Jenkins Custom Homes

Employment

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 22, 2010 at 12:00 PM

Jenkins Custom Homes builds luxury custom homes for discriminating clients. Known for our attention to detail, we have won many awards, including the 2006 Texas Custom Builder of the Year! Our work environment is team-oriented, and we take great pride in our work! We invite you to view our website to learn more before applying for a position.

To become a member of our team, candidates must possess the following qualities:

Integrity of the highest degree.
A customer-centered focus, as evidenced by specific examples in previous work experience.
A desire to be a part of a winning team and a genuine enthusiasm for seeing clients’ dreams realized.
A willingness to do anyone else’s job on the team, as needed.

We believe this is what sets our team apart. Our team members are hard-working, intelligent, and accomplished in their careers. We only hire team members who have the potential to grow and be promoted. This creates an environment of energy and enthusiasm.

To apply for a position with Jenkins Custom Homes, email resume to jobs@newhousebuilder.com.

We are currently hiring for the following position:

Project Coordinator. Currently seeking a fun and fabulous candidate with exceptional organizational skills. We are looking for someone who can keep client’s schedules for them, help keep them on track, hold vendors accountable, help with selections when necessary, use project software to keep track of schedules, report to management, and do it all with charm and finesse. This very special person must have a degree from a 4-year major university. The ideal candidate will have experience in high-end residential construction, experience with scheduling software such as Microsoft Project, a proven track record keeping and staying organized and on task, and have some interior design experience. Experience in the hospitality industry could also be a plus; although, this candidate must be able to be firm while still being polite. Jenkins Custom Homes has the lowest turnover ratio in the industry due to our environment of energy and enthusiasm. It is fun and invigorating to work with the most creative and intelligent team in your field. Please send resume to jobs@newhousebuilder.com with salary requirements. No phone calls or personal visits to our office, please.

Although we do not have any immediate openings in the following positions, we always accept resumes for the following team members:

Lead Architect/Designer. Applicant should have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in Residential Design, experience in the Luxury market a plus, and should appreciate/enjoy Tuscan and Old-World Architecture. A degree in Architecture is preferred. CAD experience is required, and candidate must be able to sketch and render. This full-time position entails completing detailed CAD drawings for our homes and pools and working with our clients.

High-Octane Superintendent. Applicant should have a 4-year college degree and a minimum of 3-5 years experience in Custom Home Building. The right person will have an eye for details and be a perfectionist. He/She will have a thorough understanding of the homebuilding process and will be a good listener. He/She will hold himself/herself to a higher standard and will always desire to improve, learn, and make a positive contribution. The right person will be intelligent and hard-working. This person will require little supervision and will have the ability to handle multiple projects and clients at once. This person must have the ability to understand and implement complex Engineering drawings.

Proven Marketing/Public Relations Specialist. Applicant should have some formal sales training and a minimum of 5 years in Sales with some experience in Public Relations. A college degree is preferred. The right person will be outgoing, intelligent, hard-working, a good listener, and client-focused. Must be familiar with “gorilla marketing” tactics and have lots of ideas for growing a small business.

Organized Bookkeeper/CPA who can also answer phones. This person should have a minimum 5 years experience doing the books for a home builder. The right person will be experienced in Quickbooks, extremely organized, and able to answer phones while handling the day-to-day activity of the office.

Multi-tasking Estimator/Procurement Manager. Applicant should have a minimum 10 years experience estimating construction projects, 3 of which must be residential construction. The right person will also have experience doing take-offs and ordering materials for residential construction projects. The right person will also be intelligent, hard-working, client-focused, and a great communicator.

“People are not your most important asset. The right people are.” – Jim Collins, Good to Great

Austin Texas Custom Home Builders

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 18, 2010 at 06:00 PM

Austin Custom Home Builder, Jenkins Custom Homes, is pleased to announce they have just won Custom Builder of the Year for the state of Texas (2009-2010). This is the second time in three years the home builder has been chosen for the award for excellence in product design and construction. Each year the Texas Association of Builders (TexasBuilders.org) selects one and only one custom home builder to represent our industry. It is, by far, the highest honor a custom home builder in Texas can achieve. In addition to Custom Home Builder of the Year, Jenkins was also chosen for eight Star Awards including Best Custom Home, Best Architectural Design, Best Overall Interior Design, and Best Specialty Room, among others.

Jenkins is also excited to announce their participation in the 2010 Parade of Homes in Austin, Texas. After the last successful Parade of Homes in 2008, Jenkins Custom Homes was receptive to the idea of another Parade, especially since this one will be a custom home for a client. The 2008 Parade Home, featured in the Winter 2009 issue of Dolce Vita magazine, was 7,000 square feet of pure custom home luxury…you can read more about this home here. More details about the 2010 Parade Home will be forthcoming; so check back soon.

Jenkins Custom Homes has a strong history of designing and building exceptional show homes. In 2006, the Jenkins Showcase of Homes entry was recognized as the Best Custom Home in Texas by the Texas Association of Builders and resulted in Jenkins being named the 2006 Custom Builder of the Year.

In 2004, Jenkins was also invited to build a custom home for the Showcase of Homes. This custom home was also recognized with a Star award from the Texas Association of Home Builders as the Best Custom Home for 2004. This home was featured on the cover of Frontgate Magazine.

In 2009, Jenkins participated in the Parade of Homes at Skywater in Horseshoe Bay. This home won every single People’s Choice Award in every category! This custom home also won several state-wide Star Awards by the Texas Association of Builders, including Best Custom Home in its price category.

As impressive as all of the awards may be, what draws individuals to a Jenkins home is the experience of building a home with some of the most enjoyable and creative people in the industry. Their copyrighted Lifestyle Analysis, developed in 2004, was the first to really focus on designing a home around the lifestyle of those living in the home. Read more about their unique design/build program here.

Click below to watch a brief Portfolio Video of Jenkins award-winning homes.
Click Here to view video

Seminar Signup

Bethany Jenkins — Jan 30, 2010 at 09:00 PM

Spring 2010 Seminar – Top 10 Tips for a Fabulous Outdoor Kitchen
Presented by Shan Jenkins, Custom Builder of the Year

If you experience any problem signing up, please send an email to Email with your name and number of attendees.

From Facebook

Bethany Jenkins — Nov 02, 2009 at 01:00 PM

Terese Peabody commented on your note “Jenkins Custom Homes Finishes Home in Westlake!”:

“Jenkins Custom Homes are truly masterpieces…congratulations!”

Maripat Powers commented on your post “Jenkins Custom Homes named 2009 Custom Builder of the Year”:

“No big surprise to me…I always knew Jenkins Custom Homes was fabulous! CONGRATULATIONS!! A well-deserved honor!”

James Lewandowski commented on your post “Jenkins Custom Homes named 2009 Custom Builder of the Year”:

“Congratulations. As a past customer, I can say you deserve it.”

Custom Builder of the Year...again!

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 30, 2009 at 10:00 AM

Jenkins Custom Homes is the winner of this year’s Custom Builder of the Year in the state of Texas…again!

The highly-coveted Star Awards are given annually by the Texas Association of Builders to recognize excellence in product design, building, remodeling, and development in the home building industry. Each year one and only one builder is chosen Custom Builder of the Year. This year, the competition was tough in all Custom Builder categories, but Jenkins walked away with the most sought-after prize for a Custom Builder in the state of Texas, Custom Builder of the Year! After winning it in 2006, Jenkins is one of only a handful of custom builders in the state of Texas to win it more than once.

In addition to winning Builder of the Year, Jenkins took home seven other awards for excellence, including the awards for Best Custom Home, Best Overall Interior Design, Best Architectural Design, Best Specialty Room, and Best Brochure for a Custom Builder. This new round of awards adds to the growing list of over 40 awards recognizing Jenkins’ exceptional home design and building quality.

We love winning awards for our homes, but our greatest thrill comes from the accolades we receive from our very satisfied customers. Everything we do at Jenkins Custom Homes stems from the desire to better serve our clients. Our clearly defined system for building a home allows us to identify and prioritize our client’s needs, and build a home that fits them perfectly.

It doesn’t hurt our feelings that the process ends up winning Jenkins Custom Homes more awards than just about any other builder in Texas!

Jenkins Custom Homes has been building luxury custom homes in the Austin area for the last 15+ years. With over 100 homes totaling over $50 million, and an almost 100% customer satisfaction rating, Jenkins has a proven track record that is now uniquely recognized through this award.

Austin Among Best Performing US Metros

Bethany Jenkins — Sep 30, 2009 at 10:00 AM

Austin Business Journal
Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Austin and San Antonio will be the first two U.S. cities to recover from the recession, according to a new national forecast from IHS Global Insight.

The forecast from the Lexington, Mass. economic research firm suggests the two Texas cities will bounce back to their pre-recession job levels sometime next year.

Eight other metropolitan areas are predicted to recover by 2011, a group that includes Texas’ two largest markets, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, along with Washington, D.C.

IHS Global Insight said most metros will start adding employment next year, but the increases are likely to be tepid. “Solid gains will not return for the majority of the country until 2011,” the report said.

Austin is also named one of the 20 best performing metropolitan areas in the second quarter of 2009, according to a study by the Brookings Institution.

The second quarter MetroMonitor report tracked nine metrics in 100 U.S. metro areas, and found Austin was a leader in many of those, from percent change in gross metropolitan product to percent change in housing prices.

Employment in Austin fell 0.5 percent from its pre-recession peak, that was the second-narrowest gap in the nation. The Texas Capital was also one of only three metro areas that surpassed their pre-recession peak output by the second quarter of 2009. Along with the other two cities, McAllen and Washington D.C., Austin was one of those least affected by the downturn.

The report’s authors said the figures reveal some stark differences in economic performance among metro areas.

“Signs at the national level that job and income losses are slowing continue to mask the highly variable performance of individual metropolitan economies,” said Alan Berube, co-author of the report. “While several metro areas may have reached a turning point, there are many others that still have not touched bottom, as well as a few that have almost fully recovered.”

Texas had the strongest showing, with six cities among the 20 strongest metro areas: Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, McAllen and San Antonio. Florida dominated the list of the 20 weakest metro areas with eight, including Bradenton, Cape Coral, Lakeland, Miami, Orlando, Palm Bay and Tampa.

For the full report, click here.

Other Jenkins Sites

Bethany Jenkins — Jul 20, 2009 at 10:00 AM

Jenkins Custom Homes is one of a family of related businesses. See a list of some of these related businesses and their associated websites below.

RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION

Jenkins Waterscapes – Pool Design & Construction

Jenkins Remodeling – Remodeling Design & Construction

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION

SL Jenkins Construction – Commercial Projects ranging from small finish-out projects to large new construction projects

Contemporary

Bethany Jenkins — Jul 20, 2009 at 10:00 AM

Contemporary style homes are the newest addition to our Portfolio. On the boards, we have a number of contemporary homes in design. The desire for a simpler lifestyle has translated into simpler home designs. Contemporary design answers this need.

Jenkins Custom Homes Wins Parade of Homes Awards

Bethany Jenkins — Jun 11, 2009 at 03:00 AM

Just announced were the winners of the People’s Choice Awards for the 2009 Parade of Homes in the Horseshoe Bay area. Jenkins Custom Homes won every award in every category. Jayne Mortensen, Director of the Building Industry Association (BIA) for the Highland Lakes area, called Shan Jenkins to congratulate him. “I just wanted you to know what an accomplishment this is,” she said. Shown below are the award categories judged by the people who attended this year’s Parade of Homes and the winners chosen:

People’s Choice Awards

Best of Parade	Best Master Suite	Best Living Room
Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes
Best Kitchen	Best Outdoor Living	Best Interiors
Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes
Best Front Elevation	Best Specialty Feature	Best Use of Site
Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes
Best Floor Plan
Jenkins Custom Homes

When asked about the award, Shan Jenkins responded, “We are so honored by this – after all, it is the people who attend the Parade of Homes whom we aspire to impress. They understand that it is that balance of beauty and livability that makes a custom home a success. A really exceptional home will evoke an emotional response when people enter the home. We could tell that people were making that emotional connection when they saw our Parade Home, and that really made us happy.”

Jenkins Custom Homes also wishes to acknowledge our Trade Partners in this endeavor. Without them, we certainly could not be so successful. This year’s Parade Home Partners were Broadway Showroom, Accent Granite, Elements Landscape Company, Kiva Kitchen & Bath, and Austin Audio. We also must acknowledge that our custom clients on this project made fabulous selections for the home, and it was a pleasure working with them. Although they prefer to remain anonymous, we would be remiss not to say thank you and congratulations to them. After all, this is their home!

To see photos of this and other award-winning homes, click here.

Jenkins Custom Homes Wins Awards in Horseshoe Bay

Bethany Jenkins — May 26, 2009 at 01:00 AM

Home Builders in Horseshoe Bay recently participated in the home builder’s annual Parade of Homes. Just announced were the winners of the People’s Choice Awards for the 2009 Parade of Homes in the Horseshoe Bay area. Jenkins Custom Homes won every award in every custom home category. Jayne Mortensen, Director of the Building Industry Association (BIA) for the Highland Lakes area, called Shan Jenkins to congratulate him and his home building company. “I just wanted you to know what an accomplishment this is,” she said. Shown below are the award categories judged by the people who attended this year’s home show and the winners chosen:

People’s Choice Awards

Best Home in Parade	Best Master Suite in a Home	Best Living Room
Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes
Best Kitchen in a Home	Best Outdoor Living	Best Interiors in a Home
Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes
Best Front Elevation	Best Specialty Feature	Best Use of Site in a Home
Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes
Best Floor Plan in a Home
Jenkins Custom Homes

When asked about the award, Horseshoe Bay Builder Shan Jenkins responded, “We are so honored by this – after all, it is the people who attend the Parade of Homes whom we aspire to impress. A really exceptional home will evoke an emotional response when people enter the home. We could tell that people were making that emotional connection when they saw our Parade Home, and that really made us happy. This is why we build homes in Horseshoe Bay.”

Jenkins Custom Homes also wishes to acknowledge the Trade Partners for this home building project. Without them, the project could not have been so successful. This year’s Parade Home Partners were Broadway Showroom, located in the Horseshoe Bay area, Accent Granite, located in the Horseshoe Bay area, Elements Landscape Company, Kiva Kitchen & Bath, and Austin Audio. An acknowledgment also goes to the custom home clients on this project who made fabulous selections for the home! It was a pleasure working with them. Although they prefer to remain anonymous, “thank you” and “congratulations” go to them. After all, this is their home!

To see photos of this Horseshoe Bay home and other award-winning homes, click here.

Our Parade Home in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, is now closed to the public. It was located at the following address:

Jenkins Custom Homes
113 Paint Brush, Lot 4 Skywater
Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657

The Best In Luxury Appliances Joins The Best in Luxury Home Building

Bethany Jenkins — May 23, 2009 at 12:00 PM

Perfected through seven decades of use in professional kitchens, Wolf appliances provide the ability to make any dish possible, while Sub-Zero, the innovative leaders in preservation, keep foods fresher longer – all while consuming less power than a 100 watt light bulb.

You can experience both of these top-of-the-line appliances – hands on and in person – at either of their two Texas showrooms: one in Dallas and the other within walking distance of the Galleria Mall in Houston. These showrooms offer a variety of cooking classes, wine tastings, training seminars, as well as use and care classes. Just visit Sub-Zero/Wolf Cooking Demonstrations to see a copy of the current schedule, but note that the classes fill up 2-3 months in advance, so plan ahead!

Jenkins Custom Homes, recently named the “Custom Builder of the Year” in Texas for the second time, has recently partnered with Sub-Zero/Wolf, the best in luxury appliances, giving Jenkins’ clients special attention as well as pricing. Jenkins clients will have the opportunity to experience private cooking demonstrations with Sub-Zero/Wolf Executive Chef, Garth Blackburn, on the same appliances that they have chosen for their new home. They will also have the opportunity for in-home use and care demonstrations by Sub-Zero/Wolf after they are in their new custom home. Jenkins Custom Homes strives to build partnerships with the best in the business in order to deliver the best possible product. That is just one of the reasons the Texas Association of Builders named Jenkins Custom Homes the “Custom Builder of the Year”, this year and in 2006. Jenkins & Sub-Zero/Wolf – a perfect partnership for today’s luxury client.

For more detail and a brief video of the partnership meeting, see the Custom Home Blog.

Directions and Information - Parade of Homes

Bethany Jenkins — May 20, 2009 at 10:00 AM

Because the Skywater subdivision is so new, maps are not currently showing the street for 113 Paintbrush in Horseshoe Bay. So please print these directions before you come to see the home.

The hours for the Parade of Homes are as follows:
Friday, May 22 – 10am to 6pm
Saturday, May 23 – 10am to 6pm
Sunday, May 24 – 11am to 5pm

Friday, May 29 – 10am to 6pm
Saturday, May 30 – 10am to 6pm
Sunday, May 31 – 11am to 5pm

Directions:
Horseshoe Bay, Texas is located approximately 55 miles West of Austin on Highway 71.
Travel Highway 71 past Highway 281 North to 2147.
Take a right on 2147.
Travel East on 2147 to the Skywater Entry.
Turn right and travel .5 miles and turn right.
Go around the circle and turn right .2 miles on Paintbrush.
The House is the 2nd on the left. Look for balloons out front.
Coordinates: N 30° 31.662 WO 98° 23.317

If you need help finding it, please call (512)461-7990 or click here.

