7 minute read
Serrano’s Custom Home Builders
A place like Serrano doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of masterful planning, a clear vision and a commitment to a higher standard in everything from the landscapes to the rooftops. e most visible aspect is, of course, the homes themselves. Every custom home is like an original work of art, and the builders of these masterpieces are as unique as the homes themselves. If there’s a common thread among them, it’s that building is in their blood, and the passion they bring to their work is a signature element of what makes Serrano special. You know their work already. Now here are their stories.
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by BILL ROMANELLI photography provided by SERRANO BUILDERS
CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS
MEET THE VISIONARIES
Wichert Homes
Craig Wichert
CRAIG WICHERT—WICHERT HOMES
raig Wichert never thought about a career in anything other than homebuilding. Both his father and grandfather were builders, and Wichert spent C most of his early years on the job site learning the trade. He ultimately went on to launch Wichert Homes in 1989. Now, 31 years later, his work can be found throughout Serrano, and he’s recognized as an authority on custom homebuilding throughout the Sacramento area. “I’ve always felt the key to client satisfaction was partnering every step of the way, before, during and after the build,” Wichert says. “Building your dream home from the ground up can be a very stressful process, but it doesn’t have to be. As a turn-key builder, we walk clients through picking the best lot to their backyard and pool. Our No. 1 goal is to make sure our clients are always happy and content throughout the process.”
A Serrano resident himself, Wichert bears the unique distinction of being one of the rst homeowners inside Serrano’s gates, as well as the proud builder of more than 100 custom Serrano homes. No two homes are alike, and where they do share some common features, those are a re ection of his commitment to design endurance and long-term integrity.
“We try to build our homes completely bulletproof,” Wichert says. “ at means everything from the roof to the windows, and ensuring the drainage systems can stand up to long-term weather while, at the same time, each is designed with great curb appeal. From initial design to the nished product, a home is the re ection of each client’s taste and style, and built upon a foundation of planning, craftsmanship and pride.” wicherthomes.com
TIM LANCASTER AND MIKE ROTH— EPIC DESIGN GROUP, INC.
pic Design LLC was founded in 2015 when Tim Lancaster and Mike Roth—who together have more than 45 years of home building and real estate development experience as general contractors—decided to launch a rm that would build distinct architectural wonE ders that help people bring their dream homes into reality.
“ e creation of a custom home should be a positive experience; it’s where you and your family are going to enjoy many years of your lives,” Lancaster says. “Our goal is to deliver an outstanding experience throughout the entire design and construction process.” e company has so far built nine homes in the Serrano community, with six more slated to start this summer. e rm’s partners, who are both second-generation builders, pride themselves on o ering in-house interior design and construction crews. at capability enables them to merge creative design solutions, engineering, masterful construction and the expertise to manage a project from start to nish.
At the same time, every project is developed in close coordination with the Serrano Design Review Committee to ensure it complements Serrano’s aesthetics—something Lancaster and Roth have a vested interest in preserving. Both have lived in Serrano for more than 16 years.
“We both love the rolling hills, great views, excellent schools and family-focused community that make Serrano a great place to call home,” Lancaster says. “Our goal with every home we build is to enhance the value of this community for everyone, and to deliver a dream home that, on day one, has an appraised value that exceeds the project cost.” epicdesignllc.com
Sherine and Ray Lee
RAY AND SHERINE LEE— LEE LUXURY HOMES
Ray and Sherine Lee founded Lee Luxury Homes in 1991, after both had enjoyed successful careers in and around the construction industry. Ray is a secondgeneration builder who built homes “on the side” while he was working for C.C. Myers as a bridge builder. Sherine was a college director where, among her many accomplishments, she was responsible for building a Sacramento college campus from the ground up. Together, they also have developed an impressive reputation for building exceptional custom estates.
“We approach every new home as a husband and wife team, with Ray focusing on project speci cations and craftsmanship and me employing my management, administration and interior design background,” Sherine says.
Both natives of Northern California, Ray and Sherine moved to Serrano from Rocklin in 2001, after discovering it was the perfect place to raise a family while o ering a great lifestyle for adults. Together they’ve built more than 70 homes throughout the Serrano community and, having built and remodeled several luxury homes of their own, they understand the intricacies of home construction from the standpoint of both the homeowner and their contractor.
Ultimately, of course, their goal is to ensure every client’s dream home is created with only the highest standards in design, material and craftsmanship. Ask them about the hallmark of their homes, and they will always answer with “quality, quality, quality.” But the true measure of their success isn’t just a job well done, it’s the relationships they form with their clients.
“We treasure the long-lasting friendships we have developed with our clients over the years,” Sherine says. “Friendship is a gift, and for us that’s the greatest compliment we can ever receive for our hard work.” leeluxuryhomes.com
KENT SCIUTTO—TURN-KEY CONSTRUCTION GROUP
ent Sciutto is the president and founder of Turn-Key Construction Group, a company he launched in 2003. As a general K contractor and master craftsman who was born into construction, he made a name for himself in the Bay Area before falling in love with El Dorado Hills, and subsequently moving to Serrano in 2002.
“I have a deep passion for custom homes and custom construction, and I thank God for the blessing I’ve been given to share my talents and passion this way,” Sciutto says. “I’ve never built the same home twice; every home is personalized to the owner, and it’s very satisfying when they tell me their new home is exactly what they wanted.”
Sciutto and his team have been building homes for 35 years, including 12 custom homes in Serrano, with ve more in the planning stages, and have completed remodels in all of Serrano’s villages. ey work with clients through every step in the process, from lot selection to interior design, with a focus on best practices in construction design and innovation.
“From the beginning, I like to start with the exact budget clients want to spend so we can design a project that ful lls their dreams and meets their expectations,” Sciutto says.
To ensure his projects add value to the quality of life, Sciutto serves as an alternative on the Design Review Committee. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting, cooking, entertaining and exploring the Serrano outdoors with his family. turnkeyconstructiongroup.com
Kent Sciutto
