Meet Sweeten NY General Contractor Aaron

A general contractor with hundreds of renovations under his belt

At Sweeten, the experts in our network are experienced contractors and design pros we’d be thrilled to have working in our own homes. We check their licenses, insurance, quality of work, and customer service skills. Trust and open communication are the lifeblood of our free renovation platform, and our personal connection to our experts enables us to match you to the best choices for your project. Here, get to know their personalities and click to view their portfolio, including photos from past work and client reviews, so that you can hire the right team and renovate with confidence.

View Aaron’s profile and portfolio

Where are you from and how long have you been in construction?

I grew up on Long Island and have been working in construction since I was 18 years old.

How did you get into the industry?

I began my career in the Hamptons working in the tile and masonry trade for a high-end builder. I wanted to take on other aspects of the business and started to learn framing, drywall and finish carpentry. A few years later, I was blessed with the opportunity to work for a 55-and-over community developer. Along with three other very experienced managers, I oversaw the build-out of 285 condos. I’d say it was this experience that really cemented my career in homebuilding. When the last community neared completion, I  started my own company and to date, we have completed hundreds of projects in New York City, as well as Nassau and Suffolk counties.

What do you love most about your job?

I love educating the homeowner and giving them the opportunity to really understand all of the costs associated with their project and the different possibilities. I also enjoy the strategic and systematic building process and the satisfaction of seeing a project’s beauty when completed.

What’s the biggest challenge you face when renovating in New York?

For homeowners, it’s the financial weight of preconstruction services needed to meet the requirements of the building’s management companies, building architects, insurance fees, and DOB requirements. 

For general contractors, it is getting materials into and out of the buildings, parking, competing against other contractors that are not properly insured, and restricted working hours implemented by the buildings.

What do you think is the biggest misconception homeowners have when starting a renovation project?

The biggest misconception I find is that most people feel that they can create a scope and budget before properly planning a project. It is very important to determine if you have a fixed scope and flexible budget or a flexible scope and a fixed budget. Once this is established, you can properly plan a project by creating a wishlist. 

What do you want all of your clients to know before you work with them?

We deliver 100 percent transparency, explain all best and worst-case scenarios to avoid any surprises, are clear and precise in our communications, and take pride in our finished product. We also have a great user interface app/portal that our clients can use on-demand to manage all aspects of their project.

What is your favorite project you have done?

It would have to be a fundraiser that was put together on Long Island. It was a complete gut renovation of a home for a family with a handicapped daughter and ill husband/father. We have done a few fundraisers but this one was really special. When the family moved back into the home, the looks on their faces just made our hearts melt. Everyone on this project had a feeling you just cannot describe when it was completed.

Aaron has been a Sweeten general contractor since January 2019.

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Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.