"In March of 2021, we purchased a Zelaya remodel in Alexandria and would absolutely do it again. We love our home and appreciate the experience of working with Rachel and Jay on what was an unconventional purchase and subsequent work on the home. We looked at many homes in Alexandria but knew we wanted to purchase our house from the moment we saw it.
Rachel showed us two houses that she and Jay were working on in our neighborhood, and both were distinctly unique from any other homes we had seen. The layouts emphasized open living, convenience, and bright spaces. The design themes and choices were thoughtful and artfully realized, and it was clear that Jay emphasizes high-quality, solid construction.
The house we chose was unfinished, and Jay went out of his way to work with us to get it to the move-in stage as fast as possible and on our schedule. Likewise, he worked with us to address the inevitable growing pain issues with new construction several months after purchasing the home. We’ve worked with several contractors on other projects, and Jay is the rare professional who will stand by his work and stick with you until any and all issues get resolved."
"We were fortunate enough to purchase a home that Zelaya Properties had remodeled back in 2019. It has been three years and it's still hard to believe this beautiful home is ours! From day one it was obvious Jay and Rachel, and the rest of the team are extremely talented. Each home they design seems to be unique in it's own way and we feel like we own a home unlike any other in DC! We had the pleasure of meeting Jay at settlement. From our conversations it was very clear that he and his team are extremely passionate about their work and they put every effort into crafting the best home they can. We are also extremely thankful that Jay has stayed in touch over the years and has even offered his expert advice on a number of occasions. If given the opportunity, we would 100% love to work with Zelaya Properties again. Thank you Jay and Rachel for making the home owning experience so pleasant and rewarding!"
"I live at a Zelaya property above in Alexandria, Virginia. Other people marvel at the details and contractors have noted the quality of the roof work among other details. The experience of first walking in and noticing the wood floors, fixtures, and other improvements made on a lovely home from the post-war period drew me in. The developer made wise decisions about where to spend money. From the lighting, closets, and appliances, to the coordinated bath and kitchen details - the property gets me compliments constantly. My full fenced in back yard and patio has been a godsend for backyard fires with friends during this pandemic. I highly recommend seeking and considering purchasing their homes - they have a winning design and development strategy."
"I was on Zillow and saw what looked like the most beautiful home that was soon to be completed. I only saw photos of the drawings and the construction but it was enough for me. I HAD to jump on it! My agent went over immediately, to his surprise, the house had just finished construction 2 days prior, fully staged and ready for move in. He said, "this is the one, you have to come see it." When I walked in, I knew it was the one I had dreamed about. The 10 ft ceilings and the all white kitchen with a quarts waterfall island sold me instantly! The master bedroom feels grand with 13 ft ceiling and a stand alone bathtub. I tell you, you won't find that level of detail in a 1.3M home in Arlington. The amount of work Jay and his team put into our home is incredible and makes us feel like we purchased a custom house. You won't find a builder that puts so much love and high end quality into their projects. I guarantee you, you won't regret buying a Zelaya Properties home."
"I recently purchased my first home and was lucky enough to buy one done by Jay and his team. You don’t know what love at first sight is until you’ve walked into one of his homes! The amount of detail and creativity put into my home is unmatched by anything I saw on the market. The blue exterior paint is the perfect combination of fun and sophistication! The interior is an incredibly warm, modern look. Jay and his team chose a BEAUTIFUL clean look in the kitchen with white cabinets, a classy, pristine backsplash, and gorgeous quartz countertops. Not sure if you all know how hard it is to find a master en suite in DC- but it’s HARD! Jay made it happen, not surprised. The tile in each bathroom is unique and charming! Really- I could go on and on. To top it all off, they have amazing customer service and are willing to answer and tend to all my “first-time home buyer” questions and needs."
"Jay and his team did a great job in renovating our new home. We lived in Arlington in an apartment building. We have been looking for a modern/contemporary house in Arlington, with a budget $1M, for a year and a half. Unfortunately, there are two types of single family homes in Arlington - either total trash starting at $800K that requires significant renovation or new homes starting at $1.5M. We never considered Alexandria as a place to move. One night while I was searching for houses on Homesnap and Redfin I saw a house that was really well done with a modern look. I suggested to my partner to go and see the house at least for ideas if we decide to gut one of the many old and ugly houses in Arlington. We scheduled a tour with our realtor Valeriia Solodka from Redfin who I really recommend. We were really nicely surprised of the renovation. Everything was done with a thought which really impressed us. Of course, we had to compromise on a few things but we love the house. Great job!"
