The same criterion that earned Steve Klein a coveted National Home Builders Association's American Spotlight Builder's Award is influencing "lookers" to become Steve Klein home buyers.

The award recognizes the most impressive home building companies in America and asks industry leaders to compare their financial performance, customer service, community service, design and quality. Steve Klein emerged a winner!

Raised on a small farm in Iowa, Klein learned that hard work and dedication breeds success. In his pre-building ventures -construction, marketing and real estate - he established his unique "individual" approach to building homes. "A home is a personal thing. You can't mass produce individual dreams, needs and wants," he says.

Klein, a Victoria resident since 1982, decided to get into the home building business in early 1990, "when most of the smart people said it was the wrong time. But I felt it was the best time. I figured Texas and Victoria were just about to turn the corner." His second sense was based on "watching a lot of numbers. I track the pre-owned market listings consistently. I saw housing inventory decreasing; homes were getting older and new buyers didn't want outdated homes. I wanted to fill a gap in the market."

Obviously, his theory was valid. Klein's growth has outpaced the Texas market over the past three years, expanding from three sales in 1990 to 23 in 1992. "We're planning bigger, more complicated homes this year which means the same number of starts but increased gross revenues. It's never been the quantity in my book; it's quality that we've strived for-since the very beginning."

Joining Klein when he opened his company in 1990, veteran Victoria builder Neil Whitley added experience and acceptance. Highly respected in the industry, he is a past president of the Texas Association of Home Builders and a strong advocate of quality which enables him to produce exactly what the client wants. Whitley, vice president, handles production, quality control and purchasing. His understanding enhances Klein's own sense of values and priorities.

Since the beginning, Klein has been building his "team" with the same care and discretion that a professional football coach selects his players. "Our people are our greatest asset. Without them, we could never be successful." With 80 percent of Klein's business based on referrals from satisfied clients, he obviously has the right formula.

"We approach each job as the only home we're doing. We don't 'bid.' We meet with the clients, discuss what they want, research their lifestyle and relay our findings to one of our professional designers (like the Houston Design Group) and present them with a preliminary set of plans for their input and approval. We can use our experience and know-how to advise and guide them, but our main purpose is to give them what they want."

Initially, what sells a Klein creation is its uncompromising quality.

"You can feel the difference the minute you walk up to the door. Dramatic raised entries, unusual window designs that take advantage of available views - our exceptional workmanship subtly shouts at you, from the carefully selected and installed flooring (brick, tile, marble, hardwood) to the fine wood cabinetry and trim, crown mouldings and built-ins to designer-influenced use of artistic wall coverings, lighting and painting.

"Even our painting has a unique quality of its own. Larry Kocian, a 17-year veteran in finishes and cabinetry, is our 'custom' superintendent. His outstanding trim crew hand-fits cabinetry, custom moldings and mantel pieces. Mahogany, cherry and oak are meticulously used.

"He also supervises our own in-house finish and paint crew and full-time customer service man to guarantee that each home meets our strict criteria before it is turned over to the client. We rarely ever get a follow-up sheet from the buyer - the house is right when we turn it over to them."

Klein works closely with his subcontractors to provide consistent quality construction. "We have a preferred subcontractor list and if they don't keep up the quality, we release them. Quality isn't just workmanship; it's prompt scheduling, competitive pricing and good customer service." For meeting his criteria, Klein keeps his subs busy and pays, "like clockwork," to quote them.

Klein builds what he calls "This is It" houses, homes for people who have had one or two previous "cookie cutter" production homes. "They know what they want and they expect the builder to give it to them," he says.

"Most people in this business are so busy being busy that they don't have the time to see what's going on around them," he explains. "By delegating, I have the time to go out and study the market."

The biggest difference between today's buyers and those in the past, Klein points out, is that "they demand quality. They can pay for it, and you had better give it to them." Steve Klein Custom Builder is geared to do just that!

Building in a small town (72,000 population) has two sides, according to Klein. "If you are good, everyone knows it and you can have the opportunity of doing a lot of business. If you're not, everyone knows that too, and you don't do well."

In sync with his fellow National Spotlight builders, Klein is fiscally conservative, maintains a strong management team, has close and loyal relationships with his "team" (staff, suppliers and contractors) and his customers and emphasizes quality as his guiding principle.

Proof of his foresight and unique capabilities, Klein has turned the Colony Country Club community into Victoria's fastest-growing custom home development in just 12 years, with fewer than 20 lots (which Klein controls) remaining in the area.

"We try to keep several homes under construction at all times and currently have four homes ranging from $152,000 to $225,000 available for purchase at this time. I feel that it is important to have at least one or two models available to showcase our workmanship and design and to give new buyers some ideas for their own projects."

Klein builds in the $125,000 to $400,000 range, and his homes can be found in Victoria's finest neighborhoods. "That doesn't mean we're limited. We can go as small or as elaborate as the buyer wants - it just has to be a project that we believe in. Most of our new customers say that if we will work with them in the same way that we worked with their friend (who recommended us), they want us for their builder."

Steve Klein Custom Builder is headquartered in his Custom Home Center at the beautiful Colony Country Club area and is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until the last customer leaves.

Aware of a good neighborhood environment, Klein has concentrated on the prime Colony Creek development since he began building. "They are in a top school system and offer all of the amenities necessary: a well-rounded, family lifestyle, championship 18-hole golf course, swimming pool, tennis, full service country club with a formal dining room and casual snack bar and grill - it's the best!"

Builder/Architect, February 1993