Boyce Built Relentless Pursuit of Improvement

Article by Maria Weidich | Photos by Nathan Satran

Since 2013, Tom and his wife Heather have owned and operated Boyce Built, a family-owned Billings company specializing in home remodels, new home construction, and custom home additions. If your home is starting to show its age or simply isn’t fitting your family’s current living needs, rather than moving, it might just be time to improve. Renovating can refresh a home while elevating its functionality and adding value.

“People like to renovate so it feels more comfortable and more like their home versus the house they bought from somebody else,” Tom said. “They bought the house they were happy with, in a neighborhood they were happy with, but maybe updating is the answer to make it more theirs.” With the housing market's current uncertainty, many are turning to alternative options rather than upgrading to something larger or more luxurious. Heather explained, “One popular choice is renovating a house that they already have memories in and making it new.”

A TEAM YOU CAN TRUST 

While no two home renovations are the same, Boyce Built’s commitment to their clients to deliver quality craftsmanship is standard with every project. Tom acknowledges a home is one of the biggest investments for most families, and he’s honored to be trusted to help make his client’s vision a reality. “That’s a pretty big task, but we’re happy to take it on and are proud of the work we do.” 

Boyce Built knows hiring the right experts can make or break a home remodel experience. "In every industry, there’s the good and the bad, and we want to be on that good side,” Tom assured. “People come to us because we’re going to tell them the truth from the start. We dive into numbers from day one, discussing if it is realistic for us to keep moving forward with everything they want or if we need to take a step back and focus on what they need.” Heather echoed this commitment, adding, “Our goal is to give you exactly what you have painted in your mind. We have the intention of doing everything right the first time. It always comes down to trust, integrity, and transparency. It’s built into everything we do.” 

One way to find the perfect team for a home renovation is to gather referrals from reputable professionals in the industry. Laurel homeowner Ashley Cortez did exactly that. With a vision to create a better-flowing kitchen, a fresh-looking dining room, and a more inviting home office, Ashley enlisted the Boyce Built team after a referral from her interior designer. “We wanted someone who would work with us, be communicative, take our calls, and answer all our questions,” Ashley said. “And Boyce Built was always there.” 

When clients entrust Tom and his team with one of the biggest investments of their lifetime, he does not take this responsibility lightly. “We have a big focus on adding as much value to our client’s projects as we can, and morally, we’re always going to do what’s right,” Tom said. By offering a cost-range estimate, Boyce Built ensures clients clearly understand what their investment might entail. This allows homeowners to decide whether to scale up or down based on their budget and priorities. “That’s when Tom comes in with creative ideas, suggesting ways to balance their budget,” Heather said. “We want to make sure when people work with us, we give them as much value as possible, and they feel like it was worth their investment.”

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES, CREATING MEMORIES 

A home remodel can be just as risky as it is rewarding. “Every single renovation comes with unknowns, and it’s our job to find that unknown and bring it to light,” Tom shared. “We might not know what’s behind a wall, but we always talk about potential surprises with our client on the front end.” Without the advantage of building from the ground up, Tom and his team are skilled at doing the very best with the space they are provided. “That’s the biggest challenge,” Tom admitted. “Sometimes we’ll get into the demo phase, find an issue that needs to be addressed, and all of a sudden, we have more work to do.” 

Things would come up or not go as expected,” Ashley agreed of her home renovation project. “But they did a good job at being with us until all outcomes satisfied us. They took all phone calls and addressed all concerns; Tom himself would even come back and take care of what needed to be done.” When facing those “hidden surprises,” the Boyce Built team excels at delivering a seamless end result. “Projects are not something that is partially thought out,” Tom added, “we create the space to look like it has been there the whole time.” 

While Boyce Built may be best known as experts in home remodeling, they’re building a strong reputation as new homebuilders, too. “Coming from a renovation background, we’re set up really well to do new builds,” Tom said. “It almost feels easier because there’s fewer surprises,” he laughed. Jokes aside, tapping into Tom’s expertise as a remodeling contractor can be invaluable when building a new home, identifying potential problems in the plans, or onsite and resolving them early on. “Tom is very good at looking forward,” Heather said. 

“He can recognize and resolve potential issues before they become problems.” 

Tom and Heather will never tire of witnessing the final walkthrough with their clients. “To see the eagerness of these families to get into their newly renovated space and start making new memories, as a mom, that’s the most exciting part,” Heather said. “To help establish a home where our clients can create memories is a remarkable thing that we get to provide for our families.” Reflecting on her own experience, Ashley shared, “Would I choose a more bite-sized remodel or go all in? I feel it was all worthwhile in the end, and we’re very happy with the outcome.”