Lebo — KanBuild Homes has now made one-stop shopping a little easier.
The company’s new retail office, located at the Lebo exit on Interstate 35, is set inside one of KanBuild’s model homes. Ryan Scott, sales and marketing manager for KanBuild, said the site will give KanBuild the opportunity to increase visibility and, eventually, production.
KanBuild took over the property in January. It was formerly owned by Dream Homes, another factory-based homebuilder, but in 2002, the city of Lebo foreclosed on the property after failure to pay back taxes. The building sat empty for three years before it was bought by Jason Ralston of Kansas City, Mo., who also owns Emporia’s Club 707.
“We saw an opportunity to utilize the Dream Homes facility,” Scott said.
The site opened for business Tuesday. Housing consultant Archie Matlock will be on site five days a week. As a housing consultant, Matlock helps customers find the KanBuild design right for them and helps them custom-build their home to their needs. In addition, Matlock can help homeowners price a foundation for their home, and can aid homeowners in finding land to put their home on.
“From the initial conception to getting the home placed on the foundation, we will work with our customers as much as we can to get them the house they want,” said Scott.
Scott said helping homeowners find land to put their home on and foundation pricing is a major plus to buying a KanBuild home. Matlock said the company also works with banks and other realtors to help homeowners find financing. The best part is that all of this can be done at their new retail site.
“It’s really a one-stop shop,” Matlock said.
This is not the first retail site KanBuild has opened. It also has one in Wichita, which opened back when KanBuild was owned by Coachmen Industries. KanBuild, originally opened in 1989 before selling to the larger company. When Coachmen decided to sell the Osage City-based company, KanBuild’s original founders and an employee bought it back.
Already the new site at Lebo has gotten some attention from passersby. Matlock said people are noticing the model home and several have stopped in to see it.
“We’ve had more people come in so far than I expected,” Matlock said. “Which is great.”
Matlock and Scott hope many people will stop by for an open house Sept. 16 and 17. They will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 16 and from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 17. During the open house, staff members will be on hand to give guided tours and explain features of KanBuild Homes. The crane company that places the homes on foundations will also be there to show customers how houses are transported and placed.
Scott said that any person who attends the open house and buys a home by Nov. 20 will receive a free upgrade on their home in the amount of $2,500.
“That could get them a fireplace, or maybe a hot tub,” Scott said.
Scott said the remaining property at the former Dream Homes site will not be put to use until the Osage City plant — running at 70 percent — reaches full capacity.
“Sales have been good,” Scott said. “The issue is hiring qualified labor. It’s a gradual process to learn our system and we only want to hire those that can adapt to the way we do things.”
Once Osage City is at capacity, they will be able to begin manufacturing homes at the Lebo site. It is significantly smaller, only 30,000 square feet, compared to the Osage City plant with 112,000 square feet. Scott said that, at full capacity, the Osage City plant could produce 200 to 250 homes per year. The new site might be able to produce 50 to 60 homes a year.
The model home in Osage City will remain open. Scott said the retail site is not meant to detract from the Osage City plant, but add to the company’s visibility.
“People coming from Kansas City, wanting to live further away, maybe in the country, kind of inspired this whole idea,” Scott said. “Right on the interstate, this is a great place for us. We feel very positive about this location and our homes.”