Personal Touch

"The problem with many spec-built homes," says second-generation builder Barry Rutenberg, "is that they're not 'loved' like a custom-built one. Without an actual homeowner involved in the process, they often don't get that same kind of individual attention."

Not so in the case of this beautiful, amenity-packed spec project, which Rutenberg built for the 2002 Parade of Homes in Gainesville, Fla., last spring. The five-bedroom, Mediterranean-style home has everything his upscale buyer market could ask for, including 12-foot ceilings, a sunken wine cellar and a lavish master retreat, plus a 45-foot free-form pool with two sheer descent fountains and a heated spa. "Creative use of space could expand the house to include up to eight bedrooms," Rutenberg says.

Going the extra mile when building a parade home makes good business sense, says Rutenberg, who builds at least one every year in the Gainesville area. "You generate a following," he says. "People see a home you have built and will come back to you three years down the road because they remember your work."

Rutenberg enjoys the process of designing and building homes and encourages that same kind of enthusiasm in the people who work for him. "I made this home my own project right from the start and had a lot of fun with it," he says. "Actually, our whole team spent countless hours brainstorming about neat features that we could incorporate into the home. We were constantly making changes throughout the construction process. The end result is a real evolution of good ideas from everyone involved."

Rutenberg made sure this 5,578-square-foot home had a flexible floor plan suitable for a variety of home buyer profiles - a critical feature for a spec-built project. The two-story home features a mix of formal areas for entertaining, such as the living and dining rooms, and fun spaces such as first- and second-floor recreation rooms that can be customized to serve as a billiards room (downstairs) and a home theater (upstairs). Both recreation rooms are equipped with built-in beverage centers.

"We also made sure there were plenty of private areas in the house as well," Rutenberg says. For example, the master retreat has two spacious walk-in closets, including a dressing area with built-in organizers, as well as an exercise room and an eye-popping master bath with a floating tub surrounded by cobalt blue glass tile and overlooking a private courtyard.

"This plan would work well for anyone from a professional athlete to an upscale couple with children," Rutenberg says. "There is plenty of space for kids, parents, friends and even overnight guests. We deliberately designed a lot of versatility into this home's living space. You have to recognize that people's needs are going to change over time. I do my best to give people a home that will allow them to adapt to lifestyle changes."

One of the most memorable "getaway" spots in the house is the "combination timeout/phone booth" nook cleverly incorporated into the staircase landing above the kitchen. "Everyone really loved it," Rutenberg says.

The same attention to detail was paid to the positioning of the home on its 1.67-acre corner lot. By angling the home an additional 7 degrees to the street, Rutenberg maximized usable space in the rear yard, minimized street noise and increased views. In addition to building this home with a pool and spa, Rutenberg spent more than $20,000 for professional landscaping and an irrigation system to preserve the mature oak trees that existed on the site, including a venerable southern live oak in the back yard. A trained arborist also was hired to keep track of the condition of the trees throughout the construction process.

Located in Biltmore Estates, a 24-home enclave of luxury, estate-style residences, this home has an estimated market value of $900,000 and was completed in April 2002.

Style of Home | Mediterranean
Location | Gainesville, Fla.
Total Square Footage | 5,578
Estimated Market Value | $900,000
Builder | Barry Rutenberg Homes, Gainesville
Architect | Michael Burke, Gainesville
Interior Designer | Pat Glisson Interiors Inc., Gainesville
Spec-built for 2002 Gainesville Parade of Homes

Major Products Used | Appliances: GE/Monogram (refrigerator, microwave, convection wall oven, warming drawer, cooktop, vent hood, gas grill, beverage centers), GE/Profile (dishwasher), Sub-Zero (wine refrigerator) | Countertops: granite | Cabinetry: custom maple | Plumbing Fixtures: Kohler | Doors: Colonist (interior) | Home Controls & Automation: Monster Cable (structured wiring system), First Alert | HVAC: Carrier | Fireplace: Superior | Lighting: Access, Quorum | Windows: Capitol | Exterior: Acrocrete, Cultured Stone, Shakertown | Roofing: Tamko Heritage (shingles), Louisiana-Pacific (roof sheathing)

Backed by his experience of building more than 1,000 high-end semicustom and custom homes in the Gainesville, Fla., area, Barry Rutenberg points out that one of a builder's most important research tools can be the opinions and experiences of home buyers.

"We hold a lot of focus groups, most of which are spontaneous and very informal," Rutenberg says. Often, he or one of his team members talks to people as they tour a Parade of Homes model during an open house. At times, he says, people don't even know they're talking to someone connected with the builder. "I really want their honest opinions and reactions, and this is a good way to get them," Rutenberg says.

Rutenberg will continue to hold open houses at a parade home after the show to give people a chance to get a better look at the project. "When you get 1,000 people going through a house in a day, you can't possibly interact with them all," he says. "During an open house, you can have much more personal contact."

Barry Rutenberg Homes also contacts past clients for their input. "We stay in touch with many of the people who have bought homes from us in the past so we can find out what they like, what they would like and what they would change," says Rutenberg. "I really take the time to carefully listen to what they have to say because they offer a great source of information - experience."

People recognize Rutenberg's concern for their likes and dislikes and respond well to it, he says. "It makes the process of building a home that much more fun for everyone. It is not at all uncommon for us to ask a previous client to critique a new model we are working on. I find that this is the best way to create a workable, livable plan."