There is no place like home, so what makes a home feel comfortable and comforting? What makes it function smoothly and efficiently? What features attract the eye and lift the spirit? For Callies Homes, Inc. seeking to create the ideal home means blending a homebuyer’s style with functional design. Shawn and Shelley Callies – a husband and wife duo – established Callies Homes, Inc. in 2013 three years after their marriage. “It was three years ago we decided to build our first spec house in Madison to bring us closer to our hometown of Howard,” said Shelley.
Shawn and Shelley work together on the floor plans of their specs, as well as with clients on custom builds. Shelley assists clients with the selection of materials and makes all the selections for the five specs. “Most importantly for Shawn and me, the house we build needs to meet all of our client’s needs for their lifestyle.” The Callies have a crew of nine.
They are all family and friends, and almost everyone lives in Howard. “There is my brother Scott, Shawn’s cousin Jared and three brothers – Lee, Francis and Noah – all living in Howard. There is Ryan, a long-time friend, who lives in Sioux Falls,” Shelley remarks. “These guys do it all – the framing, sheeting, siding, tiling, flooring, making the millwork and installing custom-made beams and mantles along with installing doors and windows. Lee’s wife, Ashly helps me clean homes. We are a family who loves creating homes for families.” Because the Callies live in Howard, they know they need to travel for work.
“It is why we are willing to leave this area and travel an hour away in almost any direction,” she said.
Subcontracting is always an important factor to clients. The work Callies Homes, Inc. sub-contracts includes plumbing, electrical, sheetrock, muddying and texturing, painting, HVAC, carpet, shingling, concrete and landscaping. “Our subcontractors all are willing to travel,” says Shelley. “We want our clients to know we can control the majority of the timeframe of the build so not many delays happen.” As for efficiency, the Callies complete builds between five and seven months. “We currently have custom builds in Viborg, Nunda, Hartford and Crooks and proudly are now planning spec home number six in Hartford.”