My Favorite Product

Bethany Jenkins — May 01, 2009 at 03:00 PM

I LOVE the Sherwin Williams product called Illusions® Translucent Metallic Technique Finishes. The Pearl color adds so much pizazz to a small space like a Powder Bath wall or a barrel ceiling, and it requires no technique at all! You can just paint it on the space, and it gives the walls a pearl sheen.

What’s your favorite product? To post your comment, click here.

Housing Starts

Bethany Jenkins — Apr 21, 2009 at 03:00 PM

The NAHB just released the graph of housing starts in the United States. For the first time in 3 years, housing starts are up.

Also, for the first time in 4 years, inventories are down:
2005: 4.5 months
2006: 6.5 months
2007: 8.9 months
2008: 10.5 months
Today: 9.7 months

It appears that the housing market has finally reached bottom and is making a turnaround. The housing bust of the late 80’s, turned into a 17 year housing boom. Who knows what’s in store this time, but given the current housing data, and the economic stimulus coming out of Washington, you have to believe that we are at the beginning of a turnaround, and that means inventories will continue to shrink, prices will go up, values will rise, investors will return, and mortgage rates will go up. I’m no Warren Buffet, but I have been in this industry for 21 years, and if your goal is to time the market, then I suggest now is the time.

Please call Cyndi Hayth at 512-461-7990 for information on our existing inventory. Custom clients and Realtors, please call Cyndi to learn more about our current incentives. They won’t last much longer.

Shan Jenkins
“2006 Custom Builder of the Year”

Local Home Builders Association Names Jenkins President

Bethany Jenkins — Mar 20, 2009 at 09:00 AM

Shan Jenkins is named President of the Lakeway /Bee Caves Chapter of the Home Builders Association Greater Austin, Tuesday, September 9, 2008. The local chapter of the Home Builders Assocation serves to raise the standards of Home Builders and better serve the communities where they build. Jenkins will serve a one-year term and is looking forward to serving the community and the local home builder’s chapter.

“The Builders in this area are some of the best in the nation and have long worked together to build better communities,” says Jenkins. It is an honor to serve in this capacity."

Austin Remodeler

Bethany Jenkins — Mar 18, 2009 at 07:00 AM

Austin home remodelers come in all varieties, but a Jenkins custom home distinguishes itself from an ordinary Austin home remodeling project in a multitude of ways.

Our distinctive approach to Austin home remodeling starts with an in-depth analysis of how you live and how your room addition or home makeover will fit your lifestyle. Some of the factors we consider include your entertaining habits, future growth of your family, traffic flow, household activities and your eating, working and recreational preferences. Of course, like any Austin remodeler, we also must consider the constraints and virtues of your existing home and site.

To ensure there are no unpleasant cost surprises at the end of the process, like there are with many home remodelers, we provide you with a Guaranteed Cost Breakdown and a Personal Home Page (which actually describes your remodeling project, not the homepage of a website!). On this page – part of our Automated Change Order System – you can instantly see requested changes, costs and the status of any modification to the construction of your Austin home.

Finally, the reason Austin contacts Jenkins Custom Homes for their remodeling projects is because they are educated and knowledgeable and can be trusted with even the most extensive home remodeling projects. After all, these days it has become critical to deal with reputable companies (Texas’ 2006 Custom Builder of the Year) who have been in business for over 20 years and who will be in business for the next 20 years.

Lake Travis Remodeler

Bethany Jenkins — Mar 18, 2009 at 06:00 AM

Lake Travis remodelers are proud of the educators and students in the Lake Travis Independent School District that serves the communities in which they build. And for good reason. Lake Travis ISD is one of the most lauded and effective educational organizations in Texas.

Like the staff at Jenkins Custom Homes, students from Lake Travis homes are clearly educated and knowledgeable. Numbering some 7,000, these young scholars boasted among their number an impressive 26 National Merit Semifinalists and 39 Commended Students in 2007-2008. 93% of the 2007 Lake Travis senior class gave notice of their intent to attend college, with 7% joining the military or finding jobs. And the average Lake Travis SAT scores beat or equaled both the national and Texas averages (with 95% of the senior class taking the test).

Lake Travis remodelers know that the families who buy homes in the 31.2 square miles served by the Lake Travis ISD will have access to some of the finest educational opportunities in the Texas Hill Country. Lake Travis ISD teachers average over 14 years of experience, and 36.6% of them hold advanced degrees.

To have a project approved in the Lake Travis ISD, a Lake Travis remodeler must follow stringent guidelines set forth by the City of Lakeway and having a good rapport with the City of Lakeway is beneficial. Experienced Lake Travis home remodelers like Jenkins Custom Homes have such a rapport and are well-known within the community of the Lake Travis ISD boundaries. You have already chosen the optimal educational environment for your family; now consider working with an award-winning Lake Travis home remodeler like Jenkins Custom Homes. Contact us today to learn more about our unique remodeling program and take your home from adequate to WOW!

Interest Rates

Bethany Jenkins — Mar 13, 2009 at 03:00 AM

We recently attended the Economic Housing Forecast for Austin, presented by Stewart Title. They do this annually, where they bring in Economists and Consultants from the industry who specialize in the Texas Housing market. This year, we were surprised to learn that these specialists expect interest rates to begin rising soon. In theory, I can understand why this would happen. However, you get comfortable with something like low interest rates and begin to feel like it is the new standard. Well, apparently it is not. These experts expect interest rates to begin rising some time within the next year. The message to the group was that this is the time to buy. Housing prices have never been lower, and interest rates have never been lower. It is a great time to buy, and the time may be short to capitalize on these conditions.

It was a good reminder that smart investors buy low and sell high, and right now prices are low for the first time in over 10 years. Even though the sentiment in the market, at least the stock market, is one of fear…I guess it’s time to think like Warren Buffet who said, “Be greedy when people are scared and be scared when people are greedy.”

-Bethany Jenkins

Dolce Vita features Jenkins Custom Homes

Bethany Jenkins — Mar 08, 2009 at 08:00 AM

The latest issue of Dolce Vita magazine features the Jenkins “2009 Austin Dream Home” in an editorial discussing the epitome of luxury living…luxury homes. In an article entitled “Building Perfection”, the Editor sits down with Shan Jenkins, President of Jenkins Custom Homes, to ask a series of questions about how he accomplishes the design and construction of such amazing homes.

“As a leader in home design, this experienced builder creates remarkable dream homes from start to finish,” states Stephanie D’Angelo of Dolce Vita. “Unique and majestic, each home bursts with enchanting character and unparalleled design,” she says. “And what’s more, a Jenkins Custom Home always reflects the personality of the family who lives inside.” She discusses the Jenkins Lifestyle Analysis, a copyrighted system used to determine the lifestyle of each client which culminates in their beautiful custom home.

She asked Jenkins if, as a child, he saw himself working in this industry. She then discusses Jenkins’ background in construction and what led him to this industry. “Jenkins’ fruition is rooted in his deep passion to create,” she says. “I approach each project with the mindset that it has to be built as close to perfect as possible,” she quotes him as saying.

It is this pursuit of perfection that makes Jenkins Custom Homes “a front-runner in home building”, she writes. All in all, this article highlights the accomplishment of a company and a man dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in his industry and passionate about creating client’s dreams.

To read the entire article, click here.

Email Gallery

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 06, 2009 at 12:00 AM

The Glendening Family

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 02, 2009 at 04:00 PM

Click Here to view video

Dolce Vita - original article

Bethany Jenkins — Jan 27, 2009 at 07:00 AM

Building Perfection

November 28, 2008 by Stephanie D’Angelo

Driving through the distinguished Lakeway, Westlake and Dripping Springs communities of Austin, Texas, you’re bound to find dozens of Jenkins Custom Homes lining the pristine roads. As a leader in home design, this experienced builder creates remarkable dream homes from start to finish.

Unique and majestic, each home bursts with enchanting character and unparalleled design. And what’s more, a Jenkins Custom Home always reflects the personality of the family who lives inside.

“We have a copyrighted system called a ‘lifestyle analysis’ that we go through with every client,” says Shan Jenkins, president of the company. This lifestyle analysis enables Jenkins and his team to design a home that is perfectly tailored to each homeowner’s particular way of life. The design visionary spends about two hours with each new client, getting to know them and discussing layout options. Taking into account the shape and topography of the land, as well as the flow of traffic, Jenkins considers the family’s tastes, hobbies, children and guests when coming up with a design. “The end result is a fairly unique home suited just for them,” he says.

This dedicated attention to the client makes Jenkins Custom Homes a front-runner in homebuilding. And with its exceptional curb appeal and the signature stone and brick arches that are integrated into each home’s interior, a Jenkins home is hard to miss.

Submerged in construction since he was just a child, Jenkins began assisting in his uncle’s roofing company when he was in the sixth grade. So, after earning a degree in construction science at Texas A&M, it came as no surprise when he was asked to take the reigns of his father’s company, Jenkins Custom Homes, in 1998. Since acquiring the company, Jenkins has been actively involved in the design, construction and selling of his projects, ensuring that no detail is overlooked.

Since its inception, the company has enjoyed astounding success, earning a myriad of accolades, including the Texas Association of Builders’ prestigious Builder of the Year award in 2006, and being selected as one of six celebrated Austin Home Builders to participate in this year’s Parade of Homes. The 7,000 sq. ft. home built for this show was an exceptional example of the innovative modern Mediterranean style, which features the clean, sleek look of a contemporary home, with the warmth and grace of the Mediterranean style.

Jenkins’ fruition is rooted in his deep passion to create. “I approach each home with the mindset that it has to be built as close to perfect as possible,” he says. This dedication radiates in his preference for quality over quantity. To ensure that each home lives up to his company’s standards, Jenkins limits the number of projects he takes on at one time. “Limiting the number of houses I will build at once allows me to be very involved at every phase of construction,” he says.

The average price for a Jenkins home is around $1.5 million, and the entire process takes about 12 months, assuming that everything runs on schedule, which can be a feat in construction. It is these time constraints that Jenkins finds most challenging. “We have to deal with a lot of pressure in the industry,” he says. “I find that more and more, clients are expecting to see quicker results.”

But Jenkins isn’t discouraged by the stresses of the job. In fact, he challenges himself to constantly improve his style and rise above the competition. His ability to do so has kept him on top of the building game.

With over 86 homes completed to date, totaling more than $40 million, and a 100 per cent customer satisfaction rating, we can be sure that there is much more to come from Jenkins Custom Homes.

www.newhousebuilder.com

It's Great to be in Texas!

Bethany Jenkins — Jan 11, 2009 at 07:00 AM

Well, it’s great to be in Texas. All 5 of Texas’ larger Metro Areas reported positive job growth in 2008, putting all 5 of them in the nation’s Top 10 with El Paso coming in at No. 11. As job growth goes, so does the economy, so it’s no wonder that Forbes Magazine ranked Austin / San Antonio as the best cities in the United States to weather the recession – America’s Recession-Proof Cities. My advice: Pack your bags and move to Austin!

Annual Numbers by CBSA – 12 Months Ending November 2008

Rank	Market (CBSA)	Job Growth	Population
1	Houston-Baytown-Sugar Land TX	54,300	5,489,519
2	Dallas-Ft. Worth-Arlington TX	46,900	6,007,731
3	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	31,100	5,367,465
4	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue WA	19,900	2,270,362
5	San Antonio TX	16,600	1,985,591
6	Austin-Round Rock TX	12,600	1,503,872
7	Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport	11,400	1,664,349
8	Boston-Cambridge-Quincy MA-NH	8,500	4,458,397
9	McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr TX	8,300	728,091
10	New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner LA	8,000	1,140,234
11	El Paso TX	6,400	750,291

A Designers Look at Decking the Halls-Part 2

Bethany Jenkins — Nov 26, 2008 at 10:00 AM

Today’s guest is Jessica Nixon of Jessica Nixon Interior Design, the company she founded in 1994. Jessica is a registered American Society of Interior Designers member and has earned the National Council for Interior Design Qualification certification. In addition to her tenure as president of Austin’s ASID, she has held past positions with the association including Programs Chairman and Design Excellence Chairman.

To follow up our last article we are now going to be discussing centerpieces, wreaths, and swags – not just for Christmas, but also for Thanksgiving.

Centerpieces:

1. People tend to go overboard with buying table decorations. Follow the old saying “less is more.”

2. Try using natural decorations to create a warm and inviting harvest table. Incorporate pumpkins and gourds down the middle of the table on a natural colored runner and scatter fall colors leaves in between. You can also cut the top off and hollow the pumpkins and gourds out and create a candle holder. To create a unique floral arrangement, get a larger-sized pumpkin and insert a vase or container with fresh flowers in it.

3. To dress your table for an elegant Christmas dinner you can gather various height candle stick holders and place ball ornaments on each to create a pedestal to display the ornament. If you are using holiday china, choose a color from the pattern and use that color for the balls.

4. For a natural holiday centerpiece, get a large glass bowl style vase and fill it with water and cranberries – enough to cover the stems and add fresh flowers.

5. Another table centerpiece for Christmas that will work on into the New Year uses huge pillar candles all in one color. Add magnolia leaves or iridescent fake snow around the candles and voila! You have your table decoration! By using one color or candles or balls it keeps from detracting from the food being that will be served or china that is on display.

6. In our first article, we talked about scrunching fabric around the base of the tree for a custom tree skirt. In the same way, fabric can be used as a table runner for any of these centerpiece ideas. Just turn under any unsightly edges.

Wreaths:

7. If at all possible, use fresh or natural wreaths materials. This requires less dressing up and then you can place in compost at the end of the season. For an autumn themed wreath, use a natural material such as grapevine or wheat and simply add a pretty bow to it. This look is elegant and not over done. If you want to dress it up just a tad more, you could also add pheasant feathers on each side of the bow to make the wreath a little more three dimensional.

8. For the Christmas wreath, use a fresh pine wreath to which you can add magnolia leaves. You can spray paint the leaves gold to add some pop.

9. If you feel that a faux wreath is better suited for your needs my suggestion is to add sprays of different species of pine to give a little more character to the wreath. Also make sure that the size of wreath is in proportion with the size of area you are placing it. (If you have a large front door you wouldn’t want a 9 inch wreath.)

Swags:

10. There are many places you can use swags or garlands. The most obvious places are on the mantel or stairs to adorn on your stair rail; however, you can also use them draped around your front door or inside your house, atop each window in the family room or kitchen. In any situation if you are using fresh or fake you can dress the swags by adding bows at the place of attachment.

11. Hang glass colored balls on the garland that coordinate with the area of your home, or use all gold or all silver balls to coordinate in almost any setting.

12. Finally, if you are using the garland on the exterior of your home, try to coordinate with the hardware and accessories that are near it. For instance, if it hangs near a brass door knob, use gold ornaments.

By: Jessica Nixon

Recommended Home Builders

Bethany Jenkins — Nov 18, 2008 at 01:00 PM

We meet with a select group of Custom Home Builders, hand-chosen by us, across the country—the top custom builders in the nation. If you are moving to one of these areas and want to build a home, we can confidently recommend one of these Builders:

ARIZONA:

Casas Del Oso, Phoenix, Scottsdale Custom Home Builder

COLORADO:

Fuller Custom Homes, Denver, Cherry Hills Custom Home Builder

FLORIDA, TALLAHASSEE:

Cory McFarlane, Tallahassee Custom Home Builder

FLORIDA, CAPE CORAL & FORT MYERS:

Paul Homes,Cape Coral, Fort Myers Custom Home Builder

GEORGIA:

Richard Padgham Homes, Gainesville, Lake Lanier Custom Home Builder

ILLINOIS:

BJ Armstrong Custom Homes, Illinois Custom Home Builder

INDIANA

Kendaleton Builders, Indianapolis Custom Home Builder

NEW MEXICO:

Rachael Matthew Custom Homes, Albuquerque Custom Home Builder

NEW JERSEY:

Monetti Builders, New Jersey Custom Home Builder

NEW YORK / CONNECTICUT:

E.M. Rose Building Company, Connecticut Custom Home Builder

OHIO:

Scott McCue Homes, Akron, Canton Custom Home Builder

PENNSYLVANIA:

Wheatland Custom Homes, Pennsylvania Custom Home Builder

TEXAS, AUSTIN:

Jenkins Custom Homes, Austin Texas Custom Home Builder

TEXAS, DALLAS:

Pavlis Custom Homes, Dallas Custom Home Builder

UTAH:

Jar-Con,Inc., Salt Lake City Custom Home Builder

WASHINGTON:

Vilhauer Custom Homes, Vancouver Custom Home Builder

Best Website in Texas

Bethany Jenkins — Nov 12, 2008 at 07:00 AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JENKINS CUSTOM HOMES WINS BEST WEB SITE

FOR A CUSTOM BUILDER

AT THE 2008 STAR AWARDS

HOSTED BY

THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BUILDERS

AUSTIN, TX – The Texas Association of Builders is honored to announce that Jenkins Custom Homes is the winner of the 2008 Star Awards’ Best Web Site for a Custom Builder – less than 50 homes per calendar year category. The award was presented during the Star Awards Gala held at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas during the 2008 Sunbelt Builders Show™.

The highly-coveted Star Awards are given annually to recognize excellence in home building, remodeling, sales & marketing, or development. Entrants submitted their best work for consideration in this year’s competition.

