By Kathy Bowen Stolz
Jeff Brown of Prestige Custom Homes decided when he became a builder in 2014 that he was going to deliver the best product possible. It doesn’t matter if he’s building a 1,700 or 4,000 sq. ft. home or if it’s a speculative project or a presold custom home. He builds every home as if he were going to live in it.
“We go the extra mile. We use higher quality materials, such as Tech Shield on the roof instead of OSB. We blow in insulation instead of using bat. We don’t skimp on quality. We would rather spend extra money and deliver a great house.”
Going that extra mile saves Brown steps in the long run. He’s been using the same skilled subcontractors for a long time. He said that focusing on delivering a great house prevents call backs and increases the customer’s experience. “We like to get it right the first time, but if there’s an issue, I’m just a phone call away.”
Jeff said Prestige Custom Homes’ entry in the 2018 Parade of Homes got a lot of interest from attendees because his philosophy of going the extra mile equates to exceeding the customer’s expectations. His next two presold projects are a result of last year’s Parade of Homes show, which was a 1,734 sq. ft. home.
Some of those walking through the show home were empty nesters looking to downsize; others were first-time buyers. A smaller home was appealing to both groups. His 2019 Parade of Home entry will be a 2,600 sq. ft. home in the $500,000 price range.
He takes prides in providing higher-end finishes, such as crown moulding, exposed beams, special wall finishes, extra shiplap siding, eye-catching island finishes and better quality fixtures. “It’s pretty rewarding to have people notice our attention to detail.”
Because he’s also a real estate agent (working for EXP Realty) he’s aware of what is trending and what is not trending in the Lafayette market. “We try to make sure we’re incorporating things to set us apart from the competition. Spec homes allow us to showcase our product. And spec homes lead to custom home contracts.”
Helping him is his wife of 21 years, Lea Brown. “She is an important part of the process. I couldn’t do it without her. She makes the paint selections, the fixture selections, the color schemes. She has the vision to be able to see how things should develop, which a lot of people, including myself, have a hard time seeing. I let her go with the flow and take the design idea by the reins. Our open houses are always a hit.”
Many of Prestige’s clients work in technology fields and work from home. Others work in the medical field. The diversity of the Lafayette Parish’s economic base is keeping the real estate market stable. Brown noted that 2018 was the best ever for real estate sales, topping 2017 real estate sales.
He got his real estate license in 2010 because he does a lot of lease negotiations for the furniture company where he is the director of operations. One part of that position is to find new store sites, often the size of a supermarket, and renovate them. He now uses his license just for Prestige Custom Homes’ purposes of buying lots and selling speculative homes. He earned his contractor’s license a few years later, anticipating that he would focus on commercial properties rather than residential building.
He quickly changed his mind when he saw an opportunity to work his wife who was unhappy in her long-time job of working for an oil field company. Jeff laughingly admitted that there have been spirited conversations in working with his wife, but it has been extremely rewarding for both of them to see the completion of many projects.
Brown prefers to build in the Acadiana area because it’s easier to manage projects efficiently and effectively in nearby locations where he check on his two or three job sites morning, noon, and night. He said it usually takes about four and a half months to complete a smaller house and six months to complete a 4,000 sq. ft. house.
Currently using several local architects to customize house plans for clients, he is creating a book of house plans of popular different styles, such as Acadian, Mediterranean and French Country. In the future he envisions speeding up the customization process by using his son’s developing CAD skills. His son graduated with a degree in industrial engineering from University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) and is currently a student at the University of Colorado studying drafting. Jeff also has a daughter who is studying to be a nurse at ULL.
In the meantime he encourages clients to take pictures of architectural and design elements that they like. These photos help the architects accurately interpret his clients’ desires. Brown noted that clients are more versed in design elements than in the past thanks to social media sites, such as Pinterest.
Jeff uses social media, specifically Facebook, to market his spec homes. He finds that Facebook, in addition to word-of-mouth referrals, open houses and MLS listings to be sufficient in selling his homes. But he’s not above stopping people who are scouting for homes in a neighborhood and inviting them to check out his spec home.
He enjoys meeting new people, citing those experiences as one of the most enjoyable elements of being a builder. Like many builders, he also finds pleasure in creating something from nothing.
However, he finds it challenging that there’s always a problem in a building project, such as not having materials on the job site on time. “It’s always something, but you’ve got to be able to work around it. It’s how you overcome the curve balls.”
No doubt Jeff Brown goes the extra mile even in his free time. He loves to fish in salt water, primarily at Venice, Cypermort Point and Calcasieu Lake. He also enjoys listening to live music and hanging out with good friends.
For more information about Prestige Custom Homes, contact Jeff Brown at 337-780-1485 or [email protected]. The company’s mailing address is P.O. Box 950, Duson, LA 70529.