Courtesy North Haven Builders
Chris DiJorio | North Haven Builders
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When it comes to builders on the East End, most have a style that you can predict when they build, whether they’re modern, traditional, or somewhere in between. Chris DiJorio, proprietor of North Haven Builders, doesn’t let his own preferences color his clients’ vision, for he believes that it is their lifestyle that takes precedence over his own.
The firms’ client vision and its realization in the form of their dream home is their number one priority.
We caught up with DiJorio to learn more about his methodology and how he feels about growing as a Hamptons builder during the global pandemic and beyond.
When did you start out building homes and specifically on the East End? Was this what you wanted to do as a kid?
I began building homes on Long Island in 2013, and shifted out to The Hamptons in 2015 … I wanted to do so many things as a kid, but the “careers” I remember most wanting were either a fighter jet pilot or a stunt driver for the movies, haha.
Construction, in all its many forms, became a focused career path for me in 9th grade. I took a class called residential structure, which was a technology course, my high school freshman year and then took a summer job as a helper on a framing crew in Southampton. From there the business came quite naturally to me.
We know how difficult it was when New York State put a pause on building projects at the beginning of 2020. How did that affect you and the company? How did you pivot?
It certainly made difficult circumstances more difficult, and we were forced to really spread out the team across all of our projects at that time. NY State allowed one worker per job site, so we pushed a few upcoming contracts up on the schedule and had one man per job for two months, I believe. It was far from efficient, but we kept progress for our clients and it was pretty short lived. We were then allowed to properly man the jobs by social distancing, and having one man per task with a dedicated set of tools, saws, and ladders.
“This year I’ve seen a more individualized approach to styles, where our clients have experienced their Hamptons homes in a whole new way.”
We pivoted in an atypical way. By early May, all of our clients had left the city and settled into their Hamptons homes and began working remotely, or spending all of their free time in the house. I quickly realized that their needs were shifting rapidly, and more full-time residency focused. So I reinvested heavily into operations, tripled the size of our workforce, and added new additional subcontractors to the team, as well as leasing a large office and warehouse for our new Hamptons HQ in Westhampton Beach.
I viewed this as a real opportunity to show our clients, both current and new, that we can be counted on no matter the circumstance, and expand our brand as the demand was growing rapidly. We have an extremely high standard of job site cleanliness, and utilize negative pressure air machines for dust control, so keeping the homes as sanitary as possible was something we were prepared for.
What projects are you currently working on?
We are currently managing eight projects.
A full, top to bottom, interior gut renovation and finished lower level of a 5100 square foot home in Montauk. A second-floor gut renovation and dormer extension in Amagansett. A new pool and poorhouse build in East Hampton. A new, very large outdoor kitchen with built-in custom smoker and custom pizza oven with incredible water views in Montauk. A first floor extension to include a new mudroom, en-suite bedroom, and powder room in Sag Harbor. We are also building an outdoor shower and changing room there. A full gut renovation, both interior and exterior, of a 6000 square foot home in Amagansett, including new roof. Converting a 2500 square foot unfinished basement into a finished lower level in East Hampton. Constructing a new Gunite pool and Ipe wood deck in Amagansett.
Wow. Can you tell us more about your team? Who are they are what are their/your roles?
I cannot say enough good things about my team! It has taken me the better part of five years to find the right crews to establish our standards, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of their hard work, dedication, and most importantly, attitudes. Every one has fully bought in to our culture, and we have each others’ backs day in and day out. We are a unique mix of people, and I believe we have something special.
How would you define the homes you build in terms of their style?
This is truly client-dependant. This year I’ve seen a more individualized approach to styles, where our clients have experienced their Hamptons homes in a whole new way. We’ve truly meshed form and function, and I don’t believe that needs to be classified under “traditional” or “modern,” or any other title. If you truly listen to your clients, the style of home can become their own.
What is your favorite town to build in?
All of the Hamptons towns are special in their own way, no question. That’s what makes it such an exciting place to live or visit. Currently, I’m loving Amagansett. It feels like so many styles are blending together, especially with the Dunes starting to see a super interesting mix of homes under construction. I really enjoy working in Montauk, minus the ride some days, though Montauk has an aura that can’t be replicated anywhere on the east coast.
