Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephen Jones.
Stephen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was drawn to construction long before I ever understood it as a career. No one in my family was in the industry, but in high school I took a shop class that eventually turned into our class building a small home. That experience sparked something in me. At first, it was purely about the craft—learning how things are built and why details matter.
After school, I spent years working in different subcontracting trades, trying to learn as much as I could about building a home from the ground up. Over time, though, I noticed something troubling. I watched a couple of well-known local builders go out of business, and it became clear that knowing how to build wasn’t enough. I understood construction—but I didn’t understand business.
To learn that side, I made what seemed like an odd move at the time: I went to work for Best Buy when they opened a new store in town. Forbes had just named them one of the best-managed companies in the country, and I wanted to see how a great business actually operated. I ended up spending ten years there, mostly in management, deeply immersed in sales and customer experience. Even then, I never lost sight of my goal—to one day become a home builder in Anderson.
When I returned to construction, working for a local builder, everything looked different. I now viewed the industry through the lens of customer experience, and what I saw was a major gap. There was very little focus on what clients actually went through during a building or renovation project. That realization became my new mission.
In 2014, I started Caba Homes with the goal of serving people well in the construction space. Like most builders, we started small—with a pickup truck, a bag of tools, and a willingness to take on just about anything. Over time, we grew, learned, and refined our focus. Today, we specialize in custom homes and larger renovations, and we’re grateful to be opening an office location in downtown Anderson.
Along the way, I made every mistake you can imagine. I thought serving clients meant saying yes to everything. That led to expanding budgets, blown timelines, communication breakdowns, and more stress than I care to admit. But we kept learning. With the help of past clients, local relationships, and professional coaches, we came to understand that truly serving people requires structure, clarity, and intention.
Now, we guide clients through clearly defined phases, provide 3D renderings for better decision-making, focus on detailed budgeting, maintain consistent communication, and use a client dashboard to keep everything organized. Our real goal is relationships—partnering with the right clients and guiding them from where they are to a finished project they genuinely love.
We’ll continue to make mistakes, but we’ll keep getting better. Having learned so many lessons the hard way, I want to be a resource for others entering this industry. Construction is challenging, but when it’s done right, it’s incredibly rewarding—for both the builder and the people who call those homes their own.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Construction has a way of teaching lessons the hard way, and I’ve learned most of mine through experience.
Early on, one of my biggest struggles was confusing good service with saying yes to everything. I genuinely wanted clients to be happy, but without clear structure, that mindset led to expanding budgets, missed timelines, and unnecessary stress—for both the client and us. I was working long hours, constantly putting out fires, and still feeling like I was falling short.
Another challenge was realizing how isolating this industry can be. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. As a small business owner—especially in construction—you’re often expected to have all the answers. In reality, I was learning business fundamentals while trying to deliver high-quality projects at the same time. There’s no true roadmap for building a successful construction company. While there are fundamentals, every business is different, and you can’t simply copy and paste what works for someone else.
I’ve always had a desire to help people, sometimes to a fault. I honestly feel like I started over three times. I often joke that I wasn’t smart enough to quit—but there’s truth in that. I just kept going.
Growth itself brought another layer of challenges. As we took on larger projects, the margin for error shrank. One missed detail or poor communication could snowball quickly—and often did. Every time we stepped into a project that felt like the next level, it didn’t go as smoothly as I hoped. Each one exposed things I didn’t know until I was already in it.
The turning point came when I stopped trying to do everything alone. I began seeking help through mentors, professional coaches, and honest feedback from clients. Those struggles forced me to slow down, get intentional, and build a business that could actually support the level of service I wanted to provide.
We’ve been impressed with Caba Homes, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We specialize in custom homes and large-scale renovations, but at our core, we’re a service-driven construction company. Caba Homes was built around transparency, communication, and guiding clients through what can otherwise be a confusing and stressful process.
Over the years, we’ve developed a structured, intentional approach that starts with understanding our clients’ goals before a single decision is made. We begin with an initial conversation focused on listening—how our clients live, what they value, and what they’re trying to accomplish. From there, we provide a high-level budget range early in the process so expectations around cost are clear from the start.
Once there’s alignment, we help turn ideas into plans and then into 3D models. This allows clients to actually see their home before it’s built and refine details with confidence. Only after that clarity is achieved do we create a detailed, line-by-line budget so there are fewer surprises once construction begins.
During the build, communication is constant. We provide daily logs, weekly recaps, and scheduled check-ins to review progress, timelines, and budgets. All of this is organized through a client dashboard that gives homeowners real-time access to their project information, documents, and updates.
What sets us apart is that we don’t just build houses—we guide people. We see ourselves as partners, helping clients navigate decisions, trade-offs, and expectations from start to finish. Brand-wise, I’m most proud that we are building a reputation for professionalism and integrity in an industry that often lacks structure and trust.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
If I could go back and give myself just one piece of advice, it would be this: work intentionally to find mentors.
For years, I assumed no one wanted to help, and that I was the only one dealing with difficult or embarrassing problems. What I eventually discovered is that truly successful people—those who have overcome challenges and learned from their mistakes—often enjoy helping others. They just don’t want to waste their time. They’re usually drawn to people who show passion, grit, and a willingness to learn.
The second realization was just as important: I wasn’t alone. Many of the challenges I was facing were things others had already worked through. I remember feeling a huge sense of relief when I realized I wasn’t the only one making mistakes—it meant there was a path forward.
My advice is to start by identifying who you want to become. What kind of spouse, parent, friend, and business leader do you want to be? What kind of business do you want to build? Once you’re clear on that, look for people who already embody those qualities.
I’ve never met someone at the top of a mountain who didn’t know exactly how they got there—every step along the way. No one does meaningful work by accident. And often, it won’t be just one mentor. Different people will help you in different seasons, sometimes for a short time. When you have access to them, ask questions, listen more than you talk, and stay humble.
Most importantly, be genuine. Share the good, the bad, the struggles, and the wins. People are drawn to authenticity, and that’s where real relationships—and real growth—begin.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cabahomes.com
