Heritage Home Builders Creates In-demand Spec Homes
By Kathy Bowen Stolz
Heritage Home Builders, one of Lafayette’s premier builders, found its niche in the local housing market and has made an impact by building a substantial number of quality custom and speculative homes. Founded in 1992 by twin brothers Bill and David LeBlanc, the company has a unique approach, buying multiple lots in the beginning stages of a subdivision’s development for its homes. Heritage’s typical product ranges in size from 1,500 to 5,000 square feet of living area and ranges in price from $180,000 to nearly $1 million.
In 2013 Heritage built 41 homes in Brookshire Gardens, Grand Pointe, Sawgrass Park and Wells Landing subdivisions. In 2014 it will expand construction into Sawgrass Park Phase II and Brookshire Gardens South.
Also in 2014 Heritage will begin building in The Reserve at Woodlake, the first subdivision it has developed, a move caused by the lack of residential lots available in Lafayette. Developing this subdivision of 94 residential lots was unexpected but necessary, Bill said. “We didn’t expect to evolve so significantly into land development, but we’ll continue with it in the future to meet customer demand.” Construction of the first homes is slated to begin in spring.
Heritage typically buys 10 to 30 lots per subdivision, often on the same street to allow its subcontractors to work more efficiently as they move from site to site. This approach also allows it to customize, design and execute a coordinating block of houses, with each house’s appearance enhancing the next.
Bill noted, “It can be a challenge to create a unique, but complementing, look for each home when we may build 30 houses side-by-side in a single neighborhood.” David added, “A lot of thought goes into every plan and every house and every design package. We want each to be unique.”
Bill and David work to maintain a team approach for their staff and have even implemented logistics software in the field to keep everything running smoothly. They employ three field superintendents – Mike Stokes, Al Gautreaux, and Sharon Sergi – who are always on job sites. They funnel all information through Becky LeMaire, the Heritage office manager.
“We learned you can’t have consistent quality if you keep a superintendent overwhelmed, so we limit the focus of each. Our superintendents are assigned to take the lead on a single subdivision so they can direct the subcontractors and spend as little time commuting from site to site as possible,” David explained.
“There are several advantages to having groups of lots in a development,” stated David. “We are able to make sure our plans work well with each other to provide the best curb appeal. Subs are also able to work more efficiently, and each project is more closely supervised.”
Heritage purchases home plans from several area architects to ensure variety and consistent quality in its neighborhoods. Many of the plans come from ML Murphy Design Group, Michael Campbell Design, Girouard + Hebert Architects and Edson Davis Design.
The LeBlancs, who grew up in Lafayette, got their start in home building as the local economy was rebounding from the national economic downturn of the 1980s. Bill was working in the oil field at the time and went to Dwight Andrus Real Estate to buy a lot for his own home. Matt Andrus and Allen Gankerdorf, who both worked at Andrus, were involved in the new development, Fernwood. Bill and David saw the opportunity for building in the Lafayette area and decided to build their first home in this development. Bill’s vision and David’s construction knowledge got the company started.
David holds an architecture degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now UL at Lafayette). He uses his background to add innovative elements to each home, stating, “A lot of thought goes into every plan, every house and every design package. We want each home to be built to its best in every aspect.”
David further uses his architectural background to oversee the building side of their projects. Bill handles lot acquisition, subdivision development, material purchasing and accounting. Bill has a background in personnel and project management.
“Bill and David are very different personalities, but their business methods complement each other very well. They manage to make their different interests and talents work to the company’s benefit,” said Danielle Breakfield, Bill’s wife and a local realtor with Dwight Andrus Real Estate. Dwight Andrus Real Estate, which specializes in representing new construction contractors, is the broker for Heritage Home Builders. Danielle Breakfield and Matt Andrus co-list for Heritage Home Builders.
Although the company does not use traditional advertising like commercials or websites, Heritage homes sell quickly, thanks to personal referrals, its reputation and the support of the Lafayette community. In fact, most of the homes sell before construction is finished. “Depending on the stage when someone buys a home, we can often add or modify features, such as custom colors and custom tile finishes, at the buyers’ request,” David said. “We want the home buyers to be satisfied in every way with their new home.”
Heritage-built homes also hold their value exceptionally well, according to Danielle. “Their houses are unique. Heritage Homes just feel different. They seem to have a timeless elegance. The thought put into them is obvious just by looking at them.”
The Heritage owners are exacting about the subcontractors they hire, making sure they share the same attention to detail and quality as the LeBlancs. “We’ve used some subs since we started 22 years ago. One of them, Nolan Theriot, our cabinetmaker, will be retiring soon, but his son Todd will be filling his shoes,” David said.
Bill noted that the building industry is constantly changing, and Heritage Home Builders must stay abreast of trends to please homebuyers. “Stacy Guidry of Décor des Amis is our designer, and we rely on her and our vendors including Kerry Naquin at Design Center of Acadiana, to help us keep in touch with trends. We work in a competitive market and have to be progressive to keep selling houses.”
Now, just as it was at the beginning, the mission of Heritage Home Builders remains the same: To construct top quality custom homes using the highest standards of construction. That concept worked in 1992 and continues to work in 2014. At 22 years and counting, Heritage Home Builders has been and will continue to be of Lafayette’s premier home builders!
You may reach Heritage Home Builders at 101 Feu Follet Road, Suite 103, Lafayette, LA 70508 or at 337-234-2157
