People have been building homes for tens of thousands of years. Hasn’t it all been done by now? There’s no way new technology and new ideas can change the way houses are built. Right?
Wrong. Good builders keep up with the times and with innovations inside (and outside) their field. Cory Osborn of Osborn Homes stays attuned to the needs of his market, as well as the advancements going on outside it. Such dedication is not easy, but he’s glad to do it, no matter what it takes.
“We dig,” Osborn says. “We find stuff that no one else is doing around here and we do it. We find the latest tech in materials and try it. Sometimes that means paying extra to ship it here from the coasts or even from out of the country. When you’re the first to try something in your area, it normally means the distribution infrastructure for those products does not exist in your area.”
Keeping up with the latest trends in home construction and deciding which trends to incorporate is important to Cory Osborn. He sees it as part of his wheelhouse of marketing, sales, and business strategy. His brother, Michael Osborn, is co-owner and project manager (Michael also excels in design). Both of them survey all aspects of communication and networking in order to spark new ideas for their own business.
“We follow all the big accounts on social media, we read magazines and web articles, and talk to people who know more than we do about specific looks or details. We stay abreast on what is popular and trending, or what is coming into style,” Cory Osborn says.
It’s not only about looking outward, however; Osborn says he and his brother stay attuned to the pulse of the local community of Lincoln, Neb., as well.
“We also like to see what is not being done here and be the first to try it here. My brother has an incredible ability to combine features or elements of things he has seen elsewhere and then make it unique to our homes. In short, we are constantly teaching ourselves about new technology and ideas that are constantly entering our industry.”
Osborn Homes builds unique and interesting homes for people who know what they want, whether they have an exact plan or not. Osborn collaborates with the buyers to come up with ideas and blueprints. But communication and ingenuity are the keys to success, whether his company is responsible for building completely from scratch or for adapting ideas from the clients.
“We listen to them. It’s not complicated. Just listen to what they’re saying,” Osborn says. “Be realistic with expectations. Don’t overpromise. Sometimes compromises have to be made in terms of wants versus needs but there’s always a way to give them both. It just takes some creativity, something we thrive at.”
Contrary to old-style builders, sustainability and eco-friendliness in building techniques and designs are very important to Osborn Homes.
“Us millennials all have a strong interest in doing what we can to help the world and the environment,” Osborn says enthusiastically. “Building houses falls right in there. Solar energy, high-performance windows, energy-efficient appliances, drip-irrigation, low-flow appliances. These are just some examples of things we love to incorporate when we can. As far as designs go, the tiny home and cargo home movements are both great examples of eco-friendly designs. We have not built either type; however if someone came to us with the right idea, I think we would jump at the opportunity.”
Despite constantly looking forward, Osborn is not discarding any time-honored styles. He believes in balancing tradition with modernity in Osborn Homes’ designs for clients.
“Transitional modern is a way of combining elements from modern and traditional into a space that makes sense. Think big inviting windows with an abundance of natural light, clean lines, open-floor plans. Those are essential modern components, right? When you think of a traditional home, you probably think of detailed trim work, decorative moldings and maybe some custom wood work on shelving, built-ins, and cabinets. We’re still doing those things just with an updated look. We’re known for our millwork. Our guy Jacob does our millwork for us. The dude is incredibly talented and we’re grateful that we found him.”
Good ideas, good designs, good team members. Traditional blending with modern and with the future. These are all aspects of the way Osborn Homes builds quality.
