Learn about Whitehead Construction’s client-centric approach to building storm resistant homes

As a custom design-build company, most of Whitehead Construction’s (Whitehead) buildings are designed in-house or through collaboration with a local architect. Rather than owning properties or developments and building spec homes, Whitehead specializes in serving property owners on the barrier islands, utilizing a custom design-build business model that has allowed it to operate debt-free with more time to focus on the customer instead of inventory. By having fewer projects and highly attentive suppliers and subcontractors, the company has been able to reduce overhead cost while improving the degree of excellence. Moreover, the vast years of experience in coastal construction and engineering of its team empower Whitehead to provide customers with the highest level of service. Neil Youngs, Production Manager, provides comprehensive insights into the company’s operations. 

New approach

“For over 90 years, we have been building custom homes up and down the islands, from North Anna Maria to South Sarasota, Florida. Our enduring success can be attributed to our dedicated long-serving employees, with some of our current team members boasting up to 36 years of service. Throughout our history, we have undertaken projects of all sizes and types, encompassing both residential and commercial endeavors. Over the last ten years, we have shifted our focus towards preparing for the next generation by transitioning into a more collaborative, team-building approach. This involves leveraging the unique skill sets of all our team members, including our subcontractors. In other words, we are moving away from the old ‘Bob the Builder’ concept and instead empowering our experts and better supporting our employees by laying out processes and procedures, sharing the workload equitably, and communicating effectively,” he informs. 

Stand out projects 

Nick Williams, Project Manager, goes on to discuss the diverse range of projects that Whitehead typically undertakes. “At Whitehead, our bread and butter is crafting coastal custom homes tailored for homeowners seeking to live in and enjoy their residences. We take pride in actively involving our clients in the project, valuing their input and buy-in. Although we have constructed plenty of investment properties, we find a greater satisfaction in the personal connections created when we build directly for the future residents of the home. Given our extensive expertise in high hazard coastal construction, the majority of our projects are situated either along the Gulf front or waterfront. No style of home is out of the question, as we have constructed in a wide variety of architectural styles and sizes to meet the specific expectations of our clients. Notably, some of the homes we have built range in style from Old World and Transitional beach homes to sophisticated modern homes, ” he enlightens. 

To illustrate Whitehead’s approach to architectural style, Neil sheds light on the Mikles and Jones projects, both of which have left a lasting impression on him. “Ideally located on the beach, the Mikles home epitomizes elegance with a serene layout that emphasizes the stunning Gulf view. This design allows for a seamless integration of the outdoors with the interior space, all while maintaining a sense of privacy inside the house. Characterized by sophisticated clean lines, the Mikles home embraces a sought-after modern design. Not far away from there, we have also crafted the Jones home, which we like to call ‘the tree house’ as it was designed completely around the existing Bayan trees. The seamless blend of modern details with the surrounding natural environment creates a perfectly harmonious balance throughout the home. Being inside the home or walking around the exterior porches to watch the birds is a truly amazing experience that feels like being in a real-life tree house,” he describes. 

Positive customer experience 

Throughout the homebuilding process, Whitehead consistently delivers the highest level of service possible to guarantee a seamless and positive experience for clients. Neil lays out the company’s approach. “Once we fully understand the client’s needs, we select a team tailored to best serve them. Spending time asking questions and attentively listening to the client is an essential aspect of our process as it enables us to direct them to the right designer who aligns with their vision, which is particularly crucial for larger and more complex jobs. Likewise, collaboration with the owner and interior designer is pivotal in guiding our allowances and fine tuning interior layouts to preserve the designer’s vision. Additionally, project managers get involved at an early stage to ensure they are up to speed on all project correspondence and information. Once the project starts, we conduct weekly updates with both the clients and our teams to highlight current and upcoming selections as well as lead times. Through monthly onsite meetings with clients, design teams, and subcontractors, we review progress, mock-ups, and samples. As the project nears completion, we mobilize specialized and office personnel to expedite inspections, surveys, and punch list resolution. Post-completion, we offer our Home Care Package for dedicated maintenance and care,” he elaborates. 

Changing trends 

With 26 years of experience in the homebuilding industry, Neil has seen the real estate market fluctuate and evolve during his tenure at Whitehead. Specifically focusing on the Anna Maria Island area, Neil discusses the trends and changes currently unfolding in the sector. “In the waterfront areas where we operate, there is a noticeable trend towards larger and more complicated builds. Indeed, homes keep getting bigger, limited only by the constraints of smaller lot sizes. The recent hurricanes in Florida have made clients more focused on being prepared for future extreme weather events. Consequently, they are getting involved from the early stages of the design process, leading to an increased utilization of composite and PVC products. Additionally, I have witnessed a shift from seasoned, hands-on contractors with extensive experience to a younger generation with a wealth of information at their disposal. This shows that the skill set dynamics have evolved, transitioning from traditional craftsmanship to a reliance on readily available technology. While there may be fewer hands-on workers, the integration of technology and modern tools has enhanced their expertise in their respective fields,” he remarks. 

Adding his perspective to the discussion, Nick shares: “The region we serve has experienced a significant influx of capital into the real estate market, leading to unparalleled levels of investment in both the size and value of newer constructions compared to previous years. Investment properties are also on the rise, but there is a notable trend where many people are opting to make an investment in personal winter homes.” 

Whitehead’s expertise in personalized service and coastal design makes it a custom builder of choice for discerning clients along Florida’s island shores and it is ideally placed to address the needs of new and returning buyers on this special stretch of American paradise.   

www.whiteheadconst.com