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On May 21, 1992 Mueller Homes Inc. was formed as a construction company in Maryland by Paul Mueller, Sr. Today, Mueller Homes is led by his son, Paul Mueller, Jr. and the company serves a growing list of discerning clientele, as a luxury custom home builder in Maryland. As with any business, the journey has been a winding road full of lessons along the way. We are pleased to share the story of Mueller Homes and the celebration of our 30 year anniversary. We would also like to thank the many clients, employees, suppliers, and sub-contractors who have been beside us for this journey.
Humble Beginnings
With humble beginnings, Paul had a fondness for building things. As a teenager, he was able to attend trade school where he learned building and carpentry skills. He realized this was the career path for him and began working in the construction industry. While he gained a lot of construction experience during the day, he attended night school to study business. Although he began his career as a carpenter, he held many roles and accelerated quickly. He went on to assume leadership roles that helped him understand the value of processes, budgeting, and scheduling for construction companies. He was responsible for overseeing a production team and delivering thousands of homes, for both custom and production builders. With decades of experience and a diverse background, he prepared to venture out on his own in 1992.
When forming his company, Paul Mueller, Sr. wanted to build a business that ventured beyond the production mind-set and created a more customized building experience. Mueller Homes began as a semi-custom builder but saw that serving as a true custom builder was a much better fit for him, his client base, and his business. At this time, the company had a full-time residential designer and built many homes with the Design-Build concept. By the mid-90s, Mueller was largely successful winning a variety of awards and receiving recognition from local industry associations and magazines.
In 2001, the first website for Mueller Homes was launched. As you can see from this snapshot, it was a far cry from the company website today but, it was cutting edge, at the time, for a small construction company to even have a website.
The Business Lessons of 2008
Then, the financial crisis of 2008 happened. Paul Sr. watched many of his colleagues and competitors close their doors. Some of these stories were tragic for the prospective homeowners and builders alike. He recalls, “2008 was a valuable lesson for us and our industry and it drives home the importance of a builder having a strong business acumen.” Mueller Homes had many safeguards in place and was not only able to survive the crisis but come out stronger.
The Family Business Evolves
As with most family businesses, Paul Sr., brought his son along to many job sites, client meetings, and company picnics. Paul Mueller, Jr. (known as PJ) was a weekend warrior for the company throughout middle and high school and he also helped out during summer months on job sites. PJ attended the Penn State’s Pennsylvania College of Technology, and obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Management. Before coming back to the family business, Paul Sr encouraged PJ to explore a career opportunity with a large construction and paving company. After 7 years and numerous promotions there, he decided to rejoin the family business holding virtually every position in the field from digging foundations to pouring concrete, placing drain tile, framing, cabinetry, punch-out, and more. In recent years, PJ manages the daily operations of the business and serves as the primary point of contact for client engagement and construction development.
The real lesson for this family business has been the vast experience garnered over the years. “Experience is the best classroom,” notes Paul Mueller, Sr. and with over 30 years of experience, that’s a lot of classroom time! This type of experience is immensely beneficial to Mueller’s clients as it sets them apart from newer builders who may still have some lessons to learn. PJ also notes that, “My dad has seen the highest highs and the lowest lows in the industry, during his 30 years. He set up our business model very methodically and many of the foundational processes he established we still use today. In my time with the company, we’ve seen cycles too. There have been unprecedented challenges like Covid, supply chain issues, and inflationary price increases. These challenges require a strategic approach to adapt and scale appropriately.” Mueller’s family business has continued to evolve methodically with a focus on core values and recognizing that their product and service is only as good as their people. In fact, Mueller has some very talented people who demonstrate strong work ethic and a commitment to the core values of the company! Even many of their subcontractors have been with them for decades – with some of those family businesses now also in the second generation. This kind of longevity in relationships is unmatched and what truly helps them create a different kind of building experience.
Adapting for the Future
In 2014, after over 20 years of success, the firm made a conscious decision to move away from the Design-Build model to working exclusively with some of the area’s best architects in Maryland, and beyond. Today, Mueller Homes is a full-service luxury custom home builder and proud member of the American Institute of Architects.
The company now has two offices serving a large portion of central Maryland and the Eastern shore. Their Historic Sykesville office services the northern areas from Frederick, Carroll, and Howard Counties, while their location in the Annapolis Design District serves Anne Arundel, Queen Annes and Talbot Counties. Mueller also has an experienced team of in-house superintendents, carpenters, and painters along with a full-service wood shop that fabricates millwork, trim, and custom cabinetry needed for their client projects.
The tenure of their employees is also an important element of their success. PJ notes, “Our employees are the biggest differentiator for our business. They are skilled craftsmen that value and uphold our company standards. We also added a Client Concierge to assist clients with the selections process. This is typically one of the most valued-added aspects of our services and greatly enhances the overall client experience.”
In a recent collaboration effort, the Mueller’s share their 30 years of building experience in a book entitled “Designing & Building Your Custom Dream Home: How to Create an Experience You’ll Love to Remember.” The book can be downloaded for free or ordered on Amazon.
Paul Mueller, Sr. has been slowly transitioning out of the daily operations of the business. PJ has been overseeing daily operations for more than five years, as part of a long term strategy. So, it looks like Mueller Homes is well-positioned to take on the future and the next 30 years!
For more information visit: www.MuellerHomes.com