Jenkins Custom Homes is known for their attention to detail. This element is used to emphasize and highlight architectural details on their splash page. The website is also easy to maintain and is updated frequently to keep the content fresh.

Additional thanks to Artemis Marketing – Advertising/PR & Trnsfr, Inc. –Web Development.

The Texas Association of Builders is a non-profit organization with more than 14,000 members, serving the needs of home builders and remodelers throughout Texas, as well as the companies that service them. The Star Awards are presented annually to honor the best in new building, remodeling, and restoration.

CONTACT: SCOTT MCCLURE

COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLICATIONS MGR.

(512) 476-6346

New Lower Price

Bethany Jenkins — Nov 12, 2008 at 05:00 AM

Click Here to view video

Hardscape in your Landscape-part 2

Bethany Jenkins — Nov 10, 2008 at 08:00 AM

In his first post, Jason Allison introduced us to the concept of hardscape in our landscaping. In part two, Jason will conclude his article with issues that need to be addressed when bringing hardscape into your landscape.

When adding hardscape to your landscaping, always consider your drainage. If this is not addressed properly from the onset, it can cause many problems down the line. It is always important to consider the run-off from the hardscape as well as different options to catch and control the water.

Although many of the material options are considered “permeable”, or will let water drain through, even they cannot completely absorb all of the rainfall that can come down in a hurry from time to time. Proper planning and implementing can alleviate these problems. Often creative solutions, like dry creek beds, can actually add to the landscape as a whole.

Last, and by no means least, it is important to consider how the hardscape will work with the rest of the landscape as a whole. As I said before, they both can compliment each other greatly and a good planting design will only enhance your enjoyment of your hardscape.

Often you can soften the edges with plantings like vines or Rosemary training over walls and edges. Also, a hardscape generally lends itself to boundaries that are ideal for creating planting beds that can be filled with flowers, shrubs and trees that can add colors, scents, textures and shade to the area.

All in all, hardscapes can definitely add value and useable space to any landscape or home in general. Just keep in mind a few things when planning and implementing the project and you will have a permanent structure that you will be able to enjoy for years to come with little maintenance required.

Hardscape in your Landscape

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 22, 2008 at 08:00 AM

By Jason Allison, Landscape Designer, Elements Group

Adding hardscape into a landscape is sometimes viewed as a contradiction of ideals. After all, landscapes are soft and organic while hardscapes are, well, hard and permanent, right? So, how can they work together?

Well, beautifully. You see, when planned properly the hardscape can add great value to the landscape, and vice versa, to create an overall appealing space that is conducive to flowers, scents, green space and high heels.

Hardscape materials can vary from impermeable surfaces like concrete and mortared in flagstone to the permeable such as tumbled pavers and stone with decomposed granite joints. Even more natural materials like wood decks can be considered “hardscape”. These structures offer a permanent surface that can be enjoyed as an entertaining or relaxing space, create defined pathways, or even act as parking for automobiles. The advantages of hardscapes are numerous but in the planning and constructing of the areas a few things need to be kept in mind.

First, consider the type of material you would like to use. Do you want it to be smooth and solid? Then maybe concrete would be an option. With the many stamping, texturing, and staining options today it does not have to be a plain grey slab.

Would you prefer an “Old World” or “Tuscan” feel? Then you might want to consider clay or tumbled concrete pavers. There are countless patterns to choose from and this option does give you the ability to remove a single paver should it ever become damaged. These pavers do have some added texture, which, depending on your preference can be seen as a good thing.

How about a natural feel? Then natural stone materials could be what you are looking for. From rough, natural flagstone to smooth saw-cut limestone the options here are numerous as well. One other important thing to consider with natural materials is what you would like the space between the stones to contain. Several popular options are solid mortared joints, decomposed granite, or even pea gravel. Each has its own pros and cons.

Read part two of this article in Jason’s next post…coming soon.

A Designer's look at Decking the Halls

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 21, 2008 at 04:00 PM

This post was originally published on our affiliate blog site: The Home Blog.

To create a beautiful sophisticated Christmas tree here are some helpful hints:

1. There is no better way to exude elegance than to decorate the Christmas tree with white lights.

2. To make the white light even more angelic try purchasing some white tulle (wedding netting). Cut into 1 yard pieces scrunch together and fill in any empty spaces between the tips of the branch and the trunk with the tulle. This not only helps the tree look fuller but gives an extra twinkle. It also looks great if you wrap the base of the tree with the tulle. The tulle comes in many different colors. Another sophisticated color to use would be silver or gold.

3. Many pre-made tree skirts barely cover the tree stand. One method that I have used is to purchase two to three yards of a beautiful fabric from the fabric store, just wrap around the base of the tree, fold under any exposed rough edges, puff and scrunch until it gives the soft, billowy look. This is a custom, no-sew method tree skirt for less.

4. As for tree topper, what I think always looks beautiful is a glass finial, but if budget is an issue you can do a bow on top of the tree. For the bow, I always say “bigger is better.” If you can not make bows, you can go down to your local craft store or florist shop, and they can make them for you out of the ribbon you chose for a small fee. Also, I recommend having streams of the same ribbon that cascade down the tree. Just cut the ribbon that will be showing at an angle to have clean, finished edge.

5. If you want a sophisticated look and you have children, my suggestion to you is have a separate tree for the kids to put their collection of ornaments on. This can be in the family room or even play room. That way, you do not have Mickey Mouse on your formal tree. My friend has a mini tree in each of her boys’ rooms, and they have fun picking their favorite ornaments to go on their own mini tree.

6. If you cannot get around having only one tree—make it over the top! One way to achieve this is to use a fun, hip colored garland. Another way is to choose a tree skirt that has a lot of color. You could also try the same no-sew method tree skirt here again, but make the color something that is bright and festive. A patch work skirt or even a patch work quilt could be a very unique tree skirt. And lastly, do everything multi-colored. Instead of using one color of ornaments, use red, purple, blue, and green and definitely go with multi-colored lights. By using all these elements together you can create a tree that whimsical and fun for everyone.

Look for us again when we discuss swags, wreaths, and centerpieces.

Jessica Nixon, ASID

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Westlake Home Builder

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 05, 2008 at 11:00 AM

Westlake home builders come in all varieties, but a Jenkins custom home distinguishes itself from an ordinary Westlake home builder in a multitude of ways.

Our distinctive approach to Westlake home building starts with an in-depth analysis of how you live and how your new home will fit your lifestyle. Some of the factors we consider include your entertaining habits, future growth of your family, traffic flow, household activities and your eating, working and recreational preferences. Of course, like any Westlake home builder, we also must consider the constraints and virtues of your new home site.

In our Design Development stage, we help you visualize your new Westlake home with conceptual renderings and a guaranteed cost breakdown.

To ensure there are no unpleasant cost surprises at the end of the process, like there are with many home builders, we provide you with a Personal Home Page (which actually describes your custom home, not the homepage of a website!). On this page – part of our Automated Change Order System – you can instantly see requested changes, costs and the status of any modification to the construction of your Westlake home.

Spicewood Home Builder

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 05, 2008 at 11:00 AM

Spicewood home builders come in all varieties, but a Jenkins custom home distinguishes itself from an ordinary Spicewood home builder in a multitude of ways.

Our distinctive approach to Spicewood home building starts with an in-depth analysis of how you live and how your new home will fit your lifestyle. Some of the factors we consider include your entertaining habits, future growth of your family, traffic flow, household activities and your eating, working and recreational preferences. Of course, like any Spicewood home builder, we also must consider the constraints and virtues of your new home site.

In our Design Development stage, we help you visualize your new Spicewood home with conceptual renderings and a guaranteed cost breakdown.

Horseshoe Bay Home Builder

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 05, 2008 at 11:00 AM

Horseshoe Bay home builders come in all varieties, but a Jenkins custom home distinguishes itself from an ordinary Horseshoe Bay home builder in a multitude of ways.

Our distinctive approach to Horseshoe Bay home building starts with an in-depth analysis of how you live and how your new home will fit your lifestyle. Some of the factors we consider include your entertaining habits, future growth of your family, traffic flow, household activities and your eating, working and recreational preferences. Of course, like any Horseshoe Bay home builder, we also must consider the constraints and virtues of your new home site.

In our Design Development stage, we help you visualize your new Horseshoe Bay home with conceptual renderings and a guaranteed cost breakdown.

Horseshoe Bay Projects

Building homes in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, our projects include homes in distinctive neighborhoods such as Skywater and Applehead Island. To see our Parade Home in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, please visit the following address:

Jenkins Custom Homes

113 Paint Brush, Lot 4 Skywater

Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657

Dripping Springs Home Builder

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 05, 2008 at 10:00 AM

Dripping Springs home builders come in all varieties, but a Jenkins custom home distinguishes itself from an ordinary Austin home builder in a multitude of ways.

Our distinctive approach to Dripping Springs home building starts with an in-depth analysis of how you live and how your new home will fit your lifestyle. Some of the factors we consider include your entertaining habits, future growth of your family, traffic flow, household activities and your eating, working and recreational preferences. Of course, like any Dripping Springs home builder, we also must consider the constraints and virtues of your new home site.

In our Design Development stage, we help you visualize your new Dripping Springs home with conceptual renderings and a guaranteed cost breakdown.

Driftwood Home Builder

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 05, 2008 at 10:00 AM

Driftwood home builders come in all varieties, but a Jenkins custom home distinguishes itself from an ordinary Austin home builder in a multitude of ways.

Our distinctive approach to Driftwood home building starts with an in-depth analysis of how you live and how your new home will fit your lifestyle. Some of the factors we consider include your entertaining habits, future growth of your family, traffic flow, household activities and your eating, working and recreational preferences. Of course, like any Driftwood home builder, we also must consider the constraints and virtues of your new home site.

In our Design Development stage, we help you visualize your new Driftwood home with conceptual renderings and a guaranteed cost breakdown.

Bee Cave Home Builder

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 05, 2008 at 10:00 AM

Bee Cave home builders come in all varieties, but a Jenkins custom home distinguishes itself from an ordinary Austin home builder in a multitude of ways.

Our distinctive approach to Bee Cave home building starts with an in-depth analysis of how you live and how your new home will fit your lifestyle. Some of the factors we consider include your entertaining habits, future growth of your family, traffic flow, household activities and your eating, working and recreational preferences. Of course, like any Bee Cave home builder, we also must consider the constraints and virtues of your new home site.

In our Design Development stage, we help you visualize your new Austin home with conceptual renderings and a guaranteed cost breakdown.

Austin Business Journal Names Top 25 Home Builders

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 03, 2008 at 05:00 PM

Jenkins Custom Homes is ranked 7th among Custom Home Builders in Austin Business Journal’s Top 25 Custom Builders for 2008. Moving up from #13 last year, this is an honor that also highlights the growth of Jenkins’ business. The journal ranks Custom Home Builders by size, and Jenkins has been shooting to the top the past 5 years. In a market where most home builders are shrinking, Jenkins has gone from #23 on the list just five years ago to #7 in 2008, moving up several rankings each year.

When asked if Jenkins aspires to be #1, Shan Jenkins says, “Not necessarily – we strive to provide superior quality and service in our market, and if we continue to grow it will only be a by-product of our company mission and core values. In fact, with our focus on quality and service, we may choose not to build certain projects in order to maintain our reputation for excellence”.

The Austin Business Journal is the primary source for news and pro-business information in the Austin and surrounding areas. Jenkins Custom Homes is pleased to be associated with the Austin Business Journal.

Flintrock Falls Home Builder

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 03, 2008 at 10:00 AM

Flintrock Falls homes are a specialty of builder Jenkins Custom Homes. A new gated, golf-course community located in Lakeway, Flintrock Falls is about a mile from Highway 620, which provides Flintrock Falls home owners a hot route to Austin and all that the city offers.

The many amenities of the area attracted Flintrock Falls home builder Jenkins Custom Homes. Some of the attractions include the Jack Nicklaus signature golf course, the amazing Hill Country views, the new Hill Country Galleria shopping area, golfing, hiking, biking and of course Lake Travis and its many water-based diversions. Flintrock Falls home owners will see their children attend schools in the well-regarded Lake Travis School District.

For Flintrock Falls home builders, home sites in the area offer impressive views and a prestigious neighborhood. The proximity of Lake Travis – one of the largest and cleanest bodies of water in the Texas Hill Country – makes Flintrock Falls an ideal spot for custom home builders like Jenkins.

When you choose Jenkins as your Flintrock Falls home builder, you know you’re in good hands. So good, in fact, that Jenkins was named the 2006 Custom Builder of the Year by the Texas Association of Builders. The 2006 Jenkins Showcase of Homes entry was also named “Best Custom Home in Texas.” In 2008, Jenkins has been invited to participate in the Parade of Homes in Rough Hollow and Skywater in Horseshoe Bay, and also in Rough Hollow’s green homes parade. You may also read more about the home builder awards won by Jenkins.

Seven Oaks Home Builder

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 01, 2008 at 11:00 AM

Seven Oaks homes are a specialty of builder Jenkins Custom Homes. A new prestigious community located in the Eanes school district, Seven Oaks is about three miles from Jenkins’ office on Bee Cave Road, which provides Seven Oaks home owners a hot route to Austin and all that the city offers.

The many amenities of the area attracted Seven Oaks home builder Jenkins Custom Homes. Some of the attractions include the amazing Hill Country views, the new Hill Country Galleria shopping area, golfing, hiking, biking and of course Lake Travis and its many water-based diversions. Seven Oaks home owners will see their children attend schools in the exceptional Eanes School District, regarded as the best in the city of Austin.

For Seven Oaks home builders, home sites in the area offer impressive views and a prestigious neighborhood. The proximity of Lake Travis – one of the largest and cleanest bodies of water in the Texas Hill Country – makes Seven Oaks an ideal spot for custom home builders like Jenkins.

When you choose Jenkins as your Seven Oaks home builder, you know you’re in good hands. So good, in fact, that Jenkins was named the 2006 Custom Builder of the Year by the Texas Association of Builders. The 2006 Jenkins Showcase of Homes entry was also named “Best Custom Home in Texas.” In 2008, Jenkins has been invited to participate in the Parade of Homes in Rough Hollow and Skywater in Horseshoe Bay, and also in Rough Hollow’s green homes parade. You may also read more about the home builder awards won by Jenkins.

Rimrock Home Builder

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 01, 2008 at 10:00 AM

Rimrock homes are a specialty of builder Jenkins Custom Homes. A new community located in Driftwood near Austin, Rimrock is located on Camp Ben McCullough (FM 1826), which provides Rimrock home owners a hot route to Austin and all that the city offers.

The many amenities of the area attracted Rimrock home builder Jenkins Custom Homes. Some of the attractions include the large Oak trees, the amazing Hill Country views, the proximity to area shopping, golfing, hiking, biking and of course Lake Travis and its many water-based diversions. Rimrock home owners will see their children attend schools in the well-regarded Dripping Springs School District.

For Rimrock home builders, home sites in the area offer impressive views and a prestigious neighborhood. The proximity of Lake Travis – one of the largest and cleanest bodies of water in the Texas Hill Country – makes Rimrock an ideal spot for custom home builders like Jenkins.

When you choose Jenkins as your Rimrock home builder, you know you’re in good hands. So good, in fact, that Jenkins was named the 2006 Custom Builder of the Year by the Texas Association of Builders. The 2006 Jenkins Showcase of Homes entry was also named “Best Custom Home in Texas.” In 2008, Jenkins has been invited to participate in the Parade of Homes in Rough Hollow and Skywater in Horseshoe Bay, and also in Rough Hollow’s green homes parade. You may also read more about the home builder awards won by Jenkins.

Housing Industry Crisis

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 01, 2008 at 09:00 AM

So how is the housing industry crisis affecting small business? Well, I cannot speculate about other businesses, but I can speak about our situation, in light of the news lately about the housing industry and prevailing financial crisis. Shan recently sent out an email to our team entitled “State of the Union”, and I thought it might be a good idea to do the same for our blog. “Like any good President,” Shan said, “there will be bad/good news followed by a short pep talk.”

The bad news is that the economy is not looking good. There is indeed a financial crisis facing us and potentially an economic recession. No need to belabor that point, as we have been hearing all about it for the last several weeks on the news. The good news is that the sky has not fallen yet, and we seem to have come into this with fairly strong company fundamentals. I am not qualified to comment any further on that…I’ll leave that up to the experts.

As for Jenkins Custom Homes, we do not depend on credit to run our business. We have often been criticized for this decision, having been called ‘lacking in sophisticated financial finesse’. We even had a business consultant call us ‘foolish’ once. However, it was our Fathers, both Shan’s and mine, who instilled in us the importance of keeping cash on hand and not depending on banks for our business and personal success. So we have. I say all this to let you know that it was this ‘lack of sophisticated financial finesse’ that has allowed us to be insulated from the current financial crisis. Since we have no need to borrow money to operate, we are not affected by the frozen credit market.

Now for the pep talk. This is America. Shan & I believe in capitalism and the ability for Americans to get through this. In fact, it seems to make most Americans more resolved when the word ‘crisis’ is used. This country has faced far worse times than these. I get frustrated when I hear the defeatist attitude coming through the news media. Don’t they know who they are talking to? We are Americans. We will prevail. We always do.

