Testimonials for Gulfwind Homes

Discover the magic we create. Read clients' testimonials for Gulfwind Homes and see why we're the leading luxury home construction company. Experience the difference firsthand.

Being a food blogger, my kitchen is more than just a place to cook—it’s where my passion comes alive. From the get-go, Gulfwind Homes got that. Right from my first meeting with Liz to brainstorming designs with Andrea, I felt they were as excited about my dream kitchen as I was. Working with Jimmy through the entire building process was a great experience.. It was clear he genuinely wanted our home to be everything we’d hoped for. Chad was a great addition to the staff and came in to make sure we were pleased with all the special touches. They always went the extra mile, making us sure we’d made the right choice with Gulfwind Homes. Now, every time I whip up something special on my dream range, I’m reminded of the care and personal touch Gulfwind Homes put into our kitchen. Big thanks to the whole team for making my vision come to life. Cheers to making Sunday Supper memories in our new home!🍳🏠

Isabel Reis Laessig

Working with Wendy Brandt and the Gulfwind Homes staff to purchase my villa surpassed any other past experiences I’ve had with such a major decision. I actually stumbled on the Dunedin villa by accident and was so impressed by the quality of the workmanship and the beauty of the unit itself that I put a down payment down in less than an hour after first seeing it. I’m now living in my new home and loving every minute of it. After two months, my punch list has two items on it, both minor. The construction is solid and there are so many finishing touches I overlooked until actually living in my home. The buying experience was easy and Wendy was great to work with. She was both knowledgeable and genuinely cared and addressed my concerns. You can’t go wrong with a Gulfwind home!

Barb E.

My husband Mark and I are going through the process of building a home in Creekview Estates, and are elated. Carolyn, and Andrea have made the process so easy and fun for us that I wanted to express our gratitude. We never anticipated building a new house again, but after months of looking at current neighborhoods in the area, and not finding what we were looking for, we discovered Creekview. Again, we both wanted to thank you for making this process move along so smoothly. We look forward to moving into this lovely home and neighborhood.

Cindie and Mark B.

Wonderful experience! I would recommend Gulfwind Homes to any one of my buyers.

Kristi P.

I have contracted for the purchase of Lot #21 in Brookside Villas and want to acknowledge Carolyn McKee and the people who work with her on making this one of the most enjoyable new home purchases I’ve made. This villa will be the eighth new build home I’ve purchased over the years. Carolyn has helped to make the entire transaction go so smoothly that it seems all I have to do is sit back and wait to move in. I’ve been impressed with the level of professionalism and detail that has gone into making sure the builder knows exactly what I want for my unit. I’m looking forward to the day I’ll be able to make this villa mine. Our family trusted our Gulfwind built home during Hurricane Irma to stay safe! Additionally, working with T.J. has been a total pleasure. T.J. is a professional who takes care of homeowners before and after the home is complete.

Steven R.

Our experience working with the Gulfwind Homes team has been absolutely outstanding. We were ready for our forever home but didn’t want condo living. This community met all of our requirements, one level, two car garage, maintenance free and great location near friends and family. This is a top notch team of professionals that met all of our expectations. Carolyn was most knowledgeable, professional and just a nice and fun person to get to know and like. She led us through a huge decision and her patience was never ending! She was always available to us and supported us every step of the way. When we met Don, we knew the construction would be in good hands. His experience and calm management style assured us we need not be concerned about the workmanship of our new home. Then we met Chris at the walk-through and again recognized this company clearly employees quality people who are determined to make the buyers experience a happy one. Thank you Gulfwind Homes for our beautiful new home!

Richard & Marcia G.

We love our new luxury villa in Clearwater. We bought the model as it was exactly what we were looking for! GULFWIND HOMES builds a quality home using superior products. My husband was previously in the construction business and he certainly appreciates how very well built these villas are. They are good construction with every attention to detail. Such a friendly, professional and knowledgeable staff, too. They truly love their job and it shows. Carolyn McKee was especially nice to work with. Whenever we had a question or concern she always addressed it promptly. Chris and Don were also always ready to assist. Their responsiveness was greatly appreciated! Thank you for an overall pleasant experience!

