Areas Of Satisfaction - The design process and picking out supplies was really organized, and Mike in the office was always really receptive to communication and got back to us quickly.
We first met Bay Lakes at the Brown County Showcase of Homes and were impressed with their dedication to the prep work and making sure there were no surprises along the way. I can tell you, they absolutely do just that! They put in the work to get accurate numbers and give you a complete breakdown of where the budget goes; and we had zero surprises along the way!
Budget - All the prep work they do at the start allows for you to stay on budget pretty easily. We actually even came in under budget!
Problem Resolution - They are VERY responsive to the minor issues that did come up; either they addressed it directly or put us in contact with the appropriate people right away.
Selections Process - Dawn was fantastic with helping with flooring, tile, cabinets, you name it and she was available to help in the selection process. Mike was also outstanding in his communication of when final selections had to be made, and helping provide examples of different options for us to see.
Areas Of Satisfaction - Bay Lakes Builders met or exceeded all of my expectations.
From the design to the execution we were extremely satisfied with Bay Lakes Builders and would be thrilled to build our next house with them as well.
Overall, great experience but . I thought Paul and Dawn would have more interaction especially towards the end of project.
Areas Of Satisfaction - Their follow through on issues after we moved in met and exceeded my expectations. They were very good about that and making sure everything was right.
Areas Of Satisfaction - Ryan's organization and breakdowns were very impressive. Wood port doors also made the comment how professional and thorough the door order was.
Most of our friends are not from the area or don’t plan to build in Door or Brown counties where Bay Lakes typically builds so it may not be too likely. They build a very fine home however!
Schedule - Thank you for this!! Since we had sold our home in March and closed on it a month before we could move into our new home, Bay Lakes staying on schedule was very important and they did a great job.
Construction Quality - Thank you for building us a beautiful home and using high quality materials. Thanks to Ryan for suggesting the stacked stone used in our enclosed porch. We really appreciate that he steered us away from something else we had considered. That stone is gorgeous. The excellent workmanship shows throughout our home.
Clean & Safe - Every time we came to look at the progress things were clean. The paper covering our wood floors was really great and kept scratches from occurring. Dan made sure the subs didn’t damage our floors. The cleaners also did an excellent job before we moved in. Thank you!
Areas Of Satisfaction - Paul and Dawn are very personable. We chose Bay Lakes after meeting with 2 other builders because we felt very comfortable talking with Paul. He is very experienced and we trusted all of his suggestions. Bay Lakes has some wonderful subs and the businesses they use for selections do a really nice job and offer a nice variety of options. Bay Lakes took many phone calls from us during the home build and were very quick to get answers for us or call us back. We really appreciated that.
From the very beginning we felt Bay Lakes heard are wishes & concerns with building a new home at retirement age & on a budget.
They have a wonderful team of experts which guided us along to achieve our dream home. We couldn’t be happier.
Bay Lakes surpassed our expectations.
I have referred them and continue to refer them to others. Strongly recommend Baylakes Builders.
Expertise - Great team with probably over 100 years of building experience among them.
Professional & Organized - Ryan is on the ball. Really helped the numbers side of the project come together for us and stay on budget (with what was controllable). Dan was on-site and kept the subs in order and home was completed on-time for our Fall Showcse.
Innovation - Paul and Dawn had some great ideas during the planning process adding a hallway, utilizing a play area on our 2nd floor and being able to add a covered porch to our plan. Also had to get creative due to our HOA restrictions and they were able to figure out how to work within those guidelines to still get the home that we wanted with minimal compromise.
Construction Quality - Excellent quality. They really have a great team of subs that they work with and can count on to get the job done and done right. Now we're a few months after the build and I can say that they/the subs still take pride and care about their quality of work as there have been a couple that have come back and fixed/tweaked/corrected a couple small items under their warranty and we've had no issues with them not answering our calls or coming back to correct those items.
Communication - The whole team was amazing to chat with and communicated with us via phone calls, texts, emails, and in person meetings. I was always able to get ahold of whomever I needed to.
Punchlist - We are now a few months past the build so I can answer this question better now then I would've been able to if immediately following our completion. We've had a few things that needed to be resolved after our construction and we have had no issues with the subs coming back out to do what was needed. Excellent follow up by their team and their subs.
