MODERN
HOME BUILDERS
Issue 119A www.modernhb.com
BEST PRACTICE FOR INDUSTRY LEADERS
The family formula for success Many factors combine to form the foundation of Jurek Builders’ success, but its dedication to family and its personal approach are undoubtedly two critical elements
Prier When it comes to US-made plumbing products, the name Prier stands out for quality, reliability and service
Marnie Custom Homes The projects delivered by Marnie Custom Homes truly reflect its dedication to personal, creative and unique design
JUREK BUILDERS
Streets ahead Approaching its 50th anniversary, Jurek Builders remains proud of its continued status as a true family business
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JUREK BUILDERS
O
perating out of Clarence, New
mom and dad founded the business in 1972,
York, Jurek Builders is on a
and it began almost by chance. At the time,
business,” he continues. “Fast forward 50
mission to deliver high-end,
my dad was an interior finish remodeler. Ever
years, and the business is still going, which is
bespoke home building without
the hard worker, he got ahead of the builders
impressive. My parents didn’t go to college,
comprising on quality. In any given year,
he was working for by around five jobs. The
and they weren’t building anything like what
the company will complete more than ten
builders simply couldn’t afford to pay him. What
the company is building now. These were
homes, each one ranging from 6000 square
happened? They traded for a piece of land,
small houses, each around 2000 square feet
feet to 10,500 square feet.
which would be the seedbed for Jurek Builders
in size.”
At the center of the company, as the name
“Soon, they had a profitable, family-owned
to grow and blossom. Working as a team, my
That was then. Now, as Henry highlights,
suggests, is a family. “We are a complete family
mom and dad built a house on that land, and
things are moving faster than ever: “Currently,
business,” says Henry Jurek III, Vice President,
then bought another piece of property on the
we have at least 15 plans being drawn up
Sales and Operations at Jurek Builders. “My
same street – and then another.”
by architects. The minimum price for these
84 Lumber For nearly 65 years, 84 Lumber has been building on its legacy of creating, shaping, and maintaining the American dream for professional builders and passionate do-it-yourselfers. As the nation’s largest privately held building materials supplier for single- and multi-family residences and commercial buildings, its 250 locations nationwide offer the highest quality lumber, name-brand windows and doors, custom millwork, kitchen and bath design, turnkey installation services and more. 84 Lumber’s Orchard Park location is proud to have a longstanding relationship with Jurek Builders and congratulates them for a momentous 50 years in the building industry. “Jurek Builders and 84 have a fantastic partnership that is mutually beneficial to both parties,” boasts 84 Lumber Area Manager Tyler Golub. “At 84 Lumber, we pride ourselves on maintaining the highest standards, and we know Jurek Builders does the same. Their reputation for completing jobs, both big and small, with unparalleled service, perfectly aligns with 84 Lumber’s mission.” As with all its customers, 84 Lumber’s outstanding customer service and ‘nothing is impossible’ mindset is apparent in its relationship with Jurek Builders. “We treat all of our customers like family, and Jurek Builders is no different,” says 84 Lumber Orchard Park’s Outside Sales Representative Colin Mcintosh. “Whatever materials they need to get the job done, we try our best to get them quickly and at the best price. Jurek is a family-run operation with excellent people, and we look forward to working with them for many years to come.” 84 Lumber’s Orchard Park location is known to specialize in both new construction and remodeling alike. No project is too large or too small. From supplying windows and doors for multi-million-dollar homes to supplying deck packages and materials for the everyday homeowner – 84 is just one call away from helping with your next project. For more information, visit 84lumber.com or join us at Facebook.com/84lumber and linkedin.com/company/84-lumber
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JUREK BUILDERS worked his way up from the bottom. “I still get out of the office and run bulldozers, loader machines, and mechanical excavators called backhoes,” explains Henry. “Mostly, though, I meet with the customers, calculate the pricing, and get everything ready for sale, walking through our properties with homebuyers and answering any questions they might have. Unfortunately, we lost my mom last year to cancer. She was a huge part of our team, running the entire office. So, naturally, it was a tough transition. But we remain a family business. My dad runs the jobs; I run the office.”