Joe & Peggy B.

Listen to what a customer said about buying a pre-owned Villas from a Gulfwind Homes Customer: Our home inspection was yesterday morning. The inspector said in his entire career, this is the only home he’s ever inspected that he couldn’t really find anything wrong. I think this says a lot about the homes you build at Gulfwind. We’re very excited and looking forward to moving into our new home in Largo. Thanks again.

David C.

GULFWIND HOMES … just say the name of this home builder and inevitably you will hear nothing but PRAISE, and HIGH MARKS. Year after year, GULFWIND HOMES has maintained the reputation of building the best quality-built home money can buy. My husband and I can say this with knowledge because we built 5 homes from ‘scratch’ and did 2 extensive remodels of existing homes. If you are seeking a builder that is highly organized, has perfect time scheduling; if you want a builder that shows flexibility in allowing customers to provide design input; if you want a builder that puts the homeowner on a pedestal, then make the choice and go with GULFWIND HOMES! We got to meet Liz Kraus, New Home Specialist, who is an unbelievable asset to the company. Liz was so on top of everything. She really is the ‘glue’ that keeps the ‘machinery’ working for Mike Willenbacher, the owner of the company. Mike is a top-notch professional who has much compassion for his customers. He runs an incredible operation. Mike knows how to pick the best people. Chuck Kiehm, who is the Construction Superintendent, was a delight to work with. He remembers everything you tell him, and follows through to the tee. Another crew member we met was Jeff, who was equally professional and patient with us. Andrea Fizell was our Design Consultant who is so knowledgeable about interior selections. We couldn’t have made the selections without her straightforward approach. Thank you GULFWIND HOMES for building our amazing home!

Barbara and Bill K.

We wish to express our gratitude and extreme satisfaction on the purchase of our new home. We couldn’t be more pleased with the entire purchase. If it wasn’t for Carolyn, the new home specialist, to begin our journey with, we wouldn’t have this beautiful home. She was instrumental in coordinating the sale and continued follow up. Her personality and professionalism and understanding of how a home should come together with layout, decorating, etc. is what drew us to the purchase. We were introduced by Carolyn to Don, the construction superintendent, who coordinated and oversaw the construction of the home. I have been in the construction business for 35 years and built many homes. It is a rarity to come across a superintendent with the knowledge and skill sets of the likes of Don. I checked on our home’s progress every week and there was never a time during the construction process that a discrepancy arose. Any questions or information we needed was immediately taken care of by Don. Along with Don, Chris who is Don’s assistant, oversaw all the finishing aspects, painting, tile, carpet, etc., and made sure that there was absolutely no question on the perfection of the work. Chris also went out of his way to help us in any way that was needed as far as getting moved in–getting utilities arranged and other fine aspects of new ownership. MIKE, THE OWNER, IS A FIRST-CLASS BUILDER WITH A TOP OF THE LINE PROFESSIONAL CREW OF CONTRACTORS. He and his crew who put a home up for us that we will live in for many years to come and we cannot say how grateful we are. It was one of the best experiences ever when it came to buying a new home. THANK YOU TO ALL — ESPECIALLY CAROLYN, DON AND CHRIS!

Terry and Norma S.

I just wanted to tell you both that it was a pleasure working with you two. Often times when working with a builder, it can be chaotic, but everything went smoothly on this transaction which was great. The buyers are thrilled with their new home and stated numerous times at the closing that they were happy that the process was so smooth from builder to mortgage, etc. Thank you!

Ryan F.

We can’t say enough about what a wonderful experience it has been to work with Carolyn, Don, Chris and the rest of the Gulfwind Homes Team on the purchase of our new home. There was never a question or concern we had that went unaddressed. Everyone we have encountered with Gulfwind Homes was efficient, professional and very personable. It has felt like we are a part of the Gulfwind Homes family with new relationships that I pray will continue into the future. Kudos Gulfwind Homes!

