Killowen Construction Behind the Business: Real talk on challenges every builder faces (part 3 of 5)
This week we bring you the third installment in a series highlighting Killowen Construction, a Utah-based, luxury custom home builder. In this five-part feature, you’ll hear from Tyler Farrell on how he used construction software to go from a few small jobs per year, to a top builder featured on a hit Netflix TV show. Follow along on his journey as he shares both the wins and failures that led to his team’s massive success.
When you think of a successful home builder, you probably picture smooth operations, beautiful finished homes and a team that’s got everything dialed in. Well, Tyler Farrell, president of Killowen Construction, would be the first to tell you that while all of that is true on some days – it’s far from the whole story.
“In construction, there’s no such thing as a perfect house,” Tyler said. “You see the finished product, you see me walking around showing a sports court we built … what you’re not seeing are the days we screