building trends december 2008 by brad palmer

December 2008

BUILDING trends

Your Local Resource for Construction News

Christopher Luetgert of Luetgert Development

Energy Perspective: Building Towards Zero Energy Association News: Fall Parade of Homes™ In the News: Lake City’s Martin Interiors Expands

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From the Publisher December 2008

Publisher Advantage Publishing Inc. Scott Costello 4140 NW 37th PL, Suite D Gainesville, FL 32606 Gainesville: 352-372-5854 Ocala: 352-368-1707 Scott@advantagepublishingInc.com www.advantagepublishinginc.com Advertising Sales Manager Kyle Lindsey Kyle@advantagepublishinginc.com Advertising Sales: Andrea Huegel Sarah Sander Jill Salansky Dillon McLean Monica Hernandez Jamie Milanese Managing Editor: Holly Christensen Senior Writer: David Greenberg Contributing Writers: Roland Sosa Linda Tozer Staff Writers: May Smith Molly Bruce Victoria Phillips Public Relations: Erica Blake Design: Brad Palmer Contributing Photographer: David Johnston

We are excited with the transformation that is taking place with this publication. Early feedback from the release of the first issue with the new name has been fantastic. Overwhelmingly, the name appears to be more popular, taking on an approach that leads more towards the trends in the industry. This issue continues with the transformation, as we add more articles that meet the requests of our readers, while maintaining the quality of the appearance of the publication. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, as we want to hear what you like and don’t like about your trade magazine. This month we bring you the story of Chris Luetgert and Luetgert Development Corporation. Chris, a third-generation builder, is one of the premier high-end, custom-home builders in Marion County. Much of his work is done in Golden Ocala and Jumbolair Aviation Estates. Chris has a great success story, and I am thrilled that I can bring it to you. We have two Association News articles this month. The first is a wrap-up of the Parade of Homes™ hosted by our three associations – Builders Association of North Central Florida (BANCF), Marion County Building Industry Association (MCBIA) and Columbia County Builders’ Association (CCBA). All three reported a lot of activity and some serious buyers. The second Association News article is on Larry Cretul’s visit to the MCBIA. Always a friend to our industry, Larry talked about what to expect in the coming legislative session, where he will serve as speaker pro tempore for incoming House Speaker Ray Sansom. This issue also includes a terrific Energy Perspective by Linda Tozer, the director of marketing and education for the Florida Solar Energy Research & Education Foundation (FlaSEREF) and the SunBuilt Program. Linda writes about an award-winning, zero-energy project. It is something to which we should all be paying attention for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that many economic experts agree that energyefficient construction will be one of the factors involved in turning the industry around. Our spotlights this month are on Mark Golden with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, a Gainesville mover who is not only very active in the building industry, but is a great community supporter as well, and Dave Liner of PrecisionAIR in Ocala, who has been an active member of the building industry for many years. And as always, we have a great cartoon from Jake Fuller. While we end 2008 in a depressed economy and a tremendous slowdown in growth from the highs, there are signs that we are on an upswing. This issue caps our five-year anniversary, as our first issue kicked off in December 2003. I can say that there have been a lot of unexpected turns along the way, but I have enjoyed the ride so far. Next month, we return to Lake City, where we will feature the incoming CCBA president, Bryan Zecher and Bryan Zecher Construction. Until Next Month,

Enews Brief: Taylor Carson Although every precaution is taken to ensure accuracy of published materials, Building Trends cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. Copyright 2008, Building Trends Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

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Scott Costello

BUILDING TRENDS DECember 2008 5

BUILDING trends

Your Local Resource for Construction News

December 2008

Contents Publisher’s Column

Energy Perspective

Building Towards Zero Energy

Association News

Individual Spotlight

Cover Story

Jake’s Corner

Architectural Perspective

In The News

Supplier Spotlight

Larry Cretul Keeps Serious Topics Light at MCBIA Luncheon

Fall Parade of Homes™: Something for Everyone with Great Weather and Good Crowds

Dave Liner and PrecisionAIR: Adapting the Air-Conditioning Business

Completely Custom: Luetgert Development Creates Your Dream Home From Start to Finish

Sustainable/Green Design and Construction

Lake City’s Martin Interiors Expands

Two Men and a Truck: Exceeding Expectations

www.BuildingTrendsMagazine.com

BUILDING TRENDS DECember 2008 7

Energy Perspective

Building Towards Zero Energy

I By Linda Tozer

n August 2008, the team of Trunnell Construction, Schackow Realty and Development and ECS Solar Systems of Gainesville won the 2008 Grand Solar Aurora Award at the Southeast Building Conference. The award, sponsored by the Florida Solar Energy Research and Education Foundation’s SunBuilt Program, honors exceptional use of solar and energy efficiency in new construction. Team members are also partners of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Program for ZeroEnergy Homes. The first of its kind in Gainesville, this awardwinning, high-performance home has received excellent reviews, achieving the team’s goal of producing as much electrical energy as it used – even in July of this year. According to energy expert Ken Fonorow, Building America partner and President of Florida HERO (Florida Home Energy & Resources Organization, Inc.), “The secret to maximizing this home’s energy investments was using intelligent conservation measures from the schematic design phase through final commissioning of the home. Our goal was to create the model for a healthy, comfortable and durable zero-energy home while minimizing construction costs.” Deciding which energy measures are included in a home can be a bit of a challenge.

There is no prescribed list to make a home function at the zero-energy standard. Size, orientation, overhang depth and a multitude of other factors all influence how a potential home uses energy. In fact, component and system installation choices don’t happen in a vacuum – since energy features interact with and affect each other. For example, opting to include additional insulation might lower the needed size of a home’s heating and cooling system. Savings from reducing the system size then could be used to pay for the additional insulation. It’s all a matter of balancing features with cost. Located in Forest Creek, the occupied zero-energy home uses less than two watts of power per square foot of floor space. By comparison, a home built to Florida’s minimum Energy Code Standards requires about 10 watts per square foot. This lends credence to Fonorow’s original calculations which showed that the home, with an E-rating (or energy rating) of 20, should perform significantly better than either a standard home (E-rating 100) or a standard Energy Star Home (E-rating 80). Daily monitoring by Danny Parker, a Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) research scientist for the Building America Program, found that the solar hot water system elimi-

This Forest Creek home in Gainesville, equipped with solar panels, is one of the homes for which the Aurora Award was presented.

