Delivering bespoke design and exceptional detail, East Tennessee Builder leads the way in luxury construction
Built on collaboration and community, East Tennessee Builder is widely regarded as Tennessee’s go-to supplier of custom homebuilding and commercial contracting services. Founded by top-producing realtor and Chief Executive Officer Jamie Smith, the company breathes new life into building communities across the state.
Having worked as a realtor for many years, Jamie entered the world of construction in 2010. Looking for a new venture, he partnered with regional businesses to gain hands-on experience and quickly came to enjoy the culture and craft of homebuilding:
“I joined forces with a local builder who was getting back on his feet, helping him sell homes while learning the construction side of the business firsthand. That experience gave me a deep respect for the process and the people involved,” Jamie begins.
Homes with character
In 2014, Jamie launched his own company, Better Living Homes, which became East Tennessee Builder in 2020. Inspired by the local contractors he’d worked with for over four years, Jamie focused on quality, simplicity, and affordability. As he explains: “From the beginning, the goal was simple: deliver a higher-quality home with thoughtful features and details, without pricing ourselves out of the market. I wanted our homes to feel elevated and intentional, not just expensive.
“Today, East Tennessee Builder is a much more robust and diverse company. We don’t focus on just one product or one way of building. We’re forward-thinking by nature, always adapting and always improving. I’ve always believed we’re building tomorrow’s homes today, and that mindset still drives everything we do.”
With roots in custom and semi-custom homebuilding, East Tennessee Builder now offers a range of different contracting services. “Historically, we were known primarily as a bespoke home builder, but today we’re much broader,” Jamie notes. “We develop our own land, handle design from the ground up, and build across multiple residential and select commercial product lines.
“We operate several specialized divisions, each focused on a different lifestyle or buyer, while maintaining the same standards for quality, execution, and attention to detail.
“While we enjoy variety, we’re especially drawn to the luxury market. We love the challenge of building truly unique homes and introducing designs to East Tennessee that may not become mainstream for another five or ten years. We’ve often been told we’re ahead of the curve; and homes we built a decade ago are still considered current today.
“Architecturally, we gravitate toward styles that aren’t overly common in this region, modern and mountain-modern, European-inspired, transitional luxury, and refined modern farmhouse. Homes with character, intention, and longevity, rather than repetition.”
Flexibility and uniqueness
Building long-lasting client relationships ensures East Tennessee Builder’s enduring success. Transparency, adaptability, and mutual respect drive Jamie’s approach to professional partnerships: “Our core clients tend to be high-level professionals, doctors, attorneys, executives, business owners – people who value quality, creativity, and trust. That said, because we operate multiple divisions, each one attracts its own niche client depending on lifestyle and goals. Everyone is different, and we approach each relationship in a new way.
“What our clients consistently appreciate is flexibility and uniqueness. We encourage customization, and with many of our custom clients, we’ll ask for one room where they give us creative freedom. We call it a trust exercise, and it almost always results in something special.
“We’ve designed everything from custom home offices and cigar rooms to wine cellars, theaters, game rooms, and resort-style outdoor living spaces. That element of surprise and personalization is something we genuinely enjoy delivering.
“Long-term relationships matter to us. We invest in systems that allow us to stay connected with clients well beyond move-in, whether it’s warranty support, upgrades, resale assistance, or even working with second owners while warranties are still in place. We want to be their builder of choice for life.”
Thanks to strong community ties, Jamie and his team have taken on a range of exciting projects. Highlighting the company’s exceptional craftsmanship and capacity for scale, they showcased a stunning $1.8 million spec home in Tennessee’s 2024 Parade of Homes.
“Our Parade of Homes project was especially meaningful. It was the most expensive spec home we’ve built for the Parade, and it gave us the opportunity to fully showcase how we think about design, planning, and livability at a high level.
“The home was designed for the Knoxville market, with a strong focus on indoor/outdoor living and everyday functionality, and it leaned into a European modern aesthetic that isn’t commonly seen in this region.
“The goal wasn’t just to build an impressive house, but to create a home that feels like an everyday retreat – an oasis you don’t need to leave – while still functioning comfortably as a primary residence. Every space, from the interior rooms to the outdoor living areas, was designed to work together seamlessly.
“That project represented more than a single home. It was a statement about where we’re headed as a company and the level of work we’re excited to continue delivering.
“Beyond that, it’s difficult to point to just one project. Over the years, there have been countless homes and individual spaces that stand out. That variety and creativity are a big part of what keeps this work rewarding for us,” Jamie affirms.
Each new project brings East Tennessee Builder one step closer to its goal of becoming a $30 million company by the end of 2026. Looking further ahead, Jamie’s vision is even more ambitious: “In three to five years, our mission is to exceed $100 million in revenue. We’ll achieve this through regional expansion, while remaining close to Tennessee as our home base.
“Opportunities are already presenting themselves statewide, and even into neighboring states like Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas. We stay open-minded and reassess our vision every year as the company evolves,” he concludes.