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Category:
Published: July 2007
Sam Palazzole and Dan Barber, partners in Saratoga Builders, talk about the roots of their company, and what sets Saratoga Builders apart.
Success Magazine: Dan, what does success mean to you?
Dan Barber: Success to me is measured in two ways; first, by how well I take care of my business responsibilities and family responsibilities, and second, by how well I maintain a balance between them. In business its knowing that everyone I deal with, including most valuable employees, trade partners, venders and clients enjoys working with me. One of the life lessons that I leaned from my grandfather, Dr. Barber, was to put the needs of other people first without expecting the same in return.
Regarding my family, I make sure that I spend quality time with my wife, Donna, and my two daughters, Corinne and Ashleigh. We always have dinner together and weekends are family time. I believe that maintaining a balance between business and family is a key measure of every successful individual.
SM: Dan, share with us your experience in the construction industry and what made you become a developer with your partner in Saratoga Builders?
DB: I have been in the building industry most of my life. I grew up in the Glens Falls region and worked, from grade school straight through college, for my uncle who is a builder in the Lake George region.
Working for a family business, there was no being favored or not having to do the dirty work. I learned the hard way and I learned that hard work and drive is what made many of my relative's successful entrepreneurs.
I graduated from college with a degree in criminal justice and thought I wanted to work in law enforcement, but I never could pull myself away from the building industry. Whenever my wife and I traveled I would find myself focusing on the architecture and craftsmanship of the homes in the area and imagining how I would build them.
During the eighties and nineties, I built many new homes of all styles and values. One thing I always instilled in anyone who worked with me or for me was that a person's word was their bond.
Building homes in Saratoga I developed a long list of references. In 2001 I managed the building of a new home for Sam and Linda Palazzole. Sam and Linda realized how detail oriented I was while building their home. During construction, as with all the homes I build, I treated the building of their home as if I were building my own home. In doing this we created a close relationship which resulted in Sam and me becoming partners in Saratoga Builders LLC. Sam saw the drive and dedication I have, and I could see that his years of being a very successful entrepreneur made him an exceptional business man. Together we make an excellent team.
SM: What separates Saratoga Builders from other developers in the region?
DB: We are very detail oriented which helps us to be very thorough with each of our customers. I have been building new homes for over 20 years. My experience includes a wide range of designs and sizes from $300,000 to $3,000,000, so our customers can feel confident that we have the experience to satisfy their needs. Sam has had a successful 35-year career as a businessman and entrepreneur. He has years of experience owning, operating and managing large and small companies. Together we provide our customers with the building and business experience to make their new home building experience with Saratoga Builders successful and enjoyable.
SM: I have heard that some new home buyers are surprised and upset at the closing when their builder presents unexpected bills for change orders. I have also heard that some new home buyers believe they didn't get everything they paid for. How do you and Sam plan to deal with these issues?
DB: We believe the best way to deal with these issues is to make sure that they never occur. We follow-up every conversation with every client with written communication to make sure we are on the same page as our clients. We make sure that every change order is clear and complete and signed by our client and by us. We talk to our customers every week to make sure there are no surprises.
SM: What are your plans for Saratoga Builders after you complete Burgoyne Estates and Schuyler Pointe?
DB: We are building in one of the finest areas in the country. In the future, the Saratoga region will continue to see an influx of retirees. We believe our future in building homes is very bright because of our commitment to our clients to "Build to a Higher Standard".
SM: What do you do to have balance in your life? It sounds like you really love what you do.
DB: That is true. I do love what I do. If it wasn't for my beautiful family, I would probably pitch a tent at the job sites. I have a great wife who is very dedicated to her job and our family; she is a teacher in the Glens Falls Middle School. I dedicate every night to my wife and girls. We all sit down and have dinner together and go through the day's events with each other. We have a small horse farm and everyone has their own horse. In the summers we attend many horse events with our family and friends. I am also involved with the Warren County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol Unit.
SM: Dan, it sounds like you truly have a goal and a purpose in everything you do. Good luck and much success with Saratoga Builders.
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