WJM Architect

We recently used Mr. Martin to design our home addition/renovation. Working with him was an absolute pleasure and we highly recommend him for anyone looking to renovate or add onto their home. We had no prior experience using an architect and he thoroughly explained the process and patiently answered our many, many questions. He was very attentive to our goals and had great ideas to maximize the potential of what we could do with our existing space and budget. His drawings were computer generated, excellently detailed and very clear. He typically responded to our emails the next business day. He also continued to be involved throughout the entire construction project, both by repeatedly coming on-site and numerous video calls with the contactor.

It is an extreme pleasure for us to write a fabulous review on behalf of William J. Martin (Bill Martin), in our opinion the very best architect in NJ. We are able to say that as we have had four building projects in the 30 years that we have lived in Bergen County and have had the opportunity to meet and interview more than a dozen highly-recommended architects. Without a doubt, Bill Martin is by far the very best and stands way above any of the others we have met. Our project involved an approximate 1,000 sq. foot addition, which was quite complex as we were adding on an indoor spa pool and our goal was to complete the project without significant addition to the footprint of our home because of zoning issues yet at the same time creative a luxurious and elegant space. Bill is brilliant, creative, dynamic, committed, and very accessible. His work doesn't end after drawing up the construction plans but holds your hand throughout the entire process, reviewing every step of the project as it advances towards completion. In fact, on several of his visits, we sought suggestions from Bill regarding other modifications around our home and Bill was as engaging and involved as if this were part of his responsibility. The whole process of expanding one's home is for many people, and especially during Covid, a process that could cause significant angst. Bill is a master angst-reliever and furthermore, even though we mentioned his great creativity, is a wonderful listener to the clients' thoughts and ideas for adjustments to the plans. I encourage everyone reading this to also look at his website which is a wealth of information about Bill's projects and credentials. In our opinion, hiring Bill for your renovation will be one of the best decisions you can make for 2022. David and Linda M. Englewood NJ

Bill came up with an outstanding plan to update our Hillsdale house a few years ago. He was able to take our Cape Cod and turn it into a Victorian style home, something we never thought possible (reference 14 Boulevard South on Bill’s WJM Architect page). He was there every step of the way — from initial planning, town approval, and construction. Whenever there were concerns, Bill made himself available and followed up — often personally coming out to the house to see firsthand what the issue was. His professionalism and accessibility throughout the process was a breath of fresh air in a time where such attributes are hard to find. We couldn’t have been more pleased with his work and highly recommend his services.

I was completely lost when I started my construction journey in 2017…until my husband and I met Bill Martin. Honestly, we met with several architects, and Bill just blew everyone all out of the water. He actually listened to us, and made our dreams a reality. Bill guided us through every step of the construction journey. His creative designs, knowledge, attention to detail, passion and dedication shows in the final product. His ability to turn my old house into this beautiful modern efficient house is simply incredible. His blueprints can attest to his attention to detail. He did not leave one detail out. The plans were created so strategically and fluid that it was easy for us to follow along during construction. Quality is key to Bill, which is why our house is so efficient! Living in this house for over 20 years, bills are definitely lower than before and its twice the size! Bill designs whats best for his clients and is very budget conscious. He kept the design within our budget and when it came to the bidding process, he was right on the dot. We appreciated the fact that his job didn’t stop after the plans were done. He would stop by the construction site, sometimes weekly to check on the progress. He would offer his services to be the mediator between us and the contractor if there was a situation. Bill was there for us through our ups and downs, and was literally my construction therapist. I personally wouldn’t have been able to get through this construction without Bill. The investment for a distinguished architect was well worth it and I highly recommend WJM!

I can count the number of online reviews I have done on one hand but I am more than happy to do it when I find someone's work or service to be exceptional. Such in the case with our Adirondack lake home project that we worked on with Bill Martin. His insights, design ideas, quality of work and his professionalism helped to make our dreams a reality. Not only was he open and attentive to all our ideas but he encouraged our builder to share his ideas and suggested changes from the job sight. This all came together seamlessly when our house transformed from something very ordinary into an extraordinary home, on time and on budget. This would not have been possible without Bill's guidance. He loves what he does and it shows. I can't recommend him highly enough.

We hired Bill to develop the plans for a large expansion of our home, and we are extremely happy with our choice. His work product and attention to detail were excellent, and even after the plans were delivered he continued to be with us every step of the way through the construction. He was very responsive to our needs and proactively worked with our general contractor, subcontractors and city inspectors to resolve issues and facilitate the permits we needed. Most importantly, he was laser focused on keeping the project costs within our budget - in fact, our final cost was right in line with the range he provided us before we hired him. The reason that Bill can estimate project costs so closely is because he provides detailed plans (based on customer preferences and feedback) that specify nearly every material for the project. This allows contractors to bid on a very specific plan and reduces the risk that the contractor will substitute in inferior products. Aside from Bill's comprehensive knowledge of engineering minutiae and the prices of nearly every building product, he has a unique eye for aesthetics and for maximizing the use of space. We were able to retain the original character of our split level home while significantly expanding the footprint and increasing the functionality of each hallway, alcove and closet. Additionally, Bill is extremely well respected by contractors, and whenever we had a disagreement with our contractor, we looked to Bill for his impartial view (which always settled the matter). Bill has a passion for his work and for keeping his customers happy, and we would definitely use him again.

