This is my second time using Realty Design Group. I used them a few years ago for a bathroom remodel and more recently to complete the unfinished basement in my new house. The team was able to spend time with me in the basement before we closed, so we did a lot of the planning work in advance and they hit the ground running as soon as we closed. I interviewed 2 other teams and am so glad I went with Realty Design. They were the most competitive, I had peace of mind from working with them previously, and most importantly the other teams thought we needed to bring in an external designer or architect to map out the (simple) desired layout, but that was covered in a couple of conversations with Realty Design during our process. Our new basement really extends our living space. Who knows.. maybe project #3 is in the future! read more

Realty Design Group - Basement - General Contractors Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bill was recommended to us by our realtor upon buying our home. Our first ever home "project" was to completely re-do the master bathroom before moving in, and Bill helped us every step of the way. Since this was our first rodeo, he was able to provide insight and thoughts on choices when we felt overwhelmed. Everything was right on time, and all of the people that came to our house not only took pride in their work, but were so nice to talk to. We highly recommend Bill for any renovation project, large or small. He's communicative, timely, and an all-around pleasure to work with. We have Realty Design Group on the top of our list for our next project. read more

We worked with Bill and RDG to remodel our kitchen and open it up to the rest of the first floor living space. From the beginning, they had great ideas that combined well with our thoughts communicated clearly with our cabinet maker, and were quick and clear with quotes (even crediting us when prices came in lower than estimated). They provided outstanding references and communication with components of the project like countertops and tile. They seem to be masters at organizing workflow and the project was completed in a very efficient process. The result is beautiful and we love the new space. Highly, highly recommend. Be sure to check them out. read more

We worked with Bill from Realty Design Group for our kitchen and full bath remodel. Bill is a pleasure to work with and sent highly trained, friendly contractors to our home. We highly recommend Realty Design Group! read more

We hired Joel to finish our basement and we'd highly recommend him to anyone looking to remodel. Joel's proposal included very transparent pricing and even included his profit and overhead as a line item. He also explained potential ways for us to save money. He spent a lot of time even before we gave him the contract in thinking about what would be the best design / layout. He made some very useful suggestions that none of the other vendors we considered thought of. Once the project started, he was attentive and wasn't trying to nickel and dime us, and spent the time and energy to work with us. If there was something we didn't like, he just fixed it without fussing or making a big deal. All the people he pulled in (framing, electrical, cabinets, countertop, etc) were also fantastic. For a large remodel that took several months, Joel and his team made it as painless as possible. read more

I can't say enough good things about Bill and his team! I worked with Bill during the pandemic to remodel my kitchen and bathrooms. From the start to end, Bill has been responsive, patient, detail-oriented, and simply a wonderful person to work with if you want a stress-free renovation process. Pricing is very competitive and transparent throughout. Sub-contractors are super awesome and friendly too! They took care of my place with great care. I highly recommend Bill and his team! If I could give 6 stars to his work I would not hesitate to :)) read more

Absolute top-notch work. I hired RDG to refresh a house I had recently bought. This included removing a wall and extending a custom kitchen (also originally installed by RDG), demolishing and replacing the floor tiles in the kitchen, and refinishing all wooden floors in the house, among other things. Bill and team were super organized and right on target with their estimate. They matched the new custom cabinetry, pulls, and countertops perfectly - my guests are amazed it wasn't all done at once. I absolutely recommend them to anyone contemplating a larger renovation. Thanks guys! read more

Realty Design Group - Post-renovation kitchen ... cabinets to the left of stove are additions. - General Contractors Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bill has helped me on 3-4 projects at this point. Super knowledgable, honest, straight forward. I highly recommend. He'll deliver on time, on budget. read more

For my husband and me, the hardest and scariest part of purchasing a big old ugly house in need of total renovation was finding the right contractor for the job. We went through ups and downs in the process and contacted RDG based on a couple of online reviews that featured similar projects. We ended up doing an interior gut renovation of 2 stories of our 100+ year old foursquare home. When Joel and Bill came out for the quote, they spent a lot of time talking with us, examining the house, and even beginning to educate us on the process and some of the details in our home that would become important. After the long initial meeting, my husband and I had a good impression of the team and felt like these were people we could work with. We did some more research, spoke to former clients, and we were off. Our contact at RDG was Joel, who guided us through the project, always with professionalism and an appreciated sense of humor. Over the months of the project, we were really able to put our trust in Joel, and each and every one of his subcontractors was kind, skillful, hardworking, and respectful. I think someone even shoveled our neighbor's sidewalk at some point?! When unexpected challenges came up, Joel worked with us to find a solution. We have been in our newly renovated home for about 5 months and we couldn't be happier. We will be working with Joel and RDG in the future to renovate other areas of our home, and we can't recommend them highly enough. You can't ask for a better contractor: honest, good-natured, fairly-priced, and easy to work with. read more