Cypress Villas, Margaret and David R.

This is the first time purchasing a home on my own. Carolyn McKee met with me many times and answered all of my questions. She is very patient, knowledgeable and no questions went unanswered. Gulfwind Homes has a great professional staff which also includes Don and Chris, always ready to assist! My first walk-through was last week and what a pleasure it was. Chris explained everything and I am looking forward to moving into my BEAUTIFUL new home very SOON. Thanks to everyone that made my new home purchase an enjoyable experience.

Margaret G.

Wanted to share our experience thus far with Carolyn McKee as we just signed our contract at Cypress Villas Lot #2! It has been such a pleasurable experience since the moment we walked into the model door a little over a week ago. She is very knowledgeable on all aspects of the process, options, and community. Carolyn has been very attentive to details and prompt with delivering answers to our never-ending questions! We have great excitement to move in this summer.

Jeff and Julie G.

The team at Pine Crest Villas has been nothing less than exceptional. Don and Chris are always willing to listen, answer questions and help whenever they can. As a local realtor, I was so impressed with what I saw during the construction and dealing with the sales team, my wife and I decided to buy in Pine Crest. I also invited two of my good friends to look at the community and they were impressed enough to buy a villa. Not very often do you get to pick your neighbors! Carolyn went out of her way to help us even meeting us on her own time at another Gulfwind Homes community so we could see the finished product as we bought before the model was completed. The decorating team was so nice in helping my wife with decorating ideas and colors choices. We are thrilled with our purchase and how beautifully the community has come together. I want to personally thank the entire team at Gulfwind Homes for a job well done.

Darrell B.

I hope that all of you are safe and sound from Irma this past weekend. I wanted to let you know that the house stood like a fortress against the storm and for that we are very grateful! It is solid as a rock. Thank you for that level of quality.

Donna W.

We did our final walk-through today and the house is simply beautiful.

Linda Z.

Our experience purchasing a Villa in Pine Crest Villas from Carolyn McKee: We have built a number of new homes over the years and now that we no longer need a 2-story home, discovered Pine Crest Villas. We were amazed that there was any new construction in Seminole and further delighted to discover Carolyn McKee at the site. We knew just what we wanted and Carolyn was great in showing us how we could maximize our “wish list” and soon we will move into our beautiful new home. (Once we saw the plans and initial work completed by Gulfwind, we knew these would sell quickly and made a decision to buy in just 7 days.) Carolyn is much more than just a sales person since she has had extensive construction experience and in addition to that is a genuinely nice/honest person to work with.

Charlie and Sandi R.

This is just to let you know how wonderful my experience has been purchasing a villa at Pine Crest Villas in Seminole Florida. If I had known how professional Carolyn was I would have bought a villa sooner. She has become more like a friend. She really is very professional and knows her stuff. Andrea is just great. She can really visualize what your selections will look like and will make great suggestions that you never thought of. I can not wait to move in!!!! Whoever reads this, do not hesitate to purchase a villa at Pine Crest. The quality is superior and Carolyn and Andrea are angels. Thank you for such a wonderful experience.

Mari C.

It has been a pleasure working with you all and you have exceeded my expectations at every turn. I am so grateful for your graciousness and expertise. I continue to be amazed at the speed and beauty of the improvements on the property. I’m the happiest woman in the world right now!

Felecia E.

Carolyn McKee is new home specialist for Gulfwind Homes. She is much more than a traditional Realtor. She is a contractor/builder herself and can explain things from a perspective that most traditional Realtors wouldn’t have. It is also nice to know that her son-in-law is the owner of Gulfwind Homes. It made me feel very comfortable that we were getting the real “inside scoop” on the development.

Mark V.

From the first moment I met Carolyn McKee and saw the models at Brookside, I knew that this was where Stan and I would be moving. The first night after I saw the Alston model, I mentally started to move our things into the home. I lost plenty of sleep moving furniture around in my head! The entire process was seamless. It flowed. Nothing we requested was too much and every question was answered quickly. This is our fourth new home and the experience was by far the best! We are happily moved into our new villa and loving every minute. Thanks to all of you. The move was a very positive experience.

