On its way to becoming a Top 50 United States residential construction firm in the next 36 months, Brite Homes is set for success in a big way. Rendering only top-quality, ENERGY STAR®-certified, 100 percent Net Zero homes in Florida and the southern United States keeps this trendsetting construction firm ahead of its competition in more ways than one.
At Brite Homes, the team strives to improve on yesterday, every day—and this company has the tools to do it. This approach of continuous improvement has brought the company robust growth over the past year; now, thanks to the continued backing of notable investors, the Orlando, Florida-based company is spreading its wings, an exhilarating sight as its clientele expands in line with the capacities of its established teams and its proprietary software, Brite Link System.
Known for breaking the cost-of-ownership barrier by building energy-smart homes that self-generate more than enough energy for a typical household, Brite Homes has evolved from its business model of only building on scattered sites—typically purchased in built-up neighborhoods—to also investing in significantly sized parcels fit for subdivision. Here, the company builds up to 300 Net Zero homes at a time, creating entire blocks of truly modern homes based on its proven selection of signature designs.
Brite Homes not only follows its own codes of conduct, but also strictly adheres to United States Department of Energy guidelines; even homes that are not Net Zero per se are ENERGY STAR®-rated.
While there are still some buyers who are yet to be convinced of the merits of energy intelligence in a home, Brite Homes is sold on it. Its premise is that buying a new Net Zero house makes more sense than simply having solar panels installed on an older house, as custom-built units function optimally and achieve the goal of energy efficiency through holistic design and goal-oriented planning. “Compared to a lot of other builders’ output in the marketplace, our product is highly energy-efficient and unique. At Brite Homes, we’re doing the right thing,” says Bob Kociecki, President.
He appears to be spot-on considering that, thanks to its new Brite Link System technology, this team now builds homes, on average, 50 days faster than it could just last year—all while delivering the same or even superior quality. On large projects, this can save as many as 10,000 days through improved performance, a phenomenal achievement. “This gives us an unprecedented advantage over others in the industry. Improving at this rate makes us different from any other home builder in the marketplace,” Kociecki says.
As Florida’s population shows every sign of bursting at the seams, Florida’s construction industry is working hard to stay in step. With around 350,000 new residents in Florida in 2023 alone, Kociecki says all predictions appear favorable for the industry.
Currently occupying the 158th spot amongst America’s top residential construction firms, Brite Homes is making a place for itself in the state’s construction history. “We’re competing with builders that have been around for decades. We think we have something that will disrupt the industry in terms of how we build and what we build,” Kociecki says.
He points out that while there are a few other disruptive companies out there, many in the industry prefer to tread the safe and familiar route, making no effort to provide customers with what truly modern technology and systems have to offer.
Continuously driving new and better ways has secured the young company its proud reputation of being a change-maker. Yet rather than using a shotgun approach to expansion, its well-considered strategy is to further expand into Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, and perhaps Tennessee. To provide its investors in these regions with the best collaborative experience possible, Brite Homes enables full transparency with the help of its singular technologies. Brite Link System is software that allows the company to track and trace progress across every project in real time, while also delivering accurate reports to its investors. “With Brite Link technology, we create ultra-transparency—not only for our investors but also for us,” says Kociecki.
Brite Link tracks and measures a full 24 parameters, consistently driving improvements in systems and performance. In addition, it allows the firm to compare its market performance. The software also identifies business areas that need improvement and activities the team excels in. Furthermore, the Brite Link System can be programmed to deliver tailored reporting based on customer preferences. Therefore, individual investors receive their preferred reports exactly when required and in the correct format.
As with everything at Brite Homes, stagnation for the software is not an option. Brite Link is in continuous development, consistently being tweaked, improved upon, and updated as opportunities arise. At present, Brite is developing a dedicated investor dashboard where data is readily available, 24/7.
Beyond its investment in powerful technology, the team is present and ready to assist with all in-person queries. Brite Homes’ clients know that no matter their question or need, a professional is ready to engage and provide guidance and advice. Staffed as the team is with some of the industry’s premier experts in building technology, newly arriving employees and clients attest that building the Brite way is notably superior to systems they have experienced elsewhere.
Yet despite tremendous investment in technology, Kociecki is positive that no amount of tech replaces the efforts of the company’s outstanding team, now more than 50-strong. “There’s no replacement for having very talented, hardworking construction field personnel out there reviewing and ensuring quality,” he says. “But with technology, they become super charged-up in the field.”
As a way of enhancing what its technology offers, lateral thinking is encouraged at all levels company-wide for the sake of generating unique and meaningful customer experiences that will foster long-term relationships. Within this low-turnover culture, everyone’s knowledge is valued and applied. As a result, Kociecki is especially proud that, when compared to some of the country’s Top 10 residential construction firms, Brite Homes’ people come out tops in productivity.
And its horizons are continuing to expand. With more than 1,000 new units to be constructed across Florida in the next 24 months, and possibly more to come in the company’s new territories, Brite Homes is committed to growth. Always open to forging fresh collaborations with landowners and other individuals looking for construction partners, the company looks forward to bringing its expertise and unique approach to more regions. “Our partners get something a little different, more evolved and of more value than the typical build. We’re probably the leader in the marketplace for those types of homes,” says Kociecki.
With this quick evolution, the company is confident that, within the next 36 months, it will indeed achieve its goal of ranking among the Top 50 home builders in the country. Its focus therefore remains on ensuring that its projects represent sound investments for all involved while including product across the price spectrum, making Net Zero homes affordable for everyone in the market, from entry-level to high-end.
Winning a number of awards in its time, the work that has gained Brite Homes the most recognition for energy efficiency and home design has been its construction projects in Ocala in central Florida, where it has built hundreds of homes. To continue this legacy, Brite Homes is now joining forces with a new solar provider employed to install the solar panels and the roofs on its new builds, which means that every roof is ideally installed to function with the panels as a single system.
As it continues to grow, the company also continues hiring, always scouting for enthusiastic, tech-positive individuals looking to join a tight-knit team.
As a result of its sterling ethos, and on the back of its first 100 percent Net Zero rental community of this kind in Gainesville, Florida, the company’s work is fast becoming popular amongst municipalities as well. And its long-term value proposition is undisputed; as novel technology perpetuates ever-improving efficiency, Brite Homes forges ahead, adapting to the times and doing the right thing the right way.
