S1Ep105 Stephen Connor on Scaling Volume Homebuilding Without Losing Control

Volume homebuilding isn’t about speed—it’s about structure. Stephen Connor knows that better than most. As Vice President of Stephen Elliott Homes, he helps manage a high-volume residential building company doing over 300 homes a year across Georgia and the Carolinas. And he does it without sacrificing quality, control, or customer service.

In this episode of Builder Straight Talk, Stephen unpacks the systems, mindsets, and lessons that keep their operation running lean, profitable, and focused—even as the market shifts underfoot.

He talks about the company’s growth since 2009, when Stephen Elliott started the business with a clear mission: build homes that hit the sweet spot between price, function, and finish. That clarity helped them carve out a space in the first-time buyer and move-up market, where value matters and volume makes or breaks the model.

As the company scaled, Stephen Connor’s role became about balance. Balancing land acquisition with sales pipeline. Balancing construction timelines with permitting headaches. And balancing the constant push to grow with the need to protect what works.

“The margins are razor thin in volume homebuilding. You’ve got to know where every dollar’s going.”

One of the keys to their success? Relationships—with realtors, lenders, trade partners, and municipalities. Stephen shares how they built a model that prioritizes communication, consistency, and clear expectations from the jump. Their internal systems—from scheduling to CRM—are designed to reduce friction and keep the process moving even when things get messy.

He also dives into the land side, where many volume builders blow up. Buying wrong, buying too much, or buying without a build plan can wreck even the best crews. For Stephen, it’s about knowing the market, staying patient, and never falling in love with a deal that doesn’t pencil.

He touches on how they’ve built strong trade relationships—key in volume homebuilding where delays can kill entire quarters. They lock in consistent work, pay quickly, and build loyalty by treating trades like long-term partners, not just bodies for the next job.

The company also keeps a tight rein on upgrades and client options. Their model is clear: provide a solid standard product that delivers value out of the box. That keeps pricing predictable, builds more efficiently, and avoids scope creep that destroys margins.

“We don’t pretend to be custom. That’s not our game. But we build a product people are proud to live in.”

Stephen’s also big on data. They know their numbers, watch construction timelines like a hawk, and constantly adjust based on real-world feedback—not gut feelings. That lets them scale with intention, not just ambition.

He shares what he looks for in team members, how they train new hires to manage multiple sites, and why culture matters even more when you’re pumping out hundreds of homes a year. Because in volume homebuilding, you don’t need 1,000 employees—you need the right 30.

Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen here or on your favorite podcast platform.