Who is Cullum Homes?
“My wife and I co-founded Cullum Homes in 1985,” Rod Cullum said. “Like many custom home builders, we started off at our dining room table, and it was just the two of us.”
It stayed that way for about four years before they grew enough to bring on their first employee. Fast forward almost 40 years, and Cullum Homes now has a robust team of 90. They’ve gone from being a traditional custom home builder to providing an all-inclusive client experience with site selection, architecture, design, construction management, renovations and property concierge services.
“We do 20 to 24 homes a year – typically in the high $3 to $7 million is our market,” Rod said. “We do some estate homes, but the estate homes are three- to four-year-long projects, and they’re $10 or $15 million. We’ve grown from doing $2 to $3 million a year, to some years we’ve hit $100 million.”
Cullum Homes is one of the oldest and most reputable luxury home builders in Arizona. Their extensive experience and innovative techniques, processes and homeowner-friendly systems make the building process manageable and enjoyable.
Company name
Cullum Homes
Industry
Custom homes
Location
Scottsdale, Arizona
Seeing the benefits: Ensuring value for homeowners and strengthening supplier connections
The Cullum Homes team is also able to assure their clients are getting the best value with the help of CBUSA’s group purchasing organization.
“It’s a tool we share with our clients to let them know we get the best price on these products,” Rod said.
As a company, they take on both fixed price and cost plus jobs. For cost plus projects, homeowners can choose any brands they want for their home, but oftentimes it means a significant cost increase for them. That’s why Rod and his team work to educate their clients on the value of selecting the high-end brands they partner with through CBUSA.
“It actually can save you some overhead time if you use that national account status to help guide your customers to the best value,” Rod said. “Because, ultimately, that’s what they want is a good product at the best value.”
“We had a great relationship with Kohler. It went to another level when we got involved with CBUSA.”
– Rod Cullum, Founder of Cullum Homes
It’s the added value and trust they offer that has led the Cullum Homes to be a top choice for homeowners looking to build in their market.
But client relationships aren’t the only thing being strengthened with the help of CBUSA. Partnerships with suppliers like Kohler and Andersen Windows have also been elevated.
“We had a great relationship with Kohler,” Rod said. “It went to another level when we got involved with CBUSA.”
Rod and Paul Colwell, managing director at Cullum Homes, have been introduced to several new products they hadn’t used in the past – and they’re getting to meet face-to-face with company leaders.
“Because of the meetings we have – we had one at Ferguson, we had one at Anderson Windows – we actually get to meet people, meet higher-ups in the company and talk one-on-one as a group,” Paul said. “I think that’s helped strengthen those relationships for sure.”
Finding success: Recognizing the value of relationships and rebates
Cullum Homes sets themselves apart from most builders in their market through their involvement with CBUSA and the National Association of Home Builders. Participation in peer groups and educational opportunities puts them a step above builders who don’t make those commitments.
“It’s just that coalition of access, knowledge and camaraderie with other like-minded builders that sets you apart – just by making that effort to be involved,” Rod said.
In addition to these benefits, Paul and Rod also recognize the tremendous value of rebates that have made a significant contribution to their bottom line.
“From a financial standpoint, I think it totally makes sense,” Paul said. “So far this year, we’ve got $90,000 in rebates. That’s just on the rebate side, too, not including the discounts. And I’d say 80% of that is Anderson, Kohler and Ferguson.”
Because of these relationships formed through CBUSA, Cullum Homes is able to increase value for their clients and their business.
The Arizona market is one of CBUSA’s leading chapters. Are you ready to join in on their success?
Apply to become a CBUSA member today and start seeing the benefits of group purchasing. Offer clients more value, improve supplier relationships and add tens of thousands to your bottom line.