Selections Process - Dawn is such a great asset to the team. The house (in our opinion) looks amazing due to her ability to guide us through the selection process. We had a really good idea of what we wanted, but she made it happen. Who knew there were like 30 shades of white!! She really helped us not only pick the correct 'white' or 'grey' or whatever it was we were working on but also was cognizant of our budget. Big win for the stone she was able to secure for us within our budget as well, like I mentioned above.
We’ve had so many positive comments on our house. Looking forward towards many years of enjoyment.
Areas Of Satisfaction - Their professionalism and how quick they responded to any concerns we had.
The Baylake Builders staff guides their customers through each step of the building process. They are easy to communicate with and they have wonderful subcontractors! We highly recommend Baylake Builders!
Areas Of Satisfaction - They met or exceeded my expectations a lot with just the small detailing. They did a really good job communicating in the end if there were any issues. With COVID-19 and the pandemic, they did a great job making sure everything was up to my standards.
Additional Comments - I would definitely recommend them to anybody, especially in this time with pandemic and COVID-19 making things difficult. They were very easy to work with and did a very good job.
We were extremely happy with Bay Lakes throughout the process...from lot selection and home design, to interior and external decisions, they were patient with us and helped us make good decisions.
Construction Quality - We are very happy with the construction and feel like Bay Lakes built us a great home.
Communication - Bay Lakes was very proactive in their communication with us, and the change order process provided clear tracking on cost change as we progressed through the construction process.
Employees & Subcontractors - Everyone we worked with at Bay Lakes was helpful and the subcontractors that we met with were easy to work with too.
Selections Process - Dawn was wonderful to work with and tried to really understand our tastes and preferences. When we sometime had no clue on what to select, she made excellent recommendations. We relied on her, really valued the input she provided, and are happy with the end result.
We would recommend Bay Lakes Builders to anyone wanting to build a new home. Paul an Dawn were very nice and took time with us to make sure we got it right. Once the plans were in place, Ryan, Mike and Dan took over and contacted us when decisions needed to be made.They let us know what was going on and we knew when the contractors would be there. When it was time to pick out finishes, Dawn set up appointments to pick out those things. She was very helpful keeping us on track with budget and color choices so we weren't all over the place. Of course it was covid time and things did not go smoothly. We have built before so we knew the process. Working with sub contractors with the covid pandemic was not easy. We had a few ups and downs, but in the end the house turned out beautiful. My one complaint would be was to have had Paul out there at times to see if we had any concerns and at the end, do a full walkthrough. This would have helped us get things done that were neglected. Things like spotty stained woodwork, nail holes not filled, toe kicks not nailed down and handles on cabinets a little uneven. We built a house over 4 thousand square feet, and paid a lot of money for. Those little details do make a difference and should have been done. Thet is why a walkthrough is important. We love the house, it is beautiful. We would recommend them.
Pat & Sue G
Areas Of Satisfaction - Paul and Dawn along with the members of there staff were great. If we had any questions or concerns they called or talked with us in person to address the issues. The design was tweaked to meet our vision. The house turned out beautiful.
Areas Of Satisfaction - The design and selection process was easy. I also appreciated being able to know where we were relative to the budget/cost. Calls and emails returned extremely promptly.
They were very easy to work with, made every possible change they could make to make us happy.
It was very important to us to find a builder we felt comfortable with. I tend to do a lot of research before making any purchase, as building a house may be one of the biggest projects/purchases we ever make, we took a few steps to find the best fit for us. We interviewed 6 different builders with Bay Lakes being our last meeting. We wished to build a more modest home. A number of other builders left us feeling that we were not worth their time in comparison to the higher cost projects they have. Dawn and Paul asked us questions that the 5 other builders did not which supported that they listened to our needs and took us seriously. They spent an hour and a half with us on the first meeting, in comparison to others who spent 15-20 minutes.
Additional Comments - We love our house and we would definitely recommend Bay Lakes if you are building in the area.
this is the second time with Bay Lakes and the quality is spot on, The allowances are also better than most
Employees & Subcontractors - everyone was great to work with from the employees at Bay Lakes to the electrician, plumber, and all of the subs
Areas Of Satisfaction - Paul Soletski went over and above in helping me secure my lo t and in the redesigning of my master bathroom, Dawn Soletski is knowledgeable and fun when selecting designs, and Ryan Soletski is precise and accurate in all of the budget processes!
