We're Jimmy Griffin and crew, a remodeling and handyman company that takes jobs in Scottsdale, about 52 minutes from our Queen Creek base with no traffic. Nearly half of Scottsdale's homes were built before 1990, so plenty of kitchens and bathrooms here are on their second or third decade. We remodel them, handle the repair list and finish the trim, and the estimate is free.
Scottsdale's housing spans seventy years. About 49 percent of homes were built before 1990, nearly 29 percent before 1980, and the typical home dates to 1991. The 1960s and 1970s alone left more than 31,000 homes, many of them single-story block ranches.
An older Scottsdale house usually needs more than new paint. Original kitchens, hall bathrooms with dated tile, and rooms with flat, thin trim are the usual starting points. A kitchen remodel, a bathroom remodel and new baseboard and crown molding can carry a ranch home forward without changing what made it worth buying. With 67 percent of homes lived in by their owners, these are rooms people plan to keep using for a long time.
Scottsdale Spells Out What Needs a Permit
The city publishes a clear list. No permit for interior painting, cabinets and countertops, drywall, flooring, trim or interior doors. Replacing a window needs a minimum window permit unless you're only swapping the glass in the existing frame, and replacing a water heater needs a minimum plumbing permit. Remodels, additions and changes to the outside of the house need a building permit, and new circuits need an electrical permit.
That's why we sort your project into those buckets during the estimate. A cabinet and counter refresh needs no permit at all. A bathroom that moves the shower drain, or a window swap, goes through the permit step first. Work done without a required permit here is fined at double the permit fee, so it's worth getting right.
Scottsdale's Historic Districts and HOAs Review Exterior Changes
Scottsdale has four historic districts, all postwar neighborhoods: Village Grove, Town and Country Scottsdale, Villa Monterey and Sands North Townhouses. Village Grove's 255 block ranch homes were platted in 1957, and Town and Country's 62 homes were built from 1959 to designs by architect Ralph Haver. In these districts, the city won't issue a permit for exterior work until preservation staff or the Historic Preservation Commission approve it.
Master-planned communities have their own review. McCormick Ranch and DC Ranch both require approval before any change to the outside of a home, landscaping included. We plan exterior work like new windows, doors or paint around those approvals, so the job doesn't stall halfway through. Interior work in these neighborhoods usually goes ahead on its own schedule.
Scottsdale Water Runs Hard Across the City
Scottsdale's 2026 water quality report puts hardness at about 13 to 15 grains per gallon south of Indian School Road and 13 to 17 farther north. Most of the city's water comes from the Central Arizona Project.
That hardness shows up as spots on shower glass and crust on faucets. In a Scottsdale bathroom, we lean toward fixtures and finishes that hide mineral spots and clean up easily, so the new room keeps its finish.
Scottsdale Grew From a Small Town Into a City of Ranch Homes
Scottsdale incorporated in 1951 with about 2,000 residents. Its oldest landmark on the city's walking tour, the Little Red Schoolhouse, was built in 1909 and still stands in Old Town. The postwar building boom that followed is why so much of the city's housing is single-story block construction from the 1950s through the 1970s.
What Scottsdale Customers Say
A Scottsdale customer wrote this after her bathroom remodel:
5.0 on Google, 5 reviewsAngi Super Service Award 2024
“★★★★★
“NEU did a fantastic job out here in Scottsdale. It was a pleasure working with their team. The communication was great and the work was amazing. I will definitely use Jimmy and Joe again for my next project.”
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Jennifer P.August 2026, bathroom remodel
Angi
“★★★★★
“We interviewed 3 other general contractors before deciding to sign with Jim and Joe Griffin at New England Upgrades. It turned out to be a 3.5 month total remodeling project of our 1,100 square foot 2 bedroom / 2 bathroom condo.” Read the full review
Kay CGoogle review
Google
“★★★★★
“Have nothing but good things to say about New England Upgrades. What started out as a bathroom renovation became a whole house (and yard) renovation. Jimmy and Joe were able to quickly determine what I wanted and needed and were able to help guide me through choices and decisions I had to make.” Read the full review
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Jill F.Google review
Google
“★★★★★
“Fabulous. Jimmy and Joe were always gentlemen, kept me informed of what was going on, and their work was very meticulous. They took their time to do the job correctly and efficiently.”
“Great they were courteous and did a good job kept me informed on their progress”
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Nana E.August 2024
Angi
“★★★★★
“Jimmy was awesome! Did everything so well and within a few hours! Will definitely be hiring again!”
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Lexi D.July 2024
Angi
“★★★★★
“Went great problem solved!”
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Michael I.June 2024
Angi
“★★★★★
“Excellent. My cabinets were raised and time was left, so they fixed my closet doors. Such gentlemen. The work was excellent.”