"We worked with Zelaya Properties on the renovation of our 1928 bungalow in Alexandria, VA. My husband is a realtor and I'm an interior architect, so we were quite selective when looking for a general contractor to complete our project. Admittedly, our design included many custom details and specialty fixtures and finishes which we were quite particular about. Every detail as we drew it in our design documents was perfectly executed with quality craftsmanship and professionalism. Being a historic home, Jay and team had to deal with structural challenges and did so with ease. Thank you, Zelaya Properties, for taking our design and making it a reality, down to the last detail!"
"Rachel helped me and my wife sell our property. Very helpful and professional. House sold in less than 6 months! Rachel is very flexible unlike other real estate agents--she'll work with you according to your terms. I would definitely recommend her to friends or family needing to buy or sell their property."
"After a pipe burst inside of my kitchen wall, and resulted in quite a bit of damage to the dining room, the kitchen, and the basement, I hired Zelaya Properties for the repairs/upgrades, and my home has never looked better! I have perfectly installed porcelain tile and hardwood floors, repaired walls, and a new cabinet. Amazingly, they were able to match my existing hardwood with the new hardwood, and there's absolutely no difference - it's as if all of the hardwood was originally installed at the same time rather than being installed years apart from each other! The new kitchen cabinet was also selected and installed, and matches with the cabinets that were already in place. I was also impressed that they do not take any shortcuts, and quality seems to be a top priority for them. Even though my project was small compared to many large renovation or repair projects, I never once felt that I was any less important as a customer.
I also appreciated that they were upfront and transparent about any issues that arose during the repairs, and they made sure to stay in contact with me and offered helpful suggestions for overcoming any repair barriers. The Zelaya team remained professional, courteous, and transparent, and completed the repairs on time and on budget. They truly are a company that is committed to customer service and ensuring that everyone is happy with the end result. I would not hesitate to hire them again the next time I am in need of repairs or renovations."
"Usually all people have are complaints about the remodel process in their home, but we have nothing but praise and excitement for the work Zelaya properties LLC, did in our home. They remodeled our two bathrooms and expanded our laundry closet, making it more functional. They did it all in two weeks with the nicest workers who cleaned up after every day and arrived on time and early every morning. The company of workers are all so sweet and make you feel like they truly care about your wants and needs for the project. We will be hiring them again in a few years for our home expansion. Such a great team!"
"I regularly recommend Jay to my clients because he delivers every time. He's professional, reliable, and knowledgeable - and he manages a great team. His well-rounded background in real estate, construction, and development makes him a valuable asset to any project."
"Jay and his team were great. They did some roofing repair work at my house and I was very happy with their work. They came in on budget (no surprise costs) and worked very efficiently. The team was courteous and professional and I will definitely call Jay the next time I have work around the home that needs to be done. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! A+"
"We contracted with Rachel and Jay after seeing some of their work flipping a property in Alexandria. We used Rachel as our realtor and designer and Jay as our GC.
Bottom line up front: there was not a single other company that matched their professionalism, attention to detail, and overall quality at their price point.
Zelaya properties went above and beyond from helping us map out our budget to pushing us on several design elements that truly made our property unique and have a fully custom feel.
We recommend Zelaya Properties for anyone looking to a full-service construction company that will go above and beyond to make your project a "one-of-a-kind" masterpiece. This is an honest company committed to quality work and customer service. I wish Houzz allowed 6 stars."
"We were looking for a new contractor after we fired our first contractor in the middle of the job for doing a shoddy/terrible job. Zelaya Properties had just remodeled a house behind us and we were impressed with the quality of work so we hired them to redo/finish our master bathroom. We could not have picked a better contractor - they were professional, prompt and just did such an excellent job that I could cry tears of joy with how easy they were to work with. Their attention to detail and expertise in home remodeling is superb. We were so impressed with the work on our bathroom that we are hiring them again to do the rest of our home projects. Excellent excellent contractor!"
"I instantly knew I wanted to work with Jay Zelaya and his team. After interviewing multiple contractors, I knew his vision, work ethic and positive attitude was what I wanted in a contractor for my home renovation. We renovated almost an entire historic row house in a historic neighborhood in Alexandria, VA. His team helped navigate the Historical Review Board, the overall design and with every possible step along the way. With every project there are things you don't expect but he kept this 100K+ project close to the budget and the timeframe for completion. I was overjoyed at the final product it was my dream home. I would hands down trust the Zelaya team with any future renovation projects and I look forward to another opportunity to work with them."
As an architect, I appreciate the professionalism of Jay Zelaya and the Zelaya Properties team. Their process stresses quality and service. Our collaborations to date have been rewarding and I look forward to many more to come.
