Gander Builders

We thoroughly enjoyed our interactions with Gander, being Jarrett, Sue and Steve throughout the process. From the design phase and bringing new and fresh ideas to pushing us to consider features we may not have contemplated to providing constructive feedback to the process, it could not have gone better. Jarrett did an outstanding job keeping our timeline on track and navigating the inevitable items that come up during any construction. Sue did great work in helping us choose selections that make our home feel like our home and Steve was there to help us whenever we needed him to step in or had a question. Thanks again to them for helping us build our dream home!

If you are looking to build a new home, or renovate existing home, there’s no need to look any further than Gander Builders. Not only are they great to work with, but their craftsmanship and attention to the smallest of details is incredible as well. My wife and I came across Gander Builders simply by riding around town and looking at houses. We noticed all the houses that we thought were absolutely beautiful turned out to be built by the same construction company! When Steve and his team came in to finish our renovation project, we immediately clicked. Their level of communication were refreshing to say the least. The expertise and ideas they brought to the table. We’re also game changing for us. We love quality higher end finishes, and after showing Steve a few examples of what we are looking to accomplish, they took that and turned the final product into something beautiful. We have a much bigger plans for our home over the next few years and we look forward to working with Gander, Steve and his team again!

When we found a lot to build for the first time, I knew I wanted to use Gander, after admiring other projects I have scene completed by them. In meeting them they were great to work with and we began the process of designing our forever home. We have been in our new home for a few months now, and we just love it. The extra care in detail is amazing. Working with Sue through the whole design process was awesome. She truly helped me in ways that I would never have been able to do on my own. Our family is so very happy in our new home and we cannot thank the Lecas family enough for all of their care and love they put into making our Dream home a reality. As, so many of our friends call our house a resort type home... It truly is a piece of serenity that we enjoy as a family!

The Gander Builders team infuses creativity, craftsmanship, cooperation, and care into all of their building projects, no matter how big or small. Their unique homes stand the test of time in their construction and design. Our family is so happy with our home, and the kind, efficient and dependable Gander team!

We recently had the good fortune to work with Steve, Sue and Jarrett and came away beyond impressed - they really are remarkable at what they do! They helped us take a sketch and turn it into the home of our dreams. They're upfront, ethical, honest, creative and go above and beyond to exceed expectations. When you work with Gander you don't get a General Contractor, you get a family you can trust that is dedicated to what they do and a true partnership throughout the process - and in our case we feel we're walking away with a lasting friendship! Our project was On Time, On Budget and couldn't be happier with the finished product. Stop researching other builders and just call Gander!

For years I had been thinking about build a garage that looked more like a carriage house. After almost two years of research and talking to a few builders, I finally met Steve and was instantly comfortable that he would bring my vision to life. Not only was Steve able to bring it to life, but his own vision and guidance helped me to build a beautiful garage that very much took on the personality of a carriage house , just as I had imagined it and even better. Many of my neighbors have commented on how beautiful it is, and some even asking what it was since it very much looks like a small premium home versus a garage. This is exactly how I had imagined it and I am confident all other builders I had spoken with would not have been able to deliver the way Gander did. Steve and Jarrett took on the project just as the COVID lock downs started and while that offered unique challenges in labor, materials and coordination, Steve and Jarrett managed the project and never compromised the quality of the final product. I am confident most other builders would have let me down, not Gander, I am very pleased with the outcome and how they handled the project from start to finish. I would recommend them to anyone building a garage, home or other dwelling if you want a quality job at a fair and honest price. These guys are great!

If your looking to hire a contractor I'm not sure why you'd look anywhere else. Gander Builders has an outstanding portfolio but what makes the company stand out above all else is the family behind the business. Steve, Sue and Jarrett are just phenomenal people who are hard working, honest, creative, talented and above all else, ethical. Their vision and creativeness are pretty special as they are always coming up with ideas and then explaining the theory behind them. I cannot express how happy we are with the way everything turned out especially with all the restrictions that Covid placed on Steve and what he had to deal with. It's just a nice feeling when people walk into your house and say "Wow, we've never seen anything like that before!" I can tell you this.......Once your home is finished you do lose your contractor, but you also gain 3 lifelong friends!

Gander Builders were amazing to work with. The entire process was fluid, and the design expertise and support that is included is an absolutely invaluable part of the process. Steve and Sue saw our vision and then exceeded our expectations. Quality work, finest craftsmanship, honest pricing, attention to detail, everything you will want! They really are an unmatched, experienced, friendly, family-oriented team that delivered our dream home and more! We are so grateful we chose to work with Gander!

