Gibson HomeBuilders

Most of Jim Gibson’s clients seek him out when they are ready to build the home they want to retire in. They differ from younger homebuyers, who are typically most impressed with a home’s finish-out. Instead, Jim’s clients are looking for a home that is the culmination of all their dreams. They want a home that is comfortable to live in, easy to maintain and cost-efficient from the standpoint of utility bills.

Often, Jim’s buyers have owned the land they want to build on for some time. For example, Pam Rivers and her husband bought acreage in Burleson some years ago. When it came time to build the home they had dreamed of, a family member who is also a Certified General Real Estate appraiser, referred the Rivers to Gibson HomeBuilders.

"It's everything we wanted. People can't believe it when I tell them how smooth it went. Jim was great to work with," said Pam Rivers.

Jim attributes referrals such as this one and his website for keeping his business steady.

"Many of my clients have never lived in a house they've designed themselves. They have thought long and hard about what they want and done their research. Helping them see it all come together is the fun part for me," he said. "We start by drawing out each room and designing it for its purpose, then we combine all the rooms for good traffic flow. Adding the style elements is the last step."

Nor are Jim’s clients typically retiring with endless resources. That is one reason he insists that superior energy efficiency is just as important as a good floor plan. Building highly energy efficient homes has been a primary goal since the establishment of Gibson HomeBuilders in 1999. The company is a 100 percent registered Energy Star Builder committed to building all homes 30 percent or better than energy code. Gibson HomeBuilders also meets the requirements of the Environments for Living® (EFL) Program, a testing program which certifies homes for quality construction, efficient design and energy savings.

Custom homes built by Gibson Homebuilders start at $250,000, proving that implementing these superior standards can be achieved affordably. Adding up to as much as 50 percent savings on utility bills, these “best building practices” should be a serious consideration when buyers compare the affordability of one home to another.

Gibson Homebuilders’ commitment to its above-code standards is particularly important to homebuyers building in rural areas, where they are often outside of building code jurisdictions.

“We use best building practices no matter where we’re building,” said Jim. “We don’t wait for code requirements to mandate our own construction standards and for years, we’ve been implementing many of the same standards now endorsed by the new green building programs.”

Some of the best building practices used by Gibson Homebuilders include closed cell foam insulation, which also adds racking strength to walls for added safety, 19 SEER HVAC and variable speed air handlers to further increase the SEER rating, vented soffits and ridge vents which act “like a teepee” to draw out heat, and radiant barrier roof decking. Media air filters and outside air exchangers are used to assure fresh air in each home to control healthy air quality.

Quality is further assured by using 16” centers on interior walls and by basing the selection of subcontractors first on quality, second on price. Many of Jim’s subcontractor team members have been with him since the beginning. His electrician and HVAC contractor work on every job he builds, while plumbers and concrete crews vary depending on the location of the job.

One of the ways that Jim stays on top of the latest building technology is through his voluntary continuing education. He is one of the only builders active in his geographic focus area to hold the Graduate Master Builder (GMB) designation, a national recognition. He also serves on the National Association of Home Builders’ Research Team and on the Board of Directors for the Greater Fort Worth Builders Association. Also active in GFWBA’s Parker County Builders Association (PCBA) division, Jim will serve as 2007 PCBA President.

While Jim oversees construction, his wife, Jean, assists their clients with design and decorating decisions. Earning her CAPS designation (Certified Aging In Place Specialist) has proven to be a big benefit to their clients.

“Simple things like 3’ doorway widths and the right type of door handle can make it practical for an aging customer to stay in their home for a longer period of time. Independence, safety and universal accessibility are important to our clients,” said Jean.

Both Jim and Jean maintain close contact with clients throughout the design and construction of their home. Clients are encouraged to walk the site at least weekly with Jim, and he is flexible to changes they decide to make.

“It’s better to spot a change at the time when walls are easy to move, than to miss that opportunity and have to pay more in time and money to change it later. We give our clients lots of options and lots of input, but always remain intent upon meeting or beating their budget,” Jim explained.

Marble was used for the vanities, tub and shower in the master bath, which features a Jacuzzi® tub and glass block shower walls.

“We try to help them make practical, common sense decisions that they might not automatically think about, but that can make a huge difference. For example, we build garages oversized with 8-foot tall by 9-foot wide doors because clients living the country are likely to drive trucks just like my own Ford F-250,” he added.

While Jim plans to continue his custom home- building activity in the counties of Parker, Hood, Somervell, Johnson and Tarrant, he will soon delve into the role of developer/builder. Zion Hill Estates, just north of Weatherford, will offer homes starting at $175,000 on one-acre lots.

As his current and future homeowners live day-to- day in their homes and as they open their monthly utility bills throughout the years, Jim’s goal is for his clients to remain confident that they made the right decision in choosing Gibson HomeBuilders.

Photos By Till Hezel, Hezel
Photography By Beverly Smirnis
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