Homes by Jerrod Proves the Best Projects Start with the Right Foundation

Photos by Jane Colclasure

 

Like all experienced builders, Jerrod Phillips knows that the measure of a quality-built home is not entirely in the dazzling finishes, the sun-splashed kitchens or the luxurious bedroom suites. The real value lies in something far less Pinterest-worthy: an unshakable foundation upon which the rest of the carpenter’s artistry rests.

 

He has also applied that philosophy to his company, Homes by Jerrod in Benton, as well as every single project that bears his name.

 

 

“We started Homes by Jerrod in 2020 on several core values, and we’re not afraid to talk about them,” he said. “We’re a faith-based company, and that faith, along with integrity and hard work, guides everything that we do, from the first footing we pour to the moment we hand the keys off to a family. That’s who we are.

 

“It’s an honor to build homes for families, and so we try to build every house as if it was our own.”

 

Phillips’ involvement in residential homebuilding began in high school, long before he opened his own company. Known for his high standards of craftsmanship and attention to detail, he leverages his 30 years of direct industry experience with every client, which breaks down to 90 percent new builds and about 10 percent remodels thanks to trends in home ownership that have fed demand.

 

“Back in the day, when I grew up, you stayed in your house forever,” he said. “Now I’m seeing people move every five to seven years as their families are growing or their jobs are getting better. It’s not like it used to be 30 years ago, where you stayed where you were and remodeled from time to time.

 

 

“As for people who are moving for a new job or coming in from out of state, we also see more people wanting to get into something new rather than an existing home. In some cases, this speaks to what’s available, but I’ve definitely seen a trend toward new.”

 

Homes by Jerrod has made the most of the new trend, and, in return, satisfied clients have helped the company grow into a statewide market footprint and a workload that can run as high as nine or 10 projects underway at once.

 

 

“We started out by word of mouth, with friends in the church and then in the community itself,” he said. “We have grown from central Arkansas, which is still the bulk of our work, to where now we go everywhere and anywhere. We’re doing homes in northwest Arkansas. In fact, we’ve got one that we’re about to start up there right now. Our reputation is the No. 1 way we’ve broadened our horizons and started servicing more areas of the state.”

 

For some companies, such a spike in business or entering a new market leads to changing processes to handle the extra work. In homebuilding, that often means moving toward more standardization instead of delivering a home that is unique to each individual client. Not so with Homes by Jerrod — even as the company has grown, Phillips still puts in the time to listen to the client, refusing to boil down projects to mere assembly work.

 

“Spending years in this business, you learn a lot of things, and that experience is what the customer is relying on. It’s what they’re buying really,” he said. “The customer usually only sees the aesthetics, the finishes and stuff like that, whereas I see things in a home that a customer does not see, from the structure to the foundation.

 

 

“That’s why it is so important to have that initial meeting and talk to them and listen to their ideas and what they like and what they don’t like. I take their vision and then pair that with the building side of it to put that puzzle together.”

 

Another thing that sets Phillips and his company apart is how that level of communication continues past the initial planning meetings. Despite being in high demand, Phillips goes to great lengths to stay connected to owners and their builds at various stages of completion to troubleshoot and ensure the homes are being built to his standards every step of the way.

 

 

“I go from job to job. That’s just my daily routine,” he said. “I don’t have an office to go to. I go from job to job to make sure that things are getting done right, checking on our contractors, handling any problems — that kind of thing.

 

“One thing I get told by our clients is, ‘We see you more than anybody at the jobsite. You’re always there.’”

 

Phillips does not just engage in needless micromanagement as he does so; he also looks for ways to make improvements or modifications that will enhance the finished project.

 

 

“I’m always trying to foresee anything that is missed or something that can actually make the house better,” he said. “For example, we may move a wall or two just to get the most economical use of the space. My goal is to make every foot count in that home.”

 

This mentality fits in seamlessly with current building trends, in which homeowners are looking for more square footage for both family spaces and entertaining.

 

“Probably 50 percent of our clients are families that are growing and need something bigger, and 50 percent are clients where the kids have moved out and they’re retiring. In general, they’re both looking for the same things,” he said. “The hot items right now ever since COVID-19 have really been more space and outdoor spaces. People are also putting money into kitchens. They’re putting money into their backyards and generally spending where their guests see it.”

 

 

Experienced enough to ensure the bones are solid and creative enough to make a house feel immediately like home, Phillips can help bring nearly any ideas and desires of his clients to life in a new home design.

 

“I believe what truly sets us apart is our hands-on approach and attention to detail,” he said. “I stay closely involved in every project personally and treat each home as if I was building it for my own family. Over three decades in construction, I have learned that the small details do matter. The structure behind the walls, the quality of materials and the pride in workmanship — all of that does matter.”

 

Building a new home is a complex project with many moving parts, which is why Phillips sticks to his guns as far as the fundamentals of creating comfortable, functional living spaces without sacrificing beauty and style. He said his approach is old school; in fact, that might be what his growing list of satisfied clients like most about doing business with Homes by Jerrod.

 

 

“A home should be beautiful, durable, functional and built to last,” he said. “We believe in combining craftsmanship with thoughtful design so that our homeowners receive something that is both practical and timeless.

 

“Building a home is one of the biggest investments a family will ever make, and so communication and trust are extremely important to us. My philosophy is simple: Just build it right the first time. Trends will come and go, you know, but quality construction never goes out of style.”

 

SEE THIS ARTICLE BELOW IN THE MAY ISSUE OF AY MAGAZINE

 

 

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