By: Ashley Hollifield
In 2010, Dale Bercher did what most in metro Atlanta would not attempt at that time: he left a secure position at a leading homebuilding company to start his own company. In the depths of the Great Recession, when very few homes were being built, Dale struck out on his own and created Bercher Homes.
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| The whole team ready for another great year of building and selling Bercher Homes |
How it all began
Dale Bercher grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He started doing construction while in high school – picking up odd jobs and working for builders. His father was in real estate and Dale became familiar with the inner workings of the trade. In college he started his own building company where he would take on small remodeling jobs.
After getting his degree in construction management from LSU, he and his wife Becky moved to Atlanta where he began his career with Centex Homes as a warranty technician. During his 13 year tenure there, he became Division President. In 2001, a COO position opened up at Traton Homes and Dale believed that it would be an ideal fit for him. He spent eight good years at Traton Homes before deciding to start his own homebuilding company.
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| View of the kitchen that highlights the use of an island as a centerpiece and focal point of the room. This is just one of the many attractive features that Bercher Homes offers. |
When forecasting this year’s activity Dale’s approach is “cautious optimism.” He says his biggest challenge will be, “Finding the right dirt at the right price.” The land cost determines the price point of the house. Based on years of experience, Dale and his team understand what homebuyers want, and what they will pay for. This allows Bercher Homes to pass on land deals whose numbers don’t work out, and pounce on those that do.
Quality in Motion
Allen McCloud and Brad Evatt are builders for Bercher Homes and each come from different homebuilding backgrounds. Allen’s background includes working with his father as a high-end, luxury home builder in Marietta for many years before coming to work for Dale. His expertise is in detailed craftsmanship and building rapport with his clients. Brad Evatt came to Bercher Homes with a lot of experience in semi-production homebuilding. Brad explains that he is now able to slow down a bit and really get things done perfectly.
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| Coffered ceilings and arched openings are very popular with homeowners in today’s market. These are just an example of the features that Bercher Homes is proud of. |
When asked what makes a Bercher Home better than other houses in the same price range Allen says, “It is our willingness to please the customer, our attention to detail, the high quality of the materials we use, and the experience level of the people managing the project.” Brad Evatt is steadfast in his philosophy about building, explaining, “You should build a house like you are building it for your parents. It is most people’s biggest investment, and you have to keep that in mind.”
James Tillman is the Purchasing and Estimating Manager at Bercher Homes. James brings valuable expertise from stints at local homebuilding companies. He describes some of the items that their homeowner clients are asking for, including open kitchens with flat panel cabinet doors, gray-toned wood flooring, and outdoor living spaces.
Great house designs and floor plans are a big part of Bercher Homes’ success. Their target market, which is move-up buyers, really respond to their designs. And, their homeowner clients like the ability to make custom changes that fit their family’s lifestyle.
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| The view from the kitchen of one of Bercher Homes’ most popular floor plans showcasing how easily one room flows into another |
Dale added that many of their house plans forego two-story family rooms in favor of a bonus room on the second floor. The additional space can be used as a media room, children’s play room or home office. This feature has been popular with their clients.
Bercher Homes continues to innovate with more house plans. James Tillman explains, “In this business, innovation is very important because homeowner tastes change constantly.”
Strong Relationships
Bercher Homes strives to be a company that is based on strong relationships – with its employees, clients, trades and suppliers. They’ve developed partnerships with Trades and suppliers who are like-minded and set the same high standards for the houses they build. James, a big proponent of effective Trade relations, says that their strong relationships with their Trades help in all aspects of the business, from budgeting through the completion of the home.
When asked about his basement contractor, Dale said, “Herbert Construction exhibits great planning on the front end. The foundation is so critical and the robotic total station guarantees the accuracy of the foundation every time. They really take pride in getting the job done right.”
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This particular floorplan is called the Brunswick B.
To see other floorplans from Bercher Homes visit
www.BercherHomes.com |
Allen McCloud stated that “Herbert Construction is first class, prompt and organized. The quality is the best I’ve seen for basement contractors.” Brad Evatt describes Herbert Construction as, “A great company. You do not cut corners and we never have to worry about the job being done right. That’s really good for our framers. It is done efficiently and is very professional in appearance.”
James Tillman agreed, stating, “Herbert Construction puts the best product out for the price. We know the foundation will be done correctly, so there is always peace of mind in working with them.”
We at Herbert Construction feel the same way about the houses that Bercher Homes builds and the folks on their team. We are very thankful for the opportunity to work with each of them. It is a pleasure to be their foundation specialist.