End of pep talk.

-Bethany Jenkins

Applehead Island Home Builder

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 01, 2008 at 05:00 AM

Applehead Island home builders come in all varieties, but a Jenkins custom home distinguishes itself from an ordinary Applehead Island home builder in a multitude of ways.

Our distinctive approach to Applehead Island home building starts with an in-depth analysis of how you live and how your new home will fit your lifestyle. Some of the factors we consider include your entertaining habits, future growth of your family, traffic flow, household activities and your eating, working and recreational preferences. Of course, like any Applehead Island home builder, we also must consider the constraints and virtues of your new home site.

In our Design Development stage, we help you visualize your new Applehead Island home with conceptual renderings and a guaranteed cost breakdown.

Fire Sprinkler Mandate in 2011

Bethany Jenkins — Sep 30, 2008 at 04:00 PM

Well, it is coming…fire sprinklers in every home. Here is the synopsis of the vote taken recently and how it happened.

Fire sprinkler mandates will be part of the 2009 International Residential Code and will be required in all one- and two-family homes and townhouses that build to the code as of Jan. 1, 2011. The sudden — and controversial — arrival on Saturday of 900 fire officials eligible to vote at the International Code Council’s final action hearings in Minneapolis swelled the number of sprinkler proponents and the measure was approved by a vote of 1,283 to 470 on Sunday morning.

In other business, voting members disapproved the so-called “30% Solution” from a coalition of insulation and window manufacturers that would have significantly revised the International Energy Conservation Code and also split votes among a number of wall bracing proposals.

About 1,200 voting devices were turned in immediately after the residential fire sprinkler mandate was approved; suggesting that most of the proponents left immediately after the vote was taken.

“We welcome the insight and experience that fire officials bring to the code development process because our model codes are focused on life safety issues,” said James “Andy” Anderson, chair of the NAHB Construction, Codes and Standards Committee.

“However, it seems clear that these particular officials were focused on one issue only — residential fire sprinkler mandates — without any benefit of perspective regarding how such mandates jibe with the hundreds of other code proposals considered at this hearing. That’s unfortunate, because such reasoned discussion is what the model code process was designed to accomplish.”

The residential fire sprinkler mandates will provide a sizable financial boon for the fire sprinkler manufacturing industry, which, like NAHB, helped provide funding for building officials to attend the hearings.

In 2005, when there were about 1.65 million new homes constructed at an average 2,340 square feet, sprinkler manufacturers would have reaped about $5.8 billion in revenue, based on average sprinkler costs of $1.50 per square foot, had the sprinkler requirement been in effect.

NAHB had identified several concerns over residential fire sprinkler systems — among them, questioning whether most home owners are prepared to perform the maintenance required to ensure that the sprinklers remain operational.

Builders also cited the potential for pipes installed in attics to freeze in colder climates and they said that the sprinklers can be discharged accidentally, with damaging results. In areas served by wells or where water is scarce, the availability of an adequate water supply is another possible problem.

NAHB pointed to several existing code requirements that have contributed to a significant decline in fire-related deaths and injuries over the past 30 years.

The most effective improvement has been the introduction of hard-wired interconnected smoke alarms, which the code requires to be installed in every bedroom and on every floor. National Fire Protection Association reports conclude that about 890 fatalities could be avoided each year if every home had at least one working smoke alarm.

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Jenkins Custom Homes Receives 2008 Best of Bee Cave Award

Bethany Jenkins — Sep 29, 2008 at 01:00 PM

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jenkins Custom Homes Receives 2008 Best of Bee Cave Award

U.S. Local Business Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

WASHINGTON D.C., September 28, 2008 — Jenkins Custom Homes has been selected for the 2008 Best of Bee Cave Award in the Home Builders category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).

The USLBA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2008 USLBA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA)

U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USLBA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USLBA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Local Business Association

CONTACT:
U.S. Local Business Association
Email: PublicRelations@USLBA.net
URL: http://www.USLBA.net

###

Lake Travis Home Builder

Bethany Jenkins — Sep 25, 2008 at 04:00 PM

Lake Travis home builders are proud of the educators and students in the Lake Travis Independent School District that serves the communities in which they build. And for good reason. Lake Travis ISD is one of the most lauded and effective educational organizations in Texas.

Like the staff at Jenkins Custom Homes, students from Lake Travis are clearly educated and knowledgeable. These young scholars boasted among their number an impressive 4 National Merit Semifinalists in 2008 and Home of the 2007 State Football Champions in Class 4A Division II.

Lake Travis home builders know that the families who buy homes in area served by Lake Travis ISD will have access to some of the finest educational opportunities in the Texas Hill Country. For example, 31% of Lake Travis ISD teachers hold advanced degrees.

To have a project zoned in Lake Travis ISD, a Lake Travis home builder must select a home site in Lakeway, Bee Cave, or west Austin. Experienced Lake Travis home builders like Jenkins Custom Homes are quite familiar with the boundaries of Lake Travis ISD. If you’re seeking the optimal educational environment for your family, consider working with an award-winning Lake Travis home builder like Jenkins Custom Homes.

Lakeway Home Builder

Bethany Jenkins — Sep 25, 2008 at 04:00 PM

As of 2008, the hottest area in which to build a home in Austin is Lakeway. The homes in Lakeway are located on some of the most beautiful real estate in Austin, including golf courses, waterfront, and Hill Country home sites. Available home sites in this area start at $125,000.

Among the most reputable custom home builders in Lakeway, Jenkins Custom Homes is now building luxury custom homes all over Lakeway. Being a home builder in Lakeway, Jenkins has some of the best lot choices in the area. Two subdivisions, in particular, are Flintrock Falls and Rough Hollow.

“What makes Lakeway so great is the residents who live there,” says Shan Jenkins of Jenkins Custom Homes. “In addition, this first-class property enjoys a fabulous location, near water sports, shopping, and much more.”

Rough Hollow Home Builders

Bethany Jenkins — Sep 19, 2008 at 08:00 AM

Rough Hollow is located on Lakeway’s Lake Travis and is a waterfront community. Golf, tennis, hiking, flying, scuba diving, sailing, horseback riding, shopping and numerous other water sports are to be enjoyed within minutes of this new exciting community. Rough Hollow Water’s Edge is an exclusive custom home community overlooking the cove where the homes start at $2M. Jenkins Custom Homes is one of the few approved home builders in Rough Hollow. See more information about our 2008 Parade Home in Rough Hollow.

More about Rough Hollow Water’s Edge Amenities…

Located on the south shore of Lake Travis
Exclusive neighborhood with spectacular views of Rough Hollow Cove and the Lake Travis Hill Country
The Lakeway World of Tennis is located at the entrance to Rough Hollow with sixteen courts featuring lights for evening play and indoor climate controlled courts for year round play, clay courts, as well as a stadium court
The Rough Hollow Yacht Club and Marina includes a clubhouse, resort-style pool, gym, day spa, tram to the marina, a coffee bar and deli, yacht store and offices
Easy access to over eight golf courses
The Lakeway Airpark is located just outside Rough Hollow and is managed by Lakeway residents. The Airpark is a privately owned, not for profit, public use airport for residents and guests of Lakeway.
Residents will also enjoy the many other area amenities including greenbelts, playgrounds, trails, baseball fields and swimming pools

Driving Directions
Take RR 620 to Lakeway Blvd,
Turn on Lakeway Blvd,
Take Lakeway Blvd to Highlands,
Turn Left on Highlands,
Turn Right on Rough Hollow,
Turn Left on Canyon Turn Trail.

Printable Directions
Rough Hollow – Sections 5A & 5B driving directions
Tax Information:

Estimated Tax Rate: $2.94 per $100 of appraised valuation
Homeowners Association
Rough Hollow HOA
Estimated HOA Dues: $1080 per year
Schools
Lake Travis ISD
Serene Hills Elementary (Elementary School)
Hudson Bend Middle School (Middle School)
Lake Travis High School (High School)

Great Architecture

Bethany Jenkins — Sep 19, 2008 at 07:00 AM

A few years ago when Texas A&M was playing Notre Dame, my father-in-law graciously offered to fly us in his Cessna 210 to South Bend Indiana. What I thought was going to be a long airplane ride to a football game turned into an education on great design, architecture, engineering, and construction. On our return from South Bend (fyi, time ran out on the aggies – but that’s another story), we stopped in St. Louis for the evening and toured the famous “Gateway Arch” the next morning.

I have often admired the arch from far away in textbooks while a student, etc., but to actually take the ‘elevator’ to the apex and touch the monumental structure with my own hands had a profound impact on me.

The visionary architect of the Gateway Arch was Eero Saarinen. Interestingly, Eero Saarinen was often criticized for creating a new design ‘style’ with each and every project. He consistently broke all of the ‘rules’ with his unique and creative solutions to the needs of his clients. Eero Saarinen was also unique in that he considered his clients to be co-creators of his architecture and attributed much of his success to them.

Likewise, while my design prowess is light years behind that of Eero Saarinen, I believe that I share his same philosophy. That philosophy being that I am more about solving our client’s problems then being a slave to the classic textbook rules of design. I want to answer the needs of my clients with unique and special ideas. I also believe that my clients are my co-creators. Between their Lifestyle, their lot, and their vision, the greatest shapes can emerge, and most importantly, they are the shapes that the ‘creators’ best relate to and thrive in. Not what someone told them had to be.

-Shan Jenkins

Web Proposal

Bethany Jenkins — Sep 14, 2008 at 02:00 PM

Easiest job you will ever have…

Need savvy college student (Sophomore, Junior, or Senior) to make a proposal to an Aggie100 business for an effective Web marketing program. A simple 1-page proposal will suffice. Send proposals to mailto:bjenkins@newhousebuilder.com by October 15, 2008.

Proposal needs to consist of the following:
• List of websites where our target market might find a website link to us
• List of ways to increase our exposure on the web
• Reasons why the above lists might increase exposure
• Ways to increase SEO (optional)

Winning proposal wins $250 and a part-time job implementing the proposal. Winner never has to leave his/her dorm or apartment…so no fuel costs.

Spanish Oaks Home Builder

Bethany Jenkins — Sep 09, 2008 at 09:00 AM

As of 2008, the hottest subdivision in which to build a home in Bee Cave is Spanish Oaks. This subdivision, located on one of the finest golf course communities in Austin, Spanish Oaks is certain to be a favorite among residents and visitors alike.

Among the approved custom home builders in Spanish Oaks, Jenkins Custom Homes is now building luxury custom homes there. Being a home builder in Spanish Oaks for one of their prestigious home owners is a privilege and a pleasure. See photos of the home under construction here.

“What makes Spanish Oaks so great is the golf course, great location, and their dedication to a level of service above and beyond,” says Shan Jenkins of Jenkins Custom Homes. Golf course property has always been a good investment, especially in Texas. In addition, this first-class property enjoys a fabulous location, near water sports, shopping, and much more.

Waterfront Luxury Home AVAILABLE in Austin Texas

Bethany Jenkins — Aug 28, 2008 at 08:00 AM

There are many waterfront homes in Austin, but this brand new luxury waterfront home is a one of a kind. Recently completed for the 2008 Parade of Homes, at 219 Canyon Turn Trail, Lakeway, Texas (25 minutes from downtown Austin), (Map It) is being held open daily from 1pm – 5pm Tuesday through Saturday (closed on Sunday & Monday). If you would like directions to this available home, please call (512)461-7990. This true waterfront home is 7,000 square foot, listed at $2.69M, in the Water’s Edge at Rough Hollow subdivision. Watch the virtual tour (below) of this luxury home or view the gallery of photos (below). This home, situated right on the water with nothing below it but waterfront, reflects the calm & beauty of Lake Travis in every way. It is a perfect home for entertaining and enjoying the outdoors, while living in one of Austin’s most prestigious neighborhoods. It is also located in the highly-acclaimed Lake Travis Independent School District, known to be one of the best school districts in the Austin area.

Lower Floor:

Game Room with disappearing wall, which opens up to a Negative Edge Pool with Spa, Water Features, Poolside Bar, and Beach
Wet Bar & Kitchenette at Game Room with Temperature-controlled Wine Room
Dedicated Home Theatre Room
Exercise Room with fabulous lake views
Private Massage Room
½ Bath (Downstairs Powder Bath)
Guest Suite with Private Bath
Outdoor Living with room for large Dining table and separate seating near Outdoor Fireplace
Outdoor Kitchen with Grill & Wet Area
Walk-up bar for serving large crowds off the Outdoor Kitchen
Stairs leading to the upstairs features a see-through saltwater Aquarium

Main Floor:

Round Entry Rotunda
Two-story Great Room with floor-to-ceiling curved glass looking out to lake view (Fireplace in Great Room)
See-through saltwater aquarium built into the wall
Wet Bar/Butler’s Pantry
Formal Dining
Kitchen with Hidden Pantry, Desk, Gourmet Appliances, Microwave drawer, 2 Dishwashers, Freestanding Range, 48" Refrigerator, & Large Island
Elevator which services all three floors
4-car garage
Large covered balcony with Outdoor Grill
Laundry Room
Mud Room
½ Powder Bath
Library with hidden room
Master Bedroom with fireplace and curved glass wall which faces the lake
Master Bath with private tub, shower, and large his/her closet

Upper Floor:

3 Secondary Bedrooms, each with their own Full Baths
Playroom/Den
Large covered Balcony with amazing views of the lake

Additional Features:

Gourmet Appliances throughout (primarily Wolf/Subzero)
Solid surface (primarily granite) throughout

See photos of this available waterfront luxury home. Click to view photos larger.

Click Here to view video

KVUE News Interview

Bethany Jenkins — May 02, 2008 at 04:00 AM

KVUE News selected home builder, Jenkins Custom Homes, to promo the 2008 Parade of Homes. Please note that the price was incorrectly given in the interview. The correct price is $2.69M (new price). See the interview here.

Click Here to view video

American Dream Homes magazine features Jenkins Custom Homes

Bethany Jenkins — May 02, 2008 at 04:00 AM

American Dream Homes magazines just hit the racks and features a Jenkins Home on the cover as well as an extensive article about the homes built by Jenkins.

Click Here to view video

Mediterranean Home

Brian Rutledge — May 01, 2008 at 12:00 PM

A Mediterranean home in the Texas Hill Country?

If you work with Jenkins Custom Homes, it’s not just a dream – it’s a reality.

What Defines a Mediterranean Home?

Like many other building styles, a Mediterranean home is defined by a number of details, like color, materials and design. Hardware, such as cabinet knobs, tend to be weighty and burnished. Walls are textured and countertops and mantels have bullnosed edges. Colors reflect the sky and sea, with strong blues and greens, as well as earthy lavenders, yellows and terra cottas. Mosaic tile designs are distinctively Mediterranean, too.

Mediterranean home stylings hearken back to Spain, Greece, Italy and other countries centered around the Mediterranean. Home builder Jenkins Custom Homes is experienced in building and designing Mediterranean homes to fit the needs of Texas home buyers. In fact, Jenkins’ home building expertise won the company multiple home builder awards, including the Texas Custom Builder of the Year award.

Mediterranean Homes With a Twist: “Modern Mediterranean”

Austin home builder Jenkins has introduces a new variation on Mediterranean home design with their own “Modern Mediterranean” style. Updating the traditions the Mediterranean, Jenkins designers melded some of the clean, sophisticated attributes of contemporary homes with the grace and classical elegance of Mediterranean style.

The “Modern Mediterranean” home building style can be seen in their Parade of Homes entry at Waters Edge in Rough Hollow. With breathtaking Lake Travis views and a negative-edge pool that seemingly drops into the lake below, this home embodies the same distinctive vision that distinguishes Jenkins Custom Homes from the rest of the pack.

Think Jenkins If You Want a Mediterranean Home

With multiple “Best Custom Home” awards, Jenkins is adept at meeting diverse customer needs and building stylish, elegant homes that match Central Texas lifestyles. If you need a Mediterranean home, get in touch with our custom home builders today.

Mediterranean Home Builder

Brian Rutledge — Apr 30, 2008 at 02:00 PM

Mediterranean home builders such as Jenkins Custom Homes are adept at bringing the warmth and tradition of Mediterranean-style architecture and decor to a newly-built custom home. Home owners have long admired the natural materials and rich colors of the builders of Spain, Greece, Italy and other countries centered around the Mediterranean. Home builder Jenkins Custom Homes is helping to bring that flair to the Texas Hill Country with its innovative designs like the one that won Jenkins the prestigious Texas Custom Builder of the Year award.

Mediterranean Home Builder Announces “Modern Mediterranean”

Jenkins is also leading Austin home builders with “Modern Mediterranean.” Home builder Jenkins saw the opportunity to innovate on the traditional architecture of the Mediterranean by marrying some of the clean, sophisticated attributes of contemporary homes with the grace and classical elegance of Mediterranean style.

Mediterranean Home Builder Brings New Twist to Parade of Homes

One key example of the Jenkins “Modern Mediterranean” home building style is their Parade of Homes entry at Waters Edge in Rough Hollow. This sprawling 7,000-square-foot mansion features breathtaking Lake Travis views, a game room with a disappearing wall and a negative-edge pool that seemingly drops into the lake below.

