A Telluride Family’s Journey Building Their SmartPads Home
For Jake and Sonja Ames, building a SmartPads custom modular home in Telluride is about more than just having a gorgeous home in a scenic setting. With the arrival of their first child following years of trying to find the right fit in a challenging real estate market, building their SmartPads home is about stability and establishing a family home. A resident of this picturesque mountain town for the past ten years, Jake and Sonja’s roots run deep. Sonja grew up in Telluride and Jake in Delta, Colorado, halfway between Steamboat and Telluride. With their nine-month-old daughter Carter, the Ames are part of a growing trend of mountain town locals seeking to get a foothold in the housing market where they grew up.
Learning and Leaning on Expertise
As a real estate professional familiar with the building process, Jake is no stranger to the challenges of construction. However, this is his first personal build, marking a significant learning curve. Fortunately, Jake had valuable support from his business partner, who has built three homes, and a family member, an architect, who has been an indispensable resource throughout the process.'
The SmartPads Decision = Control, Customization, and Connection
Jake’s journey with SmartPads began with finding a perfect piece of land in the neighborhood they desired. The decision to go with SmartPads was rooted in the desire to manage costs effectively. Having observed others struggle with budget overruns on site-built homes, Jake was drawn to how SmartPads modular homes offer some control over expenses. The customization options, allowing for personal floorplans and finishes, set SmartPads apart from other modular companies.A significant factor in their decision was the personal connection with Ryan and Katie from SmartPads. “We were nervous, it still a ton of money for us to spend. Ryan and Katie did a really great job, earned out trust, and seemed like the kind of people we wanted to do business with.” Additionally, touring a friend’s recently completed SmartPads home in their neighborhood solidified their choice. As a realtor Jake has seen a lot of homes over the years. His discerning eye was impressed by the quality and design of the SmartPads home built in Telluride in 2023.
Excitement and Challenges with The Custom Modular Home Building Process
One of the most thrilling aspects of the build for Jake and Sonja has been watching the finishes go in. In the early phase, the photos were sent weekly. Now in the final weeks of the home build in the SmartPads Vernal facility, the Ames are receiving daily photo updates. This has turned into a nightly ritual of scrolling through the photos, keeping them closely connected to the progress. Design geeks will appreciate that pleasure!Watching some stick-built projects that have been going up for a year and a half around Telluride, Jake and Sonja joke they are in a secret race with them. No question, looking at their piece of dirt this spring and knowing they’ll be in by the end of the year, the Ames know who won the race.
Unique Challenges and Trust in the Team
Ironically, one of the challenges Jake shares is not about the timing of the SmartPads home, but the timing of the site construction. While the SmartPads build has remained on schedule, the site construction that began in June has not. Building in the mountains presents unique obstacles, and with this project, it was the local labor market favoring high-end luxury projects. Coordinating with subcontractors has been difficult due to the high demand for luxury home projects in the area. For a family like Jake’s, working within a more modest budget has meant navigating these constraints. “Homes on the high end (in Telluride) are being built for $1,500/sq. We had to be much below that in the $500/sq range. That still gets us a really nice home, but subs won’t call back because they have bigger, nicer homes with people with deeper pockets. For a normal couple just starting a family and putting roots down, it’s hard to compete.”With much anticipation for the site to be ready to receive the home, Jake and Sonja look forward to set day and the contractor helping them with that part of the process. Jake places great trust in Proset Construction, the team handling the home’s setup. With personal connections to the company, there’s a reassuring sense of skill and reliability for a day that is both thrilling and nerve-wracking at the same time.
Looking Forward to Stability and Spectacular Views
The Ames home ownership journey began with a deed-restricted and income-capped condo in Telluride. Recognizing that as their careers grew this wouldn’t be a sustainable long-term plan, the Ames sold the condo and purchased a home in Rico. Still dreaming of living in Telluride, they sold that home, explored purchasing lots, and rented a couple of homes in between. Having lived in 5 different homes over the past 3 years, Jake and his family are most excited about having a permanent place to call home. “We’re extremely lucky. Our site has an epic view of Wilson Peak, it’s insane. The second floor of our house is going to be really spectacular with the views.”
Advice for Future SmartPads Builders
Jake’s advice for others considering building with SmartPads is to allow extra time for approvals and site development. While the SmartPads process itself is enjoyable and straightforward, external factors like HOA approvals can take longer than expected.Building a home is a significant undertaking, but for Jake and Sonja Ames, it’s a journey toward stability and a bright future in the mountains of Telluride. At SmartPads, we recognize the significant impact our homes have on our client’s lives and are grateful to have been a part of helping the Ames establish a family home in Telluride.
