We’re excited to bring you a series of blogs featuring Brightwater Homes, a custom home builder in Georgia and South Carolina. In this three-part feature, you’ll hear from members of the Brightwater team. Follow along to hear more about how they’re leveraging CBUSA’s access to leading suppliers and sustainable products for their net-zero energy homes.
Brightwater Homes, founded by Charlie Bostwick over 14 years ago, is a design-build firm at the forefront of the real estate industry, renowned for its commitment to quality, innovation and customer satisfaction.
They design and build 40+ homes annually between two states, and it’s their commitment to sustainability that sets them apart from other builders in the Atlanta and Charleston markets.
When Brightwater Homes joined CBUSA in 2019, they were a growing company searching for ways to gain more buying power while reducing upfront costs. Their story exemplifies the power of collaboration with CBUSA and the benefits of leveraging established relationships with national brands.
Saving time and maximizing value
“When I got started with Brightwater and assumed responsibility of our purchasing department, I was looking for ways to make us more efficient,” Steven said.
For a company focused on growth, managing time effectively is critical. CBUSA’s group purchasing organization provided the Brightwater team with tools to save hours on negotiations, vetting and contract management.
“I only have so many hours in a week that I can spend to go and negotiate contracts, go after new vendors or vet new products,” Steven said. “Having the rapport with the CBUSA team and the contracts that are in place allows me to skip all that time, knowing that it’s already done.”
This efficiency doesn’t come at the expense of quality. By accessing CBUSA’s vetted vendor network, Brightwater partners with leading brands like James Hardie, Lennox, Rinnai and Cambria – names that represent both reliability and innovation in the industry.
The power of national buying strength
CBUSA’s national contracts have been a game-changer for Brightwater. The collective purchasing power of CBUSA builders allows them to secure competitive pricing that would be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve independently.
“National contracts are an easy example,” Steven explained.
“CBUSA gives us more buying power with the strength of the national group behind us to get some of the most competitive pricing in the market.”
Steven Sanders-Myers
Purchasing Manager at Brightwater Homes
A net-zero energy solution
Brightwater’s partnership with Lennox is a standout example of how CBUSA relationships deliver both practical and innovative solutions. As Brightwater began building net-zero energy homes, it became a challenge to finding efficient yet affordable HVAC systems.
“The largest energy hog in a house is the HVAC, but it was somewhat cost-prohibitive to what we were looking to do,” the purchasing manager noted.
Turning to the help of CBUSA’s partnerships, Brightwater found a solution that aligned with their goals.
“Now we have our standard system with Lennox in every home we build. It’s not a pain point – it’s a point of pride and a talking point to achieve what we’re doing.”
Steven Sanders-Myers
Purchasing Manager at Brightwater Homes
Building a better future
For Brightwater Homes, CBUSA has been more than just a purchasing partner – it’s been a catalyst for growth and innovation. From saving time to securing competitive pricing and creating homes that set new standards for efficiency, the partnership has proven invaluable.
“CBUSA kind of does some of the legwork to give us access to pricing that I would never be able to have if I were just to go out to negotiate a specific deal.”
Steven Sanders-Myers
Purchasing Manager at Brightwater Homes
Let CBUSA add efficiency to your purchasing process
Brightwater Homes’ success story highlights the value CBUSA brings to home builders across the country. By fostering relationships with national brands and streamlining purchasing processes, CBUSA helps builders like Brightwater focus on what matters most: delivering high-quality homes that exceed expectations.
Follow in Brightwater’s footsteps and apply to become a CBUSA member today. See for yourself how the backing of the construction industry’s largest GPO can help you scale your business beyond what you ever thought possible.
