Roderick Builders makes waves in Utah’s luxury market by pairing meticulous preconstruction with pro-found partnerships
Renowned for its exceptional consultation services and design-build expertise, Roderick Builders is a firm like no other. Beyond traditional home building, the company prioritizes meticulous planning and reporting to keep clients informed and confident throughout the process while saving them from costly mistakes and wasted time. With Trapper Roderick, CEO, at the helm, Roderick is now a fifth-generation builder. The company started out in Utah, before Travis, Trapper’s father moved to Los Angeles in 2000 and began building ultra-luxury homes there.
“To give a sense of the scale, my father built $958 million worth of residential real estate across fewer than 40 homes. He is the kind of builder who is on site every day, ensuring that homes of this caliber are executed to the highest possible standard,” Trapper opens.
“In 2017, I decided it was my time to enter the market. I had worked in the trade for a long time, including for my father and alongside my grandfather, who also owned a contracting company, so I set out to open my own operation in Salt Lake City, Utah. We mostly focus on the Park City market, which is an incredibly exciting place to be right now as the Olympics are returning in 2034, and it has become a booming destination for buyers from around the world looking for a second home in Utah. Our team is small and deeply involved with every client. We project manage our own jobs, pay close attention to the architectural de-tails, plan thoroughly with our subcontractors and maintain strong relationships within the local trades community.”
Positive relationships
Although Trapper grew up learning the craft, he was equally determined to understand the business side of construction. Thus, he went on to study at the University of Utah, where he took part in the Lausanne Institute entrepreneurship program. Before committing to contracting full time, he ran a haberdashery and explored various other ventures, but it was only a matter of time before construction took over entirely.
“I was fortunate growing up to have incredible examples on both sides of the industry. My grandfather ran one of the largest commercial construction companies in the western United States, Jacobson Construction, while my father built ultra-luxury homes for movie stars and athletes. Seeing those homes changed my mindset, I realized that a home is not just four walls and a roof, there is real emotion built into it. Growing up project managing, supervising and laboring on homes of the highest caliber has shaped my approach to this work,” he continues.
Trapper’s immersion in the world of home building from a young age has also influenced the way he views the relationship between architects and builders. Architects and contractors can clash, as the architect of-ten wants a specific look and the builder may push back on how to execute it. But because he grew up working on exceptional homes, Trapper understands the emotion behind trying to bring a client’s vision to life. That means he pushes hard for the design and sees himself as an advocate for architects, even though it sometimes makes things more challenging for his team. Roderick aims to be a genuine partner to architects and helps them realize their client’s vision without compromise.
“A big focus for us right now is getting our name in front of more designers and architects so that we are at least in the conversation. When architects are faced with a challenging build or design, I believe Roderick is one of the strongest partners they could have, whether that is here in Utah or through our California office, which is brilliantly run by my father,” he emphasizes.
Positive relationships with architects naturally lead to a better home building experience for everyone in-volved, especially customers. Trapper sheds light on how Roderick’s approach to construction results in a great experience for clients and enhances the company’s reputation. “It all starts with a strong preconstruction process, where we conduct a couple of interviews with clients to guide them toward the right architect or designer for their needs. Getting off on the right foot, and then working alongside that architect and the client, is part of our preliminary billing agreement. That process usually spans four months to a year of designing and pricing the home, spending thousands of hours going through meticulous details with subcontractors.
“By the time we start building, we don’t have many questions left for the architectural designers or the client, as everything has been solved upfront. Since most of our clients are out of state, we use software like BuilderTrend and Resio to keep our accounting and project management on point. We have cameras on all our job sites to provide clients with regular updates and we keep them informed with weekly meetings and budget reviews,” he ends.
Roderick boasts a rich history in Utah, which gives it a strong reputation in the home building industry and encourages close working relationships with its subcontractors. It is through that foundation that the company successfully executes each project it undertakes. Beyond hitting timelines while staying on budget and in constant communication, Roderick offers ongoing support through maintenance packages and follow-up service long after the project is complete, which is a testament to the company’s outstanding customer service.