Personal touch For its construction of high-end and bespoke homes in the Western New York region, Jurek Builders has been awarded Builder of the Year by the Buffalo Niagara Builders’ Association (BNBA) twice, once in 2013 and again in 2017, proving that the strong family partnership at the heart of the firm is certainly a productive one. Even with the arrival of Covid-19, the company kept building. “We really didn’t notice the pandemic that much,” Henry admits. “The only time we had a decline during the Covid-19 crisis was when, in the state of New York at least, regulations said that just one construction worker could be on site at any one given time – even if one was a painter working indoors, and the other was running a bulldozer outside. You’d be fined anyway. However, four-to-five months later, regulations eased as those who had set them realized it wasn’t entirely safe to allow only one person on site. If anything were to happen, not a soul would know! “Otherwise, I think the pandemic made people realize they needed more space,” he adds. “That suits us: more and more people are now finishing their lower-level basements; they are putting in additions; they are requesting to build bigger homes. We can help them. Of course, there have properties will be between $2 million and
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The family-run company has become
been negative knock-on effects. For instance,
$5 million. In terms of site work, we have
renowned for its high-end interior trim work,
it’s still sometimes hard to acquire materials:
five houses under construction and one
making it one of the leading luxury home
garage doors have a 50-to-60-week lead time;
awaiting a building permit. Two of these are
building businesses in the Western New
windows must be ordered way in advance.
for professional athletes, a popular career
York region. Now 43 years old, Henry has
It’s crazy. To compensate, we tried to help
choice within our client base, and the other
spent the best part of his life working with
our customers financially. As an example, we
host of plans are for the bulk of our target
Jurek Builders. Beginning at just ten years
were able to lock in the pricing of lumber by
demographic: doctors, lawyers, and various
old, he was employed as a sweeper for the
paying for it upfront and storing it in our own
business professionals.”
company’s string of properties. He proudly
warehouse. Ultimately, this meant we could
MODERNHB.COM
JUREK BUILDERS can watch their kids play basketball from above. You see, we are always happy to accommodate the needs of our clients.”
Exciting development Why do these famous athletes and customers with incredible designs keep coming to Jurek Builders to see their dreams realized? The answer, according to Henry, lies in the company’s traditional philosophy to work and materials: “We are very old school, and when I say that I mean we use all plywood for two-by-six construction – no particle boards, strictly plywood. We also use copper water the Buffalo Sabres hockey team and features
lines instead of weaker plastic alternatives. In
incredible workmanship on our part. Indeed,
all projects, we only use the highest quality
to clear, the New York-based company is
one area in the lower level of the building
materials, which is what we have come to
intent on cracking on with business. Currently,
contains a golf simulator, the required head
be known for. We are very transparent, and
it’s breaking ground on the second biggest
room for which meant we had to dig an
I can honestly say we are friends with every
house the company has ever built. “In total,
extra 2 feet further down into the basement
person we have built for. That includes other
the house covers over 10,500 square feet,”
floor. Another client is putting a half-sized
builders in the area. They have employed us
highlights Henry. “It’s a really special bespoke
basketball court inside the house, and we’ve
to build their personal homes, which is pretty
project being carried out for a member of
included a viewing platform so the family
unheard of!”
keep costs much lower for clients.” As the hazy shade of the pandemic begins
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“Another thing that sets us apart from our competitors is that we pass our discounts on to the customer,” he continues, proudly emphasizing the importance of good company-client relationships in a successful business. “At the end of every month, we provide the customer with invoices so that they always know precisely where all their money is going. In terms of suppliers, Jurek Builders makes sure that it pays all bills early. Furthermore, recently I spoke with Anderson Windows, and they have partnered with us on their new Excellence Program. Not only will we receive materials sooner, improving our efficiency, but Jurek Builders will also appear
of New York, including the Rochester area.
fortunate to work with him each and every
on their website as a partnered brand, which
Ultimately, I want to do what my parents
day at Jurek Builders.” F
we think is huge.”
did. When dad retires, I hope my wife will
Adding all these factors together, Jurek
come and run the office – just like my mom
Builders really does find itself streets ahead.
did for us. I want that tradition kept alive
“The most exciting development we have
because it was so successful. That will be a
on-the-go right now is Serenity Court, a street
while, though. My dad is 73 years old and
bought by our company within Spaulding
doesn’t want to retire any time soon. But I’m
Green Development. Since we have the
glad! I will always consider myself incredibly
Jurek Builders www.jurekbuilders.com Services: High-end home builder
whole street to ourselves, we are going to build 13 beautiful houses – just our houses on that one street, it’s incredible! We recently started infrastructure works and plan to break ground on the houses in July. My dad and I will be working on site. We’re not drive by builders; we’re hands on.”
Family feel Jurek Builders shows no signs of slowing down. Luckily for its clients, the future looks bright, and the business is keen to continue adapting and evolving with the times. “Keeping an eye on what’s around the corner is fundamental to staying relevant,” says Henry. “For instance, the interior designer that we work with stays up-to-date with the latest trends by attending various conferences and design shows. The NAHB International Builders Show (IBS) is also important to our long-term strategy. Every couple of years we attend, excited to learn about new materials, trends, and ideas within the high-end home building space. “As Western New York’s premier custom home builder, it’s a necessary part of what we do,” asserts Henry. “And it’s just the beginning. With these professional athletes on board, their teammates are also becoming interested in our work. We’ve employed more people to keep up with demand. At some point, I want to expand into other parts MODERNHB.COM
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