Areas Of Satisfaction - They did a very good job communicating.
Recognized Excellence - All of Bay Lakes employees/professionals provided good service.
Areas Of Satisfaction - They were kind and very professional. I am convinced that, with their many years' experience in this locality and in this market, Bay Lakes Builders was the right builder for me.
We built a house with Bay Lakes 20 years ago and had a great experience so we went back to them to build our next home. Our recent experience was even better. It was a smooth process that was fun. The staff is all good people who enjoy their job and want your home building experience to be a positive. My wife really enjoyed working with Dawn who is an exceptional interior designer.
Absolutely! I wouldn't go to anyone else
Communication - Everyone who works at Bay Lakes or works for them responded right away either by phone, text, or email.
Problem Resolution - Bay Lakes was on top of any question or concern we had and they talked us through it so we understood. Even offered suggestions they thought would be a good fit for us and our family
Sales Knowledge - They are professionals and know what they are talking about which made trusting them very easy
Areas Of Satisfaction - Building a beautiful home and coming in below contract. Never thought that would happen
Additional Comments - I would give them 10 stars if I could! Building our first home couldn't have gone any better or any easier. EVERYONE was beyond helpful and professional. Paul, Dawn, Ryan and Mike are great to work with. Always happy to see or hear from you
Yes, we wouldn’t hesitate recommending Bay Lakes Builders, in fact we already have.
Communication - Absolutely and in a very timely fashion.
Condition of Home - Yes and when we did the walk through Dan was even more meticulous about details than even we were.
Quality Of Workmanship - We were very much satisfied with the quality of workmanship.
Problem Resolution - When we wanted the fireplace hearth raised, Dan kept his cool and initiated contacting all the subs involved and had it done within days.
Professional & Organized - Very much so!
Punchlist - We wanted to use materials from our old cottage and they made it happen. We told them that we wanted to put a bell tower on the garage and they took care of making sure the garage was structurally strong enough to support it.
Likes & Dislikes - We like the layout, the interior and exterior finishes, and that the bonus room allows us to use it in multiple ways now and in the future.
Recognized Excellence - Ryan was extremely helpful with keeping us informed on cost issues and Dan went over the top meeting all of our requests. Dawn also was very helpful with design ideas. Paul gave us good input in the planning process.
Areas Of Satisfaction - They finished our project on time in spite of brutal weather conditions for three plus weeks.
Recognized Excellence - Mike was on top of things ;Ryan kept the books straight , Dawn was always available for decorating ideas,Dan always made himself available for Questions and helped when needed. Paul knew his trade and was well versed in all aspects of the construction from the choice of products to the actual building process!
The process was smooth. Everything was high quality. I was very happy with the quality of workmanship and professionalism.
Likes & Dislikes - The quality is excellent. The woodwork and trim are spot on. The builders delivered on everything in a timely manner including the septic work. The appliances were excellent, and everyone was professional. All around it was a great experience.
Areas Of Satisfaction - They exceeded my expectations in how fast the process was, and how little work I had to do on my end. They also exceeded my expectations in the quality.
This is my first time ever building the house and I thought it would be hard but this was a smooth process. The only hiccups were because of the weather.
Areas Of Satisfaction - I was most satisfied with the design process, it was really good. I also liked how the staff resolves the issues appropriately and timely.
We already have, to a several friends and co-workers
Professional & Organized - we built a home before, with a different builder. This experience was COMPLETELY different. Paul and co. are very detailed. Compared to our first build, we had no fears of surprises.
Construction Quality - The crews were very detailed and did a great job. One example I can give - when the house was being framed, I noticed that there were small gaps between the sheathing, where the brackets were attached. You could see a little sliver of light between them. I asked if those could be filled before insulation, to cut down on air infiltration. There was no complaining or telling me that it wasn't necessary - they just did it. Dan (the site manager) actually noticed a tiny dent in the door of the dishwasher that we didn't see, and called Van Vreedes to have it replaced.
