My wife and I just returned from our 2nd trip from Lewes, Delaware to take a 2nd look at a resale Schell built home and another resale home in another neighborhood. The 1st home was in Coastal Club which we were very impressed with,by one of the Whimbrel model homes ...the quaility ,the club house facilities and the general location. We visited the house and clubhouse and the last thing we did was go over to the garden area, since one of my hobbies is gardening. On the way out near the garden shed we ran into a man that was going to do some end of season garden plot cleanup. We had a conversation about how nice the gardens were ,and we then ask him what he thought of the neighborhood and he started to tell us he was moving out after living there for 3 years and he was selling his house as he was very disgruntled with how the Coastal Club membership turned him off due to the many real estate listings that were advertising the Club as a resort and renting houses and townhouses in rectless ways. He said in the summer there are so many renters that on most days you can't use the club facilties especially the pool. I got on line this afternoon and read about a petition that the owners have put together and read about the problems on other websites. Then we found out that there is a exorbitant price to pay to belong to the club,which no one had mentioned early on... approximately $5000 every year and then a quarterly fee. I think the yearly total fee is like over $8000 to be a member. We thought the monthly $270 HOA fee + a one time $5000 fee was all that was required. All this has unfortunately turned us off and away from buying retirement in that neighborhood. The 2nd house we looked at in another neighborhood, a little older and it also had a clubhouse.It was an OK house but not as impressive as the 1st house. On the way out of that neighborhood we saw a lady walking her dogs and we stopped our car and ask her if she wouldn't mind if we ask her a few questions about the neighborhood and about Schell homes. She said the neighbood was very nice and she has lived there 6 years. She bought her home new and was not to happy about too many problems that had to get resolved such as roofing defects, several water leaks,Washer and dryer problems. Just talking to these several people in the 2 neighborhoods and then reading about about all negative comments( yes I read the positive ones also) makes my wife and I wonder why we would want to continue too look a homes any further in Schell home built communities? We were very impressed at first ,but sorry to say, kind of depressed ,feeling we wasted our time and very disappointed after getting more details about these neighborhoods and homes as a possible place to move and retire to for us. Bob read more

nothing but problems, our entire staircase pulled away from the wall, our windows all lost their seal, the house had inadequate insulation, the nails used to frame the house are undersized, the master vanity also came off the wall, and the house has major structural problems. And I forgot to mention that the yard is always wet and flooded. oh yeah they build happiness for themselves, I don't know how these CEO,s sleep at night. read more

I wish I had read all of these negative reviews before purchasing. Now we just call it THE SCHELL GAME, and it's not fun to play. We've run into so many of the same issues, along with many of my neighbors. It seems there are recurring, known issues that they just choose not to address. Roofs separating from the main house due to lack of footings and stone for drainage, cracked driveways, grading issues, inadequately sized utilities, structural issues such as cut joists not reinforced, no flashing, improperly installed James Hardy cement siding.. and this is just the beginning. Many items they just will not fix. read more

Schell Brother home built in Rehoboth Beach in 2016. We have had so many major issues with this home: 2 gas line leaks (stove line and fireplace line) very dangerous situations Bad grading causing flooding in the yard Already had to replace the HVAC, was not big enough for size of the house and kept shutting down. Cost 23k to replace Buyer beware! read more

I would advise finding another builder. We just moved into our new house in Tennessee in the middle of December after months of delays, one of them being the demolition of our basement foundation because it was poured incorrectly. Additionally, during the build we failed an inspection 3 times and not a single word from the CM. We are located in a neighborhood of about 20 home and are one of the last ones to be completed, they advises us they want all the other houses after us to be completed by January and it shows. Once they set that timeline, the work went down hill. We have had nothing but issues since we closed. Our driveway has heaved, our stair from our deck are now going to be done for the third time. they initially had 2x4s as railings and states it was there just to pass inspection and we had to complain to get them to even approve redoing the stairs. Attention to detail and oversight by the company is non existent. I have asked to speak to someone that works directly with the corporate office in DE but I can't get past the production manager. The Schell Brothers have no idea how bad their product is in Middle Tennessee. I wouldve never purchased this home if I knew how bad their work was going to be. They find the cheapest labor and it shows. Also, can't forget this...everytime it rains, I have a river from my side yard down through my back yard. The site plan shows a swale, but Schell refuses to put one in. No grass will ever grow as the grass seed gets washed away. I am severely disappointed with this house that I have spent over a million dollars on. DO NOT BUY FROM SCHELL BROTHERS!!! read more

not a good company for quality, me and my friends call them "a block or more" because their homes look good from a block or More!

Houses continue to multiply as existing homes continue to have issues. Prefabricated bullshit homes . Get rid of those bullshit billboards. Should read 20yrs of screwing people. Tired of the bullshit from the builders and staff . Appointments are a joke as well being the vendors don't abide by the actual appointment made by them or Schell. Rather show up when it suits their schedules Hiring it seems anyone to build these homes and when you ask these so called builders a question the majority they hire all of a sudden don't speak a word to English. Ridiculous read more

I can not stress this enough. GET YOURSELF A PROVATE HOME INSPECTION. do not take their word for it. Pay someone to tell you the truth. They aren't a bad company and they have a lot on their plate. For the scale they are building at. They do a descent job. But you must stay on top of them and hold them accountable. Don't let them walk over you because they will. read more

they build a nice home, but they are as crooked as a politician from Delaware. Once they got your money the charm goes down faster than an unclogged toilet. good luck if you have problems after you move in because they with Defend their mistakes, Deflect the Blame and Deny they are responsible! the will hope you tire with their warrenty department and just fix it yourself. And then there is the people who work for the warranty department, good luck. They charge metropolitan prices but deliver doublewide service. All the excitement of a new home is lost dealing with their incompetenc. You should be able to give them a zero! They home itself is built well but the service is lousy. read more

We have been in our Schell Brothers forever home for 7 months and can honestly say they deliver happiness. It is not just a mantra for them, they mean it. The entire process was pleasurable and the team we interacted with is outstanding. Who says you can't buy happiness? read more

This company is by far the worst I've had to deal with. Once they get your money....good luck! The building of my home was above avg because I had a very good project mgr and I was in there checking on the house and giving him lists weekly. Others in my neighborhood (Bayside - North Haven) had a horrific build! Dealing with their customer svc folks is an absolute joke. They're married to an online (heartbeat) system that voids you actually having a conversation. Their subs that take care of list items don't show up most of the time, reschedule after you go online to say no one came (Schell staff has no idea they didn't show), work is shoddy at best. Only way you get stuff done right is to hire the subs and pay them yourself . Schells customer service dept simply deflects and gives excuses until they wear you down and you just give up on them. DO NOT BUY A SCHELL HOME, and if you do then please come to the North Haven Community in Bayside and knock on any door to get the real information. Fact is these guys just about own lower Delaware so they wash out the truth with their advertising campaigns. read more