To say our world is moving through rapid technological change is an understatement. Nearly every day seems to bring a broad range of revolutions: medicine, space exploration, communication—or even warfare (to name a few).
Homebuilding is changing quickly too. At least, parts of it are.
Estimating, communication, design software, and project management have advanced significantly over the past decade. Industry futurists predict that robots may be framing houses, hanging drywall, or setting tile within the next decade or two. We have our doubts—but given the accelerating capabilities of artificial intelligence, it is certainly possible.
We are avid followers of technology and are always looking for ways it can improve the homes we design and the experience we provide. But for now, what makes a home truly special still can’t be replicated by a collection of zeros and ones directing a crew of robots.
Today, we still rely on skilled hands in the field.
While a builder’s name may appear on the drawings or the sign in front of the house, every home is underpinned by a remarkable team of people who too often go unrecognized. They are the ones who transform a pile of lumber, concrete, wire, pipe, and sheetrock into a place someone will call home.
Even after building hundreds of homes, we are still amazed that something so personal and permanent can rise from an empty piece of ground.
We are fortunate to work with craftspeople who are talented, dependable, and proud of what they create. As you walk through the Tour of Homes this year, take a moment to look beyond the finished rooms and consider the many hands behind them:
- Home designer
- Surveyor
- Excavator
- Concrete contractor
- Framer
- Roofer
- Siding installer
- Electrician
- Plumber
- HVAC
- Garage doors
- Heating and cooling contractor
- Insulation installer
- Drywall contractor
- Finish carpenter
- Cabinet maker
- Countertop fabricator
- Tile setter
- Flooring installer
- Painter
- Landscaper
- Fence builder
- Cleaning crew
And that is still only part of the team. And each of the above often visit the site 3 or 4 separate times.
The role of the general contractor is to bring all these individual contributions together into one seamless, unified home. When it is done well, you may not notice the individual parts at first. You simply feel that the home works.
This year, as you tour the homes, slow down and look a little closer. Notice the details. Think about the people who created them. Then ask yourself:
- Which individual detail or trade stands out most in each home?
Is it the tilework, cabinetry, lighting, landscaping, finish carpentry, or something less obvious? - Which home brings all its individual elements together most successfully?
Which one feels the most complete, coordinated, and intentional? - Which home feels most livable to you?
Not necessarily the largest or most dramatic—but the one where you could most easily imagine your own daily life. - Which detail would you borrow for your own home?
A floor-plan idea, a material, a color, a storage solution, or an outdoor feature? - What feature surprised you?
Was there something you would not have considered before seeing it in person? - Which space made you want to stop and stay awhile?
What was it about the proportions, light, furnishings, views, or materials that made it feel inviting? - Which home best reflects the people you imagine living there?
Does it feel designed around real life rather than simply built to impress?
The Tour of Homes is a celebration of design, innovation, and creativity. This year, we also hope it can be a celebration of the craftspeople whose skill and care make every one of these homes possible.
Here’s to the hands behind the homes. We look forward to you stopping at our homes in Monmouth and Salem this year.
