FollowWhen it comes to standing out from the growing pack of Oklahoma City area homebuilders, Homes By Taber has found their doorway to success with one simple word: excellence.
According to Taber LeBlanc, owner and founder of the company, excellence is a core value that is instilled within every facet of Homes By Taber, from the way they deal with customers to the way they build their homes. This excellence has earned Homes By Taber, an impeccable reputation as one of the top homebuilders in the metro area.
“We’re always working on being excellent at everything we do,” said LeBlanc. “Excellence takes time, which is why we’re always changing and evolving.”
One prime example of the difference between Taber and other local homebuilders can be seen in the foundation of their homes. LeBlanc explained his team spends around $3,000 to $4,000 more in installing a post-tension monolithic foundation. This creates a significantly stronger foundation that is better-equipped to handle Oklahoma’s clay soil and prevent such common problems as cracking.
“Our foundations are individually engineered for each home we build,” he said. “We’ve found a way to install a superior foundation for our clients that prevents so many of the issues other Oklahoma homeowners face.”
One of the most common headaches buyers of new homes face is dealing with unresponsive builders when warranty issues arise after the sale. To give his clients the best possible home buying experience, LeBlanc operates a full team of professionals dedicated to warranty service. No matter how busy his team of builders and salespeople become, LeBlanc said his warranty team stands ready to assist buyers, including 24-hour service for emergency situations.
“When people buy a new house, they want a solid warranty,” explained LeBlanc. “We take that very seriously knowing that we have another year on our commitment to our customers.”
LeBlanc started Homes By Taber in the summer of 2000 with the help of his father-in-law John Alexander, who had been in the construction business for over 30 years. He started with five vacant lots that birthed three homes at the intersection of 2nd and Santa Fe in Edmond. Since then, the company has grown to 38 employees and the development of such prestigious subdivisions as Rose Creek and Fairfax in Edmond; Rock Creek in Moore; and Castlebrook Crossing in Mustang.
In addition to installing the sturdiest foundations in the Oklahoma City area, LeBlanc noted there are other amenities that reflect the excellence of Homes By Taber. These include sprinkler systems and storm shelters, which was an amenity he immediately added following the devastation that ensued from the May 2013 Moore tornado. LeBlanc said it was at least one thing he could do to help protect his homeowners from the dangers of future deadly storms.
“These things not only improve the quality of life for our homeowners, but it also helps to keep home values up,” he said.
Another way LeBlanc infuses excellence into his homes is through the inclusion of energy-efficient features. While many homebuilders talk about energy efficiency, LeBlanc said his homes have proven to be some of the most efficient in the metro area, with homeowners enjoying significantly lower utility bills. Not only do his construction teams install energy-efficient air and heating systems, but LeBlanc has each home inspected twice by third-party experts during the construction process.
“We do things the right way by spending the extra money to ensure we do the things our engineers tell us to do,” said LeBlanc.
LeBlanc’s dedication to excellence extend behind-the-scenes of his operations. He explained that he takes a different approach to his subcontractors by treating them as partners. That decision has proven beneficial, he said. By taking a more relational approach, it has resulted in increased-efficiency for the company that will help propel its standard of excellence going forward.
Written by Darren Currin | Photography by Emily Brashier
