Empire Home Remodeling
About us
Empire Home Remodeling, a turnkey Design/Build company, specializes in creating comfortable living spaces to fulfill your vision since 1992. Whether your goal is a single room or a complete remodel, we deliver high-quality projects that reflect your personality and enhance your lifestyle. Make your home more enjoyable. The quality is in the details for your kitchen, bath, media room, entry, home office, addition or complete remodel project. Additional phones - (800) 762-1178, (206) 391-8486 & (425) 487-2679. Additional contact name - Larry Lauer.
Business highlights
33 years of experience
Services we offer
Residential remodeling - architectural, and construction of additions, basements, engineering, interior design, kitchens and baths, master suites & handyman., media rooms, outdoor living spaces, permitting, whole-home remodels
Amenities
Free Estimates
Yes
Reviews
4.825 Reviews
| Number of Stars | Image of Distribution | Number of Ratings |
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| 88% | ||
| 8% | ||
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| 4% | ||
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Showing 1-25 of 25 reviews
Virginia W.
Nov 2015
unknown
Carla C.
Feb 2015
Perfectly! Finished a few days early despite finding water damage. They did a beautiful job.
Barbara N.
Feb 2015
Empire Home Remodeling performed all work exactly as contracted. There were no surprises. They never tried to inflate the project or my target budget. The subs that came to our house were on time, dependable, polite, professional, and trustworthy. In fact, for our most recent project, we were out of town and I felt confident to let the workers come and go as needed. If there were any areas that I thought did not work or were inadvertently missed, the workers came back promptly to address the situation without any haggling or added costs. Empire's work is guaranteed to please, and I have always been 100% satisfied. I used another contractor for a deck project once and later came to learn that they used fly-by-night electrical subcontractors to cut THEIR costs. Not my costs! I am still stuck with their shoddy work. Empire uses only the best subcontractors for its painting, plumbing, carpentry, and electrical work. If the client is not satisfied, either is Empire. I have read some reviews that mention cost and all I can say is that you get what you pay for. And your home is no place to cut corners. I have recommended Empire to several of my friends who got multiple bids for their projects and Empire was right in line with the bids from its competitors. I've also read a few reviews about availability and responsiveness to initial calls. Well, maybe you have to be a little patient but they will get back to you. After all, Empire is not a mega construction company. Two busy people cannot be everywhere at once. Personally, if a company is busy, it means to me that they are also successful. That works for me!
Chris B.
Feb 2015
Professional, trustworthy and caring, Empire Home Remodeling is a superb contractor in every way. We entrusted our home to owner Burke Barker, interior designer Jeanne Barker and the Empire team for three projects over the course of several years. After an extensive kitchen and living room remodel in 2009, we worked with Empire again in 2010 and 2011 on a stunning master bath remodel and outdoor deck/storage addition. The value of our home has increased dramatically with Empire's fine craftsmanship and attention to every detail; but, more importantly, we love our home because of the beautiful improvements made with the help of Burke and Jeanne. If you have a home remodeling project on the horizon, we highly recommend you call Empire. You won't find better partners -- or nicer people -- to make your home everything you want it to be!
Judy J.
Feb 2015
The entire team is very professional. Appointments were kept on time, the workers showed up like clockwork to do the remodel, and they kept the price to the agreed upon budget. Our kitchen has gone from a disaster to a dream. The decorator Jeanne is so very helpful and patient, she saw my vision for the kitchen upon our first meeting, and she improved upon my vision!
Bill our day by day lead contractor does wonderful work, and explained everything he was doing as we were going along. I felt very comfortable that everything was going to be perfect, and Empire made sure it is!
I heartily recommend Empire to anyone considering a remodel of any room in their home. We are going to use Empire to do our master bath next! If I could give out an A+ in all categories I would!
Bill our day by day lead contractor does wonderful work, and explained everything he was doing as we were going along. I felt very comfortable that everything was going to be perfect, and Empire made sure it is!
I heartily recommend Empire to anyone considering a remodel of any room in their home. We are going to use Empire to do our master bath next! If I could give out an A+ in all categories I would!
Kate K.
Feb 2015
Empire gave us fantastic service and results. Working with Focus on Design to completely revision our bathroom, Empire transformed our cold dark bathroom into a place of warmth and light. They met deadlines and budget expectations precisely. They work with true artists for all the finish work. Really appreciate the thought and energy that went into this project. This is the third major project they have done for us and we are very pleased. I highly recommend them.
Virginia W.
