Customer Comments

Hawthorne Davis (HD) built a vacation home for me in North Wildwood, NJ. While I knew one of the owners, I was not going to simply hand HD the business. It was apparent to me very quickly that HD was a quality organization that is very focused on customer satisfaction. They blew away the competition with their preparation and presentation. My experience with HD was awesome. The company is very responsive & responsible. The quality of the workmanship is superior. Ray Hawthorne & George Davis are great to work with. They exceeded my expectations. Jen Hawthorne is very nice & professional. She is always willing to help. I would highly recommend HD. My customer experience was truly exceptional.

On the recommendation of a friend, we met with Hawthorne Davis several times before hiring them to build our shore home. A major investment for us, we wanted to be sure we were making the right choice. From the first meeting at our bungalow, through the architectural drawing review and sign-off, to the clearing of the lot and the first block of foundation we knew we had made a good choice. Over the life of the project, all of our questions were answered in a timely manner, all decisions and options were discussed with us, and a status of the work in progress was available through an email or a phone call to the builders. Once the certificate of occupancy was issued, Hawthorne Davis continued to support us when we had questions about such mundane things as shut‐off valves and filter sizes, those items you don’t think about when doing the final walk‐through. After Hurricane Sandy, when allowed on the island, Hawthorne Davis inspected our home for damage. What a relief to get that phone call and know that the house was safe. We wholeheartedly endorse Hawthorne Davis; their integrity, honesty and craftsmanship is without equal.

Our home-building experience with the entire Hawthorne Davis team was exceptional. Ray and George built us EXACTLY what we had envisioned and EXACTLY what we wanted. The entire experience, from start to finish was pleasant, exciting, professional and timely. Jennifer’s support of acquiring permits and keeping all the details straight was priceless. She graciously answered all my countless questions. Ray was easy to work with, professional and polite. He suggested perfect solutions, always kept us in the know on the next step and kept us on budget.

George’s attention to detail and finishing work is one of a kind. He is, without a doubt, the best in the area. The crew worked hard and always kept the work site clean and neat.

We love our house. We feel very fortunate to have had such a wonderful experience backed by the best service and quality in Cape May County. We would highly recommend the entire Hawthorne Davis team for any or all home construction needs.

My experiences with Hawthorne Davis were excellent from the design process to the finished product. We met with numerous builders, and Ray’s detail and customer service were far beyond expectations. He was patient and understanding throughout the planning and design. We have built two houses prior and had no idea an experience could go this smooth and flawless. We live over 180 miles away from the house and had the entire process started and completed during the off-season so not to lose any useful time at the shore. This was an issue of concern when starting the project but the communication lines were daily, if needed, and there were no anxious moments during the process.

The design was a fluid situation. There were changes we anticipated as the construction process moved on. Ray and George were open to any suggestions and helped improve the final product throughout the construction phase. I think this is what led to what we consider the perfect home for our family. There are no regrets or changes we would want to make, and I think this is an unusual outcome on a project of this magnitude.

I have firsthand watched people have nightmare experiences building a home so far from their primary residence. I can say we were overwhelmed at the lack of stress and the attention to detail Ray and George exhibited throughout this process. I would without a doubt recommend Hawthorne Davis to anyone considering any type of construction.

My husband and I are cautious consumers. When we make a purchase we really do our homework, checking Consumer Reports for ratings, trying to make the purchase when there is a sale, etc. Of course, getting a good deal is great, but what we are most interested in is purchasing a quality product, and feeling like we got our monies worth‐our experience with Hawthorne Davis was all of this and more.

We approached building a new home as we typically do; this was going to be the biggest purchase we had ever made, and we really did our homework checking out contractors. Time and time again, people would recommend Hawthorne Davis. More than once the person giving the recommendation used the phrase, “best on the island.” They were right! Our experience working with Hawthorne Davis far exceeded our expectations. Ray is great to work with, he is a talented contractor and a true professional. Jennifer, who manages his office (and who is also his wife), is one of the most efficient people I have ever worked with. She is always pleasant and willing to help. Because of a situation we had with FEMA, we did ask a lot of both she and Ray. The term I heard Ray say most often was, “no problem” ‐even though I knew it was.

I must also comment on the other half of Hawthorne Davis ‐ George Davis. George and his team were detailed and customer oriented. They seemed to have a common focus on the finished product, which resulted in a house which was exactly what we envisioned ‐ they built a beautiful home for our family.

To sum up our experience with Hawthorne Davis I will share part of a conversation I had with my husband about mid-way through the project. I asked him if he thought we were Hawthorne Davis’ only customer, he said that we were not — because of our experience working with Ray, Jennifer and George that is exactly how I felt – like we were their only customer.

