Episode 153: Cornell Custom Construction: Accepting all Challenges in Luxury Home Construction & Life with Toby Cornell

Written By Greg Villafana

Today Brad speaks with Toby Cornell of Cornell Custom Construction. Toby is a third-generation builder who took the reins of the Southern California-based firm over 20 years ago.

Listen in as Toby talks about the company’s recent foray into the commercial space after exclusively taking on residential projects since its inception decades ago, and why he considers the bidding process the most challenging aspect of commercial work.

He speaks on his decision to dedicate his life to the world of construction like his father and grandfather before him, and how he has evolved the business over the past two decades.

Finally, Toby talks about his inspiring weight loss journey and recently discovered passion for fitness. He reveals to Brad his fight with childhood leukemia at the tender age of eight and how he aims to make a difference today among other kids who are going through what he once did.

Sponsors:

Events:

Topics Discussed: 

  • Taking on both commercial and residential projects

  • Different types of contracts that come with commercial projects

  • How owners of commercial projects differ from residential homeowners

  • Training your construction team to thrive in commercial work

  • Why Toby chose construction

  • How Cornell’s system evolved over Toby’s 20+ years

  • The extent of Toby’s involvement in the preconstruction phase

  • Partnering with architects

  • Balancing business development with lead generation

  • Setting your prices and creating your contracts

  • Toby’s fitness journey

  • Toby’s experience with the 75 Hard program

  • Overcoming leukemia at eight years old

  • What’s next for Toby

Connect with Guest:

  • Website - www.cornellcustomconstruction.com

  • Instagram - @cornellcustomconstruction

  • Facebook - Cornell Custom Construction

  • LinkedIn - Toby Cornell

  • Houzz - Cornell Custom Homes, Inc.

  • TikTok - @cornellcustom

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

Key Quotes by Toby: 

  • It’s so rewarding, when you’re renovating or remodeling, to start with this old home that needs a lot of work and needs life brought back into it and, when you’re done, you can stand back and say, “Wow, our team built that.” It’s the same thing with a new build: You start with a piece of dirt, and when you’re done, you’ve built this huge, beautiful building that hopefully will be there for hundreds of years.

Greg Villafana
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Episode 154: Owner’s Rep for Project Management with Maureen Mascaro of The Common Area
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Episode152: Strict Vision Athletics: Turning Passion for Fitness & Superheroes into Profit with Brandon Fougnies