Feb 2015
I was thrilled with the remodel! This team of designer/contractor - husband and wife - are a perfect match. They had such vision - and the end result was a gorgeous master bathroom with top quality design and workmanship. Their staff has been with them for decades - which speaks volumes in itself. From day 1 they were prompt, always kept the area organized and clean, and finished the job in a timely manner, well within budget. I now have a beautiful master bathroom with new free standing tub, gorgeous cabinets, lighting and fixtures - all blended to enhance the existing travertine finishes. Both Burke and Jeanne Barker were delightful to work with - the type of quality individuals who will be your friends way beyond the finish of construction. Top quality within my budget - and I loved the results.
ElizabethBeth M.
May 2013
We got 6 bids-theirs was one of the lowest. I had several personal friends refer them, so gave them a try. Jeannie, the designer was fun to work with and both her and husband/owner Burke made it their mission to make sure we were happy. I always felt confident they would make sure things were right.
Each and every one of their subs were professional, prompt, took pride in their work and cleaned up after themselves each day. They were good at letting me know who would be here each day.
The project took longer than we originally expected, but I know that is more common than not when there are subs to schedule, suppliers you are counting on delivering on time and other customer's jobs being done at the same time. Perhaps the quoted time should have been longer.
The final price was $45 short of the maximum of the range quoted. I have also learned over the years (with any bid), that you should always expect the highest price and hope to be suprised if it comes in lower.
Overall, we feel we did accomplish our goal of updating the look. We feel confident we will see the house value improve when it comes time to sell and we are able to enjoy the new room in the meanwhile.
Each and every one of their subs were professional, prompt, took pride in their work and cleaned up after themselves each day. They were good at letting me know who would be here each day.
The project took longer than we originally expected, but I know that is more common than not when there are subs to schedule, suppliers you are counting on delivering on time and other customer's jobs being done at the same time. Perhaps the quoted time should have been longer.
The final price was $45 short of the maximum of the range quoted. I have also learned over the years (with any bid), that you should always expect the highest price and hope to be suprised if it comes in lower.
Overall, we feel we did accomplish our goal of updating the look. We feel confident we will see the house value improve when it comes time to sell and we are able to enjoy the new room in the meanwhile.
Andy L.
Jan 2013
We had reached out to several companies on Angie's List for estimates. We had met with 3 companies prior to Empire and had ok interaction with them all, but I did not have a confident feeling in them. The first initial meeting with Empire went great. They took full measurements, listened to what we were interested in and did not give us a quote then, but scheduled a follow up meeting. That is when we knew this was the company for us. They came with not just 1 but 3 different bids. First bid was higher than our budget, second bid was right at budget and the third was under budget. All were detailed with what was included and not.
They allowed us to remove and add options we liked from each bid and did a formal 4th bid! We met again and reviewed a very detailed review of the bid with a full project plan by day of the activities during the remodel.
From the moment we signed the bid to the day they came to complete the after work walkthrough we were so pleased with their service. Polite, professional and the work is perfect! They listened to all of our needs especially with the ventilating the house during demo. I have asthma and the slight amount of dust can make me very ill. We were up front with this and they accommodated everything for me. The house was spotless each day, ventilated and a summary of the day's work was always provided in writing.
Not only did we use Empire for our kitchen, but we asked them to come out again and remodel our full deck and they just completed a full bathroom remodel for us 3 months ago!
We have had rave reviews from our friends and family that have seen all 3 of our remodels from Empire. We even had a neighbor we have never met, come to our door on the weekend during our bathroom remodel to view our kitchen as he wanted to use them for his remodel.
I would highly recommend Empire to anyone looking for a remodel to their home; they made our house beautiful!
If we ever decide to remodel anything in our house again, there is no doubt in my mind we will choose Empire.
They allowed us to remove and add options we liked from each bid and did a formal 4th bid! We met again and reviewed a very detailed review of the bid with a full project plan by day of the activities during the remodel.
From the moment we signed the bid to the day they came to complete the after work walkthrough we were so pleased with their service. Polite, professional and the work is perfect! They listened to all of our needs especially with the ventilating the house during demo. I have asthma and the slight amount of dust can make me very ill. We were up front with this and they accommodated everything for me. The house was spotless each day, ventilated and a summary of the day's work was always provided in writing.
Not only did we use Empire for our kitchen, but we asked them to come out again and remodel our full deck and they just completed a full bathroom remodel for us 3 months ago!