What started as a wishful prayer years ago has ended in a dream come true.

Without a doubt, building a custom house can be a daunting and challenging undertaking made all the more complicated from 120 miles away. Many friends and family members warned us that we were embarking upon one of the most miserable experiences anyone could endure. They were wrong. With Hawthorne-Davis, this process far exceeded our hopes and expectations, and against all odds ‐ including the most snowfall Cape May County has ever witnessed ‐the team from Hawthorne-Davis worked tirelessly to deliver our house on time and on budget.

From the first shovel of dirt to the last touch of paint, the entire staff treated our family and our home with care and respect. They went out of their way to keep an attentive eye on every detail and to help us make informed decisions that we would be happy with for years to come. Almost every phone or email message was returned by a member of the Hawthorne-Davis team the very same day it was received. Throughout the entire process, we had complete confidence in both their integrity and their expertise – a rare find in this business.

Whenever we visited the site, Ray and George patiently spent whatever time we needed to understand the progress, stay ahead of next steps and be fully included even though we were so remote. They made sure the construction area was safe for our small children and even let them be a part of the process by hammering in a few well-placed, pre-drilled nails – a memory our kids will always treasure.

As corny as it sounds, our home was built with love and it shows. Every time we walk in the door, we are amazed at the quality, craftsmanship and comfort our house offers. It is a relaxing oasis in our otherwise crazy and chaotic lives. We can’t believe we are so blessed to call it ours and are proud and thankful that Hawthorne‐Davis was our partner in creating it. In our eyes, Ray and George are dream makers. They genuinely understood that they were building a home that will remain a member of our family throughout future generations.

It is without hesitation or reservation that we recommend Hawthorne‐Davis to anyone considering a custom home at the Jersey shore.

After a few years of looking for the perfect house in North Wildwood, I purchased a house located on a lot in a great location. My plan was to demolish the house and build a new home. Friends of mine had a beautiful house built by Hawthorne Davis, and one of my first calls after I put the initial bid on the property was to Ray Hawthorne.

I was extremely impressed with Ray in our first meeting. He was very knowledgeable about the entire process from demolition, to permit approval, to building the house, and he was committed to hands-on leadership and project management in every step along the way. Shortly after our first meeting, I toured several homes recently built by Hawthorne Davis in Cape May County and was impressed by the quality and uniqueness of each home. While the owners clearly had their own styles and taste and each home was different, it was amazing to me that the homes built by Hawthorne Davis stood out compared to other brand new homes in the same areas. Each home had a few “wow” factors!

I selected Hawthorne Davis to build my home and it was a great decision. Ray, George, and Jennifer were terrific to work with and the home is stunning! Their input on the design, their suggestions along the way, their coordination with other key partners (i.e., pool, landscaping, security, etc.), and their commitment to excellence and “on-time delivery” were outstanding. I strongly recommend Ray and the entire Hawthorne Davis team. You will not be disappointed!

We met with Ray Hawthorne to help determine if we would make an offer to buy a 100-year-old Cape May home in need of major renovations. At this first meeting, we were very impressed with his professionalism, honesty, critical eye and vision. Ray confirmed it was possible to rebuild the home and shared our enthusiasm and excitement at the prospect of it. We did buy that home and embarked on a ten-month-long journey with the entire Hawthorne Davis team which resulted in a showpiece home which exceeded our expectations.

During the architectural planning process Ray made thoughtful suggestions based on his many years of experience which enhanced the overall design and functionality of our home to be. In addition, Hawthorne Davis handled every aspect of the approval and permit process required by the City of Cape May. Ray and Jennifer made the process of selecting interior and exterior materials and finishes easy and pleasurable, always mindful of quality and budget. During the construction Ray, George and the whole crew paid very close attention to every building detail. George’s skills and talents as a craftsman are visible in every aspect of our home which he built as if it were his own.

Our primary home is three hours from Cape May. As fun as it was to go as often as possible, we did not feel the need to be there on a daily basis. We knew that Ray and George were on top of every facet and detail of the project even anticipating our needs and wishes. An enormous amount of pride was taken in the building of our home and the finished product is a testament to that pride.

Thank you to all at Hawthorne Davis for building us a beautiful, quality home!

While we were in the planning stages of our new home in Wildwood Crest, a friend who knew of Hawthorne Davis’ reputation for building quality houses recommended we contact them. It was the best advice we received. Ray’s discerning eye and attention to detail greatly improved the original design of the house. The architectural features he suggested have made the house absolutely stunning. George’s craftsmanship brought an artistic quality to the interior design. The ceiling in our great room literally elicits a “Wow” from everyone who enters the room. Building the house with Hawthorne Davis was a very positive experience. Ray, George and Jennifer were wonderful to work with. They were on time, on budget, very professional and responsive to all of our needs.