The trinity of a Gander Builders of Frankfort cannot be surpassed. Steve Sue and Jarrett Lecas give their all in every aspect and detail of the homes they design and build. I have met with other high caliber builders of Frankfort, although they did not meet the expectations of what was delivered to us by Gander. I laughed the first time Steve rattled off a quote “What’s good for the goose, is good for the gander.” I can now truly appreciate what this means, and the pride of build he puts into every home, to continue to make our community great. The choice is simple, Go with Gander! Peter Keorpes

We were in the process of talking with another builder and things were not going well. We contacted Steve and Sue Lecas of Gander Builders and never regretted our decision. Their ideas for the house that would end up being perfect for our lot in the Frankfort Historic District were incredible. With red brick, stone porches, and black paned windows, it is a brand new house fitting beautifully into a neighborhood of century old homes. Sue Lecas is so easy to work with and I really enjoyed the time we spent working together on the house. She made it very easy to sort through all the selections that give the house it’s unique look. Make a suggestion about something you would like, and Sue will make it better. Her suggestions and designs are outstanding! Not to be left out of the process of course is Steve Lecas! His energy and enthusiasm for his work - actually his art - is contagious. So many good ideas, and they come rapid fire. He is a builder, a designer, an engineer, an artist. And that’s what it takes to build a Gander home. We could not be happier with our new home. If you have the opportunity to build a Gander home, grab it! You will never regret your decision.

We have been following the developments of Gander Construction for years. Each time we told ourselves we couldn’t afford his prices. It wasn’t until after building our fourth brand new home by other builders that we finally realized that “we deserved owning a Gander Home”. We finally purchased the new townhome in the Historical District of Frankfort. It was the best decision we ever made and wondered why it took so long. The craftsmanship is beyond words. Every upgrade is the top of the line!!! It doesn’t even feel like a townhome. It is much larger than any of the other homes we’ve owned. There is no comparison of the quality that Gander provides! In Steve’s book, “Building a Quality Custom Home”, he dedicates his manuscript to the ultimate home he ever had the honor to build; his family. Steve Lecas is so grounded in his faith that he transforms himself into this “Einstein of the one of the elite builders in Illinois”. Steve has a gift. He has found his calling. His vision creates the blueprint of his imagination. His family supports his efforts by their contributions which transcends into an ultraistic masterpiece! Trusting a builder is the number one priority. Steve Lecas is a man of his word! His work ethics are true, superb, and promising. He was receptive to our ideas and he always followed through on every request. His team of construction experts enhance the total design. Making a decision to purchase a home is overwhelming and frightening. After our initial meeting with Steve Lecas, we knew we were in good hands. We told ourselves we deserved the luxury of living in the top of the line construction. Thank you Steve and Gander Construction for allowing us to live in one of the most incredible homes we could never have imagined. Your innovative concept and designs place you at the top of your game. Keep building and following your passion! Riemma/Reidy June 2019

I have only the highest recommendation with respect to Gander Builders. We are nearing the end of building a Colorado style home in a Frankfort, Illinois. The entire project has been smooth and a ton of fun. Steve and his wife, Sue, who is the designer- are meticulous in every aspect of the project. Every design element has been perfect and I always have Sue’s help and advice on every decision we make. Steve is also extremely creative and is always coming up with original ideas. They both treat my new house as their house and nothing makes them happier than when my husband and I get excited about a new element that’s just been completed. They are happy to get involved with a number of things that were not in the original contract and that is so appreciated. We are going to finish the house AHEAD of schedule and we can’t wait to move in. If you want a house that is original, of the highest quality and workmanship and a builder you can completely trust- then Gander Builders would be an excellent choice!

It was love at first sight the moment we arrived in our Gander home almost 10 years ago and we love it just as much today. The unique character, fine details, and quality of construction of our one-of-a-kind home stood out among all the other homes we toured before purchasing. Steve Lecas truly has a passion for building and design, consistently innovating while creating timeless masterpieces. It is always an absolute joy to tour Gander home and even better to live in one.

Gander Builders did an exceptional job helping to design and build our house. Gander Builders guided us in a different direction as to the design of our house from what we originally had in mind and we could not be happier. Gander was very good at listening to our thoughts about what we liked and disliked and was honest if he thought we were not making a good decision regarding design. The quality of the construction was excellent. Gander was honest about the cost of the project and was up front in letting us know that the final number would likely be over the initial estimate - which it was. The project was completed within a reasonable time period and not much longer than originally estimated. Lastly and most importantly for the two years i worked with Gander Builders between the design phase and construction phase i always knew i could trust him.

