Sneller Custom Homes & Remodeling

Since 2011, Matt and Jenny Sneller have been providing integrated construction management services for custom homeowners throughout Houston’s northern neighborhoods. The couple established Sneller Custom Homes & Remodeling with the goal of creating a homebuilding solution centered on service and relationships. After only four years in business, the operation has built a strong reputation for putting customers first and fostering partnerships that promote efficiency, quality and communication.

With only four employees, Sneller is a small business — with a broad reach. The team includes Matt and Jenny as well as office administrator/bookkeeper, Sarah Reichling and job site specialist, Margarito Campuzano. The whole team at Sneller is focused on building relationships, extending the definition of family to include contractors, customers and strategic partners.

“One of the things we care most about is building relationships,” explains Jenny. “A lot of time and energy are invested into our customers, vendors and team to develop authentic relationships. We want all the people we work with and work for to feel like they’re part of a family that genuinely cares for them. If people feel like we’re in it for them and not just for ourselves, it’s a win.”

Smooth transitions

Matt and Jenny based their business model on the knowledge that building a custom home or undergoing a major remodel comes with stress. From concerns about quality, timing and the character of the people working on one’s home, Sneller works to build trust from the first meeting so homeowners can leave the stress to the professionals and enjoy the process.

The process begins with a conversation — potential clients are invited to schedule a consultation to discuss needs and wants including everything from scheduling to the countertop finishes. Once the groundwork is set, designs and budgets are put in place that accommodate customers’ requests along with new ideas they often haven’t thought of. “If we’re only giving customers what they ask for, we’re not offering them maximum value,” Matt explains. “Giving our homeowners the things they actually wanted but didn’t know how to ask for — that’s the sweet spot.”

From that point, the team begins working with a strong network of partners, including sub trades, designers, decorators and consultants to ensure that any home built or improved by Sneller meets high standards of quality and efficiency. The business relies heavily on long-term partnerships and many of the subcontractors working for Sneller are people Matt has worked with for nearly a decade. These lasting contractor relationships ensure that the company is placing trusted professionals on-site and in customers’ homes.

Success at every size

Trending toward higher-end and larger projects, Sneller still provides construction management and design services for a range of project sizes — from a small bathroom renovation to a new construction house build, Sneller’s focus is on innovative and fresh design as opposed to strictly size. Jenny reports that volume for renovations is higher than new construction, but both sides of the business net roughly the same revenue.

Recent work includes a renovation in The Woodlands planned community that earned accolades from the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA). “This 2015 project was a finalist for Whole House Remodel in the $500,000-$750,000 range,” says Jenny. “The upstairs game room won for Best Specialty Room.”

Another award-winning remodeling project for the Sneller team also took place in The Woodlands. This first-floor remodel caught local and statewide attention from the GHBA and the Texas Association of Builders (TAB). The kitchen was named a finalist for Best Remodeled Kitchen under $100,000 in the GHBA Prism Awards, and was also a finalist for Best Remodeled Kitchen in the TAB Star Awards. The pool bath won the GHBA Prism Award for best bathroom under $25,000. Cindy Aplanalp-Yates with Chairma Design Group was instrumental in this project. Her firm frequently works with Sneller.

A landmark new construction project for Sneller was a custom home in the Lakes of Sterling Gate community. Jenny notes this as a memorable project due to the home’s unique contemporary design, a less common avenue for custom homes in the area, which typically lean more toward the traditional. “This was a new construction home we finished in 2014,” she recounts. “There were several unique attributes and finishes. The home’s great room has amazing entertaining potential. Giant sliding doors span the entire length of the wall connecting their beautiful outdoor patio with the rest of the home seamlessly. Those doors are one of the homeowners’ favorite things in the whole house.”