Wind Star Custom Homes Builds High-Dollar Quality into Every Home. The Devin family has run a successful family business building high-quality custom homes for more than 15 years and decided to begin offering custom homes in the $180-300K price range. Craig and his wife Cindy believe they offer a product that is unique in the marketplace, and know exactly what they want their new company to be about. They created Wind Star Custom Homes with the conviction that homebuyers deserve the same quality in this price point that is typically found only in larger upscale homes like the ones that their original company, Silver Nail Custom Homes, has built for years. They want their customers to have a variety of choices and options that are within their budget and still allow them to create a highly individualized custom home. Most of all, they offer the kind of personal service they have always offered — they want their buyers to love their new homes for the beauty and long-lasting value, and to enjoy the building experience.

The Devins begin by building in quality. Craig Devin notes, “We use the very same subcontractors that we use in our larger homes, and their experience and skill shows in every home we build. Some of them have been with us for more than ten years, and we have close personal relationships with each one of them.” Wind Star is so confident in the quality of their construction that they provide their customers a ten-year structural warranty and a one-year builder warranty on every home. The Devins’ high level of personal commitment to their homeowners, combined with their managerial experience and dedication to true quality, make for a wonderful homebuilding experience and final product. Craig and Cindy strive to deliver a product that is beyond the homeowner’s expectations. Because of their exceptional dedication to excellence in quality and personal commitment to the homeowner, Wind Star Custom Homes has raised the expectations of mid-price homeowners. From experience, the Devins know that being present and involved at the jobsite is one of the surest ways to guarantee quality in every detail. Craig is truly a hands-on builder, and can most often be found on-site with his sleeves rolled up, adding his expertise and genuine sweat equity to the job. “I’m in the field every day,” he points out. “I act as a liaison between the customer and the subcontractors, and I oversee the quality and timeliness of the construction process. The smallest details make an enormous difference in the end.”

That kind of direct connection to the construction process gives homebuyers a comforting sense of involvement and ownership from the beginning. Craig explains, “We invest in our customer’s satisfaction. When they are building a Wind Star home, they get a key so they can visit the site whenever they want. Whenever they have a question for the builder, they can reach me on the phone and get an immediate response directly from me. When they write a check, it doesn’t get mailed off to some distant corporate headquarters — it goes to the person who is in the field every day.”

Because Wind Star is a family business, customers get personal attention and service. When they call the office, they always reach a friendly, familiar voice — usually Craig’s wife Cindy or his mother Jane. “We want to be there for our homebuyers,” he points out. “Our clients are never just another number. They are real people with real wants and needs for their new home, and we recognize the emotions that such a large investment entails. Our response helps build trust between us and ensures that our homebuyers sleep well at night.” Wind Star is honored by the fact that nearly 90 percent of their business is word-of-mouth referrals from happy Wind Star homeowners.

Jane Devin has an eye for home interiors and consults with Wind Star customers on their decorating needs. If the homeowners prefer, she arranges for them to meet with a professional interior designer and helps coordinate the design activities. A longtime family friend and highly-experienced superintendent, Raymond Schexnaydre, is an invaluable resource probably best described as Wind Star’s right-hand man. He oversees all specialty items, including vent hood framing, custom cedar shutters (which are custom-built in Wind Star’s specialty shop), and his expertise helps move Wind Star homes far beyond the ordinary.

Wind Star experts perform site visits for homebuyers who are considering purchasing a particular site. “We want our homebuyers to be informed and to make an educated decision about where to locate their new home. We can help evaluate the site and determine whether the site is right for them and meets their needs. We can also look for certain properties of the site that might result in unexpected construction costs. This pre-construction site evaluation adds to everyone’s peace of mind and our clients really appreciate it.”

Another way Wind Star ensures the highest standards of quality is to work with knowledgeable experts, including engineers and architects who have established records of excellence. Kevin Hawthorne, sales manager and customer service coordinator, has expert knowledge in plan development and works closely with homeowners and architects to produce a perfect home design. According to Craig, “We often do plan consulting before construction begins, to ensure that nothing has been overlooked and that we are familiar with the most minute details about the site itself. This extra effort up front often helps us to avoid unpleasant surprises later.” Plan consulting also helps the homeowner achieve the individual look they want and still ensure that the home will fit into its surroundings and harmonize well with the other homes in the neighborhood.