Schaeffer Homes

Jim Wade on Schaeffer Homes

We would like to share our experience with Schaeffer Homes during the construction of our new home. After a house fire, we initially considered rebuilding on the existing basement. However, after consulting with Christie, it became clear that a complete demolition and rebuilding was the most cost-effective option. Schaeffer offered several designs, one of which closely matched our vision. This approach provided us with a new basement, 2x6 exterior wall studs, Zip System sheathing, and engineered floor joists supported by steel beams.
Once we signed the contract, Joe in sales guided us through structural selections and ensured our preferences were met. Ashley, the project coordinator, managed all interior and exterior selections and arranged off-site meetings for appliances and flooring. Anthony handled site planning and permitting, as well as coordinating demolition with Dustin, who did an excellent job clearing the site and preparing the new basement. Jason, our project manager, kept us informed throughout the process and responded promptly to our questions.
Currently, the house shell is complete, and the workmanship appears solid and well-coordinated. The crew has worked diligently, even in challenging weather conditions. Overall, we are very satisfied with Schaeffer Homes and appreciate the efforts of everyone involved. Based on our experience, we confidently recommend them to anyone considering a new building.
Jim and Betty, Middletown, De

Elizabeth Irwin on Schaeffer Homes

I initially left a five-star review because I was truly thrilled with my new construction home, and I still want to emphasize that our project manager, Maria, was absolutely amazing throughout the building process. She was responsive, kind, and wonderful to work with. At the beginning, we were extremely happy with Schaeffer and the quality of our home.
However, I now feel I must update my review due to several issues that surfaced after we moved in, along with the level of follow-up, the repeated oversights, and what feels like corners being cut during repairs.
1. Basement Leak Due to Drilled Pipe?During our first week in the home, we noticed dripping in the basement. Initially, I was told that since water was not “pouring out,” it was not urgent. After multiple follow-ups, someone finally came that same day, and we learned that a pipe had been drilled through when finishing items were hung in a closet. This caused water to leak internally through the walls. Thankfully, they did fix it, and I understood that mistakes can happen.
2. Septic System Failure Due to Incorrect Voltage?A few weeks later, our septic alarm began sounding. We learned the electrician had wired the system with too high a voltage, which caused the sensor to trip. The system had never actually worked, and everything was accumulating until the alarm finally went off. This was more concerning because simply turning on the system should have shown that it was not functioning. To their credit, they came out the day before Easter and fixed the issue quickly.
3. Ongoing Water Intrusion and Mold Concerns?The most serious issue has been water flooding into the basement through the back door. At first I was told it was because we “clogged the drain,” which did not make sense given that we had just moved in. After a mold remediation company inspected the area, we learned the concrete had been poured completely level with the interior of the home. Because of this, water would always flow in regardless of drainage. They advised us not to move forward with remediation until Schaeffer corrected the underlying construction issue.
Schaeffer agreed to address the concrete problem on October 14, but now, a month later, the situation is still not fully resolved. They recently removed the door, boarded everything up, and re-poured the concrete. However, when I asked about mold remediation, I was repeatedly told that the “carpet person” would handle removing the mold, despite that person not being a mold expert.
When the team came today, I was informed they planned to paint over the interior trim that had visible mold rather than replace it. I was told “it looks fine,” even though we have documentation and testing confirming the presence of mold. Painting over mold instead of properly removing it is not acceptable or safe.
This is especially concerning because I disclosed to them that I have lupus, and mold is one of my triggers. I have been avoiding the basement entirely because of this. Something as inexpensive as molding should not be the place where corners are cut, especially when the flooding was caused by a construction error.
I have attached photos for reference of the area that I was told would be painted over.
While they have now agreed to remove that area it is still concerning that I had to fight for this to occur.
Overall?I want to reiterate that we started out extremely happy with this home, and Maria truly was fantastic. However, the follow-up experience and the approach to repairs have been deeply concerning. It increasingly feels as though cost-cutting is being prioritized over doing the right thing.
It is very unsettling to wonder what other corners may have been cut during the construction process when the response to visible mold is to simply paint over it rather than fix it correctly.
I genuinely hope the company takes these issues seriously, as homeowners deserve safe, thorough, and timely repairs, especially when the problems arise from construction errors.