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BUILDING TRENDS

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nated 98 percent of the home’s electrical hot water requirements. The rest of the power needs were picked up by a 3,200 watt solar electric system. Though smaller than many might expect, this solar system size was all that was necessary to meet the home’s energy needs because of the energy efficient features built into the home’s design. In this instance, reducing the solar electric system’s size more than offset the cost of the additional energy features. Fonorow notes that if money were not an object, any home could meet zero-energy standards by simply installing a large enough solar electric system to provide for the home’s needs. However, the key to creating a comfortable, affordable energy-efficient home requires a delicate balance of structural and mechanical choices. The earlier in the process your choices are made, the better. The 2008 Legislature reinstated a lapsed solar system property tax exemption to once again make solar equipment and its requisite hardware exempt from local government property taxes. The exemption goes into effect January 1, 2009. Solar equipment and its hardware also are exempt from Florida sales tax. On the federal level, Congress extended the Federal Energy Tax Credit for solar electric and water heating systems. So, homeowners who pay taxes will be able to recoup 30 percent of the cost of their system installations ($2,000 credit cap on solar water heaters) through their annual tax filing. For builders, the SunBuilt Program provides a $500 rebate for installing solar water heaters in new homes. Also, local utilities – GRU, Progress Energy and Clay Electric – each provide some level of conservation or solar incentives for their customers. Adding energy and solar features to a home increases its equity value and provides an after tax rate-of-return on your investment of eight percent or more annually. This rate-of-return is based on a utility rate of $0.12 a kilowatt hour (kWh), which is less than most of us currently pay. Don’t forget that creating your own electricity is a powerful hedge against future energy cost increases as well. To learn more, go online to www.AskAboutSolar.com. Linda Tozer, APR, is the director of marketing and education for the Florida Solar Energy Research & Education Foundation (FlaSEREF) and the SunBuilt Program. www.BuildingTrendsMagazine.com

Trunnell Construction, Schackow Realty and Development and ECS Solar Systems of Gainesville won the 2008 Grand Solar Aurora Award at the Southeast Building Conference for their use of solar energy and for energy efficiency.

BUILDING TRENDS DECember 2008 9

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Association News

Larry Cretul Keeps Serious Topics Light at MCBIA Luncheon By David Greenberg

ou could tell State Rep. Larry Cretul was among friends when he spoke at a recent Marion County Building Industry Association (MCBIA) general membership luncheon. While bringing a serious message, Cretul has them laughing from start to finish. Cretul, an Ocala real-estate broker and former Marion County commissioner, is in his second term representing District 22 in the

(above) Cretul talks to MCBIA Co-President Emerson Clauss prior to making his comments at the luncheon. (below) State Rep. Larry Cretul spoke at a recent MCBIA general membership luncheon about the challenges facing the state in the next two years.

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Florida House. Incoming House Speaker Ray Sansom has named Cretul as speaker pro tempore, effectively making him one of the most important and influential members of that body. Introduced by MCBIA Co-president David Craft, Cretul immediately referred to the partnership between Craft and his Co-president, Emerson Clauss. “The two of them have partnered so well together,” he said, and then questioned where they stand on the state’s marriage amendment, which passed last month. Cretul also had a message for several audience members who he has known for many years. “There are a group of folks in this room, many of them are near and dear to me,” he said. “I can tell you this. Some of you are looking very old.” Cretul then turned serious, expressing to the group that difficult times remain, but in Sansom, the state has strong leadership in the House, he said. “Ray’s background is in education and economic development,” Cretul said. “For the last two years, Ray was the policy and budget chair. That means he controls the money, and he did very well. He does not panic, and we need someone like that now. His goals for the next two years are to focus on the budget and jump start the economy. We’re not going to spend a lot of time naming a state pie or flower. I am honored that he has asked me to help him move his agenda forward.” Along with the budget, Cretul said that Sansom’s priorities will include government accountability. He referred to legislation that requires state agencies to justify their continued existence every seven years. “We’re not going to make agencies and departments disappear,” he said. “But certainly DCA (the Department of Community Affairs) will get some tweaking. There are times when that bureaucracy can throw up more obstacles, rather than help facilitate the process.” In fact, the day after Cretul spoke, it was reported that DCA has essentially told Marion County to not submit any major land-use changes in 2009 if they involve any future residential construction. Apparently, DCA suggested to the county that there was too much developer input in the proposals, prompting some county commissioners to question the state agency’s logic. The commissioners questioned whether DCA was suggesting that the builders and developers, who know the projects better than anyone, should not be considered in the proposals. In another area, Cretul said it was Sansom’s position to not raise taxes. “It won’t be easy without raising taxes,” said Cretul. “Before considering taxes, he wants to make sure every dollar is maximized. His priorities are economic development, health care, education and public safety. These are the primary functions of government. That will be our focus.” Cretul then turned to local governments, and suggested that it was imperative that they did not try to find a poor alternative for the lack of tax dollars.

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“We have to be absolutely sure that local governments do not start looking at fees to substitute for taxes,” he said. “We have tried to limit the percentage of impact-fee increase, and we will continue that effort. It seems that consultants have become a cottage industry. They go from county to county to try to get higher impact fees passed. The question remains whether these fees are fair and equitable. If there is an infrastructure deficit, it should have been taken care of out of the general fund.” Workers compensation issues and the problems with Citizens Property Insurance Corp. are also areas that need to addressed, he said. All of this needs to be done with a reduced revenue stream caused by lower sales tax income. However, Cretul mentioned some positives. “In 2009, things may be a little brighter,” he said. “Tourism is up a little. Hopefully, foreign tourists will keep bringing us their money.” But he did caution against the possibility of gambling being an effective revenue source for the state. “Gambling has seen a lot of discussion, but no traction,” he said. “It is a very unstable source of revenue. We have lottery revenues down, and even Las Vegas has seen a 40 percent drop in revenues from gambling.” Another positive mentioned by Cretul is that the state is on the front end of green development, referring to the patent received by the University of Florida to develop alternative fuels through cellulose. With this meeting occurring only weeks before the election, Cretul urged everyone to be involved and vote. “When David (Craft) introduced me, he mentioned my landslide victory the first time I ran,” he said. “The incumbent in that race was well respected as a pillar of the community. I beat him by 35 votes. When I tell you every vote counts, I mean it.” Finally, Cretul looked to the future, and said now was the time to start preparing for it. But as he did with the rest of his comments, he did it with humor. “I am term-limited,” he said. “I have two more years. Anyone interested, or anyone with the required genetic defect, who wants to get involved and run for this seat, has to start planning for it right now.”

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BUILDING TRENDS

| DECember 2008

Association News

Fall Parade of Homes : ™

Something for Everyone with Great Weather and Good Crowds By Erica Blake

t was a perfect storm, but in a positive way, as great values and features, along with helpful weather, brought lots of people out to the Parade of Homes™ in Marion, Alachua and Columbia counties. The Marion County Building Industry Association (MCBIA) parade took place on the last weekend of September and the first weekend of October, and it included more than 25 entries. The Builders Association of North Central Florida (BANCF) held its parade the weekends, Oct. 11 and 12 and Oct. 18 and 19, and it showcased 33 new homes from all over Alachua County. The Columbia County Builders Association (CCBA) parade, on the first weekend of November, included eight homes. At all three, potential homebuyers had the chance to see homes that were varied in style, price and functionality. Francine Johannesen, MCBIA’s said the Ocala parade had something of everyone. “With prices ranging from $118,500 to $889,000, the Parade of Homes™ was sure to have a home within everyone’s budget,” she said.