If you want to build your dream house, look no further than Gander Builders. Steve and his team are wonderful to work with. My wife and I had previously lived in a Gander home, so we knew the quality of the home they build and the support you get long after the home is built. The entire process was extremely positive and ON TIME!!!!! Steve, Sue and team make this an incredibly personal experience, and the end result is a high quality, truly custom built home in every possible way. There were so many times throughout the process that our design changed due to recommendations from their team, and we couldn't be happier with the results. It didn't feel like we were working with a builder, it felt like we were collaborating with a partner. It's great to know that they will stand behind the work they did. They didn't build us a house, the built us a home that we are extremely proud of. If you are looking for a truly custom and enjoyable building experience, then I would recommend Gander Builders. I know that if I ever move again, Steve and his team will be involved in our hew home.

First time building a home and Steve and the Gander Builders team made the whole process from start to finish a great experience. They were very transparent, we were able to track progress and invoices on-line which made it very straightforward - our home was completed earlier than was originally expected and was on budget - no surprises. Gander did a wonderful job turning our vision into reality. After spending some time living in the home now, it is evident the amount of passion and craft that went into the house and the quality of work speaks for itself - truly a dream home!

We were so happy we used Gander Builders. The attention to detail and quality far surpassed expectations. Steve and Sue Lecas were an excellent team and helped guide two novices in home building. They were quick to respond to any concerns or questions we had. If you just want to build a house, maybe Gander isn't for you. If you want to build your dream home, you should call Gander Builders.

Steve was great to work with. My husband and I had followed quite a few of his projects but it wasn't until we actually hired him as our general contractor that we realized what high quality work he did. We were very impressed with the quality of our project (we had already built 2 homes in the past). Steve was always honest with us, considerate in meeting our needs and wishes for our new home. Those that he works with are also high quality in both work ethics and product. Thanks Steve for making this a great experience.

My husband and I had purchased a beautiful one of a kind home. The home itself is truly a one of a kind masterpiece built to utter perfection, so when we received the news from the inspectors that there was a major issue regarding some structural issues with the back balcony surrounding the back of the home we were utterly shocked. We knew we wanted the house but little did I know how much stress we would have trying to find just the right person to remedy the issue. I knew I couldn't call just anyone. I had to call someone with the expertise and knowledge on how to tackle our difficult construction debacle. Then one morning while sitting in my kitchen it hit me, I'll call Gander Builders. I knew of this builder because I have toured many of his homes over the years. His attention to quality and detail are of utmost importance during the designing of his custom homes. When I contacted Steve he came over immediately!!! When I say immediately I mean literally after hanging up the phone he was at my home. Although the project was extremely difficult Steve could sense my anguish and frustration and he knew he was the one who could remedy our issue. Although the layout of our 15,000 square foot home did not allow for practical construction processes such as large dumpsters for debris removal Steve did not skip a beat. His construction crew literally removed the debris by hand , carrying it up piece by piece!!! We were utterly floored by the work ethic and professionalism of Steve and his crew. Construction lasted a few months but I was never inconvenienced and it couldn't have gone any better. Other than your typical weather delays if there was a problem I never really knew it because Steve worked endlessly to solve any unexpected issues and the project continued. I cannot describe the relief of having a major structural defect in our home corrected by someone I would use again and again without hesitation. Not only is Steve an outstanding builder but he is an extremely wonderful human being. He is extremely genuine and when he tells you something is going to get done, it gets done quickly. He's a man of his word and I would never use anyone else in the future. I would highly recommend Gander Construction for all of your building needs. The results will always be beyond your expectations and will get done with the professionalism that is top notch in the industry. My family and I thank you for making our home whole again and it's absolutely Spectacular!!!!! Dan and Kimberly Bresingham

Gander Builders was a very honest and professional company. Our house was finished almost exactly on time (factoring in weather delays) and was pretty much on budget. I would definitely recommend Gander to friends and would use them again if we were to build another house. I really appreciated how involved they were throughout the entire process and provided us with numerous great suggestions for the house.

I highly recommend Steve at Gander Builders. His professionalism, knowledge, creativity, patience and most of all, passion for building homes set him far apart from other builders we interviewed. We knew that we would be in good hands with Steve and that he would be able to build us a home that was truly unique. People always asked us if we were stressed building a home but I can honestly say Steve made the entire process of building a custom home enjoyable and fun. He helped us through the entire process, from putting us in touch with the right people for a loan to working with us to design the house and blue prints. He was always available to answer any questions or concerns we had and handled any changes that came up in stride and with the utmost professionalism. His wife Sue, an interior designer, was an incredible resource and helped us pick out the right finishes and colors. Once again, we cannot recommend Gander Builders highly enough. Steve takes a lot of pride in his work and it shows in the beautiful houses he builds. If we were to restart the entire process of building a home, we would choose him again in a heartbeat. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

We have had the best experience with Gander builders! We are in the process of building a custom home with them and their expertise exceeds all of our expectations. They help us come up with brilliant ideas to make our new home truly unique! So happy we decided to work with them.

