Robertson Douglas Group Inc.

Jeffrey Dobrzynski founded the Robertson Douglas Group Inc. (RDG) in 1983 as a development and homebuilding firm based in central New Jersey. Dobrzynski and his team have built a business around quality and integrity, putting time and care into each and every home and development. Over the years, RDG has become a leader in the local homebuilding market, specializing in single-family homes, apartments, townhouses and senior communities.

Furthermore, Fred Patterson, vice president of RDG, has been working with the business since 1996. The group has constructed a few thousand homes in communities all over New Jersey and occasionally in Pennsylvania over the years.

Building a niche

The company’s target market is second-homebuyers, often young families looking to move into a bigger space in order to accommodate another child or two. The team takes great pride in offering homes that meet the changing needs of homeowners, adapting to economic, cultural and aesthetic trends. Each new community is a pet project. Dobrzynski and the team explore options to best serve buyers, scouring the region for the best locations and land to build on before launching a new development.

As a custom homebuilder, the team seeks to build reasonably priced homes that meet the functional and stylistic requirements of individual buyers. The business operates a state-of-the-art design center staffed by experienced consultants who guide homebuyers through floor plans and upgrades that allow future owners to make a home their own before moving in.

To guarantee a high level of quality in construction, RDG has built a strong, core network of strategic partners. The developer ensures that only high-quality materials go into every home and works with a select group of subcontractors to bring these communities into reality. Partners are all dedicated to the same set of values that RDG embraces. Integrity, attention to detail and a track record for value are vital to the operation and the crew aims to pass these qualities along to buyers.

A growing portfolio

RDG has established dozens of communities over the years and the business continues to strive for quality houses and condominiums that feel like home. Recent work includes the Estates at Hopewell, a single-family subdivision in Hopewell, N.J. The community offers single-family homes on shady, private lots. So far, the team has constructed a series of model homes to demonstrate the options available to future residents.

With four floor plans to choose from, homebuyers can select a future home that has enough room for the whole family and then some. The Sutton is a two-story colonial-inspired modern home with four bedrooms, two full baths, a half-bath and a two car garage. Living space ranges from 3,500 to more than 4,000 square feet, depending on owner options.

The Devon offers the same amenities in a different format with an open floor plan designed to highlight common spaces. The Bentley and Acton models are each slightly smaller than the other floor plans, but with the same room options available. These upscale homes are quality-built by RDG’s craftsmen strategic partners and can be adjusted to meet the specifications of owners.

Supported success

RDG is on a path of growth, despite the challenges faced by homebuilders since the recession. “We manage to keep ourselves busy by staying ahead of the game and managing our expenses and assets tightly,” Dobrzynski explains. “We take great pride in building quality products, regardless of what the market looks like. Housing has changed in recent years and we have shifted our focus toward rental properties. Apartment complexes and multi-story, mid-rise communities are an area of growth for the future of our company.”

The business also has strong support from the New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA). “We take advantage of their state and national programs,” explains Patterson, a long-standing member of the builders association and chairman of the local political action committee. “These programs have been invaluable to us and we have been members for nearly 30 years. We have built a lot of business relationships through the organization and we encourage other people in our industry to join. The NJBA has recognized our efforts in recruiting and bestowed us with a Spike Award for bringing on new members. We think any builder in New Jersey can benefit from what this organization offers. We attend the Atlantic Builders Convention every year, enjoying seminars, parties and awards ceremonies while keeping ourselves up to date on new products and potential partners.”

RDG has a solid foundation, enforced by partnerships throughout the industry and related sectors. Dobrzynski foresees the market recovering gradually, and in the coming years, says his team will continue to pursue a wide range of opportunities. Focused on quality and service, Robertson Douglas Group Inc. continues to grow as a leader in development, construction and property management in central New Jersey.