Tailored Details

• words by Bridget Esangga
  photos by CJ Walker

  An unwavering commitment to clients’ interests propelled Kurtz Homes to become one of the most respected general contractors for custom homes in Naples, Florida. Often clients’ first point of contact, owner Randy Kurtz and his team get to know their clients’ visions for their homes and help them to assemble a team with good working chemistry and a mastery of the desired architectural style. Ron and Randy Kurtz founded Kurtz Homes in 1982. Over decades of working with his son, Ron passed down a belief that this is not a brick-and-mortar business. It is a people business where building relationships with tradespeople and earning clients’ trust are the keys to success.

  “My father’s guidance helped set the standards for the company we became and still are. He entered the building business right out of high school and worked his way up from carpenter to business owner,” says Randy Kurtz.

  Randy Kurtz personally gets involved in every project from the beginning and stays with clients beyond completion. This level of service requires him to limit the number of projects the company takes on at a given time. The payoff is a group of satisfied clients, many of whom remain friends and even travel with Kurtz after their homes are complete.

  With a 28-year history of building in Naples, Florida, Kurtz Homes has developed a portfolio including an array of architectural styles popular in the state, from traditional Mediterranean to modern to casual coastal. “The architectural styles we build are dictated by what the client wants,” Kurtz says. “It’s important to choose a builder and architect who understand all the details needed to create a home of authentic architecture.” Kurtz Homes leverages its working relationships to help clients select the architect, landscape and interior designers, lighting expert, and security planner. Then the company creates a schedule to help coordinate all activities and ensure that milestones are met. One of Kurtz Homes’s most striking examples of the Mediterranean style is a 9,800-square-foot Tuscan Villa on the Gulf of Mexico. The beauty of the residence is not lost on Randy Kurtz, but he said that he is most proud of his relationship with the client.

  The young couple was unable to be on site during most of the construction. They trusted Kurtz and the entire team to act in their best interest. This led to a big moment when the clients visited the completed home for the first time. Their reaction? “She cried because she was so happy,” says Kurtz, who was there to open the door for the occasion. Kurtz Homes has also completed custom estates in the traditional Florida-coastal style, such as the 6,000-square-foot residence designed by Dan Sater, AIBD, of the Sater Group, and interior designer Christina Porter Forbes of Accessories Etc. The home’s detailing includes murals, master-crafted library shelves and cabinetry, and a custom wine cellar.

  In addition to consultation, planning and project management, Kurtz Homes offers a concierge service that helps the owners care for their homes after they are built. The company creates a plan tailored to a client’s specific needs. It can include weekly walk-throughs, hurricane preparations, pool and lawn maintenance, airport pickups, grocery shopping, flower delivery and more. “We have an exceptional staff. I refer to Kurtz Homes as ‘our’ company,” says Kurtz. “We work with some of the finest architects and interior designers. We work as a team with the client and for the client.”

  Today Kurtz is honoring his company’s past, but preparing for the future. He sees the architectural trends in the region shifting away from Mediterranean to more modern architecture, and his company is poised to handle those requests. Twice a year he meets with a group of colleagues to share new strategies and stories. While he is proud of the work his company has done, Kurtz strives to build on his success by maintaining strong relationships and creating new ones.

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  July 24th, 2011 | Deidre | 1 Comment |