Communication, Custom Features and Quality Materials Make the Laplante Difference

The Laplante Difference is real.

Our work, and the homes we build, are exquisite, offering comfortable, luxury spaces for our customers to live in. What sets us apart is our communication with customers—first and foremost—and the custom features and quality materials we use.

“For me, the most important aspect of our work at Laplante is working with the people, the customers,” President Bill Laplante says. “In many cases, it’s the largest investment they’ll make, and it’s a very emotional purchase. I really enjoy working with people and helping them create their dream home, whether it be new construction or remodeling their existing home.”

Bill says it is gratifying to build deep relationships with customers. He has that opportunity in the initial stages of a project, in the design and planning phases. Later, it’s the project managers who have the pleasure of connecting, and Bill stays involved as well.

Whether we work with customers for three or four months on a renovation or for a year on a new build, there’s a great deal of interaction. We spend a lot of time trying to make the process fun because, too often, you hear horror stories about how stressful construction can be. 

We don’t ever want those kinds of stories to be initiated here.

“The majority of our customers get through the process and find it was fun and enjoyable, although stressful at times,” Bill says. “We do a lot of hand-holding through the process and lay out expectations for selections. We give them plenty of time to make decisions and help them through the process. That’s one of the big differences in working with us. We want the customers to enjoy.”

The relationships we develop with customers last much longer than the span of the project. They are lifelong. We stay in touch. 

The workmanship and the quality of the products that we’re using also help set us apart. That’s because we have been using our subcontractors and suppliers for many years.

In the case of subcontractor Vartanian Custom Cabinetry, Bill collaborates with the founder, just as his father did 40 years ago.

“Our tile installer has also been around that long. We’re not looking for the low-bidding subcontractor,” Bill says. “We’re using subs we’ve formed relationships with over many years. We trust them, and we know their work.”

Laplante also chooses only high-quality materials that are time-tested.

We don’t use engineered wood on home exteriors or roof sheathing. We use plywood. We use engineered subfloor systems, Andersen and Pella windows and other materials put out by industry leaders. 

“They don’t all have to be expensive, but we have to trust them,” Bill says. “I’m not a big fan of using the latest product on the market until it’s been proven.”

Finishes in a home are also important—they make a lasting impression. We make sure our corners are crisp and clean on interior trim, and they are all in the right scale and proportion, whether it’s a finish on a 10-foot ceiling or a four-inch baseboard. 

“We spend a lot of time with the design of finishes and coordinating materials to create that look,” Bill says. 

That’s what makes the Laplante Difference you can spot from the curb.

“I’ve heard it literally hundreds of times. Someone says, ‘I went by the house, and I knew it was a Laplante house,’” Bill says. “It’s all in the small details that people can’t necessarily pick out. They just know it looks great.”