WJM Architect (Bill Martin) was nothing short of the keystone (no pun intended) to our house remodel project. We met with multiple architects, and it was obvious from the start that Bill was far ahead of them all. From the initial meeting where we spoke to Bill about our vision, to the end of the project, as our contractor was finishing up the final touches, Bill helped guide the process with style and grace. From the creative ideas about space, flow, and style, to construction economics, Bill stuck around far after the plans were done and our invoice was paid. He not only assisted us with each step, and there are many, but he also guided our contractor, and made sure all the "big decisions" were being executed perfectly to spec. There are many pitfalls in a large remodel and addition like we did, and Bill was our safety net. To this day, he is still checking in and making sure the house has become the work of art and function that we intended. The best part is, while Bill created a beautiful plan and design for us, he allowed our vision to be realized. He listened to what we had to say, and offered helpful direction. The creative process wasn't just his; it was ours. In terms of communication between contractors, banks, architects, and sub-contractors, there are A LOT of people, email, and phone calls to keep track of. Bill made sure to coordinate all of us, visit the job site without us even asking, and make sure all workers were following the plans. This was so integral, as there were multiple times in which mistakes were made by a contractor, and we had to have them fix it before it was too late! Bill got back to us quickly and always with answers. That is invaluable. Last but not least, his actual plans (the physical blueprints) were gorgeous. Simple enough for lay-people like us to understand, while also being so detailed that there was no "gray area" for any contractors to exploit to do things "faster and cheaper". I would recommend WJM Architect for any home project of any size. The investment we made with Bill was, bar none, the best decision we made in this massive project we undertook. If you don't believe us, come check out our beautiful home! Like multiple contractors we interviewed said to us, "Oh you used WJM? Yeah don't worry, everything is going to line up just right. Trust me."

Bill is an incredible asset and possesses a combination of skill sets that I have not seen before in one individual. He has a great architectural vision; really listens to his clients; thinks about form plus function; and puts it all together in a budget. His process is really refreshing, as it really is all about the client. Bill is not just your architect, but your guide and your champion! He is also an incredibly decent and honest person. I totally recommend Bill, he's a cut above.

Having WJM Architect/Bill work with us to come up with the designs for our project was probably the best decision I made on this project. We wanted to do a two phased approach (to allow time to save money,) avoid rework, get the most that we could without a huge amount of space and/or spending a huge amount of money. Bill listened to everything I wanted, gave his own advice and opinions for me to think about but never pressured me to do something I didn't want to do. His advice was golden, his deigns were excellent and in the end I was very happy with my end results! A key thing about WJM Architect that makes Bill stand apart is his attention to detail and willingness to talk to the contractors as well as come down to review the project. Whenever something came up, he was always available to talk it through with me or the contractor. He came down after both phases of the project to ensure it was done to plan and in one case corrected a key error that I would have NOT have known about without his input. Couldn't have been happier with the service and the results!

Bill is an outstanding architect! We hired him to design an addition for our home. He not only created something that perfectly suited our needs but kept the character of the home in tact. The design flawlessly connected with the original house so that you did not know where the old house ended and the addition began. Once the design was completed, Bill continued to support us through the construction process. He assisted us in choosing a builder and also periodically stopped in during construction to check on things and answer questions. Bill is professional, creative and very knowledgeable. He partners with his clients to ensure they are comfortable and happy from start to finish. I would hightly recommend WJM Architect!

When I purchased this home it was in complete disrepair and I knew I wanted to redo the entire house and would need an architect. I interviewed 3 architects and Bill Martin was one of them. He showed me a bunch of examples of his work and I think his website was excellent. His price compared to the other two was even better. Not only did I feel I was going to get good value I felt very comfortable with the work he did. The payoff was even better than I expected. He came up with some great ideas for a few things that we wanted and couldn't imagine where to put them in this small house. Like a first floor powder room and a master bathroom. Like I said this is a 1600sq ft home that was built in 1888. There wasn't much room. But he found it and we have a beautiful old home that has all the features of a modern home and we kept many of the original features. I wouldn't hesitate to use him and I will be using him again for some additional work that needs to be done on this project. I also have recommended him to others that have a need for a excellent architect. Before and after photos are available on his website.

I cannot say enough about our experience working with Bill. From our first consultation, and every step of the way thereafter he has been excellent. Our home was not the easiest of projects to deal with as it is a combination of very old and very new. Although we initially only wanted a kitchen build out, we ended up planning a little more that would merge the two styles together for a better flow. W also used Bill as our expert when appearing in front of our town zoning board for variance approval. Bill was prepared for each and every question that was asked and more. We are just beginning the actual work and Bill is continuing on the project. We would recommend Bill for any project, big or small. He is extremely knowledgable, professional and kind. Nothing but a pleasure to work with!