Aggie100 Winners

This is the Press Release that was sent out last weekend:

Luxury home builder, Jenkins Custom Homes, was honored today as the 6th fastest-growing Aggie-owned business in the world, with an average compound growth rate of 94.13%!  The luxury home builder was recognized at the seventh annual Aggie 100 program, sponsored by Mays Business School’s Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship at Texas A&M University. The Aggie 100 focuses on growth as an indicator of job creation, product acceptance and entrepreneurial vision. Recipients of the award were selected based on verified compound annual revenue growth for the 2008 to 2010 period. In addition to this honor, Jenkins was also recognized as one of only three companies which have been named in the Aggie 100 for five out of the last seven years since the program has been in existence.  This is the longest sustained growth of any Aggie100 recipient.

Nearly seven hundred people attended the awards luncheon in The Zone Club at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field. Texas A&M University Women’s Basketball Coach, Gary Blair, presented the keynote address at the luncheon. After leading the Aggie Women to a 2010 NCAA National Championship, it was only fitting that he inspire the group of entrepreneurs by sharing his thoughts on true leadership. Kelsey Assarian, a member of the winning basketball team, sat at the table with Shan & Bethany Jenkins, along with Porter Garner, CEO of the Association of Former Students, and other distinguished faculty.

Earlier that morning, Jenkins had breakfast with the Dean of the College of Architecture, along with the Department Heads, which include the Department of Construction Science, Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban

Planning, and the Department of Visualization. After breakfast, Jenkins was given a personal tour of some of the technology being used to design homes and commercial buildings in the Department of Architecture.  One such technology, called the “BIM Cave” (Building Information Modeling Cave), surrounds students with display screens which allow them to be immersed in the design from multiple sides.  Such technology allows aspiring architects to envision spaces within the home or commercial structure during the design process, a very useful technology which could be used to assist the luxury home builder’s clients as well.

This year’s Aggie 100 companies posted an average compound growth rate of 41 percent. The complete list can be found at aggie100.com. The Top 10 Aggie 100 companies include:

“Since the founding of Texas A&M University, Aggies have been leaving a legacy across all businesses and industries,” said Dr. Richard H. Lester, Executive Director of Mays Business School’s Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship. “Over the last seven years, the Aggie 100 companies have continuously proven that even in tough economic times, solid business ideas and hard work pay off.”

To be considered, companies (corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships) must operate in a manner consistent with the Aggie Code of Honor and in keeping with the values and image of Texas A&M.  After receiving the award five out of the last seven years, Jenkins Custom Homes is a shining example of the legacy of leadership.

Texas Contractor Requirements for Fire Damaged Homes

We just received this important information, below, from the Texas Association of Builders for anyone about to hire a contractor to rebuild their fire damaged home in Texas.  The facts to note are that a contractor cannot, under Texas law, move into an area where they have not previously held a business address and ask for payment to begin work on a fire-damaged home.  A contractor CAN begin work on the home, without taking any payment.  However, after doing some work on the home, that contractor CANNOT then take a payment disproportionate to the work performed.  Why?  These new regulations are designed to protect people from those predators who would try to take advantage of their unfortunate situation.  It is likely that these regulations were passed as a direct result of someone’s ill-fated experience with a bad contractor.  After reading about this, it brought to mind some simple guidelines that might just help someone who is trying to deal with the horrible feeling of loss and AVOID having to deal with a bad contractor, too.

1. Don’t use a contractor who just moved into town.  Even though it might be fine, the odds are against you.  There are plenty of established contractors who can handle the situation, and they probably already have contacts in the permitting offices as well as knowledge of local building codes.
2. Ask around for a contractor who someone knows personally.  A personal recommendation is as good as it gets and, let’s face it, trust is the most important issue when hiring a contractor.
3. If you can’t find anyone with personal experience with a contractor, ask a local Realtor.  Explain to them that you are particularly interested in someone trustworthy.  The last thing you need is a fast-talking, slick so-and-so (that’s Texas-speak for all you out-of-towners).
4. When you do interview contractors, ask for references that you can call.  This is so important!  You really must call people and ask them about their experience with the contractor!  No one likes to do it, but it can mean all the difference between a good experience and a bad one.
5. Don’t overpay a contractor.  Ask for a draw schedule (aka, payment schedule) in advance and look it over carefully to insure there aren’t disproportionate expenses upfront.  Never pay for work that hasn’t been completed…and I mean completely completed!  There are so many sad stories about contractors who left town or declared bankruptcy due to money mismanagement, and there is no reciprocity for those individuals left holding the bag.

All contractors are not bad.  It is an industry, however, where greed can lead to bad behavior.  It is up to you to do your homework and find someone trustworthy to get you through the next several months.  A good contractor can not only get you through but can lead you through the dark times and into a much better place than you were before.  That is my hope for all the Texas fire victims!

From the Texas Association of Builders, Sept. 8, 2011:

With the devastating wild fires across the state, it is important that builders and remodelers be aware of HB 1711, which became effective September 1 of this year.  The bill applies to contractors who remove, clean, sanitize, demolish, reconstruct, or otherwise treat improvements to real property as a result of damage or destruction to that property caused by a natural disaster.  Specifically, it requires that a “disaster remediation” contract must be in writing and prohibits a “disaster remediation contractor” from requiring payment prior to beginning work or charging a partial payment in any amount disproportionate to the work that has been performed.  However, the statute exempts contractors that have held a business address for at least one year in the county or adjacent county where the work occurs.  As these tragic fires are put under control and the rebuilding begins, members must be aware of the new statutory contract limits on those who have not had a business address for at least one year in the county or adjoining county of the disaster.  Ignoring these requirments could result in a deceptive trade practices violation.

