Welcome to Karim Homes!
Karim Homes started in the home building business to bring a higher quality custom home
to the market at production home prices. We strive to build homes that will last generations.
Our superior quality will be quickly realized whether this is your first home or if you have had experiences with other homes.
If you have any questions about the construction, you are welcome to talk to our onsite builder.
Not only do we want to provide you with a quality product, but also with one that is affordable. We do that by forming relationships with our suppliers and subcontractors and passing that savings on to our customers.
Karim Homes Custom Homes Built on Family Ties
Produced by Cathi Sachs & Written by Hallie Seltzer
Family Ties
Companies work tirelessly to make sure that their businesses can be financially viable while simultaneously keeping their customers happy. Abdul Karim Habib, Chief Executive Officer of Karim Homes, has done just that, say former clients John and Judith Nagy: "With his expertise and professional contribution, in our opinion, the house became one of the most outstanding custom homes in its category."
At the young age of 16, Abdul Karim Habib had his first factory job making cabinets. Four years later he moved from Lebanon to Canada and opened a cabinet company, which he ran for seven years. In 1991, he and his two brothers opened Royal Quality Homes. After starting a family of his own and with the interest of his nine children in mind, Karim left Royal Quality Homes and opened his own construction company, Karim Homes, in 2000. According to Business Week, some 35 percent of Fortune 500 companies are family-owned businesses. While there are risks when working with family, including the difficulty in transitioning between generations, Habib has been doing an exemplary job working his sons into the business by starting their training when they were 14. With three offices in London, Windsor, and Sarnia, Ontario, each location is managed by a pair of his children.
The Nuts and Bolts of Custom-Made Luxury
Karim Homes, now operating with 12 employees, has built homes in London, Sarnia, and Windsor and specializes in luxury features and energy efficient solutions at an affordable price. "All jobs are interesting because every job is customized," explains Habib. From extra large fireplaces to hands-free faucets, Karim Homes caters to each customer's unique desire and need. All of the company's project and site management is handled in-house, while the trade and specialty trade, including bricking, dry-wall, carpet and paint, are subbed to contractors and vendors. Karim Homes is loyal to these partners, says Habib. "We tend to use the same subcontractors and vendors for each job because they perform better based on their quality of experience." The company does experiment with new vendors on a trial basis, and will continue to use their services pending their success.
Future Plans and Goals
In order to maintain productivity, Karim Homes stays on top of all new quality materials, from the home's foundation to the roof's finishing and keeps customer service at the helm of their operation. "By sharing all ideas with customers, it allows the customers a multitude of options, thereby allowing them to, in essence, create their own home," says Habib. Karim Homes also makes sure that its customers are taken care of after the final touches are put on their dream homes. The company has crews in all three cities and offers new home warranties and milestone checkpoints. New materials and ideas are always being tested and consequently implemented. Materials that are environmentally friendly are becoming a large part of the company's resource arsenal, from Low E windows and energy efficient furnaces and air conditioners to a new type of shingle product that is made from recycled rubber.
While business is going strong, with annual revenue of $12 Million, Karim Homes remains aggressive in its marketing and expansion plans. As a member of the Home Builders of London and Windsor Better Business Bureau, the company is able to trade ideas with fellow businesses in the market and also receives recommendations from the real estate board. Additionally, Karim Homes advertises in local magazines and newspapers and relies on recommendations from past customers.
Karim Homes is currently developing 59 units in London and is approved for an additional subdivision to be named Sterling Estates in Sarnia featuring 114 lots and a 10 acre park. The company is also looking to branch out into land development. The first project of this type is on the horizon with the company's plan to purchase 50 acres in Windsor, which, after land development, will provide for 400 new residential lots.
While Karim Habib worries about the business' success in this volatile market, the company is confident that with its strong family roots and a dedication to its customer's satisfaction Karim Homes will come out of the downturn unscathed.