Consider Jenkins If You’re Seeking a Mediterranean Home Builder

Jenkins Custom Homes is an ideal choice for a Mediterranean home builder that can bring you an unforgettable Mediterranean-style abode with unmatched grace and detail. Having won multiple “Best Custom Home” awards, Jenkins excels in delivering a satisfying home building experience. Jenkins also was ranked #13 in the Austin Business Journal’s “Top 25 Custom Builders” for 2008. This makes Jenkins a solid, well-established home builder in Austin – but not a goliath that isn’t responsive to customer needs and concerns.

If you need a Mediterranean home builder, get in touch with our custom home experts today.

Eanes Home Builders

Brian Rutledge — Apr 30, 2008 at 01:00 PM

Eanes home builders are proud of the educators and students in the Eanes Independent School District that serves the communities in which they build. And for good reason. The Eanes ISD is one of the most lauded and effective educational organizations in Texas.

Like the staff at Jenkins Custom Homes, students from Eanes homes are clearly educated and knowledgeable. Numbering some 7,000, these young scholars boasted among their number an impressive 26 National Merit Semifinalists and 39 Commended Students in 2007-2008. 93% of the 2007 Eanes senior class gave notice of their intent to attend college, with 7% joining the military or finding jobs. And the average Eanes SAT scores beat or equaled both the national and Texas averages (with 95% of the senior class taking the test).

Eanes home builders know that the families who buy homes in the 31.2 square miles served by the Eanes ISD will have access to some of the finest educational opportunities in the Texas Hill Country. Eanes ISD teachers average over 14 years of experience, and 36.6% of them hold advanced degrees.

To have a project zoned into the Eanes ISD, an Eanes home builder must select a home site in Rollingwood, West Lake Hills or west Austin. Experienced Eanes home builders like Jenkins Custom Homes are quite familiar with the boundaries of the Eanes ISD. If you’re seeking the optimal educational environment for your family, consider working with an award-winning Eanes home builder like Jenkins Custom Homes.

Bee Creek Estates Home Builder

Brian Rutledge — Apr 29, 2008 at 12:00 PM

Bee Creek Estates homes are a specialty of builder Jenkins Custom Homes. A new gated community located in the South Lake Travis region, Bee Creek Estates is about a mile from Highway 71, which provides Bee Creek Estates home owners a hot route to Austin and all that the city offers.

The many amenities of the area attracted Bee Creek Estates home builder Jenkins Custom Homes. Some of the attractions include natural water holes, the new Hill Country Galleria shopping area, golfing, hiking, biking and of course Lake Travis and its many water-based diversions. Bee Creek Estates home owners will see their children attend schools in the well-regarded Lake Travis School District.

For Bee Creek Estates home builders, home sites in the area offer mature trees and impressive views. The proximity of several championship golf courses and Lake Travis – one of the largest and cleanest bodies of water in the Texas Hill Country – makes Bee Creek Estates an ideal spot for custom home builders like Jenkins.

When you choose Jenkins as your Bee Creek Estates home builder, you know you’re in good hands. So good, in fact, that Jenkins was named the 2006 Custom Builder of the Year by the Texas Association of Builders. The 2006 Jenkins Showcase of Homes entry was also named “Best Custom Home in Texas.” In 2008, Jenkins has been invited to participate in the Parade of Homes in Rough Hollow and Skywater in Horseshoe Bay, and also in Rough Hollow’s green homes parade. You may also read more about the home builder awards won by Jenkins.

Austin Home Builder

Bethany Jenkins — Apr 28, 2008 at 01:00 PM

Austin home builders come in all varieties, but a Jenkins Custom Home distinguishes itself from an ordinary Austin home builder in a multitude of ways.

Our distinctive approach to Austin home building starts with an in-depth analysis of how you live and how your new home will fit your lifestyle. Some of the factors we consider include your entertaining habits, future growth of your family, traffic flow, household activities and your eating, working and recreational preferences. Of course, like any Austin home builder, we also must consider the constraints and virtues of your new home site.

In our Design Development stage, we help you visualize your new Austin home with conceptual renderings and a guaranteed cost breakdown.

Our home builder process is augmented by detailed construction documents – which make your wishes clearly known to the many construction and design professionals working on your new Austin home – and extensive management inspections that guarantee that the work is going as planned.

With the Austin home builders at Jenkins Custom Homes, you can rest assured that your new home will be the home of your dreams.

All for Hope Charity Gala

Bethany Jenkins — Apr 11, 2008 at 05:00 AM

THANK YOU SO MUCH to all who attended the All for Hope Gala! With your help, we are thrilled to report that we raised over $23,000! This event exceeded all our expectations, and we owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the volunteers and sponsors who participated with us. Thank you to all. With your help, we made a difference.

To see photos of the event, click here.

Information about the event follows:

Jenkins Custom Homes, with a special thanks to Sarah Luebcke, proudly unites with the Lance Armstrong Foundation to host the 2008 All for Hope Gala. Even though this is a private red carpet event, there will be a limited number of silent auction items found throughout the home during the 2008 Parade of Homes. The Jenkins staff will also be wearing the yellow “LIVESTRONG” wristbands during the Parade in show of their support. At Jenkins Custom Homes, we agree with Lance Armstrong, “Unity is strength, knowledge is power, and attitude is everything”.

The All for Hope Gala is shaping up to be THE charity event of the season! This star-studded event will feature live music, gourmet libations, a live & silent auction, the chance to win a brand new Mercedes-Benz, appearances by Miss Austin USA, the Wranglers & Toros cheerleaders, Roxanne from “The Apprentice” & Marie Hejl from “Cooking With Marie”. Other invited guests include: Eva Longoria, Lance Armstrong, Willie Nelson, Mayor Will Wynn, Governor Rick Perry, and many more.

All of this will be hosted in the Jenkins $2.98 Million Parade Home! Invitations will go out around the end of April. So, if you would like to be a part of this event, please email us at I want to be a part! We will draw 4 names and give away 4 invitations the week before the event. Your name must be on the guest list in order to attend.

Silent & live auction items will include:

4 Front-Row Season Tickets to the Austin Toros
Lance Armstrong Signed Jersey
Tiffany & Co. Pearl Necklace
Boating Excursion from Sail & Ski
Saks Fifth Avenue Shopping Excursion
UT Items Signed by Mack Brown
Private Cooking Classes
Original Artwork
Exquisite Furniture
Gift Certificates to Local Restaurants such as … III Forks, Hudson’s on the Bend, Perry’s Steakhouse, and more.
Gift Card to the Hill Country Galleria and Retail Stores such as … Milk + Honey Spa

Find out more about the 2008 Parade of Homes!

All for Hope Gala RSVP

Apr 11, 2008 at 05:00 AM

Thank you for responding to our invitation to the All for Hope Gala benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation sponsored by Jenkins Custom Homes with special thanks to Sarah Luebcke. This private red carpet event will be the charity gala of the season! With live music, great cuisine and a live auction, you have been hand-selected to enjoy this event from the exquisite $3.15 Million Jenkins Parade Home. Please let us know if we can reserve your spot by filling out the information below.

*Remember: a suggested donation of $45/person will be accepted at the door.

If you cannot attend, donations to educate and empower people affected by cancer can still be made out to: All for Hope Gala and sent to:

Jenkins Custom Homes

11719 Bee Caves Rd. #301

Austin, TX 78738

Must be received by Friday, May 23rd.

**Jenkins Homeowners: Your suggested donation has been covered by Jenkins Custom Homes. Any additional donation is greatly appreciated but not expected.

Tuesday, May 20th

7:00PM to 11:00PM

Attire is Cocktail Chic – Suits, Dresses, NO Jeans

219 Canyon Turn Trail, Lakeway, TX 78734

Directions: Heading South on RR 620, take a right on Lakeway Blvd. Continue straight through the stop sign and watch for the “Rough Hollow” signs. Make a left at Forehand Drive (aka Highlands Blvd) – next to the large Swimming Pool – there will be a sign for Rough Hollow on the left. Go past the World of Tennis. Turn right at the dead end onto Rough Hollow Drive. Make a left at Canyon Turn Trail.

Due to overwhelming response, you may receive an error message while RSVPing below. If this occurs, please send your name & # of guests to All for Hope RSVP

Find out more about the 2008 Parade of Homes!

The Best Of...

Bethany Jenkins — Mar 27, 2008 at 07:00 PM

Austin continues to make the news as one of the best places to live, work and play. So, don’t just take our word for it, take theirs:

1 Best Place to Buy a Home by Entrepreneur

1 Best Big City Places to Live by MSN House & Home

1 Fastest Growing Large Metro Areas by Forbes

1 Top Metros for Future Business Locations by Expansion

1 Best City for Hispanics by Hispanics

2 Best Large City for Relocating Families by Primacy Relocation

2 Best Big Cities by CNN Money

2 Best Places to Live & Make Movies by MovieMaker

3 Top Cities to Sell a Home by Forbes

3 Smartest Cities by Austin Business Journal

3 Top Wireless Cities by Live Science

3 Cool Cities by Kiplinger

3 Top Growth Cities by U-Haul

3 Great Places to Live by Life 2.0

4 Fastest Growing Cities by Men’s Journal

4 Smartest Cities by Men’s Journal

5 Most Educated Cities by MSN Encarta

5 Smartest Places to Live by Kiplinger

6 Top Cities for Walking by Prevention Magazine

8 Cleanest Cities in America by Reader’s Digest

9 Top Hot Cities for Entrepreneurs by Entrepreneur

10 Highest Forecasted Appreciation for Real Estate Values by housingpredictor.com

10 Healthiest Cities in America by Sperling’s

10 Interesting Neighborhoods by Travel-Leisure

11 Best Place for Singles by Forbes

18 Top US Destination Cities by U-Haul

Jenkins' Parade Home Nearing Completion

Bethany Jenkins — Mar 26, 2008 at 05:00 PM

Mark your calendars! Jenkins Custom Homes will be one of the six celebrated Austin Home Builders showcased in this year’s Parade of Homes.

May 17th through June 1st, 7,000 square feet of “Modern Mediterranean” luxury will be on display at the Water’s Edge in Rough Hollow Lakeway. Want a sneak peek? Take a look at the virtual tour of this beautiful waterfront home.

Always dreamed of owning a parade home? Well, now you can! Contact Cyndi at 512.461.7990 to learn more about this and other available homes.

Lifestyle Analysis©

Bethany Jenkins — Mar 26, 2008 at 05:00 PM

Your custom home should marry the art of design with the science of how you will live in it. Since 1992, we have been perfecting our “Guide to Perfect Projects”, and the first step is truly a science: the Unique Lifestyle Analysis©.

From how you entertain and the types of guests you have to your hobbies and the lay of the land, Jenkins prioritizes your family’s needs based on the lifestyle interview as well as your body language and tone of voice during the process.

This crucial, in-depth step ensures that you get what you want while taking into consideration the style of your home and the overall budget.

Many will claim to design a home around your life, but only Jenkins can guarantee it with their state-of-the-art lifestyle solution.

219 Canyon Turn Trail - Directions

Bethany Jenkins — Mar 23, 2008 at 03:00 AM

Because the Rough Hollow subdivision is so new, maps are not currently showing the street for 219 Canyon Turn Trail. So please print these directions before you come to see the home. We have added the site itself to Google Maps but there are so many new streets on the map, it makes it hard to find.

Directions:

1. Heading South on RR 620 S., take a right on Lakeway Blvd.

2. Continue straight through the stop sign and watch for the “Rough Hollow” signs.

3. Make a left at Forehand Drive aka Highlands Blvd, next to the large Swimming Pool – there will be a sign for Rough Hollow on the left (From here, don’t follow the map anymore.)

4. Go straight at the stop sign, past the World of Tennis which will be on your right.

5. Turn right at the “Construction Zone” sign (dead end) onto Rough Hollow Drive.

6. Make a left at Canyon Turn Trail.

7. 219 Canyon Turn Trail will be on your left.

If you need help finding it, please call (512)461-7990.

Jenkins Custom Homes nominated for another Max Award

Bethany Jenkins — Mar 20, 2008 at 03:00 AM

On March 19, 2008, Jenkins Custom Homes was notified that the Jenkins home on Corinthian Drive has been nominated for a Max Award.

Building a vacation home for this out-of-town client, the challenges included tearing down an existing home and erecting a new one on a lot with a 27-foot change in topography. A 12-foot retaining wall containing the raised pool, spa, and outdoor living for the lower level was the solution to the slope on the lot.

“We are honored to be nominated by the Austin Home Builder’s Association for this award,” says Shan Jenkins of Jenkins Custom Homes. “The local Home Builder’s Association does so much for our industry, and it is great to be a part of what they are doing and to be recognized by them in this way.”

Housing in Austin

Bethany Jenkins — Mar 09, 2008 at 04:00 AM

Recently in the news have been reports about how housing has taken a downturn across the country. We have heard many reports about the housing woes. Economists point to places like Arizona and Florida, where home values have fallen significantly. Here in Austin, however, demand for housing has not suffered the same ill effects.

In fact, it is one of the few places in the country where housing demand is still healthy. Forbes recently ranked Austin as the #1 place to live in the country. See the article below. For many of the reasons cited in this article, it appears that our city’s growth will support housing for at least the near term. This leads us to believe that Austin remains one of the few places where real estate is still an excellent investment.

Large Metros
Austin, Texas
Rank: 1

Projected total GMP growth, 2007-2012: 32.05%

The self-proclaimed “Live Music Capital of the World” is booming, thanks in large part to Austin’s high-tech industry (key employers include Dell, IBM and Apple) and the University of Texas, which provides the area with a steady stream of engineering talent. In addition to music, the city also has a thriving film industry. Its projected gross domestic product growth by 2012 is second only to Mobile, Ala., and first among the largest 100 metro areas in the country. Metro area Austin’s population is expected to grow nearly 15% by 2012.

Luxury Home Builder

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 13, 2008 at 10:00 AM

Luxury home builders come in all varieties, but a Jenkins custom home distinguishes itself from an ordinary Luxury home builder in a multitude of ways.

Our distinctive approach to Luxury home building starts with an in-depth analysis of how you live and how your new home will fit your lifestyle. Some of the factors we consider include your entertaining habits, future growth of your family, traffic flow, household activities and your eating, working and recreational preferences. Of course, like any Luxury home builder, we also must consider the constraints and virtues of your new home site.

In our Design Development stage, we help you visualize your new Luxury home with conceptual renderings and a guaranteed cost breakdown.

Zero Energy Homes

Bethany Jenkins — Jan 19, 2008 at 05:00 PM

There are many new and exciting methods to build “green” homes. One of the most appealing benefits of green building is the reduction in energy costs. Our detailed cost/benefit analysis will arm our clients with the information they will need to make the choices that make the most sense.

As more data is released by the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders), as members of the NAHB, we will provide this information to our clients. We stay current on their findings so that we can ensure we are on the leading edge of this subject.

Skywater Home Builder

Bethany Jenkins — Jan 19, 2008 at 04:00 PM

As a Skywater Home Builder, Jenkins Custom Homes is honored to be chosen as a Premier Builder. As of 2008, the hottest subdivision in which to build a home in Horseshoe Bay is Skywater. The home of the 2009 HBA Parade of Homes, Skywater is certain to be a favorite among residents and visitors alike. There are to be an expected 10,000+ visitors to this year’s Parade of Homes in Skywater.

Among the approved custom home builders in Skywater, Jenkins Custom Homes was one of the first on the list and one of the first to start building luxury custom homes there.

“What makes Skywater so great is the golf course and great location,” says Shan Jenkins of Jenkins Custom Homes. Golf course property has always been a good investment, especially in Texas. In addition, this first-class property enjoys a fabulous location, near water sports, shopping, and much more.

Texas Custom Builder of the Year

Bethany Jenkins — Jan 18, 2008 at 06:00 AM

Jenkins Custom Homes is the winner of the 2006 Custom Builder of the Year in the state of Texas.

The highly coveted Star Awards are given annually by the Texas Association of Builders to recognize excellence in building, remodeling or development. A record 629 entrants from all across the state submitted their best work for consideration in this year’s competition.

In addition to winning Builder of the Year for 2006, Jenkins took home the award for Best New Custom Home $500K-$1M, Best Kitchen $500K-$1M, Best Overall Interior Design for a home $500K-$1M and Best Outdoor Project. This new round of awards adds to the growing list of over 25 awards recognizing Jenkin’s exceptional home design and building quality.
We love winning awards for our homes, but our greatest thrill comes from the accolades we receive from our very satisfied customers. Everything we do at Jenkins Custom Homes stems from the desire to better serve our clients. Our clearly defined system for building a home allows us to identify and prioritize our client’s needs, and build a home that fits them perfectly.

It doesn’t hurt our feelings that the process ends up winning Jenkins Custom Homes more awards than just about any other builder in Central Texas!

Jenkins Custom Homes has been building luxury custom homes in the Austin area for the last 10 years. With 86 homes totaling $43.3 million, and an almost 100% customer satisfaction rating, Jenkins has a proven track record that is now uniquely recognized through this award.

Your Design Starts Here

Bethany Jenkins — Jan 17, 2008 at 02:00 PM

How you entertain or plan to entertain in your new home
The types of visitors you have and how that will change as your family grows or changes
Flow of traffic
How and where you eat
How and where you work in the home

These are just a few of the many aspects of your life we discuss with you. We also look at the shape and topography of the home site to maximize views, account for slope, maximize prevailing winds, and apply LEED principals (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for maximizing energy efficiency through good design.