(above) The screened-in pool in the front courtyard has become a trademark of Jeffrey Wilde homes, including this one in Arbor Greens. (left) There was a great deal of traffic in this Tommy Waters home in Arbor Greens.

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Terry Carlson, president of T.L. Carlson Construction said that traffic for the parade was very good. “There are many customers out there with property who are ready to build. I think they are just waiting until after the election,” said Carlson. The parade was overall an encouraging experience for Curington Contracting, Inc. They enjoyed a fair amount of traffic in both of their homes listed in the parade, especially on the weekend, said Aron Mavros, who handles permitting and marketing for Curington. “People came to visit for all sorts of reasons,” he said. “Some were interested in building immediately, some needed to sell current homes before getting started, others were simply curious about what we had to offer.” With all the factors in play, including low prices and incentives for first-time homebuyers, this is a great time to buy, said David Craft, MCBIA co-president. “Some of Ocala’s finest builders are exhibiting their homes, and there is no better time to buy. First-time homebuyers should make sure to take advantage of the federal tax credit,” Craft said. “According to design professionals, potential buyers no longer want just the choice of a traditional home,” Johannesen said. “They want diversity to differentiate their home from others. Architectural choices in the featured homes included such varied styles as Colonial, Spanish and Craftsman.” Technology, energy efficiency and unique elements are some of the major wishes for homebuyers this year. People want functionality, and they want it to be aesthetically appealing. “We had the high-end home. People thought we included a lot of features for the price,” Carlson said. “Including all-natural stone floors, granite countertops, Subzero refrigerators, and a six-burner Wolf range. They loved the mud room and walk-in pantry but the game room was the jaw dropper.” Technological advances have brought safety to the forefront in most homes, especially as it relates to hard-wired smoke alarms, according to Johannesen. Carlson said those advantages extend to The game room, in this T.L. Carlson home below, had the wow factor for people at entertainment as well. this year’s parade. “Our entertainment packages allow homeowners to link the entertainment equipment together to be accessed from every room in the house.” Carlson said. Home theaters are certainly an up and coming item, Craft said. Builders are taking space that previously wasn’t being used for anything else and converting it into airconditioned areas for theater usage. Curington Contracting had a home theatre room designed by Total Audio Video Systems, Mavros said. “It was so much fun to watch the surprise break across our guests’ faces as they stepped into the theatre and just stared for several seconds before finding a seat in one of the six leather recliners and settling in just to watch for a few minutes,” Mavros said. “There is also a greater choice of products and materials to make homes more energy and water efficient,” Johannesen said. www.BuildingTrendsMagazine.com

BUILDING TRENDS

| DECember 2008

(left) Bradford Homes offers a distinctive look, and its entry in this year’s parade was no exception.

(above) This T.L. Carlson home is an example of the variety that was on display at the parade.

(above) Effective use of space was a key element for visitors, as is the case with this home from Curington Contracting.

(left) Visitors were impressed with the attention to detail in this Barry Rutenberg home in Arbor Greens.

“And with outdoor living spaces in many of the featured homes, homebuyers are getting features they desire.” Visitors to the Curington Contracting parade homes also paid attention to the outdoor additions. “Our guests particularly enjoyed the large covered lanai and the triple pocket sliding glass doors in two locations which invited the outdoors right into the living room,” Mavros said. All in all, Craft said he believed that there may have been some sales. “A few builders have definitely had some offers on homes. I’m not sure if they resulted in contracts, but I’ll tell you what, I wish I had a pocket full of money, because I wish I could go out and buy up some of these houses,” Craft said. The activity was very similar in Alachua County. Since there are no ticket sales in the fall parade, there are no exact counts, but the numbers were excellent said (above) This home in Portofino was one of several from Emmer Margie Krpan, BANCF’s executive vice president. “When I called around to the builders, representatives and Realtors said they Development in this year’s parade. were very pleased with the amount of visitors in each of their respected houses,” she said. Lori Willis, a sales representative for Robinshore Inc. said, “I was pleased with the amount of people who came out given the current market conditions. People 16

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were trying to get a sense of where the new home prices are right now. This kind of turnout is a good indication that the Gainesville market is going to be fine.” While the flow of prospective buyers was consistent, it wasn’t as overwhelming as the spring parade. “The fall parade is a great show because it isn’t packed,” Krpan said. “Consumers have more of a chance to talk to builders and realtors and because of that, I think we have more serious attendees.” Nickie Doria, marketing director for the Emmer Development Corporation, said they had some serious prospects come by who are in the market and looking to buy in the very near future. More immediate buyers mean that the parade is a great way for builders to show the community what they are capable of doing and what products they offer. “It’s a show,” Krpan said. “Getting the builders name and product out to the consumers is the most important thing.” Builders of all types had homes in this year’s parade. There really was quite the variety with houses ranging from $123,000 to almost a million. Some major trends in the homes this year included best use of space. “Builders are using every nook and cranny for busy households,” Krpan said. Emmer Development Corporation heard great remarks about one of their new floor plans. “Everyone kept commenting on how light, bright and open this new floor plan is,” Doria said. “The home overlooks a pond and backs up to a natural area that is just beautiful.” There was also a lot of positive feedback about special finishes like granite countertops, maple cabinets, wet bars, seamless bay windows and custom-built entertainment centers, Doria said. Barry Rutenberg, president of Barry Rutenberg and Associates said, “We had 90 degree sliding glass doors Living in Florida, clients respond well to homes equipped with in our home. This allows 24 feet of wall to open up as a sliding glass pools, cabanas and summer kitchens. door into the cabana and pool area.” “That is a big trend right now,” said Krpan. Robinshore Inc. had a unique decorating scheme in this “People want features,” Rutenberg said. “But they also want year’s parade. value and energy conservation. We built our home to have all three.” “One of the new products that was a topic of discussion was the And in Lake City, the fact that there were only eight homes did faux plaster in our Eloise Gardens home, a decorative finish,” said Willis. not keep people away. The builders also displayed the latest in wireless technology and Tina Peavey, CCBA’s membership and parade chairperson said, outside living spaces. “I talked to several builders and traffic was really good. Traffic was “Our home theater was deigned to be just that, a home theater,” better than it was when we had 30 homes because the builders were said Rutenberg. “It has multiple levels on the floor and ceiling, a available to talk to the customers.” beverage center, sconce lighting and a built-in projection screen For many people, this parade also featured a new lifestyle for the and equipment.” Lake City area. www.BuildingTrendsMagazine.com

