Beginning as general contractor in 1994, Brian Dodd has always found helping people make their dreams a reality the most rewarding part of his career. Based on his passion for the home building process and his commitment to exceptional and innovative design, planning and construction, Dodd established Taylor Custom Homes, LLC in 2002. Based in Kure Beach, N.C., Taylor Custom Homes has a clear vision that focuses on workmanship, service, quality, reliability and ease of doing business, and is the actualization of one of Dodd's long sought after dreams. The company is named after his first daughter, Taylor Renee - Dodd's other personal dream come true.

Taylor Custom Homes specializes in custom-designed and built single-family and multifamily homes in coastal regions. The company is highly skilled and trained in state-of-the-art building practices that address and overcome the numerous challenges and issues associated with building along the coast, including complex environmental and planning regulations, rapidly changing codes and demanding climate conditions. Home prices range from $400,000 to $2 million.

Taylor Custom Home is currently constructing a $1.5 million specialized home for the Parade of Homes Tour, in addition to four other custom projects. The company is also under contract for an $11 million townhome project in Kure Beach, N.C.

The company constructs 12 to 15 projects a year, typically starting and closing one per month. There currently is a six month start waiting list.

Brian Dodd is the sole owner of the company and is involved 100 percent in every aspect of the business.

Taylor Custom Homes is dedicated to service and quality above all else. The company's main objective is to help its clients plan and build their dream home. Before construction ever begins, the company meets regularly with a client and visits the property site with the client to ensure a total understanding of the client's needs and desires. Additionally, Taylor Custom Homes always goes the extra mile to ensure that their clients are fully involved in the building process. For example, when selecting a home plan, the company will arrange a meeting with a local designer if the client so chooses. Also, the company provides cost saving recommendations throughout the process in an effort to keep expenses within budget. And, the company will even attend preliminary and final meetings with the Architectural Review Board to verify that the floor plans and material selections (siding, paint colors, etc.) meet possible elevation and exterior requirements. This attention to outstanding service and quality ensures that the client's expectations are always met and their dreams homes are realized.

Since a number of the company's clients are from out of town, Taylor Custom Homes is in the process of developing a customized website. The site will allow clients to log on with a user ID and password and view weekly updates on their project online. The site will include written updates and images from throughout the construction process.

There is nothing else in the world I'd rather do. I started Taylor Custom Homes because of my love for the home building process and my desire to help people achieve their dream homes. I love the interaction with my clients and my crews in the field, and I love all the excitement that occurs from groundbreaking to the finished project. Building a home is a labor of love and there is nothing more rewarding than seeing the smiles on my clients' faces when they walk into their new home for the first time.

Pricing is certainly the biggest challenge in the home building industry. Many businesses promise lower up front costs, but in the end, 95 percent of the time their final costs are well over budget or contract price. At Taylor Custom Homes, we believe in talking openly and honestly with our clients about cost. We do not hide anything from them. In the end, this ensures that the client is happy when they are ready to move into their new home, and in turn, they are happy with the work and service we provided them.

Another challenge we face is the exponential growth of the building industry in general. As the industry continues to soar, keeping a quality work force is becoming substantially more difficult. We overcome this challenge by maintaining an excellent working relationship with our crews. Because of this, our crews are as loyal to Taylor Custom Homes as we are to them. Our company puts quality above all else. We maintain a minimal workload by choice so that we can ensure that we always deliver a quality home that exceeds our client's expectations. This dedication to our craft is why our clients and our crews put their trust in Taylor Custom Homes.

Taylor Custom Homes is in the process of beginning construction on a multifamily development project that will turn raw land into a beautiful coastal community.

Taylor Custom Homes is truly a one-of-a-kind builder. I am the sole contact for my company, so there is never a problem with miscommunication and confusion between parties. Furthermore, I constantly strive for quality through innovation. I differentiate myself from other builders by always providing the highest quality and service, and I pride myself on always keeping open communication and honesty a top priority. This really distinguishes Taylor Custom Homes from the competition, especially in an industry that has achieved a negative reputation in recent years.