Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Dooley.
Sean, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up around construction and I always enjoyed visiting jobsites with my dad who has been involved in custom home construction and land development since the early 90’s. I started out working in the field for my Dad cleaning up jobsites, landscaping, and mowing lawns during the summer months. Throughout my high school years, I became more involved in the actual home building process, such as purchasing and bidding. After my early exposure to construction at my Dad’s company I decided that I wanted to pursue this as a career so I proceeded to attend Texas A&M University and graduated in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Construction Science. Upon graduation I entered the residential construction industry and proceeded to build custom homes and multifamily properties for the next 8 years. As of 2015 I started Dooley Custom Homes and I have been striving to continually expand my knowledge base in order to build the highest quality homes with an emphasis on building science.
Great, 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?
As with any business it is an uphill battle in the beginning and then you start to experience a sinewave like pattern with somewhat regular fluctuations in business due to the real estate market and the economy in general. On a micro level every project has its unique challenges, such as material shortages, bad weather, labor shortages, or design challenges. I try to keep an open mind and preempt as many issues as I can both prior to construction and while in the field. One recent challenge was coming up with a way to run a staircase in front of a large window at the front of a home while incorporating a wine room under the stairs all without blocking too much of the natural light coming in through the window. After several design iterations and careful cost analysis it was decided to incorporate a floating stair into the design and move the wine room off to the side sheathed with the same stone, we used on the exterior to provide a little visual texture. The sitting area was then placed directly under the floating stair to take advantage of the natural light.
Please tell us about your business.
I like to take a hands-on approach in my company and I handle all of the customer interactions, bidding, scheduling, purchasing, and field supervision. I enjoy being involved in every aspect of the construction process in order to make sure my customers’ needs and desires are met. What sets my company apart from others is the attention to detail when it comes to materials and methods. For instance, I always specify higher end weather barriers, such as Tyvek, and I also make sure the associated window tape and air sealing tape are compatible with the weather barrier instead of defaulting to the cheapest option available. In addition, I will custom manufacture metal flashings for my jobs with a thicker gauge metal instead of purchasing the mass produced versions provided by many lumber suppliers. These are just a few of the many things that I incorporate into my builds that I have seen make a difference in the longevity of a home. Many potential buyers are unaware of these differences unless I point them out because they are typically concealed by the exterior cladding. Most builders are focused on obtaining the cheapest construction materials possible for anything that will be hidden behind the walls.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The most important characteristic that has led to my success is attention to detail.
Pricing:
- Custom home pricing typically ranges from $150 to $275 per living SQFT
Contact Info:
- Phone: 832-775-0732
- Email: sdooley@tfdc.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dooley_custom_homes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dooleycustomhomes
Image Credit:
BK Designs Photography
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