The process starts with an interactive interview in which the Jenkins creative team asks detailed questions, and then carefully listens to what you say, and how you say it—your physical reaction, tone of voice, body language. We drill down on every question to measure your response. Then we evaluate each answer to determine the priority of each feature and its place in the budget. We make sure you get what’s most important to you while staying true to the style of the home, world-class design of a Jenkins home, and your budget. Our in-house design team really makes the difference. Having our Lead Designer sitting across the table from you allows him to start sketching your thoughts and ideas right before your eyes. Other builders who claim to have a process similar to ours often do not employ the design team but rather outsource it to a team you may never even meet.

Our copyrighted Lifestyle Analysis is the most complete solution for designing a home, and is the reason our clients tell us that their home is perfect, every time.

Click Here to view video
Next, we move to Design Development .

Home Builders

Bethany Jenkins — Jan 12, 2008 at 03:00 AM

Among home builders in the Austin area, Jenkins Custom Homes is considered among the best. Voted Custom Builder of the Year in Texas in 2006, the home builder has achieved the top honor in the state. Home Builders in Texas compete to win this prestigious award. Over 629 entries were evaluated. To see photos of this home builders work, click on the Portfolio menu above.

Jenkins Nominated for 6 State of Texas Awards

Bethany Jenkins — Jan 03, 2008 at 07:00 AM

2008 is shaping up to be another very good year for Jenkins Custom Homes at the Star awards. The highly-coveted Star Awards are presented annually by The Texas Association of Builders to recognize excellence in building, remodeling or development. This year, Jenkins Custom Homes has been nominated in 6 categories. They are as follows:

Best Master Bathroom in a Home over $1M
Best New Home over $1 Million
Best New Home under $1 Million
Best Specialty Room – Game Room
Best Specialty Room – Study
Best Website for a Custom Builder

In 2006, Jenkins took home Star Awards for Best New Custom Home, Best Kitchen, Best Overall Interior Design, Best Outdoor Project, and the prestigious “Custom Builder of the Year” award. This new round of awards adds to the growing list of over 30 awards recognizing Jenkin’s exceptional home design and building quality.

We love winning awards for our homes…who wouldn’t? But our greatest thrill comes from the accolades we receive from our customers. Everything we do at Jenkins Custom Homes stems from the desire to better serve our clients. Our clearly defined system for building a home allows us to identify and prioritize our client’s needs, and build a home that fits them perfectly.

It doesn’t hurt our feelings that the process ends up winning Jenkins Homes more awards than just about any other builder in Central Texas!

Home Builder Slab Pour

Bethany Jenkins — Jan 02, 2008 at 02:00 AM

See video of custom home builder, Jenkins Custom Homes, lastest slab pour. This one was over 11,000 square feet. It began at 1:00 am and finished at 6:00 pm the following day. We set up a digital camera on a time delay to capture the pour. We took over 2,000 photos. If you’re interested in how homes are built, you’ll enjoy this. Notice how the sun comes up and moves across the sky during the pour.

Click Here to view video

Custom Home Builder

Bethany Jenkins — Nov 27, 2007 at 01:00 PM

Jenkins Custom Homes is a custom home builder located in Austin Texas building custom homes for the discriminating buyer.

We build quality Jenkins Custom Homes in the following cities:

Rough Hollow - Where Luxury is Built in Austin Texas

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 15, 2007 at 03:00 PM

As of 2007, the hottest subdivision in which to build a home in Austin is Rough Hollow. Why? Because it’s the last subdivision with property lots for new home building with waterfront views on Lake Travis AND within minutes of downtown Austin. As Austin moves further and further out, it is harder to find waterfront lots without making a ridiculous commute. However, Lakeway has become the new “it” suburb where everyone wants to live. In Lakeway, one can find shopping for every need and want, including Austin’s new “Hill Country Galleria”, the largest mall in Austin. There is the well-known “Hills Country Club” (located adjacent to Rough Hollow), and Flintrock Falls, a Jack Nicklaus designed golf course where pro tournaments are held each year.

Among the approved custom home builders in Rough Hollow, Jenkins Custom Homes was one of the first on the list and one of the first to start building luxury custom homes there. Being a Parade Home Builder in Rough Hollow for the HBA’s 2008 Spring Parade also gave them one of the best lot choices in the subdivision.

“What makes Rough Hollow so great is the views of Lake Travis,” says Shan Jenkins of Jenkins Custom Homes. Waterfront property has always been a good investment, especially in Austin, Texas. Now, those who can afford it can also enjoy their investment.

Creating the Perfect Wine Room at Home

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 15, 2007 at 03:00 PM

Private, custom built wine rooms add a finishing touch and elegance to a true custom home. Build a wine room into your next home by following these tips for building a wine room.

Whether you are a wine enthusiast or a novice, a custom-built wine room is the hot trend in custom home design, especially where luxury reigns. A good wine cellar creates an opportunity for great wine for a lifetime. It can also add value for purposes of resale of the home.

Choosing the wine cellar that’s right for you is key. The bigger the cellar, the harder it is to control temperature and humidity. All fine wine collections require the same basic care: climate, humidity, and light control systems to protect and preserve delicate vintages. Vapor-tight doors and easy access are also top priorities. Proper storage makes financial sense and allows wines to be purchased when they are released, at the time they are most available and lower in price. The latest trend also includes wine cataloging. New computer systems allow barcoding of wine so that the wine enthusiast always know what they have available and what needs replacing.

Wine rooms can be designed to fit most budgets and can be built to a variety of sizes and styles. If you are designing a new home or updating an existing one, a wine room can add value and style for the simplest of homes to the very elite. Approximately 75% of the homes built by Texas’ Custom Builder of the Year, Jenkins Custom Homes, contain wine rooms.

Skywater in Horseshoe Bay

Bethany Jenkins — Oct 11, 2007 at 12:00 PM

Horseshoe Bay home builders come in all varieties, but a Jenkins custom home distinguishes itself from an ordinary Horseshoe Bay home builder in a multitude of ways.

In our Design Development stage, we help you visualize your new Horseshoe Bay home with conceptual renderings and a guaranteed cost breakdown.

Horseshoe Bay Projects

Building homes in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, our projects include homes in distinctive neighborhoods such as Skywater, The Trails, and Applehead Island.

Horseshoe Bay News

People’s Choice Awards

Best Home in Parade	Best Master Suite in a Home	Best Living Room in a Home
Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes
Best Kitchen in a Home	Best Outdoor Living in a Home	Best Interiors in a Home
Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes
Best Front Elevation in a Home	Best Specialty Feature in a Home	Best Use of Site in a Home
Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes	Jenkins Custom Homes
Best Floor Plan in a Home
Jenkins Custom Homes

To read more about it, click on Horseshoe Bay Home Builder Wins Awards.

Our Parade Home in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, is now closed. It was located at the following address:

Jenkins Custom Homes

113 Paint Brush, Lot 4 Skywater

Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657

Mediterranean Style

Bethany Jenkins — Mar 18, 2007 at 12:00 PM

This style originated in countries North of the Mediterranean Sea, such as Spain, Greece and Italy. Mediterranean style in Austin takes the Mediterranean style and uses materials found locally.

Design Development

Bethany Jenkins — Mar 13, 2007 at 07:00 PM

After we perform your Lifestyle Analysis© interview we meet with our Design Team and review each of your answers in detail. We then develop a conceptual rendering of the layout of your home and the elevation, which we convert to a beautiful “Character Study” (shown at right). This gives you a clear idea of what your home will look like before you start spending money on plans. At the same time, we present your guaranteed cost breakdown. This “proof of concept” process gives you the peace of mind that you can build the home of your dreams within the allotted budget.

At your request we will also create a digital virtual tour of the home that gives you a first-person look at the home, both inside and out. Click here to see a 3-D rendering of one of our homes.

Our Character Study and digital virtual tour give you an unprecedented look at your home with very little out-of-pocket expenses on your part, and allows us to ensure that the home we build you, is exactly what your dreaming of.

Next we move to the Guaranteed Cost Breakdown.

Jenkins sweeps Home Builder Star Awards!

Bethany Jenkins — Mar 11, 2007 at 03:00 AM

2006 was a very good year for Jenkins Custom Homes at the Star awards. The highly coveted Star Awards are presented annually by The Texas Association of Builders to recognize excellence in building, remodeling or development. A record 629 entrants statewide submitted their best work for consideration in this year’s competition.

Jenkins was nominated for 8 awards this year and not only won five of them; we were named Custom Builder of the Year!

In addition to winning Builder of the Year for 2006, Jenkins took home the awards for Best New Custom Home, Best Kitchen, Best Overall Interior Design, and Best Outdoor Project. This new round of awards adds to the growing list of over 25 awards recognizing Jenkin’s exceptional home design and building quality.

We love winning awards for our homes…who wouldn’t? But our greatest thrill comes from the accolades we receive from our very satisfied customers. Everything we do at Jenkins Custom Homes stems from the desire to better serve our clients. Our clearly defined system for building a home allows us to identify and prioritize our client’s needs, and build a home that fits them perfectly.

It doesn’t hurt our feelings that the process ends up winning Jenkins Homes more awards than just about any other builder in Central Texas!

Client News Post

Bethany Jenkins — Mar 02, 2007 at 01:00 PM

Welcome to the Jenkins Custom Homes Client Site. As a client of Jenkins Custom Homes, you have your own web page with your photos, documents, and change orders. Click on My Photos to see photos of your project, uploaded by your Superintendent during the construction of your home. Add pricing requests via the Change Orders tab. You will receive an email when your request has been priced by our staff – so, no need to log on every day to check it. We hope you find this tool useful in making this an enjoyable process. If there is anything we can do to improve this site or make the home-building process easier for you, please let us know.

Thank you for allowing us to serve you,

Jenkins Custom Homes Staff

Home Builder Associations

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 26, 2007 at 09:00 AM

We meet with a select group of Custom Home Builders, hand-chosen by us, across the country. If you are moving to one of these areas and want to build a home, we can recommend one of these Builders:

ARIZONA:

Casas Del Oso, Phoenix, Scottsdale Custom Home Builder

COLORADO:

Fuller Custom Homes, Denver, Cherry Hills Custom Home Builder

FLORIDA, TALLAHASSEE:

Cory McFarlane, Tallahassee Custom Home Builder

FLORIDA, CAPE CORAL & FORT MYERS:

Paul Homes,Cape Coral, Fort Myers Custom Home Builder

GEORGIA:

Richard Padgham Homes, Gainesville, Lake Lanier Custom Home Builder

ILLINOIS:

BJ Armstrong Custom Homes, Illinois Custom Home Builder

INDIANA

Kendaleton Builders, Indianapolis Custom Home Builder

NEW MEXICO:

Rachael Matthew Custom Homes, Albuquerque Custom Home Builder

NEW JERSEY:

Monetti Builders, New Jersey Custom Home Builder

NEW YORK / CONNECTICUT:

E.M. Rose Building Company, Connecticut Custom Home Builder

OHIO:

Scott McCue Homes, Akron, Canton Custom Home Builder

PENNSYLVANIA:

Wheatland Custom Homes, Pennsylvania Custom Home Builder

TEXAS, AUSTIN:

Jenkins Custom Homes, Austin Texas Custom Home Builder

TEXAS, DALLAS:

Pavlis Custom Homes, Dallas Custom Home Builder

UTAH:

Jar-Con,Inc., Salt Lake City Custom Home Builder

WASHINGTON:

Vilhauer Custom Homes, Vancouver Custom Home Builder

Customer Login

Feb 21, 2007 at 11:00 AM

Customer Login

Contact Us Online

Feb 21, 2007 at 11:00 AM

Form for Contacting

Contact Us In Person

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 21, 2007 at 11:00 AM

Please feel free to set up an appointment to discuss your new home by clicking on the calendar.

Our Office Address:

11719 FM 2244 (Bee Caves Road), Suite 301 (Map It)

Austin, Texas 78738

Hours

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Phone / Fax

Phone: (512) 402-9222

Fax: (512) 402-9225

After-hours appointments are available by special request.
Click here to request an after hours appointment via email.

A Passion For Building

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 21, 2007 at 11:00 AM

I design and build homes because I love architecture and construction. I want to build everything I see, and the bigger the better. I’ve been in construction almost my entire life; from the time I worked for my Uncle’s roofing company in sixth grade until today. I went to college (Texas A&M) to become a Builder and have been in the industry for over 20 years, building everything from large highways to paper mill plants to now, custom homes.

My design philosophy is similar to that of Eero Saarinen, who designed the famous “Gateway Arch” in St. Louis. While my design prowess is light years behind that of Eero Saarinen, I share his philosophy that I am more about solving our client’s problems than being a slave to the classic textbook rules of design. I want to answer the needs of my clients with unique and special ideas. I also believe that my clients are my co-creators. Between their lifestyle, their lot, and their vision, the greatest shapes can emerge, and most importantly, they are the shapes that the ‘creators’ best relate to and thrive in…not what someone told them had to be.

I approach construction the same way; with the mindset that it has to be built as close to perfect as is possible in order to ensure that my co-creators thrive in their new environment. Each home must be more than beautiful…it must suit each client uniquely in addition to being beautiful and built with precision. These are the challenges that keep me in this business.

I take great pride in the attention to detail that’s put into every home that carries my name. True quality is as much unseen as it is seen, from structural integrity to energy efficiency to quality control. I also know that no one will be happy in a home that’s well built behind the walls, but doesn’t show the same precision in the finish-out. For this reason I limit the number of houses I will build at one time—so I can be very involved at every phase of construction. I hold my subcontractors to a very high standard, and they know that. They know if it doesn’t look right, even if it’s level and plumb, I won’t hesitate to make them redo it.

There are really two kinds of Builders. There are those who saw an opportunity to make money during the housing boom, and those who love to build. I think if I were looking for a Builder today, I’d look for the guy who honestly has a passion for construction. You can always tell this kind of Builder because they tend to go on and on about materials and methods of construction until your eyes glaze over.

- Shan Jenkins

Roofing

Feb 21, 2007 at 08:00 AM

Roof leaks are the worst nightmare for any builder or homeowner. They are often hard to find and hard to fix. Especially around the fireplace, a leak can occur very easily. However, they are often so tiny that they go unnoticed by a builder. That is why we water-test certain areas of the roof. Usually, we will have a rain before the sheet rock goes up (nature’s water test). After a good rain, our builders will carefully inspect the home for leaks. However around the fireplace we will often hire a waterproofing company to do a 2-hour test just to make certain there are no leaks, not even tiny ones. We do this because even a tiny leak will result in moisture behind the walls. And, of course, mold can grow where moisture is present.

Plumbing

Feb 21, 2007 at 07:00 AM

Mold can, of course, only grow in areas where moisture is present, and can grow with even a small plumbing leak. To ensure there are no leaks in the plumbing, we put water in the pipes of our homes, with the appropriate amount of pressure, for several weeks before sheet rock. During this time, we visually inspect every joint for even the tiniest leak. By the time sheet rock goes up, any problem will have been identified and repaired. The best way to keep problems from occurring even before this stage, however, is to pour a perfect slab so that all the plumbing penetrations hit the walls perfectly (see the discussion on the Foundation).

HVAC (air conditioning and heating)

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 21, 2007 at 07:00 AM

Your HVAC system is a critical component to preventing mold while preserving indoor air quality. A proper system will push the air through your home, replacing the moist outside air with drier “conditioned” air. One of the downsides of the new tight, energy-efficient methods that are employed in home building is a propensity for mold to develop. At Jenkins Custom Homes we understand how to build a tight, energy-efficient home with methods that will not develop mold problems over time. We have been building mold-free homes since 1992, and we are continually educating ourselves about mold. The NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) constantly performs research in this area. As members of the NAHB, the Texas Association of Builders, and the Greater Austin Home Builders Association, we stay current on their findings so that we can ensure we are on the leading edge of this subject and all others related to building quality homes.

Framing

Feb 21, 2007 at 07:00 AM

The most important aspect to framing is, of course, a thorough knowledge of structural design and engineering. Large spans are becoming more prevalent in our industry due to the large open spaces that we enjoy in our homes. These spans “beef up” the specified beams and even add steel to ensure sagging will not occur over time.

Although we have employed methods such as concrete block for certain applications, we typically “stick-build” our homes. This means we use conventional framing techniques, while following or exceeding the International Residential Building Codes. We also use solid wood for our materials; we never use finger joint studs. In addition, we check every stick of lumber for mold and structural integrity before it is used in a home. We will not use molded, warped, or utility grade structural lumber in our homes.

The Foundation

Feb 21, 2007 at 07:00 AM

The Mix. Ordering the correct concrete mix is a critical ingredient to a perfect slab. Factors that must be considered include the soil content, the slope on the lot, the weather on the day of the pour, the home to be built on the lot, and much more. Knowing how to order the correct concrete mix comes with years of experience and many pours. Since Shan started his career in commercial construction, he has overseen over 100,000 cubic yards of concrete pours. Couple that with his Construction Science degree from Texas A&M, which included courses on concrete design, soil dynamics, material methods, structural design and analysis, and it ensures that we select the appropriate concrete for each project.

The Pump. A concrete pump ensures a uniform pour, adequate finishing time, fewer voids, and a uniform finish due to the speed of the application. It is Jenkins Custom Homes policy to employ a concrete pump, or two if required, on every project. It is simply foolish take a chance that concrete will get old waiting for the trucks ahead of it, when for a marginal additional cost, a concrete pump will ensure that the end result is a stronger slab and a smoother finish.

