We’re family-owned and our values are, too.
A properly executed remodel project is an experience that you and your family will remember, savor and cherish for a lifetime. Hence, our mission: To provide value, comfort and convenience for our clients through personal, caring service and an award-winning remodel process.
As an established San Diego North County business since 1993, we have served and improved the homes of thousands. Our reputation as a community involved, professional and responsive organization continues to drive us toward our goal of being the standard by which all others in our local industry are measured.
If you want a custom remodel experience with the personal service and quality that can only be achieved by strong values and thoughtful craftsmanship, let us know. We love what we do and I know you will, too.
Find out how our values translate into a superior remodeling experience »
Learn more about why our clients trust their homes to us »
Meet Sheen Fischer
Owner & Founder of Specialty Home Improvement
Don’t try to reconcile the face with the Irish-German name. Lot’s of Sheens in the Limerick area you know, and that “c” in the middle of Fischer, well it doesn’t get any more German than that, does it? Really, I grew up a poor Chinese boy in the panhandle of Florida and bayous of South Louisiana.
The beautiful white sandy beaches of Ft. Walton Beach, Florida are always a welcome sight when we visit and the bon homme and beautiful bayou country of Houma, Louisiana holds a special allure for me, as they do for anyone who has ever fished, crabbed, trawled, hunted or simply boated through the waterways and levees of one of the more primitive, beautiful regions in our great country. After high school and a couple of years welding in the oilfields, I joined the United States Marine Corps, and had a great time traveling with stints in Korea, Japan and throughout the Pacific. I ended up in San Diego and I’m still here!
Fun Things I did in the U.S.M.C.
- Competed on the 11th Marines Competition Rifle Team
- Helped build an orphanage in Korea
- Shot down an RC plane with a .50 caliber machine gun during training
- Traveled and ate…a lot!
- Attended the BOOST program
- Attended the Naval Academy Prep School
- Made life-long friends
Post Marine Corps, Pre-Wife
After the Marine Corps, I rebelled. Yep, I did what a lot of young men do after years of hard, disciplined service. I worked hard at being un-disciplined. From driving big-rigs and tow-trucks to selling pots and pans and even ink pens. I had some fun and worked to pay the bills. Heck, I was even held up at gunpoint at 2:30 a.m. while working graveyard shift at a convenience store. Then I met my wife, and things changed.
30 Years & Counting
Dee and I have been together 32 years and married for 28 of them now. Our two children, Marshal and Quincy, have graduated college and are working to learn the family business. We travel, we’re foodies and, all at the same time, we love to just hang around the house watching movies and reading, especially on the rare cloudy and rainy days we get in Southern California.
Hobbies & Interests
Divemaster…exploring the underwater world and helping others do the same
Martial Arts…2nd degree Black Belt, Kenpo
Guitar & Ukelele
Golf…it’s a real love/hate relationship
Archery…regular Chinese Robin Hood
Reading…historical novels for fun, business and leadership for continued education
Writing…blogging, newsletters, remodel proposals
Eating…a real foodie with the waist line (and a blog) to prove it!
Camping…love the desert, mountains and beaches of SoCal!
Dirt Bike Riding…goes hand in hand with camping
Surfing…yeah, more enthusiastic than good at this one
Defining Moment/Person in My Life
If any of us thinks hard enough we will be able to define that one person, sentence, word or even gaze that we may never forget and that has an impact on us for life. For me, it was Marine Corps Sgt. Bill May.
Sgt. May was my supervisor at my first duty station in Iwakuni, Japan. He was a good Marine and a nice guy. Every day at the end of the work day, he used to gather all of his young Marines around him and ask one question, “What did you learn today?“. He would explain that even if we only learned ONE new thing per day, that would still add up to thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of new things over a lifetime.
Well, I have to admit, I don’t count the new things I learn everyday — there are just too many. But, in the time I’ve lived since knowing Sgt. May, I’ve tried to live his advice everyday and have repeated it to hundreds of people over the years. It has been the basis for each day of my life. Some of the things I learn are good…some are hard lessons that I hope to never have to learn again. But I learn, every day.
Meet Marshal Fischer
Project Manager
As a San Diego Native, I find new things to love about this city and the area that we live in. It has become one of my favorite places in the world. As Project Manager for Specialty, I find the job challenging and rewarding. Each day is different from the last, and I learn something new about residential construction every day. This job allows me to gain experience from seasoned veterans in their trade, and work with clients that are talented in their lines of work as well.
Prior to working with Specialty Home Improvement, I studied Business Management at California State University San Marcos and graduated with a BS in Business Administration. While at CSUSM, I helped get my fraternity, Alpha Sigma Phi, established on campus. I was also extremely active in my school’s Filipino cultural club, Kamalayan Alliance. My memories from college are some of my dearest and favorite.
Outside of school and work, I’ve developed several outside hobbies that both include working with my hands, and leisurely hangouts as well. I’m a movie buff and will watch anything from musicals to thrillers, to drama, to action. Aside from movies, I enjoy working out, going to the beach, building snip-and-clip models, and going to breweries with friends. If you have a hobby, I’ve probably had a passing interest in it as well.
Meet Quincy Fischer
Office & Marketing Manager
At 25 years old you could say I’ve lived a lot of life, and not a lot at all. I’ve been able to travel parts of the world including France, Italy, the UK, and Japan. I’m hoping my list will continue to grow as traveling is something I love to do. After graduating high school, I attended Palomar College where I completed my Associate’s degree and transferred to California State University San Marcos to study Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing. While going to school I also worked full-time as the General Manager of Wrench and Rodent Seabasstropub, a sushi restaurant in Oceanside. During my 7 years at the restaurant, I learned a lot about the real work applications of my studies as well as gained a ton of managerial experience.
I was born and raised in San Diego and have never been able to see myself living anywhere else. As someone who hates the cold, nice weather 10 out of 12 months works pretty good for me. This city is beautiful and full of things to do and explore. Even as a lifelong resident, I find myself able to discover more cool things that this city has to offer all the time. This is especially useful for me as I love going on hikes and seeing the sites SD has to offer. On top of hikes, spending time with my dog in the beautiful San Diego weather is a huge perk. She’s an English Bulldog, so she doesn’t get very far on the hikes, but she loves a good sunbathing session in the grass. When I don’t feel like going outside, I enjoy PC gaming. I play a spectrum of games from open-world sandboxes to first-person shooters.
Growing up, my parents wanted me and my brother to experience different sports and hobbies. I’ve done everything including volleyball, Kenpo Karate, archery, riding dirt bikes, soccer, even roller hockey. After living such an active lifestyle going to the gym was the next step to keeping my body healthy, and I go 4-5 times a week. I see my work at Specialty Home Improvement as another valuable skill that my parents have instilled in me. It’s not only another hobby that I will continually get to learn new things from but a job that is extremely rewarding. Helping people create the home that they’ve always dreamed of will always be one of the most fulfilling experiences for me.
Award Winning
Over the years, Specialty Home Improvement has received awards for remodeling excellence from a variety of distinguished organizations.
Organizations We’re Proud Members Of
- National Association of the Remodeling Industry
- CalPASC HIC, San Diego
- NARI P.R. Chairman ’09
- NARI Vice President ’10,’11
- NARI President ’12
- CalPASC HIC
- 5 STAR Community
- Project Harmony ’10, ’11
- Taylor Church Charity Build ’12
We’ve also been featured in…
The San Diego Union-Tribune
Basic questions, and answers, on transforming a bathroom
Escondido: Remodeling for a Good Cause
Fine Home Building Magazine
CBS Channel 8
Ready to take the next step?
Request a free consultation for your home remodeling project.