Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Henry.
Justin, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I initially started the company in 2010 as a way to provide extra income for his family & soon coming firstborn son Alexander. That’s where the name Zander Homes™ comes from, his son Alexander; which means defender of man.
During this time my experience was solely limited to being a Superintendent for another/other local Homebuilders. About the time of the back end of the recession, I was let go by a homebuilder. But during that time, I believed enough to take a chance on myself this time, as there really wasn’t too much more to loose.
So I began doing small remodeling jobs first while working as a Territory Manager for a cabinet company. Then after a few jobs, I then built & sold my first spec in Houston’s First Ward/Sawyer Heights area.
This alone is a great story itself, as 90% of most successful homebuilding companies are started by previous executives or investors from other homebuilding companies, using their funds & contacts that they made from their previous companies’ roles to branch out on their own. My professional experience was being a Construction Manager for other homebuilders.
I always tell the story of our first built spec home, saying “if I build one home – it’s one more home than I ever done before” and with that Zander Homes™ was born!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road is never smooth or straight. I was starting a homebuilding company on the tail end of the great recession, with little funds, contacts or future jobs – just this one in front of me to build & sale. Not to mention that Houston has historically been the Top & Most competitive Homebuilding market in America with some of the Nations largest builders headquartering here; as well as some great long time custom builders.
Homebuilding is an extermely capital intensive industry with very long return cycles. I remember walking into 6-different local banks then whom I was referred to, with only 1-person taking the time to speak with me. As I was told I was too young, no backing or experience or history, etc. I actually drove up to College Station to meet with a lender there, as a friends inlaw worked there & thought they maybe able to help. They are still one of our local partners today.
Please tell us about Zander Homes™.
We are a custom homebuilder who primarily constructions “Build on Your Lot” homes for Houstonians in & around greater Houston. We’ve also built several small townhome developments in the inner-loop.
We take great pride in caring for our customers and their homes, as we truly care about them & the end product, including our service to homeowners. We’re fully committed to educating our educating our clients in their homes and the process so that they can make the best decisions for them personally.
We are very proud of the fact that we’ve been awarded/recognized over 62-times since 2014 in the local & state homebuilding industry. With most recently, we were the Texas Association of Builders (TAB) 2019 Custom Builder of the Year “Finalist”. Though we may not have won, being honored among our peers and so many outstanding companies is a great achievement.
I can’t express how much I personally love when one of our homeowners tells us that sincere thank you or we love our home, after seeing them a few months after living in their home. That lets me know we’re trying to do things right for the right reasons!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
This is a very good question & I am not sure. Though we needed capital to progress faster – if I would have done funding or others, I would have given away part of the company to do so & we wouldn’t be who we are today. I think the one thing would to be to hire good people faster. But every entrepreneur, start up or small business struggles with the – can I afford to hire this person or that person. Most people don’t know but for a very long time it was myself & then one other – doing all the heavy lifting during those years. Focused on saving & building and ensuring we can turn a profit & pay ourselves, while not putting stress on the company is big part of all companies. But I can look back and see that if you hire and support good people their efforts will pay for themselves sooner than one would expect.
Contact Info:
- Address: 15311 Vantage Pkwy. W
Houston, TX 77032
suite.317 - Website: www.zanderhomes.net
- Phone: 281.330.9893
- Email: justin@zanderhomes.net
- Instagram: @Zander_Homes
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZanderHomesHoustonTX
- Twitter: @ZanderHomes
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/zander-homes-houston
- Other: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/home-builders/zander-homes-pfvwus-pf~2114692468]
Image Credit:
Sabrina Casas Photography Studios
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