History. . .
After more than 20 years of creating and building mid-priced custom homes in the western, northern, northeastern, and southern suburbs of the Twin Cities Lang Builders, Inc., takes pride in the fact that they take the time to listen to their customers' ideas and dreams so they can design and build a house that is as unique and individual as they are.  And each time Lang builds a house, they get one more idea or make one more discovery about how to do something or offer something that is just a little bit better.

"I have built a rainbow of homes that are all truly custom and each one of them is just a little bit different," says Tim Lang, who first started out building at the age of 14, working with his grandfather in the construction business.  By high school he was doing carpentry work and later attended trade school in St. Cloud.  Though he went to work for a commercial construction company, he was always focused on the idea of one day branching out on his own.

In 1980 he formed Tim Lang Builders, doing subcontracted residential framing.  While framing houses, he took the time to ask questions and absorb knowledge and information about the market, about homes, about designs and about other subcontractors.  When the time was right, he created his own general contracting company and incorporated the company into Lang Builders, Inc.  In 1991, the company set a record, building 42 homes.  Lang homes can be seen in such areas as West Lakeland, Ham Lake, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, Lino Lakes, and Rogers.

While Tim admits that he attends numerous seminars and reads a wealth of magazines to learn new building techniques and get new ideas, he says that many of the best ones still come from his customers.  Oftentimes Lang will incorporate those ideas into his latest model design.  As a member of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), Tim is constantly being informed of new building techniques.


Award Winning Builder. . .
It is this unique approach to expanding their product through customer input that has garnered several awards for Lang Builders, including several Trillium Awards and several Reggie Awards, Best Design Home, Best Interior Design, Best Kitchen Design, and Best Fireplace.  "We really listen to what our customers have to say.  I try to incorporate the ideas buyers have," says Lang.  "We don't listen to them and then tell them that is not the way they want to do it.  It is their home to enjoy and live in, and we are in a constant state of flux -- getting better ideas, new ideas, updating ideas and always changing for the better."

Professional Staff. . .
Part of what makes this flexibility in building possible is the extensive staff that Lang Builders employs.  They have 23 people on staff who handle everything: from a carpentry crew that does all the framing; a cement crew that does all the foundations, driveways and walkways; job superintendents that supervise the jobs; an in-house architect and an in-house designer.

They even have one person dedicated as a full-time customer service manager.  This is the person who handles Lang's meticulous punchlist protocol that is designed to make sure everything is done the right way for each customer, or as Tim puts it, "fine tunes each home."

Attention to Detail. . .
At closing each buyer is given a checklist.  For the first 30 days when they see something that is wrong or does not work right or needs repair, they write it down.  At the end of the 30 days the service manager comes in with the appropriate subcontractors to address the punchlist.  Lang says that they do this because oftentimes it takes a couple of weeks to find some of the little things that need touching up.  Then they also have a "year-ender" checklist to be used at the end of the first year.

Solid, Quality Construction. . .
Lang Builders, Inc. uses many different things to make their houses exceptional.  They use TGI Silent Floor Systems or Floor Truss Systems in all their homes to virtually eliminate squeaks.  They build big kitchens, some with the eating areas set off to the side so you can see out of the windows on three sides of the house.  They build an exorbitant amount of custom kitchen cabinets, and large master bedrooms with luxurious master baths.  Ceilings in a great room are known to be 12 to 18 feet tall and seven-foot windows often look into a backyard.  Lang Builders also builds all their homes to Category One specs.

Unique Ideas. . .
Besides building homes, Tim Lang says that in the process he has also built many friendships with his customers.  And by getting to know so many people it has only helped to broaden the ideas and input that he has for continuing to make his homes something special each and every time.  "I like to do different things and use different ideas on each home I build.  The fact is, people want something different, " he says.  "They may go through other homes not built by Lang Buiders, Inc., but when they get to a Lang home, they can be sure they will see something different."

The Trillium Awardsand Reggie Awards are Servicemarks of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities and are used with permission.