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Focus on Custom Homebuilders: Primrose Homes, Inc.
 A moment with the builder Jeff Martin
I first got into building homes when I was helping my close friends build theirs. They were expecting their fifth child at the time and were completely out of room. The only thing they could afford to do was build a new home and do much of the work themselves. They started the project and sold their home soon after, so we offered to let them move in with us. They lived with us for the last four or five months of the project. In fact, they brought their fifth child home for the first time to our house. We’d work on his house a few nights a week and every weekend. After helping my friends, I fell in love with the building process. After they moved out, Margaret and I decided to build a house for ourselves. Of course, my friend was there to help. After two years in that house, I decided to do it all over again, over the mild objections of my wife. We never moved into that house, though, as it sold right out from underneath me. Thus, Primrose Homes Inc. was born. My building philosophy is simple: Surround yourself with the best talent and supply base you can, and give them the freedom to let that talent shine. My subs have only one directive: Build each house as if you were going to live there yourself; only do work you would be proud to have your own family call home; and bring quality and creativity with you each and every day. At Primrose Homes, we understand that the only way to succeed as a team is to deliver value in each and every home. I love building homes in Western Pa. for a couple of reasons. First, it gives me great pleasure to watch a family turn the house we build into a home—a place where they can host their friends and family, and a place they can create memories. Second, I love the ability to be creative; to try new construction techniques and trim details; to tweak a floor plan so it flows just right; to envision how furniture might be placed so we can right-size the rooms; and to provide new and interesting amenities within budget constraints. My family is extremely important to me, and I am very proud of them. I have two children, and each has picked a wonderful mate. Margaret and I got married when we were 18. We never took a dime from our parents or the government, even though we were destitute. My company got its name from the street our first apartment was on. I never want to forget where we came from or what we came through. We grew up with our kids and are very close to them. After the company grew larger than I could handle, I asked my son-in-law, Adam Stickle, to become my operations manager. As our growth continued, we brought in my daughter to help as well. I feel strongly that a company is only as good as the talent it surrounds itself with. That’s why Primrose Homes has been so successful. We have the very best talent around. I cannot emphasize that enough. I am loyal to my sub base, and they are just as loyal to Primrose. They understand that individual success is only possible if the whole team succeeds. I look for subs that are very experienced and are working owners. To stay with me, all you have to do is have great pride in your work. I firmly believe in never settling for anything that approaches average. If you tour one of our homes, you’ll see that we have a very talented trim carpenter and a creative tile setter; that we use custom built cabinetry and trim details wherever we can; that we have masons that strive for perfect brick lines and stone work. And what’s behind the brick and the trim is equally important to the overall quality and value we provide. I had wanted to build in Lake Macleod in Pine Township for some time, and the opportunity finally presented itself. This neighborhood has a more eclectic collection of homes than I’ve seen anywhere else, and it’s just the type of place where a builder can really showcase the talent and creativity of his team. I wanted to build a Victorian, and Lake Macleod is the perfect neighborhood in Pittsburgh for such a house. After a great deal of research, we found plans drawn by an architectural firm in Seattle, and we picked a design that was correct for the lot. I loved the outside elevations and didn’t alter them in any way; however, I completely redrew the inside layout. Victorians are known for great detail in trim build-ups, and we tried to be true to the period. We love to find ways to build in pieces of art within each home, so we found many opportunities to do that in this home. It was truly a labor of love to strive to find techniques that would highlight our collective abilities. The entire team was involved in coming up with new ideas. Primrose Homes is excited to replicate these efforts again in Lake Macleod. Currently, we own three lots right on the lake, and I am building a French provincial that’s for sale now. We’d love to combine the other two and possibly build a Georgian colonial, right out of the streets of Williamsburg, Va. Primrose Homes has enjoyed great growth year after year. And in spite of these trying economic times, we know 2009 will be our biggest year yet. There is only one reason for this: Every member of my team understands that we must provide better value than any other team out there—and not by just a little bit, either. We must set ourselves apart by a noticeable margin. There is a difference between price and value. Value includes price but also quality, creativity, listening to the desires of our owners, and delivering what we promise on a timely basis. And, of course, quality service after the sale is just as important. Primrose Homes strives for excellence each and every day. Let us build a home inspired by your dreams.
Home staged by: Melissa Blackwood, Blackwood and Associates, Inc.
Designer: Melissa Blackwood,
Furnishings, Accessories, Rugs and Fabrics are all from the Pittsburgh Design Center, which is open to the trade only.
Rugs: Chris Welling, Owner of London Rug Company
Furniture and Accessories:
Fabrics: LOOM Exquisite Textiles To the Trade – Exclusively at the Pittsburgh Design Center |
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