Enid N.

I am closing on my new Villa at Brookside Villas (Lot # 23) tomorrow. It has been a pleasure to work with Gulfwind Homes throughout the build process. Carolyn McKee has been very professional from day one, and has worked closely with me to get me in the right location at Brookside. Being a single male, it has been especially nice to have a woman’s perspective on decorating and her help with selecting colors and add-ons has been exceptional. I also had the pleasure of meeting Michael Willenbacher, the President of Gulfwind Homes. He is proud of his reputation in the building industry and gave me assurance that I would be happy with the final product. Lastly, I want to thank Don Pierce, the Site Superintendent, who I worked with the last few months. I know I drove him crazy on occasion, as I was in the building industry for years and have a tendency to be somewhat demanding at times. To his credit, Don was professional throughout the process and stayed focused on his many responsibilities. Even through heavy rains and storms he worked diligently to stay on schedule. Now that we are coming down to closing, everything is coming together very nicely. Having been a Superintendent in the building industry myself, I understand the job and Don and Carolyn have earned my respect. Michael has put together a great staff at Gulfwind Homes.

Barry W.

I have contracted for the purchase of Lot #21 in Brookside Villas and want to acknowledge Carolyn McKee and the people who work with her on making this one of the most enjoyable new home purchases I’ve made. This villa will be the eighth new build home I’ve purchased over the years. Carolyn has helped to make the entire transaction go so smoothly that it seems all I have to do is sit back and wait to move in. I’ve been impressed with the level of professionalism and detail that has gone into making sure the builder knows exactly what I want for my unit. I’m looking forward to the day I’ll be able to make this villa mine. Thank you for having such a professional and friendly sales specialist on site to help with my purchase.

Linda F.

Carolyn McKee, Is an outstanding new homes specialist. Not only does she dress and look professional, but she is at all of the appointments on time. also, she is able to answer most of your questions and if she doesn’t know the answer she finds out and get back with you.

Anne N.

One year ago we stopped by a development of yours in Pinellas park and met Linda Kaspari. She was very polite and knowledgeable. We began discussing options and floor plans etc and advised her of our position at that time and said its ok. It takes time. She maintained contact with us and kept us up to date about the hidden preserve home sites. In April we went on a cruise and someone purchased the last site in that area while we were gone and we were very upset. Linda advised us she would keep us up to date about the second phase. Couple of months later we received an email from her and immediately pounced on it and began the purchase process. She demonstrated hands down the most patience as I have ever seen. She’s been extremely understanding that this is a first for us and we have asked her a lot of questions about everything regarding our home. It was been an absolute pleasure to work her and your company. Thank you very much for building the home of our dreams. We are extremely grateful and especially for Linda. She’s been amazing throughout the entire process.

Rick and Natalie G.

What an amazing experience creating our new home with Gulfwind was! All of the people with whom we worked were knowledgeable and experienced—and didn’t mind answering our questions! The entire experience– from our first meeting with the sales representative to the final walk through with the project manager—was wonderful. All of the professionals we met along the way were so skilled at their jobs and put those skills to good use in creating our home. And everyone is so happy to be working for Gulfwind which says more about this company than any testimonial. We are very thankful for these dedicated, friendly professional. Our new house has become the home of our dreams—– far exceeding our expectations.

Kathie and Patrick P.

During the process of building our new home, Linda Trautman has gone above and beyond her job with exceptional customer service. Linda’s primary focus is on her customer satisfaction. She is their biggest advocate. Her outstanding professional knowledge of building a home was our guiding light thru the entire process at all times meeting our wants, needs and concerns were her main objective. Linda’s ability to handle and solve problems and concerns were amazing. Over her long career as a new home specialist, she has an outstanding group of resources and contacts. So, when questions or problems arise she would get the answers and solve concerns quickly.