Easier Than Expected - I mentioned it in an earlier question, but compared to the first time we built, this was much easier and less stressful. Building a home is a huge project and there will always be a couple issues that come up, but this went as smoothly as I could imagine possible.
Areas Of Satisfaction - From our first meeting, I was impressed with Paul's level of detail. I'm extremely detailed, and he was bringing up things I hadn't thought of. We had met with other builders prior to our initial meeting with Bay Lakes Builders, and the difference was apparent right away - very professional, very detailed, very organized.
Areas Of Satisfaction - I was very satisfied with the quality of construction and workmanship from Bay Lakes and their subcontractors. They also stayed on schedule throughout the process.
Bay Lakes Builders created us a beautiful, well built home just as we had envisioned.
Areas Of Satisfaction - The suggestions and input from the staff throughout the process was very helpful.
Additional Comments - Now that we are settled into our new home, we are very pleased with how everything has come together and appreciate all the work and coordination that goes into building a home. Thank you Bay Lakes.
Yes. Very satisfied. If I could suggest an area of improvement it would be holding all trade people accountable for cleaning up after themselves {treat the home like it was their own}.As for Bay Lakes Builders, we chose them to build our home because of their creative designs and floor plans. They do not promote 'cookie cutter' homes. They are truly custom designed homes, built to what the customer wants. I appreciate Paul's energy and enthusiasm before and during the entire process. We truly felt like he was designing our house with our wants and needs in mind, but at the same time adding/suggesting some unique and interesting concepts in our plan, which we did incorporate.
Communication - Mike, Dan, Ryan, Paul were all very responsive. Questions were answered quickly. I appreciate the extra time taken to further explain issues/items that I had no prior knowledge about in the building process, to at least get me an understanding of various steps in the building process.
A wonderful experience from start to finish!
Areas Of Satisfaction - The build process went very smoothly and quickly. The selection process was painless as well. Bay Lakes was very willing to price out options and help us to meet our budget.
The team at Bay Lakes compliments each other nicely. They have Paul's insight on the home design and functionality side coupled with Dawn's interior design and aesthetic selections is awesome. But then they add Ryan, the financial guy, who works on the budget and keeps things realistic by being upfront in the beginning stages on whether you can keep things close to budget or not based on what you want your house to be. Dan, the project manager keeps things moving and on task and is quick to follow up. Every subcontractor we worked with was great!
If you're in the market for a quality home I'm not sure why you would use any other builder.
Professional & Organized - Paul is very good at conceptualizing and Ryan, Dan and Dawn accurately converted the concept into reality. Several of the subcontractors indicated the level of organization and competence exhibited by Bay Lakes was unequaled by any other contractor.
Schedule - The house was finished on the exact day that Dan predicted and came in on budget.
Budget - They are very cognizant of costs. The initial proposal allowed for quality materials throughout. When we exceeded the budget because we wanted upgrades such as the heat pump, air exchanger or tankless water heater, Ryan immediately indicated the exact price for the upgrades.
Construction Quality - We are way beyond satisfied. We have a home of exceptional quality. The Focus On Energy blower test indicated that our home exceeded their standards by 69%.
Communication - Paul, Dawn, Ryan & Dan were all immediately available via phone or text.
Problem Resolution - They actually found problems we didn't notice. Dan spotted a minor problem with the granite and had it repaired before we noticed it. Dawn noticed a color matching problem between the woodwork and the cupboards and they called in a crew over the weekend to fix it at no cost to us. During the initial basement work Paul wasn't happy with the depth of the basement so he stopped all work until it could be resolved. It turned out that the lot had more drop on the west end than was originally thought & the basement was correctly poured but it's indicative of their commitment to getting things right.
Selections Process - We're not particularly good at color coordination but Dawn assisted us with the selections and always knew the relative costs of the options. We're extremely happy with the final result and certainly couldn't have come close to this look without Dawn.
Likely To Recommend - We have in fact recommended Bay Lakes as an obvious choice to three of our friends who are thinking about building. If you're in the market for a quality home I'm not sure why you would use any other builder.
Easier Than Expected - We had absolutely no inclination to build a home but couldn't find one that suited our needs. The process was actually easy and to our surprise fun, and came in on time and on budget.