We have had rave reviews from our friends and family that have seen all 3 of our remodels from Empire. We even had a neighbor we have never met, come to our door on the weekend during our bathroom remodel to view our kitchen as he wanted to use them for his remodel.
I would highly recommend Empire to anyone looking for a remodel to their home; they made our house beautiful!
If we ever decide to remodel anything in our house again, there is no doubt in my mind we will choose Empire.
Brian Z.
Jan 2012
It went extremely well. The communication is excellent and their project manager could not have done a better job. Their bid process was very thorough and everything was itemized. On time, on budget. The quality of the work was great. And they were very willing to work with us on changes. We are very happy with the final results and will definitely use them again. Working with Jeanne - Focus on Design was a tremendous compliment to the construction services of Empire. I would highly recommend and will use them again for other projects. They will bring complete integrity to your project.
Rick D.
Aug 2011
The preparation and work could not have gone more professionally. The owners of Empire and Focus on Design -Burke and Jeanne Barker - are wonderful, honest and very customer oriented people. It was no surprise to us then when Empire's lead on our job, Mike, was incredible to work with also. He was always concerned about the impact of the remodel on us and made sure we were kept well informed. The coordination of the subs went very smoothly and we are delighted with the result.
Lianne L.
Jul 2011
We are 1/2 through the remodel right now and so far so good! Very impressed!
August 3 / 2011 - They finished 3 days ahead of schedule!!! Larry went out of his way to accommodate my family's needs - when he found out that I had a "free" place to stay for 4 days if we schedule the work on the hardwoods up a couple of days - he made it happen which saved me form having to stay in a hotel. He makes sure that I am happy and that any questions I have are answered right away. All of the subs who have worked on this project have been nothing but courteous, professional and have done outstanding work for me. Empire has gone above and beyond my expectations - making sure all materials were delivered on time, cleaning up after each work day...
Empire has made my dream kitchen come true !!! Thank you from me and my family!
August 3 / 2011 - They finished 3 days ahead of schedule!!! Larry went out of his way to accommodate my family's needs - when he found out that I had a "free" place to stay for 4 days if we schedule the work on the hardwoods up a couple of days - he made it happen which saved me form having to stay in a hotel. He makes sure that I am happy and that any questions I have are answered right away. All of the subs who have worked on this project have been nothing but courteous, professional and have done outstanding work for me. Empire has gone above and beyond my expectations - making sure all materials were delivered on time, cleaning up after each work day...
Empire has made my dream kitchen come true !!! Thank you from me and my family!
Carl G.
Jun 2011
moisture ants were discovered having eaten into the siding of the house at one corner of the house near an external water faucet. The area was about 3x6 feet and extended around a corner. Thanks to the suggestion of the initial workman, I checked and found another area 12x3. After I agreed to the work only 2 days passed and the work was finished within 3 work days. Work was exceptional quality.
Linda S.
Apr 2011
The owner and his wife are the principles of the company. They did a good job with the project. They have fabulous work ethic and integrity. The wife Gennie Barker puts it all together with her wonderful designs. They are always on time and efficient, and are willing to work within your budget.
Gena B.
Apr 2011
The most impressive part of the project was that they completed it early, which is almost unheard of in this business. The subcontractors were reliable and trustworthy as well as efficient. The employees at Empire were responsive when any issues arose and friendly. They made a stressful situation as stress free as possible. I would highly recommend their work to anyone interested in a home build or remodel.
Lucy D.
Mar 2011
Many people talk about how awful a remodel is. Empire made it an enjoyable experience. They were excellent. We had ongoing meetings so staying involved and knew what was going on every step of the way. It was a major remodel six month and they made it easy. I have recommended them to many friend and will continue to do so. They are a quality company.
Carol R.
Mar 2011
Absolutely the worst experience I had ever had with a remodeling project. The project was to expand a first floor half bath into a full bath with a walk-in shower, which involved knocking out an exterior wall and building a 6'X4' extension (to accommodate the shower). The framing of the extension was not squared which threw off the interior floor tile and the shower tiles. Their first attempt at tiling the shower was atrocious . . . it looked like a kindergarden project with edges of tile pieces jutting out at various angles. After demanding that they redo the shower from the studs out (they had also placed the water barrier for the shower incorrectly), they relented and finally did so. They also were finally able to find someone who could lay the floor tile so that it wasn't obvious that the extension was not squared. The whole project took 6 months, which was far longer than it should have taken, especially during the summer. And I agree with not using their "designer", who is the contractor's wife. I ended up picking my own wallpaper and having it installed. After the project was completed, the foreman told me that the guy who did the work on the framing had been fired for being drunk on the job. No wonder everything was poorly done. If it hadn't been for my vigilance in watching every stage of the process, I'm sure I would have had a disaster on my hands now (for example, they were going to place the plumbing for the shower on the exterior wall . . . who does that when there's a chance for freezing temperatures?).
