We had an amazing experience with Schafer for our kitchen remodel. It was very expensive, but you get what you pay for and they made the entire process not only painless, but actually pleasant! We didn't have to worry about a thing; if an issue came up (as is normal with this scope of work), it was handled right away. Communication was top notch and we couldn't love the final result more! Because of that, we didn't think twice about contracting them when we wanted our garage painted, the floor epoxied, and a cabinet installed in our dining room. If this had been our first experience, it would have been our last. Frankly, we wouldn't even had made it past the quoting process. Communication was terrible and it took far too long (especially compared to the first project that was MUCH more involved). Erik was our carpenter for the kitchen remodel and is not only top notch at his craft, but is such a genuinely nice person that we requested him for this project. Thank goodness because he saved the day numerous times! He also communicated our issues to Jeff, who jumped right on to fixing whatever he could and trying to make everything right. Everything turned out beautifully (thank you, Erik), but if it hadn't been for the two of them and our previous positive encounter, this would be a two star review. read more

Schafer Brothers just completed a complete bathroom remodel for us. The whole process went flawlessly right from the beginning. Amy was our sells rep and helped us through the process and selection of all the materials and choices. Never felt any pressure from her at all. Erick was the lead and did most of the remodeling. His skills were outstanding and he takes pride in his work and customer satisfaction. We added a built in cabinet which opened in the master bedroom and bumped into unused space in a wall in the bathroom. We were quoted a reasonable price and Erik custom built, stained, and installed the unit on site. His skills as a carpenter really shows and my wife is ecstatic with the removable shelves and the new storage space. Thanks to his skills the bathroom came out perfectly. Schafer Brothers are not cheap but the quality of both the work and the processes make the cost worthwhile. We now have a bathroom for my son that will last, that he loves, and my wife has the extra storage space she has been wanting. read more

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Great experience! High quality work. They were VERY reliable. We had a partial wall removal with a beam install, new flooring, custom entertainment center, new lighting, all new trim and paint. I would totally recommend them and will use them again in the future. read more

We met with Avery in December and signed the contract to have our porch redone. They told us they would start the project around March 1st depending on weather. The weather gave us a window to get the work done in early March. They completed the job in the time frame they laid out and the workmanship and attention to detail that Lee exhibited is second to none! Great work, great customer service & local company. It's a win-win-win. read more

Schafer Builders took our $2500, deposit but never provided a proposal, nor have they responded to our numerous emails and text. We even stopped into the office three different times requesting a meeting or a call; however, they never responded. As an older couple, we feel the company took advantage of us. We were working with Avery. read more

Very disappointed in the bid process with this company. Granted, we have not actually been a client, but firstly, our bid took over 48 hours to complete, and had I not called (twice), I may have never seen it. I was promised that day or the next morning. May have been a better thing: our bathroom remodel wherein we basically just requested labor only, except countertops, came in at $36-40,000! That is insulting to my intelligence. If you didn't want the job, a $20k quote would have sufficed, lol. Maybe next time, they'll send a professional bidder to a client. read more

My husband and I requested to have our trim redone and installed in our entire house. We had just had Schafer Builders completely gutted and built a new master bathroom and closet, that turned out spectacular. We requested to have Matt Leuhr work on our trim, given that he was the main carpenter for our bathroom. Matt is meticulous and highly skilled. His attention to detail was the reason that we had him do this new job. I would highly recommend Matt and Schafer without hesitation to do any work, in any home. Matt is a professional, an outstanding communicator and takes great pride in the incredible work that he does. Thanks Schafer Builders and thank you Matt Leuhr! read more

