Condron Homes

before the crash,at 218,”he says.Although his father had already retired from the companyandmoved into land development,Coreycredits his parents’financial support for keeping the companyafloat during the downturn.As the housingmarket slowlybegan to rebound,CondronHomes altered its businessmodel to better fit the changing economyand demographics, and today the companybuilds a smaller number of customand semi-customhomes,only. “We have our stockplans that we can start with; we can also design from the ground up,”Corey says.“The majorityof our sales are pre-sales,so the customer is very involved throughout the entire process–fromde- signing the home,to picking color and style.Wewill do anything our clients want to do.Emptynesters are the largest share of our clientele,right now.We specialize in a high level of qualityand high level of service,and that clientele appreciates both of those attributes.They might have been through it before in their younger years,so they’re an educated clientele.” CondronHomesmaintains a staff of ten employ- ees,one of whom is Corey’s sister who is retiring after CONDRON HOMES 20 years with company; another is one of Corey’s daughters,recentlyhired to replace her.“I want to keepmycompany small enough to be flexiblewith the cycles of themarket,”he explains.“I don’t expect it anytime soon,but you’ve got to be prepared for another downturn.”Another way inwhich Corey plans for anypossibleworst case scenario is having sixof his tenworkers capable of pitching in if there ever becomes a need to eliminate any subcon- tractors because of cost.“I have a little excavating crew,carpenters,and a couple of pickup labor guys. So,we have the ability to use our own employee force to build parts of the house,and I can keepmy companywhole.” In fact,it’s highlyunlikely that CondronHomes would ever actuallyhave to part ways with anyof its contractors or subs,some of whomhaveworked with Corey,his dad,and even his grandfather.“When I saywe go back three generations inmy family in this homebuilding industry,we have business partners that go backgenerations,as well,”Corey declares.“So,we have long-termbusiness partners who have been in place for years and years.We don’t switch,we don’t bid every job,we don’t hop around unless we’re required to.” In 2013,Corey says that his companymade an- other businessmodification,after hewas inspired bya news storyhe sawonDiane Sawyer’s“Made inAmerica”series onTV.It was about aMontana home builder,Anders Lewendal,whowas using onlydomesticallyproduced products in an attempt to increase the number of American jobs.“Wemade