Written by Bethany Jenkins, Jenkins Custom Homes.

Cool Product of the Week: Andersen Windows’ Fibrex

Fibrex

When we visited the Andersen Windows plant in Bayport, Minnesota recently, we saw this great product called Fibrex.  Andersen actually invented it back in 1992, before green was cool.  I love this product because it is green, but it also takes all of the best qualities of wood and vinyl and combines them into one product.  Andersen actually takes the sawdust that is created in their factory and re-claims it to make Fibrex.  Some additional advantages of Fibrex are:

• It’s strength – it is stronger than wood by itself or vinyl by itself
• Doesn’t shrink or swell, which is especially important in high humidity climates or extreme temperatures
• Doesn’t conduct heat or cold, which is especially important in cold climates

There are lots of other great benefits, but I think my favorite overall is its value.  While we were there, we were given some samples of the product and got to really see the product, inside and out.  It looks a lot like, well, sawdust that has been mixed into a clear thermoplastic polymer and then cooled.  Not surprisingly, that is exactly what it is.  We were able to watch it happen, live and in person, in the factory.  I’m really taken with this product and with the people at Andersen.  I’m sure I would like other manufacturers as well.  However, what I liked about Andersen’s team is that I can identify with them.  They are not flashy, don’t try to “sell” you on anything.  However, they are very passionate about how their product is engineered, how it tests, and how it could be improved.  They are an Engineer-dominated company (it appeared), and this is why there aren’t just a plethora of color choices in their lines.  Engineers don’t tend to want to talk about colors, I noticed.  Anyway, it is much more important that your windows don’t leak and that they perform the necessary functions of a window.  So, that works for me.

Here is another photo of the Fibrex product, showing how it looks in the Andersen 100 series window.  This one is displayed in the Andersen offices, right next to the conference room where we spent the majority of our time.  The final photo shows Shan holding a cross-section of a window frame with the Fibrex material lining the inside of the window.  To read more about the Fibrex product, check out what Andersen has to say about it, here.

I am not one to attend these types of tours, normally, but I am so glad I attended this one!

Bethany Jenkins Quoted in Article on Virtual Golf

In an article entitled Teeing Up Indoors which appeared in the June/July 2011 issue of Urban Home Magazine, author Sue-Ella Mueller highlights the Interactive Sports Technologies, Inc. product, “High Definition Golf” (HD Golf™).  She writes, “It may sound like a video game, but HD Golf™ is nothing like your kids’ Tiger Woods PGA Tour5 game. With a Linux operating system, sophisticated computer vision (smart cameras) for ball and club tracking and simulations of the top golf courses in the world, HD Golf™ combines the best of the best to produce a simulated indoor golf experience that will have you swearing you just finished playing Pebble Beach^®.”

Jenkins says it isn’t always necessary to work with a room in your home. ”A garage enclosure would be ideal for a golf area and would probably be fairly easy to remodel,” she says.

Jenkins Custom Homes showcased the golf simulator in their 2010 Parade of Homes™ entry.  In that home, Jenkins built an indoor/outdoor media room specifically for the installation of the system.  Mueller quotes Jenkins Vice-President, Bethany Jenkins, as saying, “We had sliding glass doors that opened up to an outdoor living space with a view of an Austin hillside. Then when you turned back inside, you had breathtaking views of famous golf courses.  It was easily the favorite room of almost every man on the home tour.”  Mueller goes on to write that “Fortunately for the homeowner who was not a golfer, the space was also the perfect media room and since the HD Golf™ system doubles as a home theater system, families can adapt a larger, current media room for the simulator.”

For the complete article, click here.

Newest Photos From Applehead Island!

We are excited to announce new photos just in on one of our recently completed projects on Applehead Island in Horseshoe Bay.  These photos, which really tell the story of this beautiful home, along with a brief summary of the project’s challenges and successes, can be found on our website:  http://newhousebuilder.com/properties/82.

Skywater Groundbreaking Ceremony To Be Held This Weekend

BUILDER BREAKS SKYWATER CONSTRUCTION DROUGHT

The Highlander, weekend edition 6/24 – 27, 2011

For the first time in more than two years, a new home will be built at Skywater Over Horseshoe Bay. On June 7th, the 1,618-acre development, located between SH 71 and FM 2147, was officially purchased by the International Bank of Commerce in San Antonio for $29 million. Ground will be broken on the new home, to be located at 134  Paint Brush, at 8 AM on Saturday July 2, according to builder, Shan Jenkins. He said that the home was purchased by a couple from Dallas. The house is the fifth to be built on the street. Jenkins is hopeful that once the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course opens, it will attract more buyers, and the ones who already own a lot will begin to build homes. The Horseshoe Bay resort announced Wednesday that Summit Rock, the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course on the Skywater property, was added to the company’s portfolio of championship golf courses now owned by IBC in San Antonio. “There are a ton of lot owners just waiting for something to happen out there,” Jenkins said. “But right now, this is the only house we have completed drawings for and it’s the only one we are planning at the moment.” Jenkins said there yet have not been any specific correspondence with future Skywater residents, but he does anticipate gaining some from the July 2 groundbreaking. “Skywater has been purchased out of foreclosure and I think things are turning around for sure,” Jenkins said.