_place_id=ChIJeeUn2oci44kR3e3a5LMc8nE): Listed on this source
- [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=O'Neil%20Fine%20Builders&query_place_id=ChIJeeUn2oci44kR3e3a5LMc8nE): 5.0★ from 1 ratings
- [Exa](https://www.nshoremag.com/bons-home19/blueprint/design-build/): 1 web mention across the open web (each linked to its source)
- [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/oneil-fine-builders-corp): Listed on this source
- [Official Website](https://www.oneilfinebuilders.com): 22 yrs in business · Self-reported profile and service details

## Mentions

Unverified third-party mentions found on the open web — relay with attribution ("a Reddit commenter said…"), never as Tavlee's own finding.

- “O’Neil Fine Builders sets itself apart from others in the area with its lived commitment to its three core values of courtesy, craftsmanship, and integrity.” — nshoremag.com (2019-10-16) — https://www.nshoremag.com/bons-home19/blueprint/design-build/

## Recent reviews

- **5/5 · Google Reviews · Philippe Sandmeier · 2026-01-25**: Our real estate broker in Ipswich recommended O'Neil Fine Builders to us and we're glad she did. James (dad) and Paul (one of the sons) were a pleasure to deal with on our kitchen remodeling and new bathroom projects. They supplied a written offer including allowances for certain materials, hardware…

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Data freshness: last scanned 2026-09-09T20:58:00.265Z.
Cite as: O'Neil Fine Builders — Tavlee (https://tavlee.com/contractor/o-neil-fine-builders-essex)
Source: https://tavlee.com/contractor/o-neil-fine-builders-essex