(this article appeared in the October 22, 2004 edition of the Daily Herald)

Burnham Custom Homes concentrates on the custom home market in Chicago's suburbs, building about 15 homes annually, in the $500,000 to $1.5 million price range.

"Each year we build an equal balance of speculative homes and build-to-suit homes where we work with the homeowner throughout the process. The homes are typically in the 4,000 square foot range, though this year we built a 7,000 square foot home" company president Scot Begovich said.

A custom home builder of this size is not uncommon in the industry. What makes Burnham Custom Homes unique is that the two owners have known each other since kindergarten.

Begovich is responsible for the business operations and project management. He has an MBA in marketing and finance and worked as a business strategy consultant for 10 years.

Steve Case is responsible for field operations, customer relations, and trade relations. He is a skilled carpenter with 18 years industry experience. For 30 years the two have been acquainted. The two Northlake natives built their first home together in 1989. The two joined forces full time in 2001.

"I've wanted to be a carpenter since I was a kid," Case said. "Scot went on to college and has since been in and out of the industry. Together we have complementary skills which have helped grow the business." Begovich comments, "Our business plan for 2005 is to build about 18 homes. A couple of the projects already lined up are very interesting. We'll keep the crews working on some creative and challenging projects." Among the projects they will be working on are the remaining 30 lots in the Martin Woods subdivision in McHenry. These are 1-acre wooded lots with home and lot packages ranging in price from $500,000 to $750,000. "We've been successful building homes in this community. Clients love the peaceful setting and mature trees," Case said. One of their model homes won four building awards during the Spring Medley of Homes organized by the Home Builder's Association of Greater Chicago.

Another series of projects planned for 2005 are four custom homes in Long Grove ranging in price between $1.5 and $1.7 million. "These homes will be showcases," Begovich said. "Each will be a one-of-a-kind home. They will share an existing pond and each be about 5,000 square feet on 2-acre lots." Three of the lots are currently available as build-to-suit projects.

When asked what differentiates Burnham Custom Homes in the market, the partners respond with two factors. "First and foremost, it is the quality of the homes," Case said. "We take great pride in each home we build, regardless of the price point. These truly are custom homes. Client satisfaction has led to referrals which have helped us grow the business."

The second differentiator is the use of technology in the home. They recently put a whole-house lighting system in a home where the homeowner could be in the master bedroom, hit a button that says "snack" and a path is lit to the refrigerator in the kitchen downstairs. While that may be a bit of excess, Case points out a more practical application, "each keypad also has a panic button that, when pressed, turns all the lights on full power, inside and outside of the home."

The partners have also recently constructed several movie theaters in homes. Begovich said, "The theaters create special memory points in the homes. Once people see the theater in a model home, they fall in love with the house." As technology prices continue to fall, more and more homes are being built with theater rooms.

"Here's where the story gets interesting," Begovich said. "We have had so much luck with the home theaters that we spun off a division to market the service to builders and existing homeowners. We named it Chicago Media Systems and we hired another one of our friends from kindergarten to run that business."

Childhood friend Mike Becker is a vice-president responsible for the technology business. "Our parents are surprised enough that we've stayed friends so long, let alone gone into business together. I imagine some of our old teachers would be surprised too." One can only wonder which of their childhood friends will join next. Becker said, "With these two, it wouldn't surprise me!"