|
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: Your original career was in pharmaceuticals. Tell us about your background.
Sam Palazzole: I spent 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry, 18 years with Hoffmann-LaRoche and 12 years with my own pharmaceutical marketing company. After I sold my company we bought land here in Saratoga and designed the house that we currently live in. Dan Barber managed the building of our home. About a year after my retirement I reached the decision that I'm not the kind of person that retires. During the building of my house Dan and I became good friends and together we decided to start Saratoga Builders
SM: Sam, why after 30 years of being successful in another field did you start Saratoga Builders?
SP: I thought that the business skills that I had developed over the last thirty years were transferable to this business. Then I got to know Dan and realized that he and I felt the same about dealing honestly and fairly with people. I spoke with many people that Dan had built homes for, and I received glowing recommendations. It all seemed like a perfect opportunity.
SM: Why do you think that Saratoga represents a great opportunity?
SP: I'm part of the baby boomer generation. I moved here because I love the area and because I love the opportunities here. I think there are a lot of people in the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the surrounding areas who feel the same way. So, being an entrepreneur and knowing that Dan had a tremendous amount of experience building new homes, Saratoga looked like a great opportunity for Saratoga Builders.
SM: What were your goals when you and Dan started Saratoga Builders?
SP: We started Saratoga Builders with the dream of building new homes to the highest of standards and treating customers by the Golden Rule the way we would want to be treated. Having been a customer of builders many, many times, and talking to friends and neighbors, I have a pretty good sense for the needs of people who are in the new home market. And certainly Dan, with his years of new home building experience, also has an excellent sense for the needs of people who want to build a new home.
SM: As far as type of developments, you have two different neighborhoods.
SP: Yes. Burgoyne Estates is a 40-acre development on Burgoyne Road near Bryant's Bridge. The homes we plan to build there will be custom, on two to six acre home sites, starting from the $600,000's. The current model we are building will be in the 2007 Showcase of Homes. It has 2700 square feet on the first level, 1300 square feet on the upper level, a finished bonus room over the three car garage, and a finished lower level. Our second neighborhood is called Schuyler Point and is off Louden Road just north of Route 29. This community will feature homes on 1 to 3 Acre lots starting at $300,000 that we believe will satisfy the needs of growing families and active adults who might be downsizing. The development will have a walking path to a future park and, like Burgoyne, will be made up of custom homes. We will have a variety of styles that people can start with, but ultimately our intent is to make each home exactly what the customer wants. So, we're satisfying the specific needs of each and every customer.
SM: And that leads to your mission statement which is ... ..
SP: "Building to a Higher Standard."
|
