By 1970, Larry was sole owner of Irving Electric, which boasted a fleet of nine trucks and about 15 employees. At the same time, however, Larry went into the home-building business with his former partner. They built over 700 homes across Lancaster, Dallas, Forest Hill, Bedford, Arlington and Mansfield between 1970 and 1983. By 1983, Larry had branched out onhis own and built as a sole proprietor until forming another custom home-building company with his brother-in-law. Focusing on higherend homes, that company earned awards including the coveted Grand Award in one of the first Spring Tour of New Homes.TM Now, with the help of his son, Jason, Larry is once again building on his own under the name Williford Custom Homes. Williford Custom Homes builds custom homes currently prices from $280,000 to $600,000. Focus areas for the next several years will include Fairways of Walnut Creek and Twin Creek in Mansfield. Activity is also planned at Asheville, a new development in Keller. "We understand that home building is an emotional process and are frankly honored and flattered when people put their trust in us to build their home. It doesn't have to be a stressful event. Larry is so laid back that he makes it fun for them, as it should be. He makes himself available to customers when they want to meet. Our interest in the project is just as keen as the home buyers'. Just as badly as they want everything to be perfect for their home, so do we, and that care extends beyond the construction process itself. We go back and take care of our customers' needs after they move in with the same attentiveness." "This business requires more than a five-day work week. But even on those few days off, we find ourselves studying architectural books or driving through old Fort Worth neighborhoods seeking inspiration for the design of the next spec home we're building. Our goal is to stay ahead of what's coming next in design rather than taking the role as a follower," commented Jason. "When you compare one builder to the next, the quality of materials used in a certain price range has to be there because today's sophisticated buyers know what to look for and demand it," said Jason. "There are other things that may not be apparent at first, but make a major difference in the way the home 'lives' - things like engineered slabs; my father's personal supervision in checking every stud after framing is complete and checking every wall again after sheetrocking; his electrical background, which provides practical knowledge of where switches and plugs should be placed, the importance of Cat 5 wiring and home theater pre-wiring, and the inclusion of such conveniences/safety items as stairway lights that automatically come on at dark. truly what sets our company apart are the intangibles - the experience and loyalty of his subcontractors and supplier." "Over the last 30-plus years, I've built 1,000-square-foot homes and homes well over 5,000-square feet," Larry says with a warm smile. "No matter what the size is, a home is the buyer's most important purchase. Their home - where they ultimately decide to live and raise their family - represents what they have worked for. It's never just another purchase. We are a family business doing our best to give the families we build for the very best product their money can buy."