Sorry this post is a long time coming due to personnel issue. We had Dave Bray from Schafer Brothers remodeling out again, (they did my kitchen,2bathrooms, fireplace wall & more) cause we wanted to hear his ideas for a screen room we wanted to add. Wow Dave never disappoints! He has the ability to see things and put it to paper I swear he has a special talent. Next step is Lee taking from the paper and making it amazing!! Another guy (Lee)who has amazing talents!! He is the best all around carpenter We've ever had the pleasure to work with honestly!!! Lee walks you thru every step of the process and asks for your input. Lee is really amazing! But Lee also has help. There's Brandon who is also a great carpenter & Nate and John others on the crew. All the are awesome. But getting back to my screen room it turn FANTASTIC!! We love it!! If your ever in the market for any kind of improvements to your home I highly recommend Schafer Brothers Remodeling!! I'll add pictures of the finished room. I just want to send A Great Big THANK YOU to the team at Schafer Brother's Dave Bray, Lee, Brandon, Nate, Daniel, Kevin the Electrician, Chanel& Kelsey and many more, It was a pleasure to work with all of you. Mary S read more

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Bill and his team of high professional staff did an outstanding job constructing two new 3-season porches on our home, even during the winter months! Our construction crew led by Lee and staffed by Brandon, Paul, and Anthony were on time every day, did accurate and professional work, and left the site clean every day. Other staff members who worked on the project included our electrician Austin, Mitch, Mark, and the Garcia Roofing and Siding crew. Thanks for the great work! read more

This has been a very mixed experience. First, the bid process and the handling of the pricing were not customer friendly. When you are given a bid, don't expect it to stay at that price. Everything is based on an alleged "allowance" then when you pick finishes and actually get into the work, nothing is at the allowance price, that you find out after the fact. I can understand if we chose high-end, but they even had the village permit under-figured by $450! How do you do that when this is your business in the town next door? I should have balked at paying over for the permit that should have at least been accurate. Secondly, the sales rep didn't listen to what we wanted, he only heard what he heard, and then when it wasn't right, the tradesmen would have to pivot and try to make the changes midstream. Some of their subs were sloppy but their in-house carpenters were very nice and did a good job for the parts they were responsible for and trying to fix the sub's messes. We spent over $47K for a bathroom and $23K for a home office remodel so it wasn't like we were going on the cheap. There are things we ended up having to do ourselves, like find and purchase the light fixtures, replacement tile that the tile setters screwed up and made a mess, and buy more than 1 towel bar that was in the "allowance" but never heard about an allowance credit for those purchases. Not to mention the one change order we did approve was without a price, they did the work and then found it to be double the price of the WAG range the salesman gave, at that point, we were stuck and paid it. I had to call numerous times to get any updates when there wasn't activity for a job that originally was estimated at 3 weeks took almost 2 months. I had called to ask to speak to an actual "Schafer" which we never met through the process, when frustrated with no communication, and was referred to or called back by a manager. Then if you wanted to do an add-on, they priced it out of this world, almost to the point that they didn't want the work while their people were there anyway. An interior door replacement was priced at $1600 that we are getting done by Home Depot installers for $575, with the price of the same door. So if you want to get a guess at the price and don't mind adding 10 to 20% at the end, that doesn't include what you end up buying, then you'll be fine. read more

*** Caution *** Please check other remodeling companies prior to using Schafer Brothers. Schafer Brother's remodeling company is quite expensive and their work is far below average. I can confirm this because I had my entire house remodeled and used Schafer for the master bathroom, the under the cabinet lighting in the kitchen and the back splash in the kitchen. I used other contractors for remodeling of the kitchen cabinets, two other bathrooms, new flooring, and replacement of the ceiling lighting, repainting of the interior including closets, and replacing light switches. I did not have any issues with any other contractor other than Schafer Brothers. Below are the experiences I had with Schafer Brothers: In our master bathroom, they failed the plumbing inspection twice because of a loose shower head. The inspector indicated a hole should be cut into the wall in order to identify the root cause and correct the problem properly. Unfortunately, they refused and I was the one who cut the hole in the wall so they could repair their error. The root cause: they missed the stud when mounting the valve; rather they mounted it to the drywall. Please see the attached pic. They installed two sink faucets. One faucet was leaking and we were required to have a container under the sink until they were able to repair the leak. The other faucet had very low pressure. Two towel racks came off the wall and needed to be remounted. I repaired one of the two. The shower door leaked. Their "fix" created a larger leak. I was required to address the leak In the kitchen, the back splash job was actually laughable. The installer stated the he could not cut the schluter properly because he could cut off his finger because the piece was so small. The tiles were not even and the grout was very sloppy. Please see attached pic. The installer had to come back and tear off the schluter and many tiles so he could redo his job. It still does not meet the quality level that Schafer brother's claims to meet. The under-cabinet lighting flickered in one section. The lights were pointing in different directions and they left a hole in a wall. They were required to come back and correct the job. Rather than admit fault, the Schafer Brothers team blamed the Kohler products. They continually used the word "goofy". There were statements such as "This goofy shower head is too heavy to mount". "This goofy Kohler valve does not allow one to tighten the on/off handle." In the other bathroom, we used a different contractor who was able to properly install all of the same Kohler products without any problems. The owner came over to the house at the end of the project. I would have hoped that he would have offered a partial refund because he acknowledged the excessive defects. Rather he said that he was sorry for the poor workmanship. I have to admit, he did seem to be pleased when I told him I corrected many of the problems his company created. Clearly money is their number one priority, not the customer. Lastly, there are other poor ratings on this site for this company where they mention a rude woman in the show room. Yes, she is very rude and when there is a decision to be made, she states "well that's a no brainer." There are other 5-star ratings on this site. They must family or close friends. I have a hard time believing anyone would rate this company a five considering the problems I had in my home. read more