Grace B.

We have been working with Carolyn McKee on your new Brookside Villas project. When a company starts a new project such as this and nothing is on the site but some machines moving dirt how does a prospective customer evaluate your company? That responsibility falls upon the shoulders of your salesperson that is working out of her car because her sales trailer has not arrived on site yet. Your company can rest easy knowing that the person on that front line is Carolyn McKee. She has been able to answer all of our questions and explain the development process perfectly. We now have a deposit on one of the homes and we thank Carolyn for all she has done and look forward to working with her as the construction process continues.

Lou and Deb G.

I want to express my gratitude towards TJ Lawrence for being so helpful throughout our home build, and purchase, as well as after we moved in. He truly has been great.

Chris H.

Linda and Alisa, It has been great working with both of you too. Thank you so much.

Svante

Alisa, I just wanted to say thank you to you and Mike for all that you have done helping me with any questions and concerns I’ve had throughout my warranty period and well beyond it now! J You guys have been a pleasure to work with from day one and I never hesitate to mention you guys exclusively as my recommendation for a home builder! Thank you again!

Pete G.

Linda with Gulfwind has been amazing. She has been a true advocate to us and has assisted us above and beyond in every step of the process. We are grateful for her and the service she has provided.

Rick G.

I want to thank you both for such a positive, rewarding experience with our soon-to-be new home.

Kathie P.

I would like to say we had the best experience with Gulfwind Homes and their agents. We looked for a home for only a week when we attended an open house of Gulfwind homes. I knew as we walked in the door that this was it, the house I was searching for. The home was built very well, the design was amazing and the agent was very knowledgeable. Within a day we made an offer, it was accepted and we closed within one week. The team at Gulfwind Homes were extremely helpful at providing everything we needed to accomplish this in such a short time. I would highly recommend Gulfwind. We had a wonderful experience and are now enjoying our Florida home.

Cindy B.

The entire team over at Gulfwind Homes has been amazing to work with.

James C.

Gulfwind homes was very accommodating in addressing our wishes and making our house the home we wanted. Everyone we worked with went the extra mile & made themselves available more than we could have hoped for before, during, and even after the completion of our home. Thank you everyone at Gulfwind Homes!

Rodney and Mary Jo B.

Hi Alisa, I would like to take this time to thank you for the wonderful experience we had in choosing Gulf Wind Homes as our Builder. From start to finish your team made the process very enjoyable, the initials dealing with Michael, signing of the contract and communicating with Tony during construction made the whole process run very smooth. Your personal help in aiding us through the colour selection appointment was much appreciated. We found all your staff very easy to work with and available to answer any questions that we had along the way. We are very happy with our home and look forward to enjoying it. Thank You again.

Emilio R.

We couldn’t wait to write a testimony, and I’m sure we’ll have another raving review when all is completed! We couldn’t ask for a better home building experience thus far with Gulfwind Homes. The entire team has been very proactive and efficient in the initial stages of building. Mike and Linda have answered every question promptly and thoroughly! The design session with Alisa was a breeze with her guidance and patience. While we know they are building multiple homes, they made us feel as if we were their only clients and the house is just as special to them as it is to us. We can’t wait to continue this journey with them! So thankful to be working with y’all on this! It’s an answer to prayer as we’ve been lifting this lot up in prayer since we bought it, asking God to direct each step we take, and he directed us straight to your company! We are just so excited and grateful. Thanks for all your hard work on our behalf.

Lori and Trey

To our Gulfwind Homes family… You all are amazing! We could not be happier in our “Dream Home”. After spending months and month searching for the perfect “house”, we found our Dream “home” with Gulfwind Homes. Having the experience of building a home in the past with one of the nation’s Top 5 builders we could truly appreciate the Quality, Design, Upgrades and the Attention to Detail that goes into a Gulfwind home. We truly believe that Gulfwind Homes provides a better product with higher standards. Not to mention, the Amazing Customer Service that we have experienced throughout the entire process of purchasing our home. They truly care about their customers, their homes and keeping up the integrity of the community in which they build. We feel grateful to have found our “Dream Home” with Gulfwind Homes and we sincerely Thank you!

