Builder Profile - Madison Homes Inc.

BUILDER PROFILE
Madison Homes Inc. James C. Bourne
This Badger Takes High-Tech Approach on All His Projects
by Nancy Davis
it is exciting to help them visualize their dreams. "They probably
Jim Bourne's schedule is full. When he's not meeting with
don't want me swinging hammers, because I'm not as efficient as
clients or drawing up home designs, he's working on
the carpentry staff we have on payroll. But when I can't be there, I
a Parade of Homes entry or researching new products.
have two onsite expediters who are my eyes," Bourne said.
Bourne, owner of Madison Homes in Verona, likes it this way,
gaining energy with every new home and new experience.
Madison's housing market continues to be strong, he said,
without the doom and gloom reported by many other regions in
He has always been a hands-on person, he says, and as a
youngster would work on building or fixing anything he could.
From hanging drywall to drawing blueprints, he found he was
happiest working with his hands to solve problems. After start
the nation. "It is a great time to build with the interest rates and
the lumber commodities coming back in line," he said.
Madison Homes builds 50 to 100 units per year, including
single-family, duplexes and condominiums in the mix. Bourne's
ing an engineering program at University of Wisconsin, where
other businesses include Madison Remodeling and Wisconsin
he earned a full-ride football scholarship, he switched majors to
Waterfront Builders.
reflect his true passion and graduated with a degree in construc
tion administration in 1993.
Bourne's building career began with an internship which
New Game, Better Tools
turned into a full-time job as construction manager, then chief
Some would crumble under the pressure of keeping all these
operating officer with a local builder. He left that company to
balls in the air, but Bourne just finds ways to do more, faster and
start Madison Homes eight years ago. "The building market as
better, by utilizing the latest in technology.
a whole is always challenging. Those cha lenges are wha keep
you on your toes. The difficult part of this profession is a
com-
modating a constantly changing market. I like being dive sified
"We hav
an in house CAD design department, and we update
our Web silfe (www.newmadisonhomes.com) often. We continuContinued on page 22
from high-end custom to first-time buyer lomes to our re nodeling division," he said.
Bourne also likes working directly
with customers, consulting on all of
their choices and styles, from tradi
tional toj craftsman to prairie. He said
Wisconsin Badger Builder • July/August 2008M Www.wisbuild.org
BUILDER PROFILE
Continued from page 21
ally put new clients on custom pages with
photos, and then we forward the link.
We get a couple hundred hits on these
because people are so excited to show all
their friends and family their new home.
Technology has been a great tool for me
for the past 15 years," he said.
In addition to marketing and promo
tion, technology has offered Bourne
opportunities even he never imagined. In
fact, it has broadened his horizons and
improved his efficiency at the same time.
Bourne said he is able to do five times as
much as he would have thanks to e-mail,
The building market as a whole is always challenging. Those
messaging, software, wireless connec
challenges are what keep you on your toes. The difficult part
tions and more.
For example, Bourne and his team were
able to build a 5,300-square-foot, A-frame
dream home 200 miles north of Madison
on Lake Tomahawk. The steep, rocky and
of this profession is accommodating a constantly changing
market. I like being diversified from high-end custom to firsttime buyer homes to our remodeling division.
tree-covered property seemed unsuited for
— James C. Bourne, Madison Homes Inc.
such a project, and the remoteness of the
area made it even more daunting. Bourne,
Madison Homes. Bourne receives weekly
mation from all of the associations," said
however, just set his sights on the possi
police reports — via Internet — on any
Bourne. He strongly encourages builders
bilities, not the obstacles.
theft in his job site regions.
who want to grow and improve their busi
From his office, or his laptop, he was
"I can do so much work now and feel
able to oversee each step of the construc
great about it. I am constantly learning and
tion process via Web cameras he had
interacting from a technical standpoint.
mounted in trees on the picturesque job
One of my clients, who is also my IT
site. He also set up high-speed wireless
person and friend, has me on top of my
internet service on the property.
electronic game. It is a great resource that
"I had full control of the cameras and
could maneuver them around for different
allows me to do all that I do and move
forward with my business," he said.
angles of the site. It was a difficult lot to
build on, and I couldn't be there when the
concrete was poured for the foundation,
so I watched from the computer and told
the guys how to adjust the heights, and so
on, right from my office," said Bourne.
Bourne also set up temperature sensors
ness to take advantage of all of the benefits
membership in these groups has to offer.
Magic Potion
for Success?
The volume of his work is reflected
in the larger condominium projects,
Professional
involvement
A director with the NAHB, Bourne has
single-family homes and million-dollar
custom houses he has built. Bourne said
his company is starting a new home every
week. What's the secret?
The key to his success and growth over
served as past president of the Madison
the past years, he would say, is foresight
in the house to alert him if the power
Area Builders' Association (MABA) and
combined with the smart use of technol
went out on the property to avoid frozen
on the Wisconsin Builders' Association®
ogy. He also credits his great 20 team
pipes. The Madison Homes office staff
Board of Directors. "The state and
members, and the importance of old fash
had fun with the cameras as well, some
national associations provide the best
ioned face-to-face communication. "I
times zooming across the lake to watch
possible exposure you can have in the
treat every home like it is my own, and I
deer and other wildlife stroll by.
industry," he said. "The job the WBA
only work with quality craftsman. I strive
does for builders — often without build
to bring together only those who are the
ing the Internet for job site security.
ers even realizing it — is unbelievable."
best in their fields."
Although he has not experienced much
Bourne feels the WBA staff and the work
job site theft, he is staying ahead of the
they do to help this industry develop and
with his three children, Bourne volunteers
game by installing cameras in all of
grow is incredibly important.
as a leader with the Mendota Gridiron
Bourne is currently working on utiliz
his homes throughout the construction
"Most of us are not able to attend the
In addition to spending quality time
Club, a football booster organization at
phase. The presence of cameras may
meetings, but they keep us informed via
thwart would-be thieves, and also remind
e-mail on the hot issues. I personally don't
secret. It is just hard work that puts this
homeowners and subcontractors of the
have time to read books, but I read my
company above and beyond. I love what I
high level of professionalism expected by
e-mail because I get so much good infor
do, and it never gets old," he said. ^
Wisconsin Badger Builder • July/August 2008 • www.wisbuild.org
the University of Wisconsin. "There is no