I was initially referred to Realty Design Group by a coworker and used them to rehab the bathroom and kitchen in my condo. A few months later I commissioned them to perform an almost gut rehab on my 2 flat rental property. The entire team, including subcontractors, perform outstanding work and are extremely easy to work with . Bill and Joel provide valuable input and ideas along the way based on their years of experience. The few minor post-construction issues that have come up were addressed immediately and resolved. In summary: this firm is outstanding! read more

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Realty Design Group remodeled our kitchen and did a FANTASTIC job! Bill is proactive, responsive, organized, highly communicative, detail-oriented, creative and an all-around great guy to work with. Bill thoughtfully listened to all of our questions and concerns and guided us through the process from start to finish, and we could not be happier with results. If you are considering a remodel of any kind, I highly recommend Realty Design Group! read more

We recently worked with Joel and RDG to complete an expansive kitchen remodel. RDG was recommended by a friend who had also had a positive experience working with them for a remodel. Our project included removal of a load bearing wall, rearranging plumbing and electric to create a large island, installation of new cabinets, and refinishing hardwood floors throughout our entire home. RDG's strengths included a detailed scope of work and upfront pricing as well as responsive communication. Different subcontractors were at the site nearly every day and were very respectful of our home. The project was completed within Joel's estimated timeline and budget. I have already recommended RDG to several friends and would not hesitate to use them for another remodel. read more

My husband and I worked with Joel Heilman of Realty Design Group to remodel our condo in Wicker Park. Joel helped us demo our existing kitchen, including removing an outdated looking "step" in the kitchen counter, and install new cabinets from Builders Cabinet Supply (Joel's recommendation, which turned out to be excellent). The cabinets were well-installed, perfectly level with meticulous finishing. He also helped us install a new kitchen sink, put in built ins by our fireplace, replace lighting throughout and a few other small jobs. His pricing was fair (and accurate, he did not charge us more than his initial bid, even though we had a few small changes as work went on). He also kept to the schedule that he promised. He finished on time, with meticulous results. He was prompt and responsive to all of our emails. He came to personally oversee our work and the job site was always left tidy. I've worked with several other contractors in Chicago before, but would never use anyone other than Joel again. The work was so good that every offer we received on our condo mentioned the stunning kitchen. I could not recommend Joel/Realty Design Group more highly. read more

Realty Design Group - Kitchen before reno. Joel removed the outdated step in the countertop, the old cabinets and lighting and installed new cabinets. - General Contractors Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Joel and his team at RDG were fantastic to work with for our Kitchen renovation. We brought the kitchen down to the studs, took out a load bearing wall, and completely changed the entire layout (moving plumbing, electric, added gas line, & custom carpentry). They were very transparent with their budgeting, great communication throughout our project, and respectful of our home. The project made daily progress and Joel did a great job to coordinate many subcontractors for our kitchen. We came in under budget and we could not be happier with the quality of the work. 10/10 would recommend. read more

We just completed a total remodel (to the studs) of our bathroom. Working with Joel at RDG has been a real pleasure. The can-do attitude and quality workmanship of all of his tradesmen was amazing. At our initial meeting with Joel, he told us that RDG's goal was 100% customer satisfaction. Their dedication to this singular goal was obvious throughout the entire process. Even when I personally made a huge mistake by ordering a custom cabinet, from my own vendor, in the wrong depth, Joel's response was " don't worry, we can fix it for you " and they did! Our new bathroom looks so beautiful that we can hardly wait for RDG to get started on our next project. Thank you Joel and crew for transforming a dull, outdated room into a modern spa-like space. Sue Broadhead read more

Back for a second project to finish up my remodel and I'm, again, thrilled with the result! Bill and team completely upgraded my kitchen keeping costs down by using the existing footprint. New cabinetry, flooring, countertops and backsplash gained me at least 20% more storage. Beautiful new tiling in the guest bath and a heated entry floor (thank you Arek!!!) for those chilly winters. The project was completed in 6 weeks and under budget. Cheers Bill! read more

I am a real estate agent and met Bill and Realty Design Group through a client who purchased "Fix N' Flips". On two separate projects, he came in on budget and on time!! AND, as if that weren't enough, a year afterwards, when the (unreasonable) buyer had an issue, he went above and beyond making a repair that had nothing to do with his work - just to keep the buyer happy. I have since referred him to several clients as well as used his team on our personal property. Bill and the Realty Design Group are the kind of partner every homeowner and REALTOR could hope for! read more

We worked with RDG specifically Bill when remodeling our bathrooms, two full and one half including the master. My husband and I had never been through a remodel before and really weren't sure of what we wanted. Bill was awesome assisting us every step of the way. He made suggestions when asked and helped us come up with a design that fit our modern duplex and our lifestyle. Best of all we were not only to stay within budget but a tad under! All of the contractor that came into our home were friendly and professional and Andy is the dog whisperer. If you know what you want or need help coming up with a design I recommend RDG all the way. read more