Nofal and Kim B.

Thank you Gulfwind Homes for our amazing new home. I must say that I was not looking forward to building a home but your entire team made it very easy and an enjoyable experience. All the research you did when I wanted something specific to actually changing the plan to make it work was amazing. The home truly “fits” us and our new Florida lifestyle. Nothing was left undone; your attention to detail was truly appreciated. In fact, when it was time for the final walk-through, TJ was pointing out things to me that had to be redone or changed which meant we had several walk-through’s before he was satisfied. Thank you again to the entire Gulfwind team!!

Jolyn and Mike S.

I wanted to thank each of you for working with me on building my home. When you boil this down, this really is a business venture but it never felt that way. Each of you did a great job of working with me from the first day that Jennifer and I looked at my home model through today. I’ve been in my home now roughly 30 days and it really is a great house in a great location. Every guest from friends to the cable guy all say the same thing, ‘You have a beautiful home.’ Thank you to each of you!

Pete G.

Gulfwind Homes provided an exciting, methodical, thorough, and personal approach to our custom home building experience. Everyone has heard of the nightmares that can accompany even the thought of new home build, but we can honestly say that our experience was extremely smooth. The reason can be boiled down simply to the passion and experience that both Mike and Tony have in the industry. I was kept apprised of every detail and participated in every decision throughout the project. Gulfwind Homes has an unvarying commitment to quality and will not compromise. They built my home as if it was their own and I know they are extremely proud of the result. We are certainly very excited with our new home and would irrefutably recommend Gulfwind Homes to build your home.

Waterfront Homeowner

Gulfwind managed our complex remodel and completely transformed our home. The project was carefully managed, sequentially inserting the right trade at the right time. The project moved at a solid pace and everyone took great care to clean up each day. Overall, our experience was fantastic, and we really could not be happier with the end result!

Ed and Paula R.

We are very happy with our Gulfwinds home. Tony was very helpful during the building process, and the post-closing support has been fantastic!

Justin and Amy

I continue to thank you for always responding to my requests so promptly – you’re amazing! It has been a pleasure working with you all and you have exceeded my expectations at every turn. I am so grateful for your graciousness and expertise. I continue to be amazed at the speed and beauty of the improvements on the property. I’m the happiest woman in the world right now!

Jolyn S.

Don and Chris have been very cooperative with everything I’ve asked of them and it’s been a pleasure dealing with Gulfwind Homes.

Lorraine S.

Great new home. Construction manager TJ has been engaged and responsive for all questions and made the move in and closing easy!

Charlie L.

We are very grateful to Gulfwind Homes. We bought the model of one of their Villas. We had a concern about the carpet in the bedrooms. Gulfwind did the correct thing and replaced our carpet. Our villa is beautiful and we are very happy there. We hope to enjoy many happy years there. We would highly recommend Gulfwind Homes. They are very understanding and helpful to work with.

Peggy and Joe B.

Masterful job by a great team of professionals from the front line superintendent to the office and design staff. Overseeing the process all along the way was a dedicated owner committed to excellence. The finished product is beautiful and was on-time and on-budget. Highly recommend Gulfwind for your next home.

David

I just wanted to send a quick email to share how grateful I am for my new home and all of the hard work you all did to make it happen. Your systematic approach and processes are so organized and impressive to me. I have worked with many builders in the past and have never experienced such organization. I want to thank you for the beautiful home that you built for me and for being so accommodating with me on timing. Due to all you did for me, I was able to get the whole house all set up before the holiday shut down and can now bring my family down next week for us to spend January and February at the house. I offered earlier and just wanted to again offer that I’m happy to assist in any way with reviews, reference to someone direct you would like me to talk to, marketing photos, or any other way I can help. Please know that the extra work that was done for me was not overlooked or didn’t go without extreme appreciation. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! Thank you!