Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeannine Nuzzi
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
We moved a few times when I was a child and, with each move, my parents would buy a new home or renovate an old one and it fostered my appreciation for watching how neighborhoods and the homes inside them evolve and change. I originally worked for a production builder selling new homes but, after buying my first home and managing my own renovation, I fell in love with the process. That first foray into renovation grew into managing a renovation for a friend, and then a business plan I outlined with my dad! I started building townhomes and patio homes, but quickly realized that my true passion lies in building custom homes. Every square foot is tailored to a client’s needs, creating distinctive environments that are unlike anything else.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’m not sure that any business owner would say their road has always been smooth! I like to think that the struggles aren’t all roadblocks, but rather pressure points that encourage you to build and improve your business. How you manage challenges is important in this industry because your clients are watching and your actions inform how you may deal with issues that arise in their project. When I started as a builder, women weren’t the norm in this industry (we’re still not, but our numbers are growing!) and I definitely got some pushback from subcontractors. Instead of walking away, I focused on developing those relationships, an effort that resulted in me putting together a longstanding team of craftsmen who have grown with me and my business. Building a business also taught me that I’m pretty good at business development – the time spent building relationships with subcontractors translated into an ability to build the same with clients, bankers, architects, and more.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Gabriel Home Builders?
Our team constructs custom homes that we fully expect to be standing 100 years from now. I live in a 100-year-old home and I’m passionate about the workmanship that goes into creating a home that will stand the test of time. This respect for the process is also reflected in the way we work with our clients. I’m not a builder who goes in and sells a project and then turns everything over to a project manager. I’ll be on the other end of the phone when you call and I’ll be at 90% of the meetings you have with our team. We pay close attention to the details and this is reflected in the quality and service every one of our homeowners receives. We’re committed to building luxury homes worthy of their legacies and that’s not a mission we take lightly.
Do you feel like our city is a good place for businesses like yours? If someone was just starting out, would you recommend them starting out here? If not, what can our city do to improve?
Houston is a fantastic place to build a business! I’m not a native Houstonian but I would tell anyone to go for it if they were considering a move. From younger families who transfer to Houston for job opportunities in medicine or oil and gas to established families who are working in the same industries (among many others), there are so many people to serve. Houston also has a great mix of neighborhoods and the inner loop areas where I focus most of my business all have a slightly different vibe. For instance, Montrose and River Oaks have distinct personalities even though they border one another and there are a multitude of suburbs where builders can craft anything from custom to semi-custom or production homes. Throw in an increased focus on preserving historic homes and you’ll find that there’s truly a space for everyone at Houston’s table.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@gabrielhomebuilders
- Website: https://gabrielhomebuilders.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielhomebuilders/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GabrielHomeBuilders
Image Credits
Jeannine Nuzzi — Joe Robbins Photography Gabriel Bath — Divya Pande Gabriel Exterior Historic — Divya Pande Gabriel Kitchen — Julie Soefer Gabriel Open Concept — Chase Daniel