Hawthorne Davis built our new home in Wildwood Crest, and we have nothing but praise for everyone we worked with there. The high level of professionalism, communication and craftsmanship was unsurpassed. If Ray didn’t answer on the first ring, he always returned phone calls immediately. We were given a very fair bid using high-quality products. If any changes needed to be made, Ray or George called me with a solution in mind. Ray, Jennifer and George handled everything perfectly.

George’s craftsmanship is impeccable as is Ray’s attention to detail. Not only did our home project go off without a hitch, I was able to relax and not worry about the little things because I knew Ray and George were even more perfectionists than we are‐what a wonderful feeling!!!

We highly recommend Hawthorne Davis. Our new home was built without any issues; we came in at budget, and our home was completed on time. How often have you heard that?

Hawthorne Davis delivers as promised. They gave us even more than a house. They built us a home.

My wife and I designed a house that was a challenge to build, but Ray Hawthorne and George Davis of Hawthorne Davis Development, LLC exceeded our wildest expectations with the finished product. Their experience, attention to detail, willingness to think outside the box and suggestions of style and materials gave us a showpiece that has everyone on the block talking. We are very happy with our new home and extremely pleased that we worked with Hawthorne Davis Development, LLC.

We were recommended to Hawthorne Davis Development by a trusted Cape May Realtor. Ray Hawthorne and George Davis turned our dream home into a reality. We are now the proud owners of a lovely Hawthorne Davis home in Erma, just five minutes outside of Cape May.

When we first met with Ray Hawthorne, we established the basic plan and budget. Ray explained how the plan would be carried out and a basic time frame. He informed us who would be handling the day‐to‐day project and asked us to contact them if we had any further questions.

Hawthorne Davis delivered exactly what they agreed on. And they delivered within budget and on time. Our building manager contacted us for all issues that arose, asked for input, and provided suggestions for resolution when asked. All issues were handled expeditiously and with care. Much to our surprise and delight, the Hawthorne Davis Team sailed through this project without a single glitch.

With the professionalism of a finely honed executive board and the charm of a small-town friend, Hawthorne Davis proceeded to create a high-quality house we call our “dream home.” We have been living in it for two problem-free years and continue to marvel at how fortunate we were to have had our home created by Hawthorne Davis Development. Beautiful, quality homes, built with honor and integrity.

Hawthorne Davis Development, we will always be grateful to you for this.

Sincerely,
Maggie van Eyk

My wife and I purchased a home from Ray Hawthorne, August of 2002. Our Realtor recommended a “Hawthorne/Davis Home” because she said, the quality surpasses all other residential home builders on the “Island”. My wife and I agree that the quality of our home is remarkable. We had choices of flooring that most builders do not advertise. According to Avalon Carpet we had 90% of the flooring allowable in our budget due to the high standards of Hawthorne/Davis. Hawthorne/Davis provided accessories not found as standard in other homes. Our kitchen cabinets with glass doors give the impression we had paid for upgrades, when in reality we did not account for any upgrades during the construction process.

In our six‐unit building, none of the neighbors can hear each other due to the design of the residential structure. In addition, Ray Hawthorne made himself available during construction to answer all questions regarding our new home.

Anyone who desires to pay for a market value residential home (single-family, townhouse or condominium) should contact Hawthorne/Davis immediately.

Thanks

After 20 years of marriage, two kids and two custom homes, the last thing we wanted to do was custom build, again; especially NOT a second home 75 miles and an hour and a half away. We’d been down the custom home-road twice and while we lived to tell about it and our experiences were not the thing of movies, we were not anxious to take on such a project. After a chance meeting with Ray Hawthorne and touring one of his “Works in Progress” we decided to take the plunge. We could not be happier!

Our trips down were kept to a real minimum. We found ourselves taking the drive just to see the house. The entire crew that worked on our house was fun! Each and every person we met LOVED what they did and was more than happy to talk about it. When George did our wood trim, you could tell it was more than a vocation, it was his avocation and he took particular pains to make sure our chair rail was the same height as our dining room chairs! This was the first time the General Contractor actually did some of the labor on one of our homes!

Bottom line, we can’t say enough about Hawthorne‐Davis! Our home suits us and we are thrilled we decided to build again. The entire process from start to finish was as it should be, enjoyable. Thank you to everyone involved. With special thanks to Jennifer, Ray, and George.