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As real estate markets go, the current climate is not the best for extensive growth of a homebuilding operation, admits Saun Sullivan, senior partner at DSLD Homes. “We don’t see any great indicator that the market will get better anytime soon, but we remain confident in where we are right now,” he says. This confidence comes from DSLD Homes’ extensive experience in the homebuilding industry.

Building in the Lafayette, Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas of Louisiana, and the Biloxi and Gulfport regions of Mississippi, DSLD Homes is one of the top 100 homebuilders in the nation and the largest privately held firm in its region. The company’s managing partners have more than 90 years of combined residential construction experience, and have been involved in creating more than 125 successful communities. DSLD Homes is busy building in 42 subdivisions at this time, and the knowledge of its management team is a key factor in the company’s ability to successfully deliver quality homes.

“One of the greatest benefits to our business is Allen Thomason, one of our senior partners,” Sullivan stresses. “He has been working in the construction industry in this area since in the mid-1950s, and he knows more about every aspect of construction in this market than anyone else I’ve met. Allen used to work in bond completion, so he’s seen every way a project can go wrong, and knows how to fix any issue that comes up. He has had a unique look at the construction industry, and that experience is invaluable.”

High Grades

The knowledge gained from DSLD Homes’ managing partners’ experience guides the company to maintain a focus on quality. Quality in the way it treats its homebuyers, which involves the quality construction of its homes and quality customer service. “We always strive to provide the very best value and service at a price our customers can afford,” Sullivan says.

Half of the company’s homes are pre-sold, he explains, and the remaining half are spec homes. Realtors represent 98 percent of the contracts, he notes. Each community is available with a wide range of home options and elevations, and floor plans feature open designs and quality amenities, upgrades and appliances that buyers have come to expect. Construction of each home is on a 42-day schedule from frame to finish, Sullivan says, and quality is ensured by a strong base of subtrades.

“Our trades grade each other – whoever comes on the job next grades the trade that came before, so they are like internal customers of each other,” he says. “But we don’t move in and out of trades often, we have a core base that we work with repeatedly. It is difficult to get into our system – a trade has to prove they deliver the quality we expect.”

Dedicated to working with customers throughout the construction and buying processes and after those are complete, DSLD Homes’ first priority is customer satisfaction. After buyers have moved into their homes, the construction superintendent contacts them 30 days after closing for the one month inspection. DSLD representatives also contact home owners at four-month, eight-month and one-year inspection intervals to ensure their homes are meeting their expectations.

“Our willingness to work with our customers is what sets us apart in this market,” Sullivan says. “Our customer satisfaction levels are above the 99th percentile, and our quality control process is unparalleled. Our warranty checks are at four, eight and 12 months, and we will fix anything. It’s set up this way because we don’t want to wait for there to be a problem for them to call us. We solve issues before problems arise.”

Value-Added Features

DSLD Homes provides buyers with a turnkey home, which includes the lot and the home. The company offers several floor plans and a variety of choices that allow buyers to customize their homes, and a number of upgrades are available.

By providing buyers with a turnkey, completed product, DSLD Homes is better able to keep its pricing at a reasonable level, Sullivan explains.

“Buyers today are definitely looking for deals, and we understand that,” he says. “Consumers are much more informed about the building and buying processes, and they will look for a lot longer than buyers have in the past. This is not a bad thing, the more informed the consumers are, the better it is for everyone.

“Energy-efficient homes have become very important to most buyers, and we have responded to that by offering a number of features to conserve energy,” he adds. “Although green features are important, consumers only want to pay for features and items that benefit them in their house – they don’t want to pay for anything that they don’t perceive as adding value. Our goal is to provide them with the most value we can.”

Although the market hasn’t fully regained its strength at this time, DSLD Homes plans to continue its mission of providing buyers with quality and value in their homes. The company has a good foothold in its current markets, Sullivan says, so it will continue its focus in those areas until the economy comes back in full force.

“We will grow in our existing areas – providing some bigger homes and some smaller designs,” he says. “Basically, we want to fill in the gaps in the markets we serve, while providing buyers with consistent value and quality, which is what the market should expect from us.”