A shining reputation for quality and communication continues to drive Willmark Custom Homes’ growth
In the world of custom home building, it’s not always smooth sailing – everybody knows someone with a less-than-perfect construction story; the project that ran over budget, the builder who went quiet, or the finish that was never quite right. Sabrina Wilson, VP of Operations at Willmark Custom Homes (Willmark) knows this better than most. Brandt Wilke founded the boutique turnkey custom home company in 2010 and has since made a reputable name for itself across central Texas. “I’m incredibly proud that we give our clients the exact opposite of those bad experiences you so often hear about,” Sabrina highlights.
Willmark is a small team of eight based out of the charming small town of Brenham, Texas, and, over the last 16 years, its projects have grown in considerably in both quantity and scale. “Brandt came from a production background and knew he wanted to do something different.” Sabrina says. “He had this idea of building homes that last, treating people well, and making home building enjoyable for our clients. That’s how Willmark began.
“We now build homes ranging from $350,000 to around $3 million. Our team is comprised of Brandt, three project managers, a designer, a finance administrator, a sales and marketing assistant, and I oversee all operations and sales.”
Residing in rural Texas means farmhouses and ranch-style homes are a significant part of Willmark’s specialization and design identity. “We offer plans that clients can modify, but we’re also able to custom design architectural plans,” Sabrina elaborates. “Beyond quality construction, we have become known for being a very design-forward company. We want our homes to feel timeless and peaceful. People move out to the Texas countryside for the views; the hills, the ponds, the cattle – it’s a very scenic place and our homes are known for capturing that and bringing the outside in.”
Although the firm focuses predominantly on custom farmhouses, Sabrina says current trends are shifting away from the modern white and black versions. “It’s fun to see more color being introduced by clients. Wallpaper is making a big comeback, which I love! Board and batten is still popular, but we’re seeing more stone and brick elements. Traditional is returning too – everything has been very clean and simple for a while, so bringing in more finish work is a fun change. From a construction perspective, people are prioritizing large expanses of glass, along with energy-efficient, low-maintenance homes. Ten years ago, clients didn’t have access to Instagram and Pinterest the way they do today, so everybody comes to us with big ideas and it just keeps getting more custom which our team loves.”
Craftsmanship & expertise
Communication and transparency are key to the home builder’s successful collaboration with designers like Jenkins Interiors, Sabrina explains: “When meeting a new designer, we like to understand their process and how they like to work with builders. We aim to confirm finishes ahead of time so we can order materials promptly and work through anything complex before it becomes a problem on site. Understanding the designer’s vision in detail is very important too, so we can make sure we are executing it properly.” A notable example of Willmark’s work with Jenkins Interiors is the recent Round Top project – built for the principal designer herself.
“From the first site visit, we were positioning the house to make the most of the land, ensuring the front door sat perfectly between a beautiful grove of oak trees and angling the home to provide a view of the pond off the large back porch. The setting is idyllic, and Leslie’s interior work is exceptional.” Another outstanding Willmark project is its Hill Country-inspired home, built on 200 acres with wraparound porches and strategically placed windows for the best views. “That home really represents the style we try to evoke in all our projects,” notes Sabrina. “A beautiful backdrop to gather and make memories.”
Alongside high-quality craftsmanship and expertise, Willmark’s geography is an integral factor in its expansion. “Our growth is very location-driven,” Sabrina states. “We’re about an hour from Houston, and an hour and a half from Austin – areas which are seeing a lot of development. Commuters are still close enough to Houston, and many city dwellers want a peaceful place in the country to escape the crowds. We also have clients looking to retire in the central Texas countryside. We build within an hour radius of our office in Brenham so, when looking at where to expand, the most important consideration is project management. We don’t want our project managers overextended. Ultimately though, the reason we’ve seen so much growth is the reputation we’ve fostered and we’re extremely proud of that.
“We’ve spent the last several years really refining our processes. We’ve focused on making things more transparent for clients and project managers, so everybody has all the information they need. Having subcontractors who share our values is also essential – not just in terms of construction quality, but customer service. Finally, the most important thing in construction is maintaining open communication with your clients because it helps them feel at ease. Our VP of Construction, Zach Ussery, oversees our project managers and he does a great job of consistently upholding those standards.”
Passion & positivity
As Willmark continues to build exceptional Texas homes and receive glowing customer reviews, Sabrina says it will continue improving processes while taking on exciting new projects. “With a few new hires on the team, we’re focused on bringing them up to speed with our standards,” she finishes. “We’ve also just hired somebody to make our marketing more personal and reveal the faces behind the Willmark brand. Project-wise, we have several projects finishing by the end of the year that we are excited for people to see. We are beginning construction on a couple of more modern homes as well, which will be a fun change, and we’re actively looking for new office space to support our growth. However, our team really is the essence of Willmark, and I just want to highlight that. We all have a passion for what we do, and that comes through in every positive interaction we have with our clients and our build partners.”