Jacqueline Terry on Schaeffer Homes

**Update since our last review in April:
We could not be more thrilled with our experience building with Schaeffer. From the very first meeting through every phase of construction, the level of support, communication, and professionalism was exceptional. They stayed on schedule (exactly 6 months to the day from breaking ground to getting our keys), came in under budget, and made the entire process as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Although our home was technically a semi-custom build, it truly feels like a fully custom home—without the hefty price tag. We were able to choose every detail and finish (outside of light fixtures) including how many outlets or lights we wanted in a room with the help of Schaeffer’s design team. We received a home with quality craftsmanship given the budget we were hoping to stay in.

Like any build, there were a few ups and downs along the way and after move-in, but what impressed us most was how Schaeffer always makes things right—quickly and without hesitation. Their integrity and commitment to customer satisfaction is unmatched. If you’re searching for a builder who delivers on their promises, look no further. Schaeffer turned our vision into a home we’re proud to call our forever home. Highly recommended!

INITIAL REVIEW 4/2025 (before breaking ground):
After researching custom builders, semi-custom builders and modular homes, my husband and I decided to pursue using Schaeffer Homes BOYL to build us our forever home with our 2 children. A friend had recently built with them and loved his home, and we knew we didn't want to wait 2+ years to build like most custom builders and even modular homes can take. They also had floorplans in our budget that were also customizable and BEAUTIFUL.

I started out talking to Keith, Sales Manager. If it wasn't for Keith right off the bat, we may have considered going the modular route. He is the least "salesiest" sales manager you will ever meet. We loved his laid back nature. He explained everything with knowledge and detail. He was never ever pushy, and was always willing to answer questions (even on his days off) BEFORE we even signed with them. In fact, I think we bombarded Keith with questions for 2 months before finalizing our decision to use them. He was patient and prompt with answering all questions. He outlines exactly what we should expect in the process (step by step), and made the first steps a delightful breeze.

After working we Keith, signing and finalizing our home structural plans, he transferred our care to Christie (Director of Sales and Marketing) for a kick off meeting that is SO helpful in laying out the next steps and Ashley (Design Manager) for 3 design meetings. We recently finalized our selections of our Newport home with Ashley, and the experience couldn't have gone better. She is sweet, patient, thorough, prompt, and always pleasant. She answers emails and all calls with such enthusiasm and that is something that is really important to me. When using Schaeffer homes, you have to make ALL of your home selections down to how many outlets you want in a room before ordering house plans or starting your mortgage application. This can be very overwhelming for some. Its a lot of decision making in a very short amount of time. Despite the time line, I never felt pressured by Ashley. I changed my mind several times about various things and she never made me feel like a nuisance. I inquired about pricing for several products or changes, and she went above and beyond to get me the most accurate information before we had to finalize anything. I also loved that despite being a "semi custom" builder, I was able to fully customize my kitchen-- removing a pantry, adding custom floor to ceiling cabinets, expanding the island to an oversize island and picking and choosing how many drawers vs cabinets i wanted)

Cara Dispensa on Schaeffer Homes

We had a wonderful experience building our home with Schaeffer. Not only were we building a home for the first time, we were also first time homebuyers. Schaeffer guided us every step of the way and made the process as easy as possible. From finding buildable land to designing our home, there were so many decisions to be made and everyone was super knowledgeable. Even when we encountered bumps in the road, Schaeffer stepped in and was incredibly helpful. Our project manager, Maria, was top notch. Truly made the building experience fun and exciting. We love our new home and couldn’t be happier we chose Schaeffer!

Niema Sharper on Schaeffer Homes

This was our first time building a new home. The process took around eleven months. Schaeffer has plenty of floor plans to choose from. Our sales person Ashley was very professional and by the book. She made our experience go smoothly. Our contractor Jason was awesome. Building a home can be expensive. I understood why some of their fees were in place for customers who change their minds a lot. The only thing I can honestly say is sometimes communication was lacking with emails, text, and phone calls. In the end, our home was perfect.