jan-2018

172 173 zoriaCounty.It’saheavypetrochemical areamadeupof several communitieswitha littleover100,000folks,and weexpanded just tothewest intoMatagordaCounty becauseof thenuclearpowerplant expansion.Wewere calledover toworkwiththemtodevelopacommunity andbuildhomes inasubdivisionfor the future incoming engineersandoperators thatwouldruntheplant.” HeritageCustomHomes ispleasedtohavehiredmany of thesamesub-contractorscontinuouslysince2002; providing60percentof theworkfor some trades,25 percent forothers.Weavernotes,“Ourplumber,whowas withus since thebeginning,unfortunatelypassedaway. Buthiscrewgotpickedupbyanotherorganization,so we’restill usingthesameguys.When it comes tovaluable long-termrelationshipswithour subs,theyknowwhatwe want,andweknowwhat they’regoingtoprovideus.” Thecompany’sonlyoffice is inLake Jackson,Texas, but theyareextremelymobile–goingtothehomesof customclients to facilitate theirbuildingrequirements.If aclientprovides thedrawings for ahouseplantheywant built,Heritagewillworkwiththoseandmodifytosuit. Theyalsohaveanumberof exclusive floorplans,which theyadapt and improve for individual clientpreferences. Threemainservicesmakeuptheir repertoire: 1) develop andbuildsubdivisionsof customhouses.2) buildonpeo- ple’sown lots.3) high-endremodelling,suchaskitchens, livingrooms,etc. Designer/partnerMicheleSmithdescribes their typical customer as“individuals lookingtobuildahome.Alotof times they’rewantingabiggeror smallerhouse inthe HERITAGE CUSTOM HOMES JOHNWEAVER MICHELE SMITH BRANDON GEE areabecause theirneedshavechanged.Wealsowork withreal estateagents.Generally,thoseclientscome from outof thearea,andare lookingfor a local builder.” Remodellingwasn’t intendedtobepartof thecompa- nyofferingsosoon,butWeaver says the latesummerof 2017changedall that:“Wehadbeentinkeringwiththe ideaof stepping intoupper-endremodelling,andhired DirectorofMarketing,BrandonGee,tohelpus facilitate that.Then,ontheGulfCoast,wehada thingcalledHur- ricaneHarvey,andour countywashitveryhard.So,we’re helpingfloodedfolks togetbackintotheirhouses.We weren’tdoinga largevolumeof remodelsuntil recently, but it’sawkwardbecausesomeof thehomeswehad built inthepastwere floodedandwe’re just tryingtotake careof ourneighbors.” Becauseof theirgoodrelationshipwithsub-contractors, Heritagehasbeenable toget themstartedonprojects sooner thanothers inthearea.“However,”Smithcautions, “mostpeoplearenotbackintheirhomes.We’regladto behelpingthem,but it’snot agreat situationbecause this isn’t somethingtheywanted.Most times,whenyou’re buildinganewhouseyou’reexcitedabout it,andplanned for it,andhave lotsof thoughtsabout it.Thesepeople were forcedoutof theirhomes.Andwithamajor remodel andmove in less than24hours,theyarenot inagreat place,emotionally.” “It takes three to fourmonths togothroughtheprocess of fixingeverything,”sheadds.“Andtheyhavehadtowait for insurancemoneyandadjusters.Itwas sucha large- scaledisaster that everything is takingmore time than anybodywants.Mostof thepeopleyousawonthenews intheHoustonareaarenotbackintheirhomes,and won’tbe for awhile.” Competitionamonghomebuilders inthe region is