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With
a boyish grin that belies more than 15 years experience in the
building industry, Chuck Courter is out to change the world-one home
at a time...
"Of
course, we use the finest materials and the best subcontractors, but
the real difference is our focus on customer service and on-site
supervision that lets us pay close attention to every detail," says
Courter, president of Courter Homes in Tampa.
Weekly
meetings, "whether we need them or not," ensure that owners
understand exactly what's happening with their new home, plus
minimize delays and confusion about costs. 'The worst thing that can
happen with a custom home is having clients feel like they don't
know what's going on," he said. "If you have open lines of
communication, along with weekly meetings, they stay informed and
involved and things move smoothly."
With just
two employees, including his younger brother Stephen, clients always
deal with a partner who can answer questions or deal with concerns
immediately.
And
because Courter Homes builds only six to 10 homes at a time, one
partner is on-site at least once a day, he said. "There's no
substitute for having a partner on-site. That's where it really
makes a difference because you have someone in charge who can make
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critical
decisions quickly."
Courter began his career in the building industry working with
his father, a real estate agent in New Jersey who often sold
homes with custom renovations. After earning a degree in
business administration, Courter moved to the Tampa Bay area
and went to work for one of the region's largest homebuilders.
He established Courter Homes in 1997.
"We
are totally committed to make building a custom home a
positive experience," Courter said. "In this niche, word of
mouth is the most powerful tool we have, so we spend a
tremendous amount of time and energy working on our
reputation."
"The
large builders are often only concerned about speed and
getting everything they can out of their subcontractors," he
adds. "It takes extra time and attention to build a truly
custom home, and we can hire the best subcontractors because
they know we're committed to quality construction."
Many
clients are referred to Courter through the region's top
architects, and the company also offers design/build services.
"People come to us with a file full of ideas or simple
drawings on scratch paper and we work through the entire
process to get
exactly the home they want"
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Along with custom homes, Courter builds
models that showcase the company's commitment to
quality, although they're often sold before they're
completed. His most recent is a 3,853-square-foot home
on the Intracoastal Waterway in North Redington Beach.
"It's the perfect Florida house with an exterior
inspired by the Mediterranean and a contemporary floor
plan that focuses on views of open water," he says.
Designed to take full advantage of
spectacular views, the home includes four bedrooms plus
a bonus room, three full and two half baths, a family
room, and formal living and dining rooms, most of which
open to the water. Expansive lanais on both the ground
and second floor offer luxurious outdoor settings and
incredible sunset views. The home, nestled behind a
gated entry and surrounded by formal gardens, also
features a dock that offers easy access to the Gulf of
Mexico. "We try to keep one model going at all times,
but this is largest house we've built without an owner,"
he says. "But size isn't as important as being perfectly
suited to the customer," he quickly adds. "Our client
always comes first."
Photographer:
Chip Maxwell
Text: Vicki Parsons
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