Excellent work, on schedule. Highly recommend. Each of the trades was very professional. High quality work with great communication. Their work exceeded our expectations. I would definitely recommend them. read more

Realty Design Group restores your faith in finding a skilled, responsible, integrity filled work team. I reached out to Bill of Realty Design Group after hearing about the work they'd done for one of my neighbors. After seeing my neighbor's unit, I was convinced I wanted him to renovate my unit. Bill and the team pleasure to work with and provided me with an amazing new kitchen, bathroom and hardwood floors and lovely details (including a modern fireplace) throughout my condo. Bill's estimate was very detailed and understandable. As this was my first renovation, I naturally had a lot of questions. When I asked questions, Bill provided me with understandable answers that made sense to me. He also helped me find cabinets, flooring and finishes that were within my budget. Bill's group worked extremely well with my condo association and his team very attentive to details. At the end of the renovation, I was had a completely breathtaking unit that looked like something out of a magazine. At the end of the project, Bill's team transformed my outdated, drab condo (with its cramped kitchen, metal cabinets from the '50s, and a tiny dingy, depressing bathroom) to a light, open, airy, modern space that anyone would want to live in. Best of all, the work was done ON TIME and WITHIN budget! Thanks again Bill! read more

Super happy with their work, their speed, and how they respect the budget. We've used them twice and are already thinking of ways to use them again. We refer them without reservation. read more

We had a good idea of what we wanted to accomplish in rebuilding the kitchen in our high-rise condo. But that is where a competent General Contractor steps in. Bill used his experience to help us avoid pitfalls. He developed a contract specification with the level of detail we needed to make sure the features we wanted were "worth it". Most important: he has a team of carpenters, and sub-contractor specialists, who clearly know what they are doing! Everything turned out better than we had imagined. read more

Bill and his team did a great job for us on a home project during a busy time for us. We discussed what we wanted and he was nimble enough to make it happen - in less than 3 weeks. We are very happy with the work, floors turned out great and we are enjoying our space. I would highly recommend Bill and his team, down to earth, reliable, and high quality work. read more

We worked with RDG on a basement remodel and they were terrific. What set them apart for us was the transparency of the work effort. As we made design and project changes, Joel told us exactly how that would impact the project price and timeline. So much more refreshing that the single bid approaches of other vendors. We really trusted the team, and they closed out the project on time and on budget. We're incredibly happy with the work. read more

Realty Design Group helped us do a complete redesign on our kitchen, retiled our bathroom, painted the entire apartment and did some electrical work in the summer of 2016. I was considering a number of contractors at the time and they were all in the same ballpark in terms of price, but what set RDG apart from the rest was the promise to get the job done on time, the quality of vendors they used and the fact that they were trustworthy. As a first time home owner I was a bit nervous about undertaking this project and having to manage it, but that fear went out the window once Bill took over. He was great at communicating where we were in the project and any time there was an issue, it was handled immediately and remedied to my satisfaction. He uses painters, electricians and tile guys that are really great at what they do and also very neat. I especially appreciated that Bill works with cabinet makers that deliver a high quality product for less than an arm and a leg. RDG stands behind its work product and definitely strives to make everyone's house a home. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to family and friends and if/when I am looking to do a project in the future RDG will be the only call I make. read more

Bill and his team were great! I'm a first time homeowner and had a million questions and he was patient and helpful through the entire process. I had them put in a fireplace and it turned out exactly how I wanted. The project was on time, and they did a few extra things around my place for me. And, they are great guys! read more

Bill did a fantastic job renovating my first owned property. He made sure the planning ahead of time reduced any future headaches and also helped accommodate an expedient timeline to move in. Bill provided some great recommendations on work ideas that I wouldn't have thought of on my own. The work was completed on time, with top quality and clear communication every step of the way. I would never hesitate to use the group again or recommend them to family. Two years late I am still completely pleased with the work and wouldn't have gone back and done it any differently. - Andrew T read more

My wife and I bought our first home in May of 2016 and to call it a fixer upper would be an understatement. We were referred to Realty Design Group from a friend who had a great experience working with them. We received numerous quotes from other companies who came to our house, did a 10 minute walk through, and gave us a ball park figure without really trying to understand the vision we had for our home. Bill from Realty Design Group on the other hand spent over an hour at our home during our initial meeting, gave us great advice on our project, and was realistic in terms of what was possible and what we needed to change. Our project was pretty extensive (remodeling an entire floor of our house). Bill and team did fantastic work, were courteous, and werea pleasure to have in our home. There are probably numerous companies that do great work, but what really set Realty Design Group apart is their ability to communicate effectively with their clients. Bill and team were extremely responsive, were candid and honest about what the options were, and always kept our best interest in mind. read more