"We decided on Zelaya Properties based on their documented reputation, our assessment of the integrity of Jay Zelaya, and their project cost. We were delighted by the outcome. Each aspect was carried out by expert tradesmen. It is inconceivable that the project could have been finished to a higher standard, on schedule, and at the agreed price. Of particular note was the absence a single instance of dispute. It was an absolute pleasure to do business with Zelaya Properties, and specifically Jay and Rachel Zelaya."
"The first time I worked with Zelaya I had just come across their signage outside a house. Fast-forward a few years and I don't even get quotes from other vendors. If I need something done, (basement refinished, kitchen cabinets, additions, lighting, etc.) I email Zelaya and that's it! 9 times out of 10 they are the most reasonably priced and that tenth time when they aren't I still go with them because you know the quality of work you are getting from Zelaya is worth that little extra."
"Zelaya did an INCREDIBLE job on a limited budget for my house. I have recommended to family, friends, and anyone else considering a major (or even minor) renovation or addition of their home to hire Jay Zelaya. His crew does impeccable work. But most importantly, he is an honest man that you can trust. That's saying something in the construction industry. My family plans to stay in our home for the next 30 years and my wife and I will probably retire in our home because of the great job Jay did. Fact is - he did more for less, and did a great job."
"We recommend Zelaya Properties and give them the highest rating. Zelaya Properties produced an outstanding result on our project. Their craftsmanship and attention to detail were evident throughout the project and in the finished product. They used first rate materials and highly skilled craftsmen. They have a breadth of experience to ensure that work is done right, the first time. We found everyone from Jay, the owner, to the office staff, to the on-site craftsmen to be pleasant and willing to take the time to listen, to let us know how things were progressing, and to follow-up. Their estimates were reasonable. We firmly believe that Zelaya Properties provides an excellent value."
"Usually, all people have are complaints about the home remodeling process, however, we have nothing but praise and excitement for the work Zelaya Properties LLC, did in our home. They remodeled our two bathrooms and expanded our laundry closet making it more functional. They did it all in two weeks with the nicest workers, who cleaned up after every work day and arrived on time and early every morning. The company of workers are all so sweet and make you feel like they truly care about your wants and needs for your project. We will be hiring them again in a few years for our home expansion. Such a great team!"
"I hired Jay Zelaya and his team to add a second story to half of a duplex I purchased in Alexandria, VA. A complicating factor was that I lived in Wisconsin and needed to have the construction completed from a distance prior to retiring and moving to Alexandria. From the initial consultation and estimate to the final project finish, Jay was approachable, reachable by phone and email, and appreciative of my wishes. There were glitches along the way in terms of permits and approval which Jay, his architect, and design team negotiated with ease. I was understandably anxious about the long-distance nature of the process, but the second story is an amazing space which is PERFECT in every way! It is spacious, bright, and peaceful with plenty of extra storage space. All of the workmen I have had contact with have been pleasant, respectful, and extremely professional. The quality of the workmanship in the entire project is consistent with the high standards which Jay promised from the beginning. I would highly recommend Jay Zelaya and his team for any construction projects you might envision, even if you cannot be present during the process."
I can't speak highly enough of Jay & Rachel - they hired me as a design consultant for a personal project and they could not have been more pleasant and professional. They have thorough knowledge of every sort of construction challenge imaginable (& this project presented it's fair share of challenges!) They are critical thinkers and excellent communicators - I would highly recommend them (and have!) for any residential renovation and would welcome the chance to work with them again.
"Jay and his team are world-class. They took a rundown row house on Duke St in Alexandria, VA and transformed it into a property showcased during the Scottish Christmas Walk. At all stages of the renovation project, I found them enthusiastic, very detail-oriented, solution driven, and flexible to changes.... I think so highly of Jay that I am not only his friend but also am now an investor in his business. Incredible team!"
Zelaya Properties was the general contractor for a renovation of a townhome in Vienna that earned our interior design company two statewide design excellence awards from ASID and IIDA. The goal was to achieve a high-design look on a modest budget.
What impressed us about this work arrangement with Zelaya Properties is that we had no involvement during construction. We simply arrived when it was completed and it looked exactly as we had envisioned with no shortcuts or compromises made to the original design. To this day, images of the custom designed bench and shoe storage made of PVC pipe are the most bookmarked photo on our profiles for Houzz.
The homeowners were happy and because of the success of this project, we would highly recommend Zelaya Properties to clients and designers in the DC metropolitan area. We look forward to another opportunity to do award-worthy work again!