BUILDING TRENDS

| DECember 2008

“We have a new development called The Preserve,” Peavey said. “It is the first neighborhood built here with a clubhouse, community pool, picnic and grill areas, basketball courts and tennis courts.” The new amenities are a much-welcomed concept for the area, as are elaborate homes like the ones built by Bryan Zecher Construction. “His house was custom and more than 7,000 square feet,” Peavey said. “Everyone that went through the Zecher home said it was just awesome.” Bryan Zecher, the president of Bryan Zecher Construction and CCBA’s next president said that the parade went wonderfully for them. “Traffic was great,” Zecher said. “You usually get what I call tire kickers, people just looking for ideas, but this parade was different. I’ve been at parades before where only 10 people walk through. I was at one of our homes. My wife, Missy, who is a Realtor, was at the other – our Arthur Rutenberg home at The Oaks. I never sat down all day Saturday and Sunday. She said she had 50 people walk through Saturday and a few less on Sunday. I had more than 50 people each day. And I had people come back. I have potential for at least three or four follow-ups with some of the people who came out. Local building industry experts always look at what happens at the parades to try to get a sense of where the industry is going. While there are still many other factors, judging from these three parades, area builders may have some positive times coming.

DESIGN INSPIRATION. Congratulations Luetgert Development. We are proud to be part of your team.

(middle) The home theater in this Curington Contracting home was extremely popular with the visitors. (bottom) Emmer Development was praised for its floor plans, as in the case of this open style in one of its Portofino homes.

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Individual Spotlight

Dave Liner and PrecisionAIR: Adapting the Air-Conditioning Business

By May Smith

hen Dave Liner decided to enter the air-conditioning industry, there was one factor that took top priority – learning to be the best. “I was a young man looking for a job in the Sunshine State,” said the Tennessee native and current owner of PrecisionAIR in Ocala. “Florida has been good to me.” In 1969, Liner moved from Chattanooga to Tampa, where he worked for a wholesale air- conditioner dealer. There he learned the industry from the inside out. Seven years later, he decided to take over a small, one-truck business in Ocala. Today that company is a top provider of air conditioning and heating services throughout Marion and Lake counties, with a staff that has more than 45 years of experience. PrecisionAIR even has its own brand of air conditioners, which it sells proudly along with other big-name brands. “Sales and service and replacement have always been our business,” Liner said. Focusing on different aspects of the air-conditioning industry has allowed him to continue to do well during the recent downturn in the housing industry. “I’ve been really blessed,” he said. Having been in the industry through the housing slump in the 1970s, Liner knew that was not something he wanted to repeat. Recognizing the coming downturn a little over a year ago, he remains active in new construction, but shifted the company’s focus from installing new systems to replacing and servicing home systems and working with businesses. Now PrecisionAIR designs systems for several non-residential clients. The company has worked with several food and clothing stores around central Florida, including some in Gainesville, Reddick and Sommerville. The business also specializes in working with churches. This diversity has helped maintain its position as a top air conditioning service provider. “When it hit, it really hurt everybody,” he said. “By the grace of God, we’re still doing well.” Liner’s tendency to constantly adapt his business to current conditions has helped PrecisionAIR enjoy great success over the years. “It’s not just an air-conditioning business anymore,” he said. “It’s a comfort-zone store.” PrecisionAIR is unique in that it has a large storefront where customers can come and actually see and purchase all the latest products. It draws customers in with a large sign promising “Filters; Any Size.” People come in to find filters, and are amazed to see the wide variety of products. If for some reason PrecisionAIR does not have the filter a customer needs, it will custom make one. Liner realizes that to achieve his ultimate business goals, he must let his company evolve with the needs of his customer base. He described one of his biggest goals as “serving the commercial needs of Marion and Lake counties, as well as residential service needs.” In addition to strengthening his company through business decisions, Liner succeeds by staying involved with the local

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Dave Liner business community. He is a member of the Ocala Chamber of Commerce and other organizations. Additionally, he is very involved with Meadowbrook Church, a non-denominational congregation in Ocala. In 1996, he formed Ocala Business Leaders, a networking club with more than 150 members. The organization gathers every Wednesday for breakfast to meet and learn about each other. Members arrive at the Elks Club and Lodge at 6 a.m. for networking, and breakfast starts at 6:30 a.m. “Early people tend to be positive people,” Liner said regarding the meeting time. Liner is very proud of his involvement with this group, which allows members to build relationships with other businesses and acquire good word-of-mouth advertising. “The idea is if we help enough others, we’ll get more business,” he said. “People know who you are, and they’ll recommend you to people they know. It’s the smartest marketing thing I’ve ever done.” To serve its community, the group partners with the Ocala Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Chamber of Commerce and other public service organizations. It also provides two scholarships annually to local colleges, in addition to supporting different charities on a regular basis. If Liner’s not at work, church or an Ocala Business Leaders meeting, you might be able to find him at home, sitting by his koi fish farm. He started raising koi at his last home in a small pond. When he and his wife moved, he knew he wanted more fish and thus needed a bigger pond. Now he has a pond that’s about three-feet deep, and some of his fish are as big as four feet. Sometimes he gives them to friends as gifts. He has even trained the fish so that when he walks outside and claps his hands, they all gather around, ready to be fed. “They’re beautiful fish,” he said. “It’s so relaxing to go sit and feed them and watch them play.” So from humble beginnings, Liner has made PrecisionAIR a leader in the Ocala air condition industry. PrecisionAIR is located at 3101 N.W. Pine Avenue in Ocala. For more information about the company, please call (352) 624-4000 or visit http://precisionairocala.com. For more information about Ocala Business Leaders, please visit http://ocalabusinessleaders.com.