Response from Empire Home Remodeling
"To all of the wonderful Angies List members: My Company, Empire Home Remodeling, has been a Design/Build Residential Remodeling Contractor in the Seattle area for nearly 18 years. I would be the first to acknowledge that we are NOT perfect. We occasionally make a workmanship mistake or hire the wrong employee or subcontractor. We are not infallible! But, I will also insist that when there is an issue or problem with one of our projects or clients, we address it immediately and remedy it as quickly and expeditiously as possible. It the case of the recent negative report (which, by the way, involved a project nearly 4 years ago!), we/I hired an employee who turned out to be undesirable and I admit my personal error in judgment. Most importantly, he was dismissed, his work was corrected, and the project was completed. Only recently did I learn, through the Angies List Report, that our Client was very dissatisfied. I take full and complete responsibility for the operational irregularities and publicly apologize to our Client. Fortunately, our Clients, with few exceptions, are ecstatically pleased with the process and with the final product. We will continue to stand by our excellent reputation for exceptional workmanship and superior personal service. Our employees and subcontractors are all representatives of our Company and are expected to demonstrate not only excellent craftsmanship, but unequalled courtesy and respect. As a testimony to our endeavor to achieve total Client satsifaction, we have many repeat Clients and many who have become our personal friends. We have completed three projects for one Happy Family in the past one and one-half years! Additionally, with the completion of every project, we send a Client Survey to each of our Clients for their input in an effort to improve our service to our future customers. I will always regret the misfortune of having the unhappy customer/Angies List Member and do hope that we will have an opportunity to somehow demonstrate that that poor experience was an anomoly. I personally welcome inquiries about our capabilities, our performance over the past 18 years, and am delighted to share our experiences with so many customers. Burke G. Barker President 206 391 8486"
Clark H.
Feb 2011
Project was handled effectively from early estimates through the planning, scheduling, and the actual work. A rather tight schedule of 8 weeks for the construction was adhered to, and cost was exactly on target. Clean up every night was exceptional and dust was kept to a minimum. The completed work exceeded our expectations. We would recommend Empire Remodel to anyone considering a new kitchen.
Jerry Z.
Oct 2010
It went very well overall. Don't use the designer (owner's wife).
ROSEMARY B.
Jun 2010
Burke Barker, the owner, is a professional to the core! He completed a detailed bid, arranged for all subs, and had an outstanding employee, Mike, who made sure all of the details were completed. We would happily hire Empire in the future!
Gena B.
Apr 2010
The project went extremely well. The house was completed on time and we had a very tight time table. The project was also within budget even with multiple changes made a long the way. The laborers were polite and professional and well as timely. Empire made this stressful process as stress free as possible.
Lucy D.
Mar 2010
Excellent quality work. On time. On budget.Wonderful experience.
Dennis O.
Aug 2009
We had a very good experience. It took a little bit longer than expected but the quality was good and the follow-up was good as well. We had some problems with the hot water dispenser in the kitchen and they replaced 2 of those for us at no cost.
LINDA S.
Jan 2009
I told them what I wanted and they made it into a reality. I had no plans. They helped me decide where to put my table so they could put in the pendant light that hangs down. They took our furniture out while they were remodeling and put it in a pod outside we had rented. When they were finished they put it back.
LINDA S.
Jan 2009
They took the ideas from our interior decorator and they turned it into a reality. They were clean and they cleaned as they were working several times a day. They also put up plastic barriers. My house was cleaner than I left it. They worked with me and were very helpful in placing our wall. Our project manager was extremely responsive and reassuring. They wanted the job done to my satisfaction and checked in with me almost everyday. The mason they used has the soul of an artist. He was extremely neat as well, and came with a large tarp so none of the grit from him cutting would get on to the patio. They worked with me on the price. I am planning on using them again and would and have recommended them to others.
Licensing
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FAQ
Empire Home Remodeling is currently rated 4.8 overall out of 5.
Yes, Empire Home Remodeling offers free project estimates.
No, Empire Home Remodeling does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
No, Empire Home Remodeling does not offer a senior discount.
No, Empire Home Remodeling does not offer emergency services.
No, Empire Home Remodeling does not offer warranties.