Beachfront Builders

6 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 9 we’re basically designing these homes to withstand the elements. We tell people that we design ‘luxury bomb shelters.’” That term is not too far from the truth, as Shoultz explains: “We build on the water, and in south Florida, the waterfront soil is not very good to build a home on. So our homes are built on concrete-augured pilings. It’s like building a house on stilts. The augured pilings go down 30-40 feet through the soil to the bedrock. Then they’re filled with solid concrete and rebar and then on top of that, the slab of the house is all concrete and steel; we don’t even use wood trusses for most of our homes. “So, when I say we build luxury bomb shelters, it’s a concrete structure, on stilts, with impact-graded windows, the best insulation, and reinforced everything. They’re very safe and secure homes with materials that will withstand the test of time. And on top of that, they’re beautiful,” Shoultz outlines. Those parameters underscore the fact that Beachfront Builders homes are expensive; priced between $4-15 million. Clients are often from out-of-state, or out-of-country, and are generally looking for a second home, built to their specifications, in the Sunshine State, and on the water, all of which means that satisfying the customer is absolutely key in this high-end market. “We’re very much a relationship business,” says Shoultz. “And we want everyone who buys a beachfront home to have a positive experience working with us.” To that end, the company maintains extensive lines of communication with all of its stakeholders: designers, project managers and superintendents, suppliers, and most especially, the homebuyer. “We’ve built an online portal for our clients to reduce their concerns,” Shoultz relates.