Low Country Custom Builders

Lakeshore, Mount Pleasant, SC

Low Country Custom Builders Makes Dreams Come True

When Marjorie Oyster and Susan Hardesty, M.D. decided to build a new home at Charleston National's Victory Point, they chose Low Country Custom Builders Inc. for the project. Thirty months later, when an opportunity to build their dream home on a lake in the heart of Mount Pleasant arose, they made the decision to do it all again only because they knew they could count on Low Country's owner, Tom Bellino.

"I don't know if we would have been so quick to build another house so soon if we had not known Tom would build it for us," states Oyster.

"In addition to Charleston National and Lakeshore, Low Country Custom Builders has constructed a number of homes in Hidden Lakes and Hamlet Square. Examples of the company's recent work can also be found in..."

As one of the premier builders of custom homes in the greater Charleston area, Low Country Custom Builders has developed a process of construction management that stresses quality and predictability. By building only eight to 12 homes each year, using the same well-trained subcontractors on each project, Bellino is able to make daily site visits and to provide process check points. The company's priority is to complete every custom home on schedule with quality results. "I've used the same framer, Arthur Clark, since 1983," states Tom Bellino, who has been building custom homes in the Charleston area for over 20 years. "However many houses he can frame, that's how many houses I'll do a year."

"Tom and his framer are like magic together," adds Oyster. "He's got the best framer in Charleston, no doubt about it. Tom is constant with all his sub-contractors. The people who built our house in 1999 were the same people that built our new house in Lakeshore."

"Johnny Ward has handled the trim work for my houses from the beginning," notes Bellino. "He's an artisan when it comes to all the special woodworking that goes into a home. He's the one who actually brings a client's vision to life."

In addition to Charleston National and Lakeshore, Low Country Custom Builders has constructed a number of homes in Hidden Lakes and Hamlet Square. Examples of the company's recent work can also be found in Dunes West, RiverTowne Country Club, Hobcaw Point and Hamlin Plantation, to name a few.

One of the hallmarks of a Low Country Custom Builders project is a commitment by the whole team to completely clean the work site at the end of each day. "I want my clients to be able to check on the progress of their house without having to step over things," Bellino says.

Bellino believes the greatest benefit of contracting for a custom home is that the clients can obtain exactly what they want in a home. This usually starts with custom plans that Low Country Custom Builders can adapt to a selected site, or general plans they can customize to an individual's unique needs. Most importantly, the builder can modify the plan to meet changing ideas during the construction process while minimizing cost and completion impacts.

The process of building a new home can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor. For Bellino and his company, communication is the key to avoiding stress and frustration. He says, "Our service philosophy is based on frequent updates to the homeowner, and access to the builder at any time via phone or a private link on the Internet – and this continues even after you move in."

By using a password, clients can log-on and get updates on the progress of their homes via the Internet. "They can communicate decisions on components, ask questions and even see digital photos of their houses at different states," adds Bellino.

"We find most of our new clients are referrals from prior clients," says Bellino. "We are pleased to meet with anyone interested in building a custom home in the Charleston area to discuss their housing needs and provide a list of references."

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