My wife and I would highly recommend Gander Builders and more importantly, Steve Lecas to anyone that is looking to build or renovate a home. As first time home buyers/builders, we started working with Steve in March of 2014 to build our dream home and he definitely delivered! We worked with him through finding a lot, designing the house, financing and finally in April of 2015, breaking ground and building through November 2015. A wonderful extra touch was his wife Sue, who has a great design eye and helped us in picking interior finishes. The best part of working with Gander Builders is the pride that they take in the work and final product. It was evident that Steve was truly committed to building a phenomenal house, acting as a trusted advisor whose honest opinion we always valued. He helped to bring new ideas and elements to the house that we never would've thought of, but we are so happy we trusted his recommendations. At all times they were patient, professional and very responsive to all of our needs. They spent countless hours working to guide us through a very difficult & stressful process to help us build a house that we love so much we never want to leave!

My wife and I just finished building our dream home with Gander Builders and cannot praise owner Mr. Steve Lecas enough for helping us achieve this exciting task. A relationship that actually began almost 2 years before breaking ground, Mr Lecas helped us in every phase of the build from local advice, design detail, and of course actual construction of the home. Throghout then entire build, Mr Lecas stuck to a very detailed schedule and kept the communication lines open the entire time, all the way up to finishing the home one month ahead of schedule while keeping to his unique style and maticulous work ethic! One will not find a more thorough, detailed driven, and schedule oriented builder than Steve Lecas and Gander Builders. 5 stars is not enough!

If there was a choice of 10 stars , that's what I would choose! I never thought remodeling your house could actually be an enjoyable process let alone being an amazing experience! Gander builders make sure that everything you wished your home could be becomes a reality !

Steve Lecas at Gander Builders built us an absolutely beautiful home. I'll let him post the pics of his work, but we are the Oregon St. project and we are thrilled with with our choice of builders. We were first introduced to Gander Builders at another one of there other homes. The location was not right for us, but we where so impressed with the attention to detail. Steve had another project that was 3-4mnths away from being move in ready that he recommended to us. For the most part we got out of Steve's way. He has some design ideas that looked great. We picked out a few things on houzz we liked. We asked for some changes, he was honest and upfront with cost and time frame. Steve made the process enjoyable and we easy to work with. Finally you know you have a great builder when everyone you speak to has great things to say about him. We recently called the village office regarding some typically move items, they ask who our builder was, the women on the phone sighed and said "I know you have a beautiful home, Gander is the best." Same experience recently at the car dealership. "Who was your builder" Gander, "he is excellent." These where unsolicited comments made by people in the community. I 100% would recommend Gander Builders to any friend or family member. Please feel free to contact me for more information.

Steve Lecus helped us renovate three different projects over the last six years. We absolutely loved his recommendations. They are still classic. Each project was on budget. Steve offered an array of ideas for each project and worked well with our needs and plans for future renovations. His colleagues who came in to handle the work were wonderful to work with. Most importantly, we trusted Steve for his input and expertise. We recommend Gander for any future renovations.

Steve did a complete kitchen renovation (including taking out walls) as well as hard word floors and complete door and trim replacement on the entire first floor. Work was performed on time and with the highest quality. Steve provided me with a detailed timeline was always available. His wife assisted with the tough decorating decisions that I just couldn't conquer alone. I would recommend Gander Builders to future clients.

We came across this Gander Builder's home in Frankfort's Historic District as it was under construction. We inquired and met Steve Lecas. Within 24 hours, we knew that this home, which hadn't gone much further than being framed in, was the perfect house for us. We knew what we wanted and are quite knowledgeable about the home building/design process. We gave Steve plenty of ideas and he was very open to all of our suggestions and implemented many new techniques/products at our request, many for the first time. He brought lots of ideas to the table, too, and approached the job with enormous enthusiasm. It was a partnership that thrived on creativity, which was only limited by the budget. Clearly, Steve Lecas loves what he does. We couldn't be happier with our dream home. We took the rough house that Steve started, added in our own touches and now, it is perfect.

Steve Lecas is wonderful to work with. He listened to our ideas and found ways to make them happen. Most importantly, we really appreciate Steve's passion throughout the project to help our dream home become a reality. While our house is brand new, if feels like a home. Someplace we were always meant to be. My husband and I would highly recommend Gander Builders!