I would recommend Bay Lakes Builders. They were easy to work with, professional, and do quality work. When searching for a builder to build our home, we interviewed other builders, but got the best vibe from Bay Lakes. They pride themselves in treating their customers like family-it did not go unnoticed.
Areas Of Satisfaction - It was easy to make our selection choices. Dawn helped out in that department tremendously. Ryan is extremely articulate and detail oriented when it came to budgetary matters. Paul is a heck of a sales guy, and Dan was able to stick to our time table.
Bay Lakes Builders treated us as friends from day one and not just another customer. We would highly recommend them.
This is third house we built with three different builders. Bay Lakes overall was best we have worked with. Dan the project manager is excellent to work with and always took care of issues we pointed out during the building process. He kept the sub contractor crews on schedule and there was not more than a few days during the 4.25 month build that there was not a contractor on site unlike our past houses where we had a week or two at a time waiting for contractors to do their part of the job. All subs were a pleasure to work with and do quality work. Building new is expensive and I feel Bay Lakes is not cheap or high cost for the quality, but probably middle to upper middle end of the cost to value spectrum.
Areas Of Satisfaction - Having Dawn available to help with picking out all of our items was a great help. Working with everyone when it came to questions was good also.
Additional Comments - I really enjoyed working with Paul, Dawn, Ryan and Dan. They seemed to really be good people. Everyone that builds a home is going to run into some sort of issue and they did a good job of jumping in and handling issues as they came up.
10 stars! Highly rated! Fabulous experience building with this team of experts from Bay Lake Builders!We were most satisfied with the level of communication and the immediate response to any question. Paul and his team are equipped with an experience base that is outstanding and required to custom design a home. Every sub is an expert and they performed meticulous, perfect work and in a professional manner!
Areas Of Satisfaction - We were most satisfied with the level of communication and the immediate response to any question or concern with Bay Lakes Builders. Paul and his team are equipped with an experience base that is outstanding and required to custom design a home. Every sub is an expert and they performed meticulous, perfect work and in a professional manner! The woodwork, siding and stonework are fabulous. Sue worked with us choosing plumbing fixtures and she is also extremely efficient and helpful. The cement work is excellent. The finish carpenter is a master in his craft. The tile and cabinet work is also very well done. His wife, Dawn also assisted with color, floor and tile choices which can be very overwhelming. She really understands design and how it works together and she is able to communicate it as well. Ryan responds immediately and is very accurate and efficient while managing the project on paper. Dan is on the job and always available and helpful. Bay Lake Builders also tolerates a great deal of changes on our part. They are very patient and understanding while working with a family designing a home. We are extremely satisfied on every level. We highly recommend Bay Lake Builders!
Areas Of Satisfaction - Our overall experience was phenomenal! We had many trepidation's going in but we felt like part of the Bay Lakes family by the time we were done. Great company and people to build with!
Responsive Design - We had an initial house layout and Paul suggested many ideas that greatly improved the design.
Areas Of Satisfaction - We chose Bay Lakes mainly because of their commitment to building a tight energy efficient house and their partnership with Focus on Energy. We liked how they sealed the windows and their method of insulation. We liked how Dan made sure everything was done right and it would be corrected if not.
Bay Lakes Builders builds quality homes. The various crews work together to accomplish each element in the building process. Communication and attention to detail seemed to have a strong influence on Bay Lakes. We had this confirmed by Paul, Dawn, and Ryan as they spent many hours listening to us and helping us make decisions about the plan for our dream retirement home. They were attentive to our wants, needs, and budget. They helped us balance those three to optimize our results. Once our custom plan was ready, the winter that refused to end began. Dan, the project manager, was masterful in organizing the time table for all to follow. Organizing the schedule was magical. All the various crews worked well together. Most days there were multiple sub contractors working on site at the same time. We chose to be involved in every step of the process. Everyone was willing to explain the processes and answer our questions. Whenever there were choices, we were consulted. Each of the crews was proud of their workmanship and attention to detail. We had a very tight schedule. When there were problems, each was addressed and resolved immediately. We are very proud of our new home. We would recommend Bay Lakes Builders to anyone wanting to build.