The Tape Measure. Have you ever seen a house under construction where the slab has been jack hammered in spots? This is caused by the lack of a tape measure, an inability to read plans, or both. When different subcontractors work on a slab, it’s common for miscommunication to occur and mistakes to be made. It’s our policy to personally measure all the forms, electrical and plumbing penetrations after all the subcontractors have left and just before we schedule the concrete for the pour. It’s such a simple concept, but surprising how few builders institute and enforce this policy. It’s this type of attention to detail that makes all the difference in the quality of a home.

Behind-the-Walls Quality

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 21, 2007 at 07:00 AM

The beauty of a Jenkins home is more than skin-deep. While we believe our finish-out is unparalleled, we know that what is behind the walls is as important to the long-term value of your home.

At Jenkins Custom Homes we’re fanatical about delivering a home we would be proud to live in. Through our educational background in construction, along with years of experience in both commercial and residential building, we’ve learned a lot methods for ensuring the long life of your home; methods that most builders don’t understand or bother with. Here are just a few facets of our quality control process.

The Foundation: Ordering the correct concrete mix is a critical ingredient to a perfect slab. Factors that must be considered include the soil content, (more…)
Framing: The most important aspect to framing is, of course, a thorough knowledge of structural design and engineering. Large spans are becoming more prevalent in our industry (more…)
HVAC: Your HVAC system is a critical component to preventing mold while preserving indoor air quality. A proper system will push the air through your home, replacing the moist outside air (more…)
Plumbing: Mold can, of course, only grow in areas where moisture is present, and can grow with even a small plumbing leak. To ensure there are no leaks in the plumbing, (more…)
Roofing: Roof leaks are the worst nightmare for any builder or homeowner. They are often hard to find and hard to fix. Especially around the fireplace, a leak can occur very easily. (more…)

Exceptional Warranty and Service

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 21, 2007 at 07:00 AM

We provide a warranty that not only exceeds state law, it is one of the best in the business, and we back it up with exceptional warranty service and support.

Our two-year warranty covers: lot grading and drainage, foundations and slabs, exterior concrete flatwork, framing, wall ceiling and beam tolerances, sub flooring and stairs, drywall tolerances and imperfections (such as blisters, cracks, seam lines), insulation, exterior siding and trim, masonry, stucco, roofs (including flashing, vents, louvers, gutters/downspouts, shingles/tiles, etc.), doors and windows, carpet, finished concrete flooring, wood flooring, hard surfaces (including ceramic tile, flagstone, marble, granite, etc.), painting, staining, wall coverings, plumbing fixtures and accessories, pipes and vents, heating and cooling, ductwork, electrical fixtures (including smoke and CO2 detectors), interior trim, closet shelving, mirrors, glass shower doors, hardware and ironwork, fireplaces, irrigation systems, fencing, pest control, electrical delivery systems, electrical wiring/panel/breakers/fuses, electrical outlets and GFI, wiring and outlets (for cable TV, telephones, Ethernet, etc.), plumbing delivery systems, wastewater treatment system, HVAC delivery systems, refrigerant line, heating and cooling functions.

In addition, we provide a 10-year warranty on structural components such as footings and foundations, beams, headers, girders, lintels, columns, load-bearing walls, partitions, roof framing systems, ceiling framing, floor systems and masonry arches.

At Jenkins we build a great home, and then we protect it with an exceptional warranty to ensure your total satisfaction.

Educated and Knowledgeable

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 21, 2007 at 07:00 AM

Jenkins Custom Homes is one of the few custom home builders in the industry whose owners hold advanced college degrees in the field. In fact, between the two owners, they hold four advanced degrees. Shan and Bethany Jenkins have an unparalleled knowledge of quality home building that comes from:

A Construction Science degree with a focus in Engineering and Construction from one of the largest Construction Departments in the nation (Texas A&M).

A strong background in complex structures through extensive commercial experience. Steep grades, large retaining walls, huge expansive openings. Most builders don’t have the education or experience in these areas and so the home structure can be at risk. Shan is so experienced and knowledgeable that Builder Magazine often calls him for input and quotes.
An MBA degree with a focus in Marketing, which ensures longevity of the company. Shan & Bethany both hold MBA degrees.

An MIS Degree, and a strong background in systems development has resulted in the many proprietary systems that make up the Jenkins “Perfect Building Experience” program.
A passion for building quality custom homes. Shan and Bethany Jenkins love designing and constructing great homes. Where most builders get into the business because it seems to be an easy way to make a lot of money, the goal of these owners is simply to pursue excellence in their chosen profession.

Exceptional Design and Finish-Out

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 21, 2007 at 07:00 AM

There is a warm feeling that defines a Jenkins Home. A completeness to the look of the home that is the result of Jenkins’ focus on the design details. Jenkins Custom Homes incorporates more finish-out elements into their homes than other builders can provide at anywhere near the price. In many cases we hand draw and develop the details ourselves from wrought-iron accents on cabinet doors, to antique corbels and handmade tile mosaics.

We don’t just throw in these elements randomly. We stay true to the style of the home, whether it’s Tuscan, Spanish, Hill Country or Modern. And we make sure your style is reflected in every aspect of your home even the landscape design matches. People who have traveled comment on how true Jenkins stays to each style.

Guaranteed Cost Breakdown

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 21, 2007 at 07:00 AM

Jenkins Custom Homes not only meets budgets, we guarantee that we will be within +/- 5% on the original design cost. We can do this because we hammer out cost details with our clients from the initial napkin sketch. We’ve developed a proprietary job costing system that allows us to tell you what your home will cost, in a great amount of detail, even before you have architectural plans. Other Builders will gladly tell you what it should cost; we guarantee it!

Jenkins is one of the only builders to provide a detailed cost estimate with the original design. This gives our customers a “Proof of Concept” that the house they want is a house they can afford. And all Jenkins’ cost analyses are more much detailed than the competition. We are also one of the only custom homebuilders with an in-house Automated Change Order System. As you watch your home being built, at every stage you will know exactly what your home costs, with all your changes, in real time. This gives you comfort from day one, and throughout the process, that Jenkins is listening to you and can deliver what you want within your budget. There are no surprises.

A Perfect Building Experience

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 21, 2007 at 06:00 AM

Homebuilding should be fun and exciting, but we often hear people talk about their previous home building experiences as frustrating, tiring, and awful.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Think about your most pleasant buying experience. You probably enjoyed it because you were well informed about the product, and felt comfortable that you were getting what you paid for. The problem with home building is that it’s complicated, possibly the most complicated purchase you will make, and it is susceptible to the mistakes of a lot of players.

The reason 99% of Jenkins clients remain our friends and satisfied customers, even after we complete their homes, is not because we try harder or work longer. It’s because we know more about the home building process than our competitors, and we have a planning process that eliminates or has contingency for any and all obstacles.

Other builders talk about their building process. Make them show it to you! Then compare it to ours. When you combine all the elements of the Jenkins Building Experience our thorough Lifestyle Analysis, detailed and Guaranteed Cost Breakdown, pre-construction schedule, Guide to Picture Perfect Projects, homeowner personal home page with Automated Change Order System, Detailed Construction Documents and End-of-Stage Management Inspections you get a building program that:

Provides an incredibly clear picture of exactly what you are buying.
Insures that all parties understand and meet their task deadlines.
Includes a well defined, and easy to follow process for completing your home on time and on budget.

Information and detailed planning are the keys to making good decisions in the home building process. Jenkins provides more than any other builder. The result is a perfect building experience for our clients.

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 20, 2007 at 06:00 PM

Many builders claim to design your home to fit your life. At Jenkins Custom Homes, it’s a science. Our unique process allows us to build a home around every aspect of your lifestyle. Ours is a significantly more in-depth process than you’ve heard of or seen before. We work with you to examine how you live in your home. How you entertain, the types of visitors you have, flow of traffic, hobbies, how and where you eat, how and where you work in the home, how your kids and their friends play. We also look at the shape and topography of the home site to maximize views, account for slopes and maximize space and natural features.

The process starts with an interactive interview in which Jenkins asks detailed questions, and then carefully listens to what you say, and how you say it—your physical reaction, tone of voice, body language. We drill down on every question to measure your response. Then, we evaluate each answer to determine the priority of each feature and its place in the budget.

We make sure you get what’s most important to you, while staying true to the style of the home and your budget. Finally, we prepare a Character Study, or rough rendering and floor plan of your home, with a detailed cost breakdown.

Our copyrighted Lifestyle Analysis is the most complete solution for designing a home, and is the reason our clients tell us that their home is perfect, every time.

FAQs

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 20, 2007 at 06:00 PM

Q: Where do you build? Is my lot located in your service area?

A: We build primarily on the West side of Austin. This includes Lakeway, Westlake, and Dripping Springs. Depending upon availability, we may take on projects further West, such as Horshoe Bay. Call our office to determine whether your property is located in our service area.

Q: When should I contact Jenkins Custom Homes to begin the planning process?

A: As soon as you know that you’re going to build a custom home, preferably right around the time you purchase your land. It’s best to come to us with a basic concept of style and layout. We’ll help you think through how the spaces in the floor plan can be maximized for your living style. We’ll help you visualize the finished home and how you’ll live in it. By coming to us early in the process, you’ll be assured not to waste time and money designing a home that is outside your budget or simply won’t fit on your lot.

Q: How do I know how much house I can afford?

A: The price of a home can vary dramatically depending on style, topography, and location. The goal of our program is to identify what’s important to you, and provide you with a detailed budget, up front, so that you will have the information needed to make your decision.

Q: How do your prices compare to other Builders?

A: We’re very competitive in our pricing, especially when compared to other quality Builders. Most of our clients are amazed at the level of finish-out we deliver for the money. And, our process and quality controls are unmatched. However, if you’re looking for the low bidder regardless of quality, we prefer not to be on your bid list. Some of the work we see today makes us cringe, and we won’t compromise quality for cost.

Q: Can we use a material supplier that is not on your “approved vendor” list?

A: When it comes to material suppliers, we are very flexible. We will do our best to work with any vendor you choose. However, when it comes to subcontractors, we are very staunch in our belief that ours are the best in the business, and we won’t sacrifice the quality of their work to use someone else. Our subcontractors have been carefully screened and are more like artisans than traditional laborers on a jobsite. They take great pride in their workmanship. In addition, because we use primarily the same subcontractors on all our jobs, we get a consistent quality that is important to uphold the Jenkins name.

Extensive Management Inspections

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 20, 2007 at 12:00 PM

Throughout the construction of your home Jenkins Custom Homes provides a more comprehensive suite of inspections and quality assurance programs than any other builder. These include our:

Regular walkthroughs with your Project Superintendent at each stage of construction, where we make a list of everything that needs to be changed.
Onsite walkthroughs with Shan Jenkins every other week. Shan personally meets with you on the jobsite at regular intervals to ensure your complete satisfaction with all facets of the project.
We use a 3rd party inspection company for major stages like pre-slab pour, electrical and mechanicals, etc., to provide another “pair of eyes” and ensure the quality of our work.
Continuous Punch List System that allows us to track each trade and review their punch list at each stage of construction. This eliminates costly errors and rework.
“End of project” management inspection and project review with Shan.
6,11 and 23-month quality assurance inspections. Sometimes you need to live in your home for a while before you notice minor cosmetic needs. Jenkins Custom Homes’ online warranty request system allows you to log any items that need attention, which we then come out and take care of on your quality inspection date.
2-year Home warranty. We offer a comprehensive 2-year home warranty to further insure that you get the home you deserve

Detailed Construction Documents

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 20, 2007 at 12:00 PM

While you are focused on designing your home, we will be busy preparing your Detailed Construction Documents. This is 14 pages of some of the most exciting dialog you’ve ever read! It includes every possible piece of information you could ever want to know from the type and gauge of electrical wiring to the PSI of the concrete slab. Well, it’s exciting to us anyway. While it’s not exactly a page-turner, you’ll be glad you have those details both during and after construction, or even if you later sell the house. It’s assurance to even those who may come after you, that this home is well-built.

Next we introduce our Extensive Management Inspections.

Automated Change Order System

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 20, 2007 at 12:00 PM

Even if you design a home that fits your budget, every home changes. The most common complaint against custom homebuilders is the big surprise at the end, where the overages are much higher than expected.

Our Lifestyle Analysis© helps ensure that there are fewer change orders in a Jenkins Custom home, but change happens. That’s why you build a custom home…to get it just the way you want it, even if you change your mind. That’s why we developed our web-based Automated Change Order System.

Jenkins developed this unique system in-house so it is the only one of its kind. The system combines e-mail and a Personal Home Page to provide convenient access and notification for our clients. It allows you to request changes, get pricing, see all change orders and their status, and know at any time exactly what you have spent.

Our Automated Change Order system gives you peace of mind from day one, and throughout the process, that Jenkins is listening to you, and can deliver what you want within your budget.

With a Jenkins home, there are no surprises.

Next we formulate your Detailed Construction Documents.

Jenkins Custom Homes Named Texas' 2006 "Builder of the Year"!

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 20, 2007 at 12:00 PM

On Friday night, November 17, 2006, at a Star Awards Gala likened to the “Oscars for the building industry” the Texas Association of Builders named Jenkins Custom Homes the “2006 Custom Builder of the Year”. This is the highest honor bestowed by the Texas Association of Builders and includes competitors from all over the state.

The highly coveted Star Awards are given annually to recognize excellence in building, remodeling or development. A record 629 entrants statewide submitted their best work for consideration in this year’s competition.

Guide to Picture Perfect Projects™

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 20, 2007 at 11:00 AM

Once we have an approved design, it’s your turn to start dreaming. To guide you along the way, we have developed our Guide to Picture Perfect Projects™ for your home. This unique project management tool saves our customers time, money and headaches. The Guide to Picture Perfect Projects™ is an exceptionally detailed and well-organized construction manual that provides you with step-by-step instructions, and keeps everything and everyone organized and on task.

Details about allowances, paint colors, decision deadlines, tools to make all of your appointments productive and efficient…everything is right at your fingertips. As you are working with your tile layouts or selecting your appliances, you have all the information you need to make your decisions. It even organizes vendors by area of the city so you can maximize your shopping time.

The Jenkins Guide to Picture Perfect Projects™ is literally an instruction manual for building your home. It makes the process easy and convenient, and reduces the hassles and time our customers spend on the selections process, keeping the entire project on track and making the whole process enjoyable.

Next we introduce you to our Automated Change Order System.

Guaranteed Detailed Cost Breakdown

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 19, 2007 at 12:00 PM

At the same time we develop the Lifestyle Analysis©, we also develop a detailed cost breakdown. This is unique for a couple of reasons:

Most builders don’t have the knowledge or resources to provide an accurate and detailed cost breakdown without having complete plans. The problem is, by the time you have a complete set of plans, you’ve already spent a lot of money and time with an Architect. Architects generally don’t maintain an extensive cost database that is current; nor do they need one. In addition, we often find that knowledge of design and constructability (which includes cost-effectiveness of design) are two very different things. For example, a lot with significant slope can be designed many ways, some cost-effective and some not. There could be a savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars by having a knowledgeable Builder at your side from the beginning.

Secondly, only Jenkins guarantees that we will be within +/- 5% on the original design cost. We can do this because we’ve developed a proprietary job costing system that allows us to tell you what your home will cost, in a great amount of detail, even before you have architectural plans.

We are one of the only builders that provide a detailed cost estimate with the original design. This gives our customers a “Proof of Concept” that the house they want is a house they can afford.

Next we introduce you to our Guide to Picture Perfect Projects™.

Jenkins Selected to Build the Designing Texas Dream Home

Feb 19, 2007 at 12:00 PM

In 2004 Jenkins Custom Homes was selected to build the Designing Texas Dream Home for 2004-2005. The Designing Texas television show selected Jenkins for this unique project, which for six months featured the Dream Home at various stages of construction, ending with a half-hour segment featuring the finished home. The home, built in the Westlake area of Austin, is valued at over $1M and features many unique architectural elements.

See the final television segment with Jocelyn White here.

Frontgate Magazine features Jenkins Custom Homes

Feb 19, 2007 at 12:00 PM

The February edition of Frontgate magazine is featuring one of our favorite clients in one of our favorite homes: the 2004 Showcase of Homes house we built in Flintrock Falls for Bethany and Dan Shine. Jenkins Custom Homes won a number of awards for this Texas Tuscan design including Best Custom Home, Best Kitchen, and Best Overall Interior Design in 2004 by the Texas Association of Builders.

Click here to read the entire article online at Frontgate.com.

Craftsman Style

Feb 16, 2007 at 10:00 AM

The Craftsman Bungalow is an all-American style designed for comfortable, simple living. Craftsman style usually features a low-pitched roof, wide eaves, exposed roof rafters and decorative braces. An efficient layout and large porch make it a great choice to enjoy warm Texas evenings.

Outdoor Living

Feb 16, 2007 at 10:00 AM

The bright Hill Country days and warm Texas evenings make more and more Austinites want to spend a large portion of their time outdoors. As a result, we are designing more comfortable outdoor spaces for dining and lounging to compliment traditional outdoor activities.

