Prospect Homes’ Brian Manes on The Challenge of Choosing a Builder

For many families, choosing the right homebuilder is one of the most challenging decisions they will ever make. Careful planning and hard work have put that dream house within reach. The final challenge is often finding the right person to make the vision a reality.

According to Prospect Homes owner Brian Manes, a good builder is someone who demonstrates outstanding customer service and communication throughout the three phases of the building process: design, construction, and post-completion.

“In today’s information and technology age, people need a homebuilding company that leverages industry knowledge, continuing education, and sustainable building techniques all with a great team of subcontractors,” he said.

Manes has received high praise for his work. In 2015, Prospect Homes earned both the Chrysalis Regional Award and the Master Design Regional Award for a project they did in Midway Hollow.

“It is amazing to see the results and enjoy the awards, but at the same time, it pushes us to continue to strive for excellence on each and every project,” Manes said

Finding the right architect is essential to a successful project according to him. He only works with architects whose priorities and values align with his and the client’s. Manes said you will know you have found the right one for a job when their customer service skills match their architectural design abilities.

Remodeling his own home piqued Manes interest in the homebuilding business. Originally a project manager by trade, he founded Prospect Homes and worked as a general contractor hoping to utilize his customer service skills.

“I immersed myself in the industry and never looked back,” he said. “Along the way, I’ve had the chance to learn from some of the finest builders in Dallas, and of course, learned many things the hard way.”

Prospect Homes found success by pursuing a “quality over quantity” approach. At any given time, it handles three to five different projects. Manes said one of the biggest challenges he faces in the market is getting homeowners to understand the value in all of the things they can’t see, such as foundation systems, effective water drainage solutions, and preventative measures among other things.

“With all the TV shows, magazine articles and social media overload, the focus becomes only what you see,” Manes said. “Luxury design and aesthetic appeal are absolutely important, and so we work really hard to help our clients have reasonable expectations while still providing them with a superior product.”

Prospect Homes’ dedication to energy efficiency is one area in which they are leading the industry. Every new home they build is Energy Star Certified, meaning it meets the high performance standards mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to Manes, long-term financial benefits to the homeowner make going green a wise decision. And while only new homes can be officially Energy Star Certified, retrofitting older homes with energy efficient features will still reduce costs. Some lenders even offer conventional energy efficient mortgages that credit a home’s energy efficiency in the mortgage itself.

“The additional money saving benefit on energy bills starts at 20 percent annually on homes retrofitted with Energy Star upgrades,” Manes said. “On new construction, the savings are even greater.”

Prospect Homes is currently focused on developing new construction homes in Northwest Dallas. Manes said they have a commitment to these family-friendly neighborhoods, and love watching them continue to grow.

“We aim to build responsibly with the highest quality engineering and do so in a way that complements these beautiful established neighborhoods.”