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Business News Blog Archives
Business News Blog posts insightful comments on the latest international news that render us taken-aback in the domain of the business facet of life. Business News Blog: Home-Based-Business News 1 A true home-based business - Woman's dream home launches custom housing business: August 27, 2007 by RON PAZOLA
When Carmin Coutee's husband suggested she start a business that revolved around their dream house, she thought he was crazy. But the idea took off, and Coutee's dream house soon spawned her dream business. The result is Magnolia Custom Homes, a year-and-a-half-old home-building business specializing in personalized, Southern-style homes. Coutee had experience running her own marketing and e-business strategy consulting firm, so the idea of starting another business wasn't that far-fetched. She also had an MBA from Northwestern University in Evanston. Coutee decided to custom-build her own house when her husband's position as a Sprint executive took them back to Chicago. "We went on a house-hunting trip and were disappointed at what we saw, so we decided to build our own house instead," she said. Business News Blog: Home Based Business News 1 (Continued) Coutee, who grew up in Louisiana, got her inspiration from a Baton Rouge house she saw in a photograph. Her Wheaton house has a classic Creole look with a full front porch, shutters, French Quarter gas lanterns and a deck in back. The inside of the residence has columns, a herringbone floor, antique beams, spindles on the staircase, ceiling fans, Victorian fixtures and a full finished basement. Coutee uses her house as a showpiece. Her clients meet there and get a full tour of the building, frequently getting ideas from the way her house looks. Megan Bostrom is one of Coutee's clients. Bostrom and her husband, Chris, got tired of the 1890s house they were living in. "After walking through Carmin's house, we knew in a nanosecond that we wanted to live in a similar-looking house," Bostrom said. "It was a joy working with Carmin. She was very good helping us with the smaller details as well as looking at the big picture. That's a rare combination in a builder." The Bostroms expect to move into their new house in April. Business News Blog: Home Based Business News 1 (Continued) Although there are not many women who own home-building business, Coutee views her gender as an advantage. "The majority of the purchase decisions rest on the shoulders of the wife," she said. "The woman will scout the different properties and narrow it down to a select few, then bring her husband into the decision process." Coutee also said her target market has similar concerns to hers. Coutee has four small children, and she makes her houses child-friendly for her clients. "I'm very conscious of my brand," she said. "I want people to look at my houses and say, 'That's a Magnolia home.'" Business News Blog: Home Based Business News 1 (Continued) The tight housing market doesn't bother her. She said her business is a luxury brand whose clients aren't affected by the market or interest rate fluctuations. "If they want to build a house, they will," said Coutee, noting that she won't get involved with a project less than $800,000. She prefers doing a smaller home with a lot of detail than a large home with just drywall. Her main focus is Wheaton, Glen Ellyn and Downers Grove. Eventually she wants to branch out into commercial development. "I'm very selective about the clients I take on," she said. "The houses I build are based on quality, not quantity. I don't do cookie-cutter McMansions. The houses I build have integrity and respect the neighborhood." Business News Blog Comment: A whole new breed of e-in business professionals is in the making. These new ventures are partially sprouting as home based business, or in short home business and partially as branches of big business. We should welcome these signs of business going democratic, and in everyone's easy reach! Wanna have some bidding fun with 'Home Based Business' on ebay auction? You might grab a bargain or two! Just say your bid and you're done: I invite you to subscribe to my E-zine titled Life Coach, free of charge. This E-zine publishes insightful comments on the latest international news that render us taken-aback in the domains of various facets of life. A not-to-be-missed opportunity! Subscribe to it here: I also invite you to subscribe to my Life Blog - no need to provide your e-mail address here. This RSS feed keeps you informed about new developments taking place on this site. It also harbors 25 journal bloglets posting insightful comments on the latest international news that render us taken-aback in the domains of various facets of life. In order to subscribe to the blog, right-click on the orange RSS button (see buttons up to the left) and then paste the URL into your RSS reader. Or click on add to My Yahoo! button or My MSN or Add To Google button if you keep a personalized home page there. If you are not sure what RSS or blogging is all about, click on What's an RSS Feed? here:
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