Schafer Brothers Remodeling - This is the wall cutout. It shows the mounting screw missed the stud. Please see writeup for additional details. - Handyman Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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We had a nice man come out to give us an estimate for a kitchen remodel. He seemed pleasant and told my wife to visit the showroom. She did. She found an old rude woman who was not interested in helping her and when she asked if there was a certain size cabinet she could view, the woman replied..'don't you have a measuring tape?' She ignored that ignorant comment, then went on to view tile samples...but the rude employee told her 'you don't want this one, you don't want that one' My wife said nothing. She turned around and left. How could be possible entertain the idea of hiring Schafer if my wife is not treated kindly in the showroom. Service is everything these day. Ask her employee to develop a new attitude or find someone younger, friendlier and eager to help! read more

We had Schaffer remodel our kitchen island and I am extremely pleased w the results. Lee, our contractor, took the time to explain all of the small details and gave amazing advice on how to make our island really pop. So thankful for the knowledgeable folks. read more

Extremely over priced and rude. Their quotes for basic remodeling is 2 to 3 times more expensive than others. Their "quality" does not justify the prices that they try to charge. read more

Overall disappointed with the bid proposal process. About four weeks ago they spent several hours reviewing our various home remodeling projects ranging from a basic install to a full basement. During these discussions, they continually mentioned what separates them for their competitors is their customer service. Well after informing us they would have a proposal in my email box within the week. After several email inquiries and phone messages, still no follow up, no responses, nor a proposal. It appears this company doesn't stand behind their customer service motto as its evident they don't want my business. Just a frustrating and waste of time experience. read more

Gosh where to start. I hired Schafer Brothers to remodel our master bathroom. The people who owned our home prior to us were self-proclaimed DIYers and there was a lot that needed to be undone. Avery was our sales consultant and he was absolutely wonderful, very personable, not pushy and really allowed me to understand all of our options. He thoroughly explained everything as we went and we would often get lost in conversation. Such a nice guy. Once we signed the contract we waited about 12 weeks before the project started so they could allow time for the materials to all get in, which I really appreciated. We had our pre-construction meeting where we aligned on everything outlined in the proposal and I got to meet everyone. The work started the following Monday where the absolute STAR of the show, Matt, came to work. Having Matt in our home was truly like having a friend over - he was so professional, kind, funny, personable and incredibly talented at what he does. He was always on time, spent time with our dog and even brought treats for him each day. Matt would start each morning by giving me a rundown of what was on the schedule, and he was so patient answering my many questions. He really ensured that everything was done well and right the first time. Matt paid such close attention to detail and noticed things that I otherwise wouldn't have and brought them to my attention to talk me through it. He exceeded every single one of our expectations. On his last day here, I was so sad to see him go! I'm definitely going to miss having him around - until the next project that is. Schafer Brothers was absolutely INCREDIBLE to work with. Matt has been with the company for 26 years, and honestly - a company that treats its employees that well to where they stay for that long is unheard of today. I cannot wait for our next project - because there will be only one phone call I'll make. And you better believe I'll be requesting Matt specifically! Thank you again to Matt, Avery, Austin and Mitch for all of your work on our bathroom remodel. We are so so happy with the final product. read more

