An Eye for Excellence
by Jo Hunter
When Buck Horn begins working with a new client, he often chooses an unlikely starting point – the client’s current home. “I like to understand the family and how they live and what matters to them,” he points out. “It’s helpful to take a current room with their furniture in it and say, ‘Does this room need to be larger? Is this the furniture you will be using? Where do you spend time together as a family? Do you need a place for hobbies?
Where do the children like to play? And on and on. “What we’re doing is so much more than putting together a beautiful structure – we’re providing a place where they can enjoy life. So you could take two families with the same budget and even the same starting blueprint, and you might – and probably should – wind up with a very different interior, because no two families are alike. “The key is listening – really listening – and asking the right questions up front. We also go visit other homes I’ve built and talk through the special touches they like and how they would like to make their home unique to them. And, always, I recommend that they talk to families I’ve built homes for. Word of mouth referrals are absolutely how I have built my business, and they are a key reason we’ve continued to grow even through a tough economy.”
Doing the kind of quality work that earns his clients’ trust has been a key to Buck Horn’s success from the time he was a youngster mowing yards, through his college years when he ran an ice cream shop to his early career as a real estate agent. “I was helping families find and purchase the home they were looking for,” he recalls. “It was a natural extension in 1998 to begin creating those homes for them. To me, there’s nothing like seeing a finely made custom home evolve, or a renovation take shape, and knowing we delivered excellent craftsmanship and solid value the client will enjoy for many years.”
Clients like Jeff and Kim Ickes confirm the satisfaction that comes from working with a builder who looks for ways to bring added value to the process. “We interviewed several builders when we decided to build our home. Upon comparing builders, what we found that was some of the upgrades we wanted were standard with Buck. He guided us through the process, and we enjoyed working with all his subs. We quickly realized we received far more for our money by working with him. Once we finally closed, it appraised for far more than we invested!”
Going above and beyond
While he has worked on projects ranging from $120,000 renovations to $2 million custom homes, most Buck Horn homes are in the $350,000 – $700,000 range. Whatever the size and budget, Buck Horn Construction is known for its willingness to go above and beyond to create truly exceptional results. Examples range from high-end trim to unique wood inlay patterns, custom wine cellars and one-of-a-kind stairway designs. “I named my company Buck Horn Construction because I wanted clients to know that I believe in our quality so much I put my own name on it and stand behind it 100 percent.” Clearly, everyone involved in any facet of a Buck Horn home must reflect those high standards; Horn takes pride in the relationships he has established with a carefully selected team of suppliers and subcontractors who have a proven commitment to quality and craftsmanship.
Currently serving on the board of directors for the Winston-Salem Home Builders Association, he has been a member of the WSHBA since 2001, participating in multiple Parade of Homes events and earning numerous gold and silver awards. His home in the Milburn development was selected for the 2010 WSHBA Spring Festival, and he has been chosen to build the WSHBA House for the 2011 Fall Parade of Homes, located in Brookberry Farms. Upcoming projects include homes in the new Lissara development.
He’s also been chosen as the builder for the 2011 Concept Home in the Triad area. As the name “concept home” suggests, this home will feature the latest in new home design trends, offering visitors a unique opportunity to gather ideas for their next home renovation or new construction project. The home is located in the Milburn neighborhood and will be available for tours beginning in August. All funds raised will go toward the cure and control of Cystic Fibrosis.
What are the trends he’s seeing in new homes and renovations? “There is more emphasis on outdoor living, with spacious settings, fireplaces, sound systems and outdoor projection capabilities. Three-car garages are standard now, along with larger pantries and a ‘drop zone’ for keys and other items as you come into the house. We’re also seeing interest in custom coffee stations near the master bedroom/bath/dressing area. And, more recently, we’re having inquiries about ‘safe rooms’ with extra reinforcement. “That’s where we bring value early in the process by helping clients think through the details that will help enhance life over the long term. We tell them, ‘If you can dream it, we can build it.’ Most important, they know we’ll build it well.”