BUILDING TRENDS

| DECember 2008

Cover Story

Completely Custom:

This Luetgert Development home combines northern charm with a southern location. Photographs by David Johnston

DECember December2008 2008 BUILDING BUILDINGTRENDS TRENDS

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Luetgert Development Creates Your Dream Home From Start to Finish by David Greenberg

hen you build with Luetgert Development Corporation, you get Chris Luetgert from start to finish. More so than just Chris, you get a highly experienced team that will be involved in every aspect from the first meeting on. And with Luetgert Development, which builds high-end custom homes primarily in Marion County, the prowww.BuildingTrendsMagazine.com

cess starts long before the first plan is drawn or the contract is signed. Luetgert Development builds homes starting at $1 million. The biggest project the company has had so far is a $17 million estate on 180 acres. “No matter what size home you are building, it is important to be involved in the entire process,” said Luetgert. “But with the homes we are

building, so much goes into them that we have to be involved from the very beginning.” This means Luetgert will start dealing with homebuyers from the first idea. “Maybe they come to me with some drawings or floor plans of another home they have seen and liked. Maybe it is just magazine BUILDING TRENDS

| DECember 2008

pictures,” he said. “When you are building homes like these, every home is different. You have to consider site conditions, elevation, trees, hardscape, and in many cases, we also have to consider separate buildings that go with the home.” PARTNERING WITH HOMEBUYERS In order to make it work, Luetgert literally partners with his homebuyers as they go through the engineering, architectural and permitting process. As a result, he invests countless hours of time and energy without any guarantee of a contract in the end. “We help them interview some of the architects and engineers we deal with,” he said. “We sit in on all those meetings. We help guide the architectural process and help them avoid pitfalls and mistakes. It is a huge investment of time for us. There’s no obligation at that point – no contract. But people can see that I am committed to them. I am just very customer-service oriented. It’s a gamble, but it allows me to show the customer up front that we are committed. In all that time, we have only lost two homebuyers. In one case, the couple ended up moving to North Carolina. In the other one, the homebuyer ended up having a financial crisis that prevented him from building. However, when you are dealing with homes of this size and price, an overrun can cost a great deal of money. This pre-contract involvement is not short term. Luetgert estimates that with the type of homes he is building, preplanning can take anywhere from three to 12 months.

( top) photo by Randall Moring. This home features ultimate cabana living with the outdoor kitchen and fireplace. Photo by David Johnston (middle) The wood-beamed ceiling and hideaway glass doors created the opportunity for indoor-outdoor living at its best. Photo by David Johnston (bottom) This kitchen, with its granite countertops and other features epitomizes elegance. Photo by Randall Moring

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A warm and brilliant sunset casts a magnificent glow on this home in Jumbolair. Photo by David Johnston Luetgert says that his involvement early in the process helps with the Marion County Building Department. “We have a great relationship with the building department,” he said. “We must be organized. Given what we are building, you have to, or else it becomes very difficult to get a permit in a timely manner.” While Luetgert suggests operating this way may be a gamble, it is one that is definitely paying off. Since 2004, has built more than 40 homes. The majority of his homes are in Golden Ocala, and some are in Jumbolair Aviation Estates. HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE At least one of his homeowners – Steve Grantz – suggests that the level of service by Luetgert long before he had a guarantee of a sale is what convinced him about the builder. The home Luetgert built for Grantz and his wife, Carolyn, is 9,542 square feet, with a 4,200-square-foot airplane hangar. The couple moved in during the summer of 2008. “Chris got our business because the process went so well,” said Grantz. “We

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could not find one plan we liked. So we took our favorite ideas, and made our own plans. Once they were far enough along, we went to a few builders to interview them. Some wanted deposits before the contract. But Chris took us around to different homes. He even took us on a trip to Naples to show us a house. He finally showed us a house he had built in Ocala, and we were sold. We decided he was not only capable, but we truly recognized the commitment he had made to us in the beginning. There was nothing stopping us from picking another builder at that time, and it all would have been lost to him. But we thought about his commitment and accessibility, and compared that to some of the others. We knew that if he had made this much of a commitment beforehand, we would have no problem during construction. His commitment to us paid off for him.” When you build with Luetgert, Chris is on the job. He has a team of people on staff, and a dedicated group of subcontractors and suppliers. But he is very much the face of the company throughout the entire process. Three key team members, however, are extremely influential in the success of

any project. Vice President Scott Andersen is responsible for much of the coordination of each job, including budgeting and purchasing. Chief Financial Officer Deborah Nazzari organizes financial and administrative responsibilities. Brenda Miller, Luetgert’s design coordinator, is available to work with homebuyers or their designers on interiors. It takes a great deal of experience and knowledge to build homes of this size. Luetgert has worked with custom builders in Tampa, Naples and Atlanta. Some of the Atlanta projects included homes for members of the Atlanta Braves and for singer Toni Braxton. He also spent time working for the largest commercial contractor in the United States. That experience included apartment complexes, schools, hospitals, retail centers and high-rise buildings. “The commercial company gave me a great deal of experience in planning and scheduling, something that is crucial in the kind of projects we do today,” he said. “It really helps to be organized and to understand the meaning of drop-dead dates and budgets when it comes to a construction timeframe.”

BUILDING TRENDS

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The Carolyn-blue, Venetian plaster walls create a unique look in this spacious bathroom. Photo by David Johnston

But Luetgert knew that what he really wanted to be building was high-end, custom homes. “I took a job with a small custom-home builder and became a superintendent – a move that included a drastic cut in pay, no corporate office and none of the perks that came with the commercial position. Ultimately, the move paid off, and I became the vice president for that custom homebuilder.” Luetgert stayed with the custom homebuilder in Tampa until his family persuaded him to move to Ocala. There was a small, high-end custom homebuilder in Ocala who wanted to expand his business. To Luetgert, it was like starting all over again. “We took a company that was building two to three homes a year and expanded it quickly – maybe too quickly for the owner,” said Luetgert. BUILDING HIS OWN COMPANY Luetgert seized the opportunity to create his own company. Golden Ocala was in the infancy stage. His reputation had been

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established in Ocala, and he was given the perfect opportunity to build high-end custom homes. As a result of all this experience, Luetgert not only knows how to do all the pre-planning, he is equally effective during the construction process. “In homes like this, there are so many options,” he said. “We have a design center that shows much of what we can do. We also have several furnished models that allow the customer to experience different styles of construction.” However, to run an operation like this takes more than one person with the kind of experience and knowledge possessed by Luetgert. That’s where Andersen comes in. Before coming to Luetgert Development, Andersen was the Ocala division president for a high-end, custom homebuilder, and prior to that he was the company president for an Arthur Rutenberg franchise in Orlando. “When Chris is not here, I can run the company for him,” said Andersen. “I meet with customers, negotiate deals and www.BuildingTrendsMagazine.com

The Carolyn/Terranian-style entryway sets the tone for this home. Photo by David Johnston www.BuildingTrendsMagazine.com

BUILDING TRENDS

| DECember 2008

With the pool in the background, this is outdoor living at its finest. Photo by David Johnston

An open, airy setting is created because there is no wall separating the dining and living area. Photo by David Johnston

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(top) One of the signatures views at Golden Ocala is the pool and putting green – a golfer’s ultimate dream. Photo by Randall Moring. (middle) This is a true media room with no other function besides entertainment. Photo by Randall Moring. (bottom) This office is an example of high-end, custom craftsmanship at its best. Photo by Randall Moring.

handle all the purchasing. I run the day-today operations for him.” And while Luetgert serves as the job superintendent for all his projects, he is adaptable. Grantz said that one of his requirements was to have a full-time, onsite supervisor. “Chris was extremely flexible about this,” said Grantz. “He doesn’t do that on every job. We discussed how it would work, and agreed on compensation for it. You learn that when you build with Chris, you have to be patient. I didn’t have a rigid timeline. But I wanted to make sure that weeks would not go by without something happening. It worked out well. We had weekly meetings every Wednesday, plus Chris came by on an as-needed basis. It was an excellent process.” Grantz described this method as a new experience for him. “I have never built a house like this before,” he said. “I have built a couple of smaller houses, where the builder already

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BUILDING TRENDS

| DECember 2008

(top) While the red chairs are very prominent, the seamless-glass windows provide an excellent view of the pool and open area beyond. Photo by David Johnston. (bottom) In this home, Bailey has her own private tub. On the tiles are paw prints of other dogs who have visited. Photo by David Johnston.

