3 Min Read
Why the Leferts Trusted Top Shelf With Their Entire Home
"Professional, Honest, Capable, Always Responsive. They didn't pressure us for anything." -Tracy Lefert
When Tracy and Roger Lefert decided it was time to transform their Stilwell home, they weren't looking for a quick refresh. They were handing over the place they live in every day and trusting a team to rebuild it around the life they actually wanted. That is a big thing to ask of anyone.
A few months later, with a fully redesigned kitchen, a new master suite, a finished basement, a custom deck, and fresh finishes throughout, the Leferts had exactly what they set out to build. We sat down with them to hear what the experience was really like, from the first conversation to the final walkthrough.
The Decision to Transform, Not Move
Like a lot of homeowners in South Johnson County, the Leferts loved where they lived. The location, the lot, the neighborhood: none of that was the problem. The house itself had simply stopped fitting the way they wanted to live in it. Rather than start over somewhere new, they decided to reinvest in the home they already loved and make it everything they needed.
That decision set the tone for the entire project. This wasn't about flipping a house or chasing a trend. It was about building something they intended to enjoy for years to come.
Choosing a Builder They Could Trust
The hardest part of any large-scale renovation is deciding who to hand it to. A whole-home project touches every room, coordinates multiple trades, and unfolds over months while you continue living your life around it. Getting that decision right matters more than almost anything else.
The Leferts did their homework. They knew what they were looking for: a builder who would communicate clearly, respect their home, and deliver the quality they were investing in. When they met the Top Shelf team, the fit was obvious.
In our interview, we talked a little bit about faith, how important it was. How Nate's faith was to him and our faith was to us. And when he walked away and we shut the door. I said "He's our guy, Top Shelf is our company" -Tracy Lefert
A Process Built on Communication
A project of this scope always brings a few surprises. What separates a smooth renovation from a stressful one is how those moments are handled. From the beginning, the Top Shelf team kept the Leferts informed at every stage, walked them through decisions as they came up, and made sure they never felt out of the loop in their own home.
That is the part of the process most builders don't talk about, and it's the part homeowners remember most. Trust isn't built at the reveal. It's built in the day-to-day communication along the way.
Nate said "Give me your pie in the sky wish" and then Nate came back with a design neither one of us ever envisioned. Tracy had no idea of the vision and Nate had to go as far as taking painters tape to the floor and basically map out what the master closet. -Roger Lefert
The Reveal
By the time the work was finished, the home had been completely reimagined. The redesigned kitchen became the heart of the house, built for the way the Leferts actually cook and entertain. The new master suite gave them a private retreat that felt like it had always been there. The finished basement added usable, everyday living space, and the custom deck extended their home outward into the kind of outdoor living South Johnson County homeowners prize. New flooring, tile, and paint tied every room together.
More than any single finish, though, what changed was how the home felt to live in.
"When we came from the rental house and came over here I had my eyes closed and when Roger said "oh my gosh! you can open your eyes" and I was just stunned. When Nate suggested the wooden post, the black windows, I mean he suggested things that neither of us would ever see." -Tracy Lefert
"It was way better. We couldn't believe we lived in this house" -Roger and Tracy Lefert
Advice for Homeowners Who Are Hesitant
A whole-home renovation is a serious commitment, and it's normal to feel nervous before starting. We asked the Leferts what they would say to someone who is on the fence about a big project like this.
"We have already recommended Top Shelf to three other people in our lives and they really need to find out when the right time for them is to do a remodel." -Tracy Lefert
Their answer speaks to exactly what Top Shelf is built to deliver: a process you can trust, a team that treats your home like it's their own, and a finished result worth the investment.
Thinking About a Project of Your Own?
The Lefert home in Stilwell is a good example of what's possible when a renovation is planned properly and handed to a team that executes it well. If you're considering a whole-home remodel, a major addition, or a full transformation of your own, we'd be glad to walk you through what that process looks like, with no pressure and no obligation.
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Top Shelf Home Builders serves homeowners across South Johnson County, Overland Park, Stilwell, Shawnee, and the greater Kansas City metro.