Texas Hill Country

Feb 16, 2007 at 10:00 AM

The Hill Country style continues to evolve. It borrows its original structure from the Deep South, but uses many local materials and design elements. We are now seeing some Mediterranean elements mixed in with this style as well, for a very pleasing and comfortable casual look.

Spanish Style

Feb 16, 2007 at 10:00 AM

Inspired by the Spanish forts and missions so prevalent in Texas, the Spanish style features arches, fort-like towers, accent windows, and dark woods with wrought iron accents.

Tuscan Style

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 16, 2007 at 09:00 AM

The Tuscan style has been very popular for several years. The ease of maintenance and attractive elements of Tuscan-style design make it very appealing, especially in upscale neighborhoods.

Hill Country Style

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 16, 2007 at 04:00 AM

The Hill Country style borrows its origins from the Deep South, but uses many local materials and design elements. We are now seeing a more modern look mixed in with this style as well.

Frontgate Magazine features Jenkins Custom Homes

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 12, 2007 at 02:00 AM

The February edition of Frontgate magazine is featuring on of our favorite clients in one of our favorite homes: the 2004 Showcase of Homes house we built in Flintrock Falls for Bethany and Dan Shine.

The Shines purchased this home after building a custom dream home in California. Just a few weeks after moving into their California home Dan was asked to relocate to Austin. They didn’t have the time to construct another custom home in Austin, so the Shines decided to purchase an existing home. Bethany knew exactly what kind of amenities — and quality — she wanted to find in their new home, and spent hours explaining what they wanted to their Realtor. After four house-hunting trips they still had not found what they were looking for. Then their Realtor called to announce, “I’ve found your perfect home." Still only 70% completed, the home was under construction by Jenkins Custom Homes as their entry in the 2004 Austin Showcase of Homes. Based on photos, a thumbs-up from Dan’s parents who had recently moved to Austin, plus a quick trip to walk through the home — and a firm belief in the craftsmanship of Jenkins Custom Homes — the Shines purchased their new Lakeway home a month before completion.

Jenkins Custom Homes won a number of awards for this Texas Tuscan design, including Best Custom Home, Best Kitchen, and Best Overall Interior Design in 2004 by the Texas Association of Builders.

The Shine’s home features some of the best design elements Jenkins has put into a single home. From the pebbled stone courtyard with a three-tiered fountain in the front of the home to the travertine floors, temperature-controlled wine room, amazing kitchen and great room and exceptional outdoor living areas, this home is the exact casual elegance that the Shine’s were looking for.

Bethany Shine muses. “Having lived in this home for two years now, I’ve found so many features that tell me this house was built for living in, not just as a showpiece." Bethany Jenkins of Jenkins Custom Homes couldn’t agree more. “Designing and building this home was truly a labor of love on our part, knowing someone was going to live here and enjoy it so much one day."

Click here to see the entire article online at Frontgate.com

Home Builder Announces 2-Year Home Warranty

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 08, 2007 at 08:00 AM

Jenkins Custom Homes’ customers know that we go the extra mile when it comes to warranty work. We already have the best warranty service in the industry, and the only in-house online warranty service request system. Our proprietary system and responsiveness have earned us the trust and satisfaction of our customer base. In fact, we have a higher percentage of satisfied customers than just about any builder in Central Texas.

Effective January 1, 2007, we have extended our already exceptional home warranty from 1 year to 2 years for all new clients, to offer one of the most competitive warranties you’ll find in the custom home industry.

Making Selections for a Custom Home

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 07, 2007 at 08:00 PM

Whether you are planning to build a custom home one day or you’re in the middle of building one, it can be a daunting task just making the choices like stucco color or lighting fixtures. I’ve been guiding the team who makes the selections for our Show Homes and Spec Homes for over 8 years, and I’d like to offer some advice for those of you departing on this journey. Although not a comprehensive list, it is designed to tell you, as I would a friend or family member, the important things to keep in mind.

First, I would advise you to use a Decorator or Interior Designer. It seems like a simple task to go out and pick tile and plumbing, but it really isn’t. Find someone who listens to you and someone you trust. You don’t necessarily need them to help you with every single decision, but get together with them a couple of times throughout the project at a minimum. Ask them to help you ensure that your look is consistent and flows from room to room properly. If my budget were really tight, I’d use the Decorator to help me with paint and tile and schedule a 2-hour session at the beginning of the process and a 2-hour session toward the middle of the selection process. That should be enough to ensure you create a consistent look and feel.

Next, I like to find artwork or a photo or something in nature to inspire the project. Then, I leave it up to the talented professionals on our team to achieve the inspiration look in the home. They always amaze me! Sometimes it challenges them to move outside their comfort zone, but great things always result. For example, several years ago I told our team that the inspiration for the Show Home we were working on was an all-organic Spanish home. So we used a lot of wrought iron and vines with very organic colors. The result was a host of very subtle details from the front door to the cut stone fireplace that tied the spaces together and gave the home a sense of purpose. Those who saw the home didn’t know what they loved about it, but they used phrases like “warm and welcoming” and “a truly well-appointed home” to describe it.

Finally, stay true to what you know you love. Don’t let the plethora of choices get you off track. After looking at so many things, it can be overwhelming. You have to be deliberate in selecting what you love. Having said that, however, you must trust the professionals! Help them guide you toward a better choice. Instead of saying, “I just don’t like it,” try saying, “It gets away from my original inspiration for the home.” A great team will guide you toward an even better compromise that achieves the look you want without sacrificing what you love. I’ll never forget when I told our team that I wanted to use a marble surround for a fireplace in the Master Bedroom. They said, “Oh, no, I think we really need some cut stone or something to dress it up more.” I said, “Okay, well my thought was that we could introduce that fabulous marble we’re using in the Master Bathroom.” “Then, let’s compromise and use both,” they said. The result was one of the most beautiful fireplaces I have ever seen.

It is a really exhilarating feeling when you get to the end of a project and see the looks of delight on those coming to see the home. Feeling comfortable with your team and selecting what you really love will ensure you will always be happy with the end result. Good luck with your project!

-Bethany Jenkins, Vice President
Jenkins Custom Homes

Protect Your Home from Power Outages

Bethany Jenkins — Jan 31, 2007 at 10:00 PM

Everyday life depends so much on electrical power. Refrigerators, lighting, central air conditioning and heat, telephones, security systems, and computers are no longer luxuries, but necessities. What happens to your home when the power goes out?

If you have an automatic standby generator, your home will be well-equipped to weather power outages. Recent weather events in Central Texas have reminded homeowners that our power supply is highly susceptible and that when it goes out, they are not only inconvenienced, their health and well-being may also be compromised.

Wired into a home’s electrical load panel and connected to a natural gas line or liquid propane tank, automatic standby generators sit on call, waiting for a power outage. An automatic transfer switch manages the power supply by sensing when utility power is lost, signaling the generator to start up, and transferring designated electrical loads to the generator power supply within seconds. It also senses when utility power returns, transfers loads back to the utility supply, and shutting down the generator.
Even when you are not at home, an automatic generator will keep critical systems operating, an important benefit in our hot/humid area where a few days without air conditioning can allow mold and mildew to grow or during severe cold weather where loss of heat can allow water pipes to freeze.

Several technological improvements have made standby generators more efficient and compact, quieter, easier to use, and able to supply “clean” power. Some generators still use manual transfer switches, but automatic transfer switches have started to replace them. In addition to automatically transferring loads from utility to generator and back again, automatic transfer switches also exercise the generator periodically to keep it functioning properly. Some switches incorporate alarms to notify the homeowner when the generator needs service.

A few manufacturers are developing wireless handheld monitors that provide homeowners with a familiar interface to help them manage their generators. Future innovations may include Web interfaces so homeowners can access their generators from anywhere and to enable generators to send e-mail notifications when maintenance is required.

Though most power outages are brief, longer lapses can cause costly damage. The expense of one insurance deductible may very well cover the cost to get at least some minimal protection in the form of a low-kilowatt standby generator.

For additional information on back-up generators check out these websites:

www.homegeneratorsystems.com

www.colemanpowermate.com

www.guardiangenerators.com

Bethany Jenkins asked to serve as Distinguished Executive Professor

Bethany Jenkins — Jan 08, 2007 at 02:00 PM

The Dean of the Mays School of Business at Texas A&M University visited the offices of Jenkins Custom Homes recently. While there, he invited Bethany Jenkins to speak at the University as a Distinguished Executive Professor. Honored by the invitation, Bethany agreed and plans to speak to classes in the Fall of 2007.

The Shine Family

Bethany Jenkins — Nov 06, 2006 at 01:00 PM

We looked for a home in Austin for over a month. This included 3 flights from California to Austin with a new baby. The trips weren’t fun, nor were they successful. I had given up on finding anything in Austin that met the quality that we were looking for.

After 2 weeks of putting the house-hunting on hold, I received a call from my Realtor. Her first comment was “I found it! Just trust me”. She assured me that this house would meet our quality standards. She was absolutely correct. The detail and quality of the construction continues to be commented on when we have guests. Your staff has been awesome in responding to the minor touch-ups and repairs that are expected with a new home.

We can, without a doubt, recommend Jenkins Custom homes to anyone thinking of building a home. You have a great reputation in our subdivision and many neighbors have commented on how beautiful all your homes are.

The Glenn Family

Oct 20, 2006 at 02:00 PM

It has been two and a half years since we purchased our Jenkins Custom Home. We are absolutely thrilled with our purchase. Everyone that visits our home comments on the beauty and quality of our home.

We would like to thank you for making the purchase of this home such an enjoyable experience and for exemplifying true professionalism through your honesty and integrity. Companies run by people of your caliber are few and far between.

In the event we choose to build another home, we would love the opportunity to work with you again!

The Rodriguez Family

Bethany Jenkins — Jul 01, 2006 at 09:00 AM

Many, many thanks to you and your competent team at JCH for putting our wonderful home together. We are enjoying and admiring it every day. Thank you for the professionalism exhibited all along the way. You made this an exciting and pleasant experience. Please consider us a friend and let us know if we can ever be of assistance to you. Meanwhile, we wish you continued success in business and blessings at home.

Jenkins Custom Homes Sweeps Best Custom Home Category

Apr 10, 2006 at 01:00 PM

On Saturday night, April 8, 2006, The Home Builders Association of Greater Austin presented Jenkins Custom Homes with the Award for Best Custom Home in 3 categories. These awards were presented at the Max Award Gala, held at the Renaissance Hotel in Austin, Texas. Jenkins won the 2006 Max Awards for:

Best Custom Home $750K – $1M – Residence in Wild Basin area
Best Custom Home $500K – $750K – Residence in Lakeway
Best Custom Home $350K – $500K – Residence in Dripping Springs

Jenkins Custom Homes Named 4th Fastest Growing Company

Oct 30, 2005 at 12:00 PM

The 2005 edition of the Aggie 100 was announced Friday, October 28 at ceremonies on Texas A&M’s College Station campus. Jenkins Custom Homes was at the top of the list, coming in at #4. The Aggie 100 program identifies, recognizes and celebrates the 100 fastest growing Aggie-owned or Aggie-led businesses in the world. The 100 fastest growing Aggie companies were honored at a luncheon attended by over 600 people. A&M leadership, students and business community representatives joined in the celebration to honor the first ever Aggie 100. The Aggie 100 program was created to celebrate the success of entrepreneurs and provide a forum for them to pass their lessons on to the next generation.

The Atherton Family

Jun 20, 2005 at 02:00 PM

We just wanted to let you know that your staff is extremely knowledgeable and that you have really good people in your stead. Watching them pour our slab was like watching a well-orchestrated symphony. Everyone knew their jobs, including your Superintendent and your Subcontractors, and they were just amazing! Everything went just exactly as planned.

Jenkins Custom Homes Wins Max Award for Best Custom Home 2003

Nov 16, 2004 at 01:00 PM

On March 6th, Jenkins Custom Homes was awarded the Silver Max Award for “Best Custom Home” $250,000 to $350,000 at the Max Award Gala. The residence is a mission style home with a large wrap-around porch reminiscent of years past. The Architect on the project was Danze & Davis, Inc. Jenkins Custom Homes wishes to thank all who participated in making this home a Max Award winner!

Jenkins Custom Homes Wins 3 Statewide Awards

Oct 23, 2004 at 02:00 PM

On Saturday night, October 23, 2004, The Texas Association of Builders presented Jenkins Custom Homes with the following 2004 Star Awards:

Best Custom Home – $500K – $1 Million
Best Kitchen for a Home $500K – $1 Million
Best Overall Interior Design for a Home $500K – $1 Million

Click Here to view video

Names of winners were announced at the awards presentation, which is a highlight of the Sunbelt Builders Show Building Solutions Conference at the Gaylord Texan Resort. The Star Awards Gala took place in the Grapevine Ballroom. As winner of these awards, Jenkins Custom Homes is recognized as one of a “best in class” in the entire state of Texas.

Jenkins Custom Homes Nominated for 2 MAX Awards

Oct 20, 2004 at 02:00 PM

Two Jenkins homes are finalists for the 2004 Best Custom Home MAX Award. The MAX Awards are an annual awards ceremony to celebrate local homebuilding excellence and to determine the best homes built that year. The two nominations for this prestigious award are:

“Best Custom Home” $250,000 to $350,000 – Craftsman style Residence
“Best Custom Home” $250,000 to $350,000 – Hill Country style Residence

Since both homes are in the same category, they will compete against each other and against a home by another Builder. When asked about the award, Shan Jenkins said, "I’m not sure whether I’m more honored about the award or I’m more honored that my clients were willing to open their homes to the MAX award judges. I have really been fortunate to have some wonderful clients! Truly, though, it is a huge honor to have one, let alone 2, MAX award finalists in one year.

MAX awards are judged on-site by judges primarily hand-selected by the Sales and Marketing Council of the Greater Austin HBA (Home Builder’s Association). Judges spend approximately 3 days viewing homes all over the Austin area until all homes are judged and rated.

The HBA of Greater Austin is an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting good homebuilding practices through training and advocacy. To learn more about the local HBA, go to www.austinhomebuilders.com.

The Bush Family

Sep 08, 2004 at 02:00 PM

I couldn’t imagine having built the house with anyone else. At times it really felt like we were just having a friend build our house. In fact, I was actually enjoying the building process so much, part of me is sorry to see it end. Thanks for everything.

Jenkins Custom Homes Nominated for 5 Star Awards

Aug 18, 2004 at 01:00 PM

The Texas Association of Builders has nominated Jenkins Custom Homes for the following 2004 Star Awards:

Grand Award – Custom Builder of the Year
Best Kitchen for a Home $500K – $1 Million
Best Interior Entry/Foyer for a Home Under $1 Million
Best Overall Interior Design for a Home $500K – $1 Million
Best New Home – $500K – $1 Million

Names of winners are not released until the awards presentation, which is a highlight of the Sunbelt Builders Show Building Solutions Conference at the Gaylord Texan Resort. The show begins Oct. 20th and saves the best for last, the Star Awards Gala on Saturday, October 23, in the Grapevine Ballroom.

Jenkins Selected to Build The 2004-2005 Designing Texas Dream Home

Jul 19, 2004 at 01:00 PM

Jenkins Custom Homes has been selected to build the Designing Texas Dream Home for 2004-2005. The Designing Texas television show selected Jenkins for this unique project, which for six months featured the Dream Home at various stages of construction, ending with a half-hour segment featuring the finished home. The home, built in the Westlake area of Austin, is valued at over $1M and features many unique architectural elements.

See the final television segment with Jocelyn White here.

The Nixon Family

Apr 18, 2004 at 02:00 PM

We love being in our new house. The building process went better than we could have ever dreamed… We think very highly of Jenkins Custom Homes.

Jenkins Wins Best Parade Home at Max Awards

Mar 12, 2004 at 12:00 PM

On March 12th, Jenkins Custom Homes was awarded the Silver Max Award for Best Parade or Showcase Home 2004, at the Max Award Gala, held at the Renaissance Hotel in Austin, Texas. The residence that won the award was built in Lakeway in the prestigious Flintrock Falls subdivision. The unique home featured views of the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, a private courtyard, and a retreat-like pool and spa with outdoor entertaining area.

The Edmonson Family

Dec 03, 2002 at 01:00 PM

One of the many things that we really appreciated about Mr. Jenkins was that he always put us first. He made sure everything was exactly the way we wanted it. We love our beautiful new home, and Jenkins Custom Homes made the whole process enjoyable!

Jenkins Custom Homes Wins Best Custom Home 2002

Bethany Jenkins — Feb 16, 2002 at 01:00 PM

Jenkins Custom Homes has been awarded the 2002 Texas Star Award for Best Custom Home in the $150K-$250K price category by the Texas Association of Builders. The ceremony took place at a dinner at the Hyatt Regency Landmark Ballroom on October 19. As winner of this award, Jenkins Custom Homes will be featured in a one-page ad in the “Texas Builder” magazine, in addition to being recognized as one of a best in class in the entire state of Texas.

“Jenkins Custom Homes has put Dripping Springs in the spotlight for quality home construction,” said Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce President, Pamela Carroll. “We are pleased to have this type of exposure at the state and national level.”

Click Here to view video

The Texas Association of Builders sponsors the Sunbelt Builder’s Show as well as many other events for Builders, including many outstanding educational seminars. If you are interested in learning more about the Texas Association of Builders, check the website at Texas Builders for information.

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