West Construction Ingrains Homes with Quality
By Kathy Bowen Stolz
Quality is ingrained in the homes built by West Construction; every home is built with meticulous attention to detail.
West Construction maintains this high level of quality by focusing on four to six projects at a time building a combination of speculative homes and custom built presold homes. According to his realtor, Danielle Breakfield of Dwight Andrus Real Estate, “We have buyers that choose a West built home because the detailed custom finishes leave them with the feeling that the home was built especially for them.”
To infuse every aspect of his projects with quality, Wayne surrounds himself with subcontractors and vendors he trusts; some of whom he has partnered with for several years and built strong relationships. Kerry Naquin at Design Center of Acadiana works closely with Wayne, as well as others who have the skills to produce custom finishes and other touches that make a West Construction home special. “When we consult on a West Construction home, we always expect lots of input and direction directly from Wayne,” Kerry explained. “Half the time I find myself reminding him that he’s not moving in the house himself because he treats every house like it was going to be his personal. He is the definition of a hands-on builder.”
The quality of his interior design really sets West apart. The materials and quality of the finishes are never compromised. He employs a decorator that individually selects every detail, from the shingles on the roof to hardware on the cabinets.
“The best marketing approach for me is just to build a quality home. Word of mouth and reputation is everything!” West said. He also expanded his marketing to AHBA Parade of Homes, where he showcases his work.
“Wayne West has built a great reputation in the Lafayette community. During this year’s Parade of Homes some of Wayne’s former clients visited his parade home. They were interested in building a larger home and asked if he would build their next house too,” Danielle added.
Some homebuyers keep West Construction in the family. Wayne recently sold a spec house to a young couple whose parents will also be building their home with him.
One contributing factor to Wayne’s success is his vision of the homebuyer’s utilization of the house. He takes into consideration what kind of family might be moving into the home. What would that family need? Consequently, he may increase the size of a master closet or an outdoor living area. He includes interior beams or brick arches in the living space or adds an outdoor grilling area, whatever seems appropriate or fits the current market’s demands.
Typically West Construction spec homes are sold before they’re completed, which demonstrates how well he anticipates the homeowner’s needs.
Wayne chooses a West Construction spec home location based on the amenities available in a particular subdivision or neighborhood. His current and upcoming projects include homes in Sawgrass Park, Westbrook Estates, The Villages of Broussard, and Brookshire Gardens Subdivision.
He diversifies his product, building houses varying in price range from $200,000 to $850,000, depending on size and subdivision.
Wayne prides himself on his communication with his clients. He wants the home buyer to be informed and included in the building process and emphasizes that his personal, one-on-one communication with his customers sets him apart from other builders. He communicates on a regular basis, updating the homebuyer throughout the building process.
“He is the conduit between the subcontractors and the homebuyers. He runs his own jobs. He’s the CEO and CFO and secretary of the company,” Danielle said. “You know when you call that you’ll be speaking directly to Wayne. You know that you’ll get his personal attention when you build with West Construction.”
It’s no surprise that what Wayne enjoys most about being a builder is working with people. To take someone’s ideas and make them a reality is what makes him excited about residential home building.
A native of Monroe, West moved to Lafayette in 1978 to work in the oil and gas industry. He married his wife Brenda in 1992 and by 1995 Wayne was ready for a career change. “I started out in real estate investments, then developing land and selling lots to builders. I became a licensed home builder in 1995 and the rest is history.”
West is constantly expanding his knowledge through continuing education classes and seminars. “It’s important to be informed of new products and standards in the building industry. Knowledge and experience are tools always with me on a job!” says Wayne.
Looking back on nearly 20 years in the building business, Wayne has had the pleasure of working with some wonderful people and built many beautiful homes. But he admits that the project he’s most proud of is not the biggest or the most extravagant. It’s the home that he built for his wife Brenda. “To be able to build my wife a home that she loves meant a lot to me.”
Building a home with West Construction is a personal experience. The homeowner works directly with the builder to insure their needs and expectations are heard and met. Wayne West can be found on his jobsites, usually with his black Labrador, Jagger. His project management and approachability are what makes him one of Lafayette’s premiere builders.
For more information contact Wayne West at 337-277-1773 or [email protected]
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