Are you incorporating “smart home” technology more now?
Well, it seems like every home can be a smart home now with a good wifi setup. Lighting, home video/audio, and temperature control are all so easily attainable with a few pieces of equipment swapped out.
Is North Haven Builders incorporating green technology in the builds? Can you explain some of it?
Yes, anytime we can install or upgrade a high efficiency lighting system, or high efficiency boiler or heating system — we always recommend that.
Are you involved in spec building or straight design / build? Or both? Do you have a preference?
I have built four homes on spec, and probably will finish my life as a builder with four homes built on spec. I have a tendency to bite off way more than I can chew, which is kind of hardwired into my brain, so I’m comfortable with the upside/downside of that. I built those spec homes way before I probably should have, but ultimately I wouldn’t have changed a thing. The experience, the lessons, the thrill of a successful build and sale, and also the sheer fear and pain that you learn to manage are all truly invaluable in my opinion.
I’m very happy with the “niche” of full service high end construction services, and custom home builds, that we’ve created.
Did you work with a specific real estate agent, or did you sell them yourselves?
I had always worked with a real estate agent to sell our spec builds, and I would recommend that. Unless the builder themselves has extensive experience as a real estate agent, and has the right connections. But it’s important to be honest with ourselves on our strengths and weaknesses. The success of North Haven Builders is made possible by putting the right people in the right situation to provide the most value.
Do you work with specific architects or do you design the home in-house?
Yes, we typically will work with many different architects if the project calls for those services.
In what ways are you evolving as Hamptons builders?
In our case, we’ve truly embraced the variety of styles that are now present in the Hamptons home styles. Every client is unique, and so every home is unique. If something is important to a client, or a designer, then it is important to us. It’s very easy for us to get a bit stuck in our ways, and over the last two years I’ve become very proud of the evolution of our team. Our relationships with suppliers and subcontractors have gotten so much broader, and more significant, and that has really helped us grow and become ultra efficient.
The pandemic created a desperate need for amenities. Are you incorporating any of these trends that you’ve seen in any of the homes you’re currently building? What are some of these needs that clients have asked for that they didn’t prior to the pandemic?
Hamptons homes have taken on entirely new roles for so many families, and with that so many new needs have been realized while living full time in these homes. We’ve completed eleven finished basements over the last 15 months, as they have provided such a huge value add in usability and home value. Home offices, home gyms, home theaters, and dedicated kids playrooms were all amenities that were in high demand.
Can you tell us a little about Rally Point East and what’s your involvement with it?
Yes, I am the co-founder of Rally Point East, along with my wife Kelly. Rally Point East is a members club here in the Hamptons, centered around the automotive experience. We speak directly to the considered car enthusiast, providing a destination to drive to, a stunning physical space, climate controlled car storage, and exceptional programming.
We host rallies, track days, new car launches, activations test drives and of the latest and greatest from manufacturers like Bugatti, Koenigsegg, Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, and many other brands. We have a coffee bar, two racing simulators, a variety of artwork and interesting cars that are always coming and going. All of the Formula One races this season are screened for our members on our projector, we have wine tastings, and we offer an event space that is completely unique. Our member base has grown incredibly quickly, and the sense of community, especially after the last year and a half, has been incredible to watch come to life completely organically through the club. We have BIG plans for this year, and beyond as well.
That’s amazing! When you’re not building luxury homes or working on Rally Point East, what do you do for fun?
Family time and anything that has to do with cars! My wife and I have two kids, Olivia (6) and Luke (4), and the four of us have A LOT of fun together. Baseball, soccer, gymnastics, and now weekends at Rally Point East keep us all together and have allowed us to share experiences that I could have only dreamed about.
Rally Point East has been an immense amount of work to launch and operate, but I’ve never had more fun in doing so. Cars have always been my passion, and to me they can represent aspirations, goals realized, and self expression in many ways. I spend as much time on a race track as possible, enjoying and working on performance track driving. I have aspirations to begin racing Porsche GT cars in some form, within the next three years before I turn 40.
We wish you lots of luck, Chris!
To learn more about North Haven Builders, visit northhaven.builders or follow @northhavenbuilders_nhb.