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had plans, and we were able to make minor “I don’t want to build production homes. modifications. There were a lot of hiccups I don’t want to have a selection of plans, on those, more than there should have and tell my homebuyers that that they can been. There are always hiccups, but deal- make a limited number of changes. For us, ing with Chris was much easier than those it is all about servicing the customer by earlier experiences.” building what they want.” Grantz said that the most unique Luetgert has built three homes for Don aspect of his home is a wood-burning Jenkins, who owns the Jenkins Auto Group. pizza oven. It is part of a summer kitchen All three homes are in Golden Ocala. One on the lanai. is an investment property, but Jenkins has “We used to really enjoy this restaurant lived in the other two. The first home was in Miami that had a wood-burning pizza built in 2006. It was 7,013 square feet. oven,” he said. “We decided to include it “We loved the home,” said Jenkins. in our home, and have a gas-burning fire- “The most interesting feature was probably place beneath it. Chris said he would love the glass-panel, arched entry doors. It also to do that. He introduced me to a local had vaulted ceilings, custom wood panelengineer to help us. We really wanted the ing in the office and many other unique feafireplace under the pizza oven. We had tures. We later saw that Chris was building to find the right fireplace, and it had to another home at Golden Ocala for himself. vent out the back. We worked with Chris We were looking at remodeling to expand, and the engineer, and were able to design but it really wasn’t feasible. After thinking something that would pass the code.” about what we wanted, moving into the new house made much more sense. It was larger, BEING CREATIVE and had more of the amenities we wanted. So I bought that one, and that is where we For Luetgert, it was an opportunity to live now – a 2008 Parade of Homes winner. be creative. “I have found that the most impor “The great thing about building like tant thing with Chris is the attention this is that every home is different,” he said. to detail,” said Jenkins. “He pays huge

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attention to detail, from smallest piece of crown molding to largest room in the house. And that same detail goes into his customer service.” With Luetgert there at the beginning, and during the entire construction process, you would expect him to be there at the end as well. “We shine just as much after the fact,” he said. “I am there all the way through. We work through the punch list, but if things come up later, we are still there. You are not going to build a $1 million house, and then have the homeowner be unhappy about the paint in the closet. You take care of it.” That helps in the long run, he said. “All our business has been word of mouth,” said Luetgert. “When your homeowner is talking to his friends, you don’t want them upset about some little thing at the end. That last 10 percent of the process is critical. We have a full staff just for the customer service after the fact.” Grantz confirms that Luetgert is just as serious about the end of the process as he is about the beginning. “We did not have any big issues at the end. As with any new home, there were a few little things on our punch list, but whatever there was, Chris was on top of it,” he said. “This is hopefully the last house I will ever build. That’s why we put so much into it. I am considering building a high-end spec home here at Jumbolair, and there is absolutely no question that I would use Chris to build it. And of course, it goes without saying that, without any reservation, I would recommend him to others.” For Jenkins, the attention to detail after the home is finished is the main reason he would go back to Luetgert again in the future. “If I build again, it will definitely be with Chris,” he said. “There is no question about that. One of the things that really impressed me most about Chris is his ability to get the house done when he says it will be done.”

The custom, wood-and-iron staircase is both beautiful and demonstrates terrific use of space. Photo by David Johnston

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BUILDING TRENDS

| DECember 2008

The free-form, carved-rock, lagoon-style pool enhances the outdoor living. Photo by David Johnston

This home was built around the wood-burning pizza oven and the fireplace. Photo by David Johnston.

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Luetgert simply believes that customer service and building quality homes are the two most important aspects of what he does, and agrees that in most cases, he is building someone’s last home. “I really enjoy having that kind of opportunity,” he said. “I like things just the way they are. I don’t want to be a huge company building production housing or building custom homes that are not really custom. I want to always be in the position where I can establish that personal relationship with each client. For many of them, this is the biggest investment of their lives in terms of money, time and emotion. I have to do it right.” To learn more about the homebuilding opportunities with Luetgert Development Corporation, go online to www.luetgertdev.com, or call (352) 369-8300. Florida State License CGC1508026

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Jake’s Corner

Jake Fuller appears regularly in Advantage Publishing’s magazines as our featured political cartoonist. Originally from Lakeland, Fuller has been living in Gainesville since 1970. He is married to Laura Fuller, probably well-known to many local business leaders. They have two sons, both attending Santa Fe Community College. His work is internationally syndicated by Artizans.com, and also appears on the websites of Jewish World Review, Irreverent View and AAEC, and in the annual publication “The Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year.”

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You cook. You wash. You dry. You save. Receive rebates up to $750 and make your energy bills smaller by requesting natural gas. It’s the smartest decision you can make. Natural gas has lower usage costs for household appliances such as the water heater, stove and dryer and is also energy efficient and safe. Save more money for your home. To request natural gas or for current pricing information, call GRU Gas Marketing at (352) 393-1464 or visit gru.com.

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BUILDING TRENDS

| DECember 2008

Architectural Perspective

Sustainable/Green Design & Construction By Roland Sosa

his is one of the hottest new issues within the architectural and construction community for quite some time. The reasons for this emphasis are many, but primarily people want to do the right thing with regards to our future, our pocketbooks, and the environment. The reliance of antiquated energy products such as oil, coal, and their inherent drawbacks have people thinking that there needs to be a better way. Our recent economic slowdown with record high oil prices, as well as the banking, financing, and Wall Street problems seemed to echo a sentiment of change. There are several national organizations that provide support for these initiatives, they organize and standardize the process so there are quantifiable results. There are many decisions to make that impact both the budget and the schedule. Of course, the levels of sustainable design certification are diverse and are tiered from basically picking the low hanging fruit, to innovative solutions that embrace new technologies and provide us with wonderful solutions that point toward the future. The process of a sustainable design and its construction is a noble and worthwhile effort that can have rewarding, personal satisfaction, years past the initial design and construction. This effort will pay dividends for many years to come with regards to recurring cost savings in utility bills and the improved comfort and convenience of our work space and living quarters (heating, air-conditioning, humidity, etc.). There is also the intangible of doing something good for our kids, our community, and our fellow citizens. There are no green police, so what we really have to accomplish has more to do with who we are and how we feel both morally and spiritually, after all, our comfort level and our lifestyle reflect in the choices that we make. The main elements of what many

