Our Story - Specialty Home Improvement

Dependability. Integrity. Reliability. With every project, we deliver on those values and more. Please read on to find out how we have defined the award-winning, top caliber service that we have been providing to San Diego County homeowners for almost two decades.

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 »

Specialty Home Improvement exceeded our expectations in all areas. The bathroom remodel project was completed ahead of schedule and with superior workmanship. And throughout the project, Sheen and his employees were prompt, courteous, clean, and maintained excellent communication as the work progressed. The added value of working with Sheen was being able to relax and let him handle all aspects of the project–it was actually a pleasant experience! We will definitely use this company for all of our future projects and will recommend them enthusiasically to our friends and neighbors.

Randy & Melanie G.Encinitas, CA

Specialty Home Improvement was very professional, provided all information upfront with not hidden surprises, and kept us informed throughout the entire process. They advice that they gave us from start to finish included various options and was logically spelled out. We were very pleased with their responsiveness to our questions. We have already recommended them to a friend.

Eric & Linda A.Escondido, CA

A lot of good recommendations along the way as far as structure, tile layout ideas, plumbing, etc… Very meticulous with the tile especially. Always asked for my input during all phases of the remodel, then gave his own recommendations, before proceeding with the work. Will use him for our kitchen remodel next year.

Mike & Roxanne B.Oceanside, CA

I’ve worked with Sheen Fischer and his company, Specialty Home Improvement, Inc. on 6 – 8 projects over the past 3 years. He has performed in a highly professional manner for me and also for clients to whom I’ve referred him. I wouldn’t even consider calling anyone else for my home improvement needs.

Kerry W.Rancho Santa Fe, CA

I am very very happy with the work that Sheen and his workers provided for us. He was ahead of schedule and he stayed in communication with me through the whole project, not to mention the beautiful work he and his workers did in my house. I am so happy I found someone that I can trust. I would recommend him to anyone.

Arlene M.Carlsbad, CA

We were so pleased with our completed kitchen that we proceeded to contract a second phase completing the entire house with new flooring, travertine and glass tile bathroom, doors and casings, paint and windows. We are thrilled with the outcomes and feel we have an entire new house which functions well, offers a great floor plan and use of space, and utilizes stone, granite, cabinetry, tiles, floors and paint that create our “beautiful new home” that fits us perfectly. If you want a contractor you can count on, who is conscientious and reliable and skilled, look no further than Sheen Fischer and Specialty Home Improvement.

Dorothy S.Escondido, CA

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.