Article by Diane Cowen | Photography by Lucy Call | Originally published in River Oaks Lifestyle
After more than 20 years in business, Erin Stetzer has carved a comfortable niche in Houston’s luxury home-construction industry, but doesn’t forget those early days, when she and her husband were starting their family.
A native of Ohio, Erin moved to Houston as a sales representative for a chemical company and her work schedule found her constantly traveling. She and husband Alec married 23 years ago and they now have five children, ranging in age from 15 to 21.
Alec had worked in the home-building business and Erin was certain she’d enjoy that work and wouldn’t have to travel so much. She got a job at David Weekley Homes and spent three years learning everything she could about building homes and building relationships with clients. In 2003 she launched her own firm, now Erin Stetzer Homes, just as she was having her first child.
“The coolest thing when you’re building a home is to find out the personality of your clients. Something special happens when they add their flavor and you have to listen for that,” Erin said of her favorite part of the job, getting to know their clients.
Now with a staff of 9, her firm works on about 10 homes at a time. One side of her business is building $5 million-plus homes, and the other side is consulting work, providing private representation for large-scale legacy projects. Those are typically $10 million-plus projects with more than one structure, perhaps a main home and guest homes, plus a barn or shooting range.
She works with renowned architects such as Reagan and Andre, Dillon Kyle and Newberry Architecture, and award-winning interior designers such as Benjamin Johnston, Marie Flanigan and Lauren Haskett.
“The coolest thing when you’re building a home is to find out the personality of your clients.” – Erin Stetzer
