Local Builder Heads to Germany to Bring Back Better Products, Techniquesand Energy Saving Measures for Cape Coral Homes.

German airline pilot Matthias Pommerehne worked with Beattie Development for two years to design and build his family a large ultra-contemporary home on a Cape Coral waterfront lot. The home, dubbed the Luxus, won Beattie multiple design awards from the Cape Coral Construction Industry Association and the Lee County Building Industry Association and is considered to be the first home of such modern design in Cape Coral.

Now, builder Paul Beattie is headed to Germany to learn about the superior quality of craftsmanship, products and energy-saving measures that Pommerehne and his other European clients are seeking in their Cape Coral vacation homes.

“They have a lot more product knowledge and a higher attention to detail than we do here,” said Beattie. “I want to learn not only about their products, but also how I can make our team of craftsmen better so that we can attain the German level of quality my European clients are asking for in their new homes.”
Beattie said he also wants to look for upcoming trends in home design.

Germany has most advanced builders in Europe, claims Matthias. “It makes sense for Paul to go see that firsthand. Our tradesmen must go to school for three years and pass a test to get certified to work in a single field, like plumbing or electrical. And we have the most strict regulations for energy saving measures for home features such as windows, insulation and appliances.”

Beattie has built several contemporary homes for European clients in the last few years and admits that some have demanded details he and his team aren’t familiar with. “It seems like we’re about three years behind them in features like LED lighting, switches, appliances…things like that.”

In addition to Pommerehne, Beattie will also meet with two other German clients he has built homes for in Cape Coral. He leaves for Germany April 3. In the meantime, he is putting the finishing touches on a completely remodeled design showroom and a new model home on Pelican Boulevard.

Beattie’s new real estate division recently sold the Luxus model he built for Pommerehne; Pommerehne and his wife are now building a second, similar contemporary home on another waterfront lot in Cape Coral. Pommerehne, who flies part-time for Lufthansa, is now working alongside Beattie on ways to make the developer’s new homes more energy efficient.

“In Germany we are way ahead in conserving energy because we don’t have natural resources, so energy costs much more than in America. But energy will become more and more expensive here in the future. Here in Florida, you wouldn’t even need a power plant if you had smarter technology.“