Areas Of Satisfaction - Bay Lakes Builders were very good listeners. When we were working on the plans, they listened to what we wanted, provided options and listened while we explained why we chose an item. Communication was very good. Whenever there were two or three ways of doing something, we were consulted and our choices were followed. This kind of communication was very much appreciated. The project manager, general contractor, billing, and all of the various subs included us in decisions. When we asked questions they were all willing and able to answer the questions.
Building our home with Bay Lakes Builders was the very best experience, one that surpassed our expectations for ease of process, engagement from their entire team, and most importantly, quality! When we signed the contract to build, we were told by Bay Lakes they wanted the experience to be “fun”, and it was. They took the stress out of building the house especially since we live in Chicago and conducted a majority of the communication via e-mail, text and phone. We were very impressed with the level of attention to detail and follow up by everyone involved, including their contractors, which everything was built to our specifications. The house turned out better than we expected and it will be hard to leave after long weekends in Sturgeon Bay to return to Chicago.
Areas Of Satisfaction - Living in Chicago could have made the building process difficult, but Bay Lakes made it extremely simple and they did not miss a detail. Communication was key and they/subcontractors validated all the specs prior to beginning the work. The quality of workmanship is outstanding! Bay Lakes really strives to make the process fun and stress free.
We are very happy with our new home and with Bay Lakes Builders. The construction schedule was more than adhered to, there were constant checks on the quality of materials and construction.The contractors seemed to work well together and had a personal and professional relationship with the company that was built over time. The construction manager Dan Wiesman was always available for questions and followed up with any concerns. Paul and Dawn answered questions patiently, provided information about materials and choices and kept us on track for the next step in building. We would not hesitate to recommend Bay Lakes Builders to anyone building a new home.
Schedule - Bay Lakes exceeded the construction schedule in order to get us into our home and out of temporary summer living. The foreman Dan was exceptional in coordinating the various components to keep our house moving along in construction - without sacrificing any quality.
Areas Of Satisfaction - The design and floor plan was put together by ourselves and Paul, it is exactly what we hoped for and wanted. The living spaces are elegant but usable, the quality of construction and materials is excellent. We were consulted throughout the process as to what was happening, and what we wanted to do for choices available to us. We also had a air flow quality ventilation inspection authorized by Bay Lakes, it showed how well the house is built.
Overall it made sense for us to build our home with Bay Lakes Builders. They do have a lot of services and experience to offer. The build process went relatively smooth and the majority of our home is high quality. Unfortunately since we have been living in the home we have found several cosmetic defects that we have been working with Bay Lakes Builders to get resolved. The large amount of subcontractor call backs have been extremely inconvenient and time consuming. So far to date we have had over 35 call backs with 14 different subcontractors and all of the issues have not been resolved yet. It is especially frustrating because the majority of the call backs would have not been necessary if the subcontractors would have paid more attention to detail while working on the job site.
Clean & Safe - The framing crew was extremely conscientious when it came to work site safety and keeping the worksite clean.
Selections Process - We appreciated the help we received from Bay Lakes Builders when making selections for our homes' exterior. We greatly appreciated Dawn's help when taking on the overwhelming task of making selections for the interior of our home.
Responsive Design - We enjoyed working with Bay Lakes Builders to develop an attractive and efficient design of our home. Paul was extremely knowledgable and helpful when we went through the design process.
Areas Of Satisfaction - Bay Lakes Builders listed and helped us sell our home. They were extremely helpful in the design process. The overwhelming task of making selections for the exterior and interior of our home was made easier because of the help and expertise that Bay Lakes Builders has to offer. Bay Lakes Builders was a good fit for our needs. There are a lot of standard features that Bay Lakes Builders uses that we wanted in our home. Overall this builder has a lot to offer their customers.
The Baylakes team (Paul, Dawn, Ryan, and Dan) were courteous, responsive, and professional throughout the entire building process. Building a second home away from your primary location can be a stressful experience. Communication is key, and Dan Weisman did an outstanding job of providing regular updates on the progress of work. Our home was completed on time and on budget. Most importantly, we love our new home and the value it adds to our lives.
Areas Of Satisfaction - Dan's project management and communication throughout the building process were excellent. Baylakes and their team were always responsive to any issues.
We brought a design that my wife and I had come up with, and they helped adjust it to meet our needs. Everyone was professional on site. They did everything we asked them to timely and professionally.