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Rhonda G.February 2024
Angi
“★★★★★
“Jimmy was a great communicator throughout the entire time I was speaking with him about the job. He does quality work in an efficient time frame. Great personality and easy going. Definitely will be going to him for future services.”
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Vaughn V.February 2024
Angi
“★★★★★
“Jimmy did everything we needed to get done, work was excellent and reasonable cost”
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William F.February 2024
Angi
“★★★★★
“Perfect, very professional and done correctly. Would use them as first choice.”
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Raymond S.November 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“Great brother-duo. All around knowledge of fixing the home. Anything I mentioned, they were willing to complete!!! Friendly, professional! Have a need in the home? Call them!!!”
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Shawn J.October 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“It when exceptionally well, would definitely use them again and would recommend them to my friend and family”
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Anna A.October 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“Very productive and efficient! Courteous!”
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Kristen H.August 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“Very happy with the results of their services! There were many needed repairs at a rental and they were all done quickly and completely. Thank you.”
J
John P.August 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“They were very professional and on time. Went above and beyond in all the work they did, even offered to help fix my running toilet! Took me five years but I finally found a handyman/contractor I trust.”
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Karen C.July 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“It went very well. Jimmy G is great man.fun personality , hard worker. Nice clean work”
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Sue F.May 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“James Griffin does excellent work, very attentive to details. He let us know when he was arriving and leaving and was always in a good mood, singing or whistling while he worked. He knew which experts to call in for specific work, i.e., electric, plumbing, stucco.” Read the full review
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Melvin & Suzanne S.April 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“Outstanding work, polite, very clean and very professional. Thank you for all your help you are amazing.”
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Richard T.February 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“Great !! Jimmy Hriffin was very proficient and knowledgeable.”
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Patricia C.January 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“Promptly showed up & the mess I started he did a perfect to cover it up. Angie won't hire me! Plus found out he can do many other jobs & a definite hire he would be.”
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Sharon A.January 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“Excellent. Jimmy was quick, professional and friendly. Chatted on the phone, he was in the area and came right over!”
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Janet E.January 2023
Angi
“★★★★★
“We are very pleased with having the interior of our cement block fence painted with elastomeric paint.”
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Brian M.December 2022
Angi
“★★★★★
“Does a great job. Will be doing a second bathroom for us soon”
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Warren ISeptember 2020, bathroom remodel
“★★★★★
“Jimmy's crew were great. They arrived on time, finished the job in one day, and left the area immaculate. They were very respectful. I would definitely hire them again.”
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Melissa K.October 2022, exterior painting
“★★★★★
“We had some miscommunication about the scope of work but we settled it amicably. The work was timely and very professional. I would definitely hire them again.”
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Janeen H.November 2022, exterior painting
“★★★★★
“Very easy to work with. Added on numerous other jobs - Jimmy was very knowledgeable about them all. Inside painting -workers were very considerate and cleaned up at the end of each day for two week job. Jimmy will be back in spring to do outside painting and power wash.”
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Gail S.January 2021, interior painting
“★★★★★
“They painted my whole house, replaced my kitchen floor and power washed the house. I would highly recommend them. They did a great job and were a pleasure to work with. I wouldn't hesitate to hire them again.”
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Nancy F.October 2020, interior painting
“★★★★★
“The gentleman who took care of the work was exceedingly professional. He showed up right on time, went to work promptly, was completed in a short amount of time and picked up after himself when the job was finished. The job itself was done exactly as we had hoped, and looked just great.”
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Barbara S.January 2022, interior trim and decorative moldings
“★★★★★
“His knowledge of the job is price was right on. Showed up on time completed the job. Good work”
Yes. Scottsdale is about 52 minutes from our Queen Creek base without traffic, and we've done remodels there.
Does replacing windows in Scottsdale need a permit?
Yes, a minimum window permit, unless you're only replacing the glass in the existing frame. Homes in a historic district or an HOA may also need exterior approval first.
Can you remodel a 1960s Scottsdale ranch house?
Yes. Kitchens, bathrooms, trim and paint in older ranch homes are a big part of what we do.
Angi Super Service Award 2024
Kay CGoogle reviewGoogle
Kitchen RemodelingNew cabinets, counters and backsplashes for kitchens from the 1960s to the 1990s.
Bathroom RemodelingTiled showers and new vanities, with finishes chosen for hard water.
Walls, Trim and CrownBaseboard, casing and crown to update a ranch home's rooms.
Painting and Power WashingInterior and exterior paint, planned around HOA color approvals.
Handyman and RepairsDoors, windows, fixtures and the small fixes on your list.
Garage Floor CoatingsA sealed flake floor that's easy to keep clean.
