Sara Ray sees custom homes as labor of love

by Jan K. Allen

SBJ Contributing Writer

Custom home builder Sara Ray got her first taste of home building when she supervised the construction of her own home in Licking in the early 1970s. Later, she and her husband separated and she moved to Springfield. Her goal was to become a real estate agent, and she took a clerical job with Judy Huntsman while she completed the state license requirements to take the test.

She worked for the Huntsman agency for a while, then moved to Jones & Company, where the bulk of her sales came from working with contractors on new subdivisions, including Fox Grape, Pearson Creek, and Spring Creek.

From working with builders, she learned that her real interest was in home construction, so she jumped in where few women dared go and started contracting her own spec houses.

It was a natural transition from sales to construction for Ray, and the move felt right to her from the beginning. By the mid-1980s she had completed more than 45 spec homes in Spring Creek and had begun to earn a reputation as a serious contender in the trade.

"I was making a lot more money in real estate, but I love the creative stages, so I decided to do what I love," she said.

During her real estate career, Ray had become an associate member of HBA, but when she switched to full-time builder, she made application for full membership. She was acquainted with most of the builders in the area, and they were supportive when she became the first woman to apply. Fellow contractor Roy Snyder sponsored her membership.

Ray said that the HBA Parade of Homes gave her good exposure and helped get her started in custom building, where she has been for the last 10 years. She builds upper-end custom homes ranging from $250,000 to more than $1 million.

Ray works closely with draftsman Gerald Peltzer to draw up plans. She and Peltzer often start with a basic plan from a magazine or other publication, then they move walls and rearrange the interior to make the home unique to the buyer's needs. She likes to be involved with the buyer from the very beginning stages to get a feel for their lives and tastes.

Ray built the SouthGate Shopping Center where her office is located. She formed a corporation, and she and her partners owned the center for a while before selling out to Wilhoit Properties.

Ray also owned London Crest Interiors, which was also located in SouthGate until she sold it in December 1997. The new owner moved to another location. Ray said she enjoyed the interior design business, but she was spreading herself too thin with two companies to run.

Although she tackles one or two commercial projects each year, the majority of her time is spent in the area of construction she loves best, upscale, single-family homes.

Custom homes are time-consuming, and the builder and homeowner become well-acquainted before the process is finished. Ray said she tries to take on no more than four houses at various stages of completion at any one time.

It's a juggling act to keep up with current projects while looking down the road for future business, Ray said.

With the labor shortage, Ray said she is fortunate to have subcontractors who have been with her for a number of years. She knows she can rely on them.

Ray said she plans to stay in the building trade for as long as she is able to work.

Located just east of Highland Springs off Highway 60 in the rolling hills along Farm Road 189 is Ray's pet project. There she subdivided 170 acres into Forest Ridge. The gated community contains a total of 20 five- to 10-acre lots. Eight homes have been completed in the subdivision.

Ray said she is on her second house in Forest Ridge, having sold her first one out from under herself in typical contractor fashion. She has lived in more than 20 houses in her lifetime.

But Ray doesn't mind the frequent moving. She said it has helped her with design concepts, because she understands how things should flow in a house to make it livable.