Gander Builders does amazing quality work, and unique designs that fit in with the architecture of the surrounding neighborhoods. Steve goes so far beyond and above what is expected that it is unbelievable. Their houses and service are truly unique.

Steve renovated my rooftop deck and 3season room. I am very satisfied with the High quality work him and his guys did. Very professional down to earth good guys. I would not hesitate to recommend him to any of my friends and family. Steve paid very close attention to the job, and came on site everyday. Communication and response time was exemplary. I will use gander builders again without doubt.

We are proud to partner with Steve and the team know as Gander Builders! Ever since we began working together, the connection is more than work; it's personal! That is how Steve works well with his clientele and those working to provide his vision and his customer's dream come to reality!

Steve is an amazing builder for custom projects. He holds your hand and makes sure your every wish is realized! Not only has building our custom home not been stressful, it's been fun! Our home is so unique and amazing that it's not even complete and we've received offers to buy it !

Our company has been supplying and installing custom millwork for Gander Builders for the past 10 years. It is always a pleasure to be involved on Steve's projects, they are always very detailed and well thought out. The final product is always unique and something that all involved with can be proud of. We have been in business for 18 years and many images from Gander Builders projects are in our top 10 portfolio. Tim Pecho Westlawn Construction Inc.

Steve Lecas of Gander Builders was the General Contractor we chose to build our custom home. ( http://ganderbuilders.com/homes/french-contemporary/ ) We were so happy with him and each of his sub-contractors that, when the time comes, we will use Gander on our next project. Steve's integrity, customer service and communication, attention to detail and design, high energy, and overall passion for building made the experience thoroughly enjoyable.

Steve is top-class. He hand-held us through the entire building process. Steve impeccably planned our project in close collaberation with us, which allowed the entire project to be laid out - including costs - before a shovel touched the ground. Steve's proactivity in bringing new, creative and interesting ideas to our project was inspiring. Steve asks probing questions and continuously challenged us to be open minded during the entire planning process in order to facilitate a great outcome. Once the building phase was underway, Steve adhered to preestablished deadlines and made himself continuously available on short notice in order to discuss or redirect elements of the process. Once complete, Steve continously checked on us multiple times many months after our move in date and remedied/troubleshot routine/non-significant items that are natural parts of the post-building process. Steve takes pride in his work. In addition, Steve is a very active member of the community in which he builds in which adds serves to add to his committement, reliability and pride that he takes on the project. We highly recommend Steve as a builder and we would be pleased to show people our house as evidence of his good work.

My wife and I were relocating to the Midwest at the time, looking at homes on the market. We had looked at over 80 homes. Once I walked into the recently finished Gander Builder home, I knew it was the one. The quality and appearance of the home is exceptional. Visitors continue to comment on how they like the design, quality, and functionality of the home. Steve Lecas stood behind his workmanship, completing all outstanding items within the home after closing. http://ganderbuilders.com/homes/tranquility/

Excellent to work with, knowledgeable, honest and willing to work with the customer. Steve does quality work and has fantastic ideas when it comes to design. He and his crew are true craftsmen. Gander Builders have restored our 100 year home as well as adding a three season room and a covered patio. This was all done seamlessly, blending with perfection with the original lines and architecture of our house. We wholeheartedly recommend Gander Builders for what ever size project you have in mind!

I hired Gander Builders to be Project Manager for the build-out and equipment installation for my dry cleaning plant. Steve Lecas inherited a difficult situation but successfully navigated through any and all obstacles to complete the job. He's very adept at working with all contractors and can handle all type of personalities. I would definitely recommend Gander Builders for any project.

We worked with Gander to build our first custom home and really enjoyed the experience. They helped us enjoy what was a big and therefore stressful project. They listened to our requests throughout the project, but also weren't afraid to push back if they thought we may regret something we were asking for. We were very happy with the final product and I have done some follow-up custom projects with them as well.

Gander Builders was an exceptional choice for our custom home. Steve Lecas was extremely generous with his time during lot selection and the design process. During construction, Steve was incredibly responsive, oversaw every detail, inspired and encouraged creative ideas, and was always positve; he never cracked under the pressure we put on him. Steve's wife, Susan, was especially helpful in filtering for us the abundance of design choices and selections that go into a custom home. We could not have devoted the time to the selection and design process without Susan's tireless assistance and artistic input. The result of Gander Builders' work: a home that meets our needs and warms our hearts. Steve and Sue really created a work of art for us to live in, unique to us.