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of these organizations want to formally accomplish is a systematic approach that when followed will assure some level of success. This new idea or approach is something that has a lot of common sense and has some roots in the past with regards to products and their selection. In the â&#x20AC;&#x153;old daysâ&#x20AC;? we were never as wasteful as we are today, and we typically used materials and products that were from local or adjacent communities. Sustainable design has many different parts that make up what its core mission really is. It simply has to do with preventing or minimizing pollution, using water efficiently, using less energy or using energy that is abundant (such as wind, solar and hydro). Optimizing our heating and air conditioning systems to prevent wasteful and inefficient use, recycling of materials and use of local materials, improve indoor air quality, reduced use of materials and waste in general. Things are not quite that simple or straightforward and not everyone needs or wants to go through the formal process of certifying a building but we can all participate. A building or home owner can take some steps that embrace the spirit of sustainable design for their particular needs regardless of size and complexity. The spirit of sustainable design can be accomplished by everyone both at home and at the office, and it can be passive (using less) or proactive such as starting a recycling program for paper, plastic, glass, and metal. This proactive approach is free, easy, and requires nothing special; the recyclables can be taken to any neighborhood center once a week or as it fits our lifestyles. Also, when purchasing new products or materials, check the contents and see if recycled materials were used in its production or manufacturing. For example, carpeting is one product that has really embraced recycled contents. Energy use reduction will save you money and can be as simple as www.BuildingTrendsMagazine.com

you really had to wonder if driving past several gas stations to save a few cents was the best decision. How much did it cost him to drive around to save 15 cents? A lot more than 15 cents.!

#ONTACT #OLUMBIA #OUNTY "UILDERSÂ´ !SSOCIATION TO LET US SHOW YOU OUR TALENTS AND DEMONSTRATE INNOVATIONS FOR YOUR NEW HOME

turning the lights and other equipment off when not in use, or turning the thermostat one degree hotter in the summer or one degree colder in the winter, keeping your air conditioning units clean and efficient, and putting an insulating blanket on a water heater. The reduction of water use can easily be accomplished and 0HONE OR E MAIL again can save you money, the way we take showers, wash our dishes, COLCOUNTYBUILD BELLSOUTH NET FOR A LIST OF BUILDERS and irrigate our lawn can be adjusted in such a way that it will not be intrusive. Other water saving features might entail capturing some NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA MAY 2008 BUILDING EDGE 23 rain water via rain barrels and/or other means necessary to use rain water instead of water from a well or municipal agency. There are many different resources available to help you accom Improvement of indoor air quality can also be accomplished by plish the desired level of sustainable design. They can include the reducing the volatile organic compounds (bad chemicals that gives us a strong smell) in adhesives and binders that are harmful for us â&#x20AC;&#x153;learn as you go research type,â&#x20AC;? the internet junkie, and for the more to breathe; this might include adhesives in carpeting, plastics, and complex projects, hiring a professional firm with proper accreditation to provide you with their expertise and knowledge. There are no other common household materials. This also dovetails into the materials selected for your home or office, some materials are easily wrong choices and whatever positive action each person endeavors and quickly reproduced (such as cork, bamboo, linoleum), but other to accomplish with their personal slice of heaven, the final result will be good for all of us. exotic woods take too long to reproduce and/or may only grow in a Rolando Sosa is a Senior Partner and Co-Founder of rain forest environment. Another component to all of this is where the product originated from, the closer the purchased material is to Architecture Studio, Inc., whose firm is currently in the process of you and your project the fewer resources, including fuel that were providing sustainable design efforts for the new Forest Library for Marion County Commission. used to get it to you.

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BUILDING TRENDS

| DECember 2008

In The News

Lake City’s Martin Interiors Expands M By Victoria Phillips

artin Interiors is moving up. The Lake City company has move to a new, larger location, where it can offer a broader selection of flooring and a more spacious showroom. In business for six years, Martin Interiors has come a long way from its simple beginnings. “I started doing installation myself of laminated wood flooring. Eventually, one thing just lead to another,” owner Jamin Martin said. “Four months ago we opened a bigger store at a new location.” Offering a wide variety of flooring Martin Interiors is stocked to satisfy any

taste. From marble, higher end carpet patterns, distressed woods, deco pieces and even cork, they have it all. Cork makes an awesome office floor, and it’s not too expensive, he said. It’s quiet, but resilient to dents and scratches. Now with more space, their showroom has expanded to include a section of wood flooring where you can see different varieties and how they look together. If that isn’t incentive enough, special discounts are also being offered to new and walk-in customers. Customer satisfaction is Martin Interiors’ number one priority. The company has an interior decorator available to help and will even bring samples by your home if you aren’t able to make it to the showroom. “We’ve got quality installers. Our instillation team will stand behind our work,” Martin said. For more information call Jamin Martin at 386-752-9800 or go into the store at 1468 SW Main Blvd. Suite 103, in Lake City.

Upcoming Events This is a sampling of the upcoming events at the Builders Association of North Central Florida (BANCF), Marion County Building Industry Association (MCBIA) and Columbia County Builders Association (CCBA).

BANCF

(www.bancf.com)

Dec. 12 – Installation Banquet March 14 - March 15, 2009 – North Central Florida Home Show

MCBIA

(www.mcbia.org)

Dec. 12 – Installation Banquet/ Holiday Gala

CCBA

(www.buildcolumbiacounty.com)

Dec. 6 – Year End Banquet

For complete listings of upcoming events, please visit the association Web sites.

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Supplier Spotlight

Two Men and a Truck: By May Smith

Exceeding Expectations

Mark Golden, the owner of the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Gainesville operation sits in front of the office with his wife, Saundria, and children, Cassidy and Seth.

