Modern Home Builders Issue 135 October 2024 | Page 44

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“ To overcome this hurdle , we decided to start building more affordable homes with locked-in prices . The trend seemed to be that homes began to sell once they reached a certain stage where the client could actually see what they were going to look like , and we were far enough through the process to set a closing date . Noticing this trend , we started offering a lot more affordable homes but after doing this for two or three years , many of the agents and homeowners out there began to view us as more of an entry-level builder , which is not what we are . Indeed , we have 21 years of experience building absolutely beautiful homes tailored exactly the way the homeowner wants , in line with our ‘ their home , not ours ’ mantra . Thus , to preserve our image , we began offering our affordable homes under the Gladiator brand ,” he explains .
Design trends
Apart from the need for more affordable housing , Happe has faced evolving demands for different homebuilding styles . “ A couple of years ago , Cape Cod style homes featuring a lot of blues and whites were all the rage . While this style is still popular , there is a resurgence of tans , though not as prominent as ten years ago when tan walls , cherry stained trim , or
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