Pulaski County Marine to Get New Home - Highlander ConstructionHighlander Construction

By: KEN HEINECK | WSLS10
Published: November 29, 2012

PULASKI COUNTY, VA —

Crews from Highlander Construction frame the foundation for a former marine.

“What we’re giving him pales in comparison to what he’s given for us,” said James Oliver, of Highlander Construction.

They are getting set to build a home in Pulaski County for SSgt. Jeremy Austin and his family. Austin lost both his legs in an April 2009 IED attack in Afghanistan. He gets around pretty well on his prosthetic legs, but occasionally uses a wheelchair.

“It’s pretty breathtaking and exciting to know that there are people in this country that are willing to do something like this for people like me,” said Austin, a Purple Heart recipient.

The organization behind the project, Massachusetts-based “Homes for Our Troops” has planned for this home to fit Austins’ needs.

“I won’t have to worry about chipping up doorways, and really paying attention to where I’m at, and not even a three point turn, but doing like a 20-point turn in a narrow hallway.”

More than a handful of national and local suppliers donated things, like plumbing and building materials to help with the project.

“For us to be able to give back a little something was very important to us, and we just can’t be more pleased to be involved in this project,” said Oliver.

A few hundred volunteers will join in on a build brigade on Friday. Contractors hope it will be ready for the Austins to move in, in February.

“This is a community my parents have lived in for over ten years now and for this community to open their arms up and welcome us in like we’re family, it gives my wife and I a lot of hope raising our family here,” said Austin.

Luke Allison

12:04 01 Nov 23

Highlander Construction & Development, Inc. exceeded our expectations in every aspect of our home renovation project. Their design expertise transformed our space with an impressive and thoughtful layout that perfectly suited our needs. The quality of their workmanship is unparalleled—every detail was handled with precision and care.One of the standout features of working with Highlander was their exceptional problem-solving abilities. When faced with the challenge of adding a bathroom to our home, they tackled the project with creativity and skill, seamlessly integrating it into the existing structure. It's a testament to their commitment to finding innovative solutions for their clients.What sets Highlander apart is their dedication to customer satisfaction. They actively collaborated with us throughout the process, ensuring that our vision was realized while also working diligently to meet our budget constraints. Their transparency and open communication fostered a positive and trusting relationship, making the entire renovation experience smooth and enjoyable.Highlander Construction & Development, Inc. is a team of professionals who go above and beyond, delivering not just a renovated space but a home that truly reflects the needs and preferences of its occupants. We highly recommend their services for anyone seeking top-notch construction and development work.

Dave Nash

15:52 11 Sep 23

The Highlander team, Jamie, Julene, and Eric, completed our dream vacation house this summer. We cannot give any one higher marks. We are also picky customers. Jamie edited the design we started with and made it much better. This process started right at the end of the pandemic when inflation was rampant. Jamie’s value engineering cut almost 30% from the architect’s materials specs and allowed us to proceed when otherwise the plan’s cost was a non-starter. Construction started on time. We had a few delays, but they were caused by suppliers, not Jamie’s team. At the end, Jamie was almost 10% below the original budget. Change orders and add is were handled efficiently. There were remarkably few headaches. There was a very small punch list to take care of at the end. The house exceeds any expectations we had going into the process. To say the least, we are very pleased. We told Jamie, Julene, and Eric, at the beginning that if we did this right together, they would be part of the family. They have now been adopted whether they want to be or not.

john mccalla

19:14 30 Aug 23

Highlander Construction is one of the last remaining quality custom builders still doing residential projects in the New River Valley. Even though it was a long process to get to the final product due to their workload, the owner, Jamie, was upfront and honest in their commitments. The tradespeople were conscientious and diligent in delivering a quality product. We are very pleased with the results, and have developed a lasting friendship with Jamie and his staff through this project!

Nate Kiser

04:30 27 Aug 23

Highlander has run several projects for us including the construction of a carwash. The carwash was an incredibly detailed and difficult project on a challenging site, and their attention to detail and work process could not have been better. Their billing is clear and concise. You see exactly what they are doing and what you are paying for that service. In today's market, things rarely go as planned, and their response in those situations is fair and transparent. I highly recommend them not just for their work ethic, but also for their diligence, professionalism and quality.

Susan Wileman

21:27 22 Aug 23

Highlander Construction & Development made our dream retirement home a reality! From the start of the unique design through the entire construction, their professionalism and quality were second to none. We recommend Highlander to anyone who wants a superior custom home.

Cindy Cunningham

14:48 22 Aug 23

We love our new kitchen, family room renovation. The quality of work was excellent and done by professionals who were also kind and respectful. The company responds to questions and provides follow-up services quickly and efficiently. I recently needed a cabinet drawer repaired and Jamie and Eric responded immediately to our needs and made the repair without charge.Thank you for making our home beautiful and functional. We love it!