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usy builders don’t have time to deal with the stresses of moving. Dealing with moving companies that may be late to appointments, damage furniture or work with undertrained movers are unnecessary nuisances that Mark Golden, the owner of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® in Gainesville, would like to help builders avoid. Golden says it is in his company’s best interests to establish good relations with builders, who are often working with homeowners preparing to move. “We’d like a situation where they could just call us and not have to worry about the rest of it,” he said. “Working with builders provides us with great networking opportunities.” He is confident that anyone who uses his company will have this type of pleasant experience. “Once they use us, they’ll want to use us for the rest of their moves,” said Golden. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK’s® dedicated to customer service is the reason Golden is so confident. The company encourages clients to fill out customer reply cards to make sure employees are doing an excellent job. For all jobs, the company offers full-value protection for up to $50,000 on customers’ belongings. The standard protection for a lot of companies is only 60 cents per pound. Additionally, managers make random, on-site visits to observe workers, and speak with clients. They try to observe each employee once a week, and be discreet so movers don’t know they’re being watched at the time. They follow the Grandma Rule, Golden said. He expects employees to treat customers the way they would want their grandmothers to be treated. The goal is to always exceed expectations and make moving as positive of an experience as possible. Golden and his employees aim to give customers exactly what they want from every move. “We really try to simplify things and customize each move for each individual,” he said. Every move is tailor-made for the client, and TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® makes sure to provide whatever a customer may need. For a low price, they sell boxes and other packing supplies. They also offer specialty boxes, such as those for large pictures or hanging clothes. Any unused boxes may be returned for a full refund. For Golden, offering customized moves means accepting all types of jobs. “The size of the job doesn’t matter,” he said. “We want to be the ones to move you.” TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is happy to help with all customer needs, whether they are simply moving heavy furniture, packing an entire house to move cross country, or helping a builder set up a model home. Here the value of customer service is emphasized beginning with the first phone call from a prospective customer. At this time, clients are offered free estimates for jobs no matter the size.

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“The key to a successful move is communication between the customer, the office staff and the mover,” Golden said. “The more information our office staff is able to get from the customer, the more accurate our estimates will be.” This devotion to customer service is not limited to the Gainesville branch of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®. The franchise, which has 202 locations worldwide, was ranked number one in Customer Satisfaction with Full Service Moving Companies by J.D. Power and Associates in 2008. Of course, Golden does not send movers on a job without intense training. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® does not use temporary laborers. All employees are in uniform, and have passed a two-week training course before being sent to jobs. For Golden, providing customer service with quality employees starts with the hiring process. All employees are submitted to background checks and drug screens before being hired. “If you hire good people, you can make them a good mover,” he said. Selecting employees based on personal characteristics rather than moving expertise or skills has worked out well for him. “You have to believe in the people you hire,” he said. In addition to serving the Gainesville area, Golden looks for opportunities to be involved in the community. One example of that community involvement occurred when the mover stepped in to help the Child Advocacy Center when the agency had to move suddenly a few months ago. Golden is also a member of the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Builder’s Association of North Central Florida (BANCF). He has always appreciated the business builders sent him and is hoping to expand the company’s involvement within the building community. He has begun to do this already through moving model home furniture. Additionally, the company has donated hours of moving services to help with BANCF’s Parade of Homes™. Golden also hopes to increase the company’s involvement in community service. “To this point, we haven’t been involved enough,” he said. “I’d like to change that.” The way he’d most like to help out is by donating TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® services and trucks to charities in need. Recently, when the Child Advocacy Center flooded, the company was there to help move everything out.

“I believe you reap what you sow,” Golden said. “If we do good things, they will come back to us.” Child Advocacy Center Director Sherry Kitchens said the services provided by the mover were critical to getting the move accomplished. “TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® was wonderful to us at the Child Advocacy Center,” she said. “In September, when we had to move from our center unexpectedly, Two Men and a Truck donated their moving services to us. They were professional, courteous, timely and careful in addition to incredibly charitable. We are so grateful to them in our time of need.” His is a view shared by the national organization, which makes a donation from every move to the American Cancer Society. According to the company’s Web site, founder Mary Ellen Sheets has been devoted to community service her entire life. In the first year of operation, she kept a $1,000 profit and gave the rest to charity. Now, the organization encourages franchisees to participate in community service but does not require it. It awards a Humanitarian Award annually to recognize “actions of a purely philanthropic nature.” This has become one of the most coveted awards in the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® system. Many franchisees help their communities through discounting moves, donating services and trucks to coat and toy drives, and helping victims of natural disasters with time, resources and money. Golden wants to increase his franchise’s participation in these types of activities and is happy to talk with any local charities about such opportunities. Golden says he looks forward to giving back to the community that has welcomed him, and given him so much. He started working with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® in Huntsville, AL. While working there, he developed an admiration and respect for the customer-service oriented company. Eventually, he decided he wanted to open his own franchise. He and his wife, Saundria, picked Gainesville as the place for the new business and moved here with their two children, Cassidy and Seth. “We visited here and thought this would be a great place to raise a family,” he said. “After considering a few different locations, we prayed about it and felt like this is where we needed to be.” He opened the company in September 2007. In the past years, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® has more than doubled its number of trucks. For more information on TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, please call (352) 372-0300 or visit http://twomenandatruck.com.

The crew at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® www.BuildingTrendsMagazine.com

BUILDING TRENDS

| DECember 2008

Index to Advertisers

Categorical Index Air Conditioning/HVAC Sun Kool Air Conditioning.................................... Pages 10, 35

Lighting/Fans Lightsource . ..............................................................Page 18

Aluminum Aluma-Tec..................................................................Page 13

Masonry/Concrete Lintels Marion Masonry Materials........................................... Page 11

Architecture/Design Planning Architecture Studio, Inc ............................................. Page 17

Mortgage/Lending American Mortgage Group.......................................... Page 17

Building Materials Seacoast Supply.........................................................Page 35

Network Solutions ComSys......................................................................Page 15

Cabinets Busby Cabinets...........................................................Page 35

Photography Johnston Photography.................................. Inside Back Cover

Central Vacuum Systems Crime Prevention Security Systems............Outside Back Cover Custom Home Entertainment.....................Outside Back Cover

Plumbing Ferguson Enterprises...................................Inside Front Cover

Charity/Non-Profit March of Dimes............................................................Page 3 Countertops Bowen Tile Sales.........................................................Page 13 Flooring/Tile Bowen Tile..................................................................Page 13 Full Technology Integrator Crime Prevention Security Systems............Outside Back Cover Garage Doors/Overhead Doors Economy Garage Doors....................................... Pages 11, 35 Overhead Door Company of Gainesville........................Page 4 Home Entertainment Custom Home Entertainment.....................Outside Back Cover Insulation Suncoast Insulators.....................................................Page 35 Landscape Services Lewis & Henley Landscape Services............................Page 34

Pools/Spas Pools of Jade..............................................................Page 35 Roofing/Tile Roofs Don Poss Roofing.........................................................Page 4 Security Systems Crime Prevention Security Systems............Outside Back Cover Solar Heating/Consulting ECS Solar Energy Systems............................................. Page 7 Structured Wiring Crime Prevention Security Systems...................... Outside Back Cover Tile/Stone Bowen Tile Sales.........................................................Page 13 Utilities Gainesville Regional Utilities........................................ Page 31 Progress Energy..........................................................Page 10 Voice/Data/Access Control ComSys......................................................................Page 15

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DECember 2008

BUILDING TRENDS