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Randall Garrett
Selling Confidence and the Style
By Beverly Smirnis
(Published in Builder/Architect-Fort Worth & Tarrant County Edition)
Randall Garrett's homes in the Northeast Tarrant County neighborhoods of Bedford Parc, Lakewood Estates, Bridlewood,
Heritage Colony and Caldwell's Creek represent the fruits of labor from a builder with experience, persistence and
foresight.
Randall was first exposed to the Tarrant County home building industry as an employee for a local lumberyard.
One of his builder customers eventually hired him as a superintendent. That position took him to another superintendent
position and up to Trophy Club, where he was responsible for completing 23 homes under demanding deadlines. Next, a
group of investors took note of Randall's hard work and skill, and offered him an opportunity to return to his native
Arlington to build duplexes.
Randall Garrett Construction Company was established in 1984, and Randall pursued the duplex-building opportunity,
completing six in his first year in business, and 20 the year
after. By 1986, he had begun to diversify into home building, as well as remodeling, including work for banks on homes
that had been repossessed - a common occurrence during that period of tough economic times.
"During those times, I did whatever it took to keep my business alive. There were lots of times that I could
have given up, but I learned the virtue of persistence. Honesty and truthfulness also helped me survive. When there was
a problem, I went to the banker or the homeowner and we worked it out. With a lot of luck, we made it through, and I am
proud to say that Randall Garrett Homes is a division of the original Randall Garrett Construction Company that we
established in 1984. I was an overnight success, it's just that the night lasted 10 years!" said Randall.
Randall's outstanding business record and reputation have earned him designation as a Certified Master Builder. He is
also a member of the
Certified Master Builder Corporation's By-Laws Committee. He is a member of the Greater Fort Worth Builders Association,
serving on their Board of Directors, Government Affairs Committee, Spring Tour of New Homes Committee, and the
Hammer and Nails Political Fundraising Committee. His service has earned him the distinction of being named a
"Builder of the Month" by the Builders Association the last three years in a row. He has also achieved status in the
"Who's Who of Residential Construction" by
the Fort Worth Business Press.
In addition to his experience and industry service, Randall's keys to success include his ability to make people
feel comfortable, his diversified construction services, and his careful study of the market.
"Most builders in the competitive market we're in today have to have good attention to detail and acceptable
quality. I would venture a guess that most buyers can't discern quality
except when it's poor. What sets builders apart is how they treat people throughout the process. I first sell myself,
providing a prospective buyer with a typical schedule of allowances, my resume and references. Confidence is what we sell.
When our buyers lay their heads down at night, they can be confident that they are getting the quality they paid for.
"People come to me either as a referral, or because they have seen one of my houses and are impressed with
the 'feel.' When you walk through the front door of a house, you get a certain 'feel.' You can't sell the 'feel.' A home
either has it or not, much like a good suit 'feels' better than a cheap one. You don't have to see the price tag to know
it's a better suit.
"I read a lot of magazines and look at other houses. I want to keep my business exciting and always changing so
it never gets boring. At the
same time, there is a fine line in what's marketable and what is too out-front. It is a challenge to be on the
forefront of design, so I do careful research," Randall explained.
"I am seeing that people are looking for a feel that's a little more imaginative than your completely traditional
home. The Texas Hill Country design
is a growing trend. We've gotten away from stark white, and are using more earthy, warm tones and more texture - more
rough and less shine. For example, we're using more brick in the kitchen, more stone, and Old World finishes. People like
warmth and coziness.
"Buyers are also looking for lots of space. Five bedrooms are a norm in
larger houses. Three-car garages are now a must in all the homes we build. There is more attention to entertainment in the
homes. Almost every home I build is prewired for surround sound. A pool is included in nine out of 10 homes."
Randall's building activity has focused in Colleyville, although he still
supports his residual business in Arlington which is generated by referrals from past customers.
For the future, he will continue his focus in Northeast Tarrant County, and also explore opportunities in what
he describes as "the new outer band of building around the Tarrant County area."
Randall has found his niche in the medium-priced range for single-family homes, and plans to continue his
focus there. However, product flexibility is one of the cornerstones of his business. He still remains willing to
take on both residential and commercial remodeling jobs. Garden homes communities will also be a concentration over
the next several years. Currently, he is involved in two such projects. In Colleyville, the Lakewood Garden Homes
average 3,000 square feet and average $100 plus per square foot. In Bedford Parc, garden home sizes start at
approximately 2,000 square feet, and square footage is priced from the mid-$80s.
Randall Garrett Construction has
made it through the humbling experience of the 1980s economic challenges, carved a niche in Northeast Tarrant County
in 1990, and stands poised to answer the needs of home buyers today and well into the next century. "We're like a
tailor, fitting our projects to meet the needs of the
home buyer. By custom-making the product, we work to give them something that you don't find in just any neighborhood,
and at a fair price. Most of all, we provide them with superior service in the process," says Randall.
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Randall Garrett Homes P.O. Box 1708
Colleyville, Texas, 76034 Office: 817.428.7103 Fax: 817.428.7156
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