Here’s how we answered:

1. Are you on the job site daily?

   We don’t wear jeans and starched shirts because we are out on the job site doing the work every day. We’re building houses … we don’t just watch other people work. Our contractors like it when the builder is out there working alongside them, especially when it’s over 100 degrees.

2. Do you live where you build?

   We live here in the Lake Travis area, in the same neighborhood in which we build. Our clients’ kids go to school with our kids, and we regularly see our clients at soccer games and at the grocery store. We’ve been here a long time and we’re not going anywhere.

3. How much do you spend on office space? On marketing?

   We don’t spend a lot of money on fancy offices, or expensive trucks and marketing. We would rather use that money to build more cost-effective homes and give the value back to our clients.

4. Do you negotiate pricing with vendors?

   We know it sounds trite, but we really do offer some of the best prices among our peers. We have long-term relationships with our suppliers, and we research pricing to get the best prices among Austin builders. Chris is loyal to his suppliers, he does his homework, and he negotiates the best pricing for his clients.

5. Does anyone recognize you as a top builder?

   We typically don’t apply for awards because frankly we’re too busy. But the Austin Business Journal has named us a “Top 10 Builder” for three consecutive years. Ultimately, the only recognition that really matters is the referral. Almost 100 percent of our custom clients are referred by someone who had C&A build their home, or they bought one in a resale, or they watched us building a home in their neighborhood.

6. Do you support local businesses?

   Whenever possible, we use local bankers, contractors, superintendents, and vendors. We work hard to support the community. And given the opportunity, we will choose a small Mom & Pop over a Big Box company.

7. What does your banker say about you?

   Our banker says that when it comes to financial stability, we are the strongest builder they know. Our banker knows that when we build a house, it will appraise well. And we’ve never missed a bank or a vendor payment, which is something that a lot of builders can’t say. Also, we don’t take many draws during the construction process, which reduces the amount of interest our clients pay and the inspection fees banks charge.

8. What do realtors say about you?

   Realtors around town know that when it comes to custom houses and consistent quality, we’re at the top. Realtors show our houses and consistently say that they are the best quality they have seen. Ask your realtor about C&A Builders and they will tell you that a C&A home has excellent resale value. People make money selling our homes because the quality stands out.

9. What kind of warranties do you offer?

   It rarely happens that one of our clients calls us with a warranty issue, but we live in the neighborhood and we almost always respond within a day. Also, we don’t sell our warranties to a third party, because nobody will ever know the house like we do.

10. What do your clients say about you?

    Clients at the end of the project say that Chris protected them throughout the process. He protects their budget, protects them from themselves on making ineffective choices, protects them from vendors that try to sell things they don’t need. He is on your side. He protects his clients’ interests before his own. Our clients say that Chris acts as if every house is his own personal home, and that couldn’t make us more proud.