I recently had Schafer Brothers do a much needed remodel of my kitchen. The results were dramatic. With the help of their kitchen designer, I now have a beautiful kitchen that is more efficient with much more cabinet space. The space is the same but it looks so much bigger. I would highly recommend them to anyone who wants a quality build. A great team to work with. read more

We've been using Schafer Brothers Remodeling since 1997 for all our repair and remodeling needs. They have done everything from a new roof, new siding, new deck, new kitchen, 2 1/2 new bathrooms, new floors, garage finishing, new front doors, repainting the whole inside of the house, repairing drywall, replacing fencing, electrical and plumbing work. They have a wonderful show room for one stop shopping, and helpful designing decisions. Everyone that works for SBR are extremely nice, polite, and wonderful to work with. The best part of hiring them... They clean up their work areas every night before they go home! The homeowner never has to worry about daily cleanup! The workers are there on time every day, subcontractors are on time when they're needed on the job site, and your project runs on schedule daily from beginning to end. You can't go wrong with hiring Schafer Brothers Remodeling. read more

Dave at Schafer Brothers remodeling has been wonderful to work with. We worked with him twice after hail damage. He was professional, caring, and made sure the job was done the right way. We will continue to use Schafer Brothers in the future for all of our projects. read more

Schafer Bros. has been doing repairs and remodeling at our home for 25 years. Before we bought this house, it was a rental for many years. We've had Schafer Bros. re-do the kitchen, the garage.the front door, 2 1/2 baths and re-siding the whole house. We love these guys. When they're in our house working, they protect the rest of the house from dirt and dust. They don't leave a mess when they leave. No shoddy work or cheap materials. read more

Schafer Brothers did a wonderful job this month installing our laminate flooring. The entire staff is friendly, knowledgeable and polite. We loved that they asked our opinion as they moved through stages of completion. This company does it right, paying attention to details, and still getting done in a timely manner. They were conscientious, not only with their installation, but also in their daily clean-up of work areas inside and out. Our next project will definitely be with them. read more

When looking to do some remodeling of a master bathroom, guest bathroom and powder room, we wanted to support our local businesses. We passed the Schafer Brother Remodeling office on Route 14 so many times but never took much notice. Hidden in that office ... a wealth of experience, resources and a staff transforming rooms from dreams to reality. Our initial contact was with David Bray who was more of a friend than a salesman ... he listened to what we wanted, gave us suggestions, let us make decisions in our time and never pushy. He was always positive, jovial, and always so accommodating to our schedule. With so many decisions to be made and one of us very indecisive (that would be me), he was patient and suggestions. This business is a well-oiled machine...they are a team working together and never once did we meet with anyone that didn't want to please and make dreams come true. They were always clean and respectful of our home and us (to include our 2 dogs). Seeing the awesomeness of Mark and Dan transforming the rooms with the help of a talented Mike who did the tile and with the assistance of plumbers /electricians and a team that supported them fully was such a joy. The quality of their work and craftsmanship exemplary. If you want a remodeling job done and done right with outstanding results, consider this company seriously. Why even consider anyone else? They rock! read more

We recently had our bathroom remodeled with Schafer Brothers. We couldn't have been happier with the results! Schafer was a pleasure to work with throughout the entire project from beginning to end. The process of meeting to discuss the project a couple of times before starting was great. We knew what to expect from the beginning. We knew that our home was in good hands and that we could trust the workers who would be coming in and out while we were at work. The quality of products offered look and function well. Friendly and knowledgeable staff! read more

The entire team was a pleasure to work with - from the initial on-site meeting, to the design/decision meeting at their office, through the work being completed on site. Each person's attention to detail showed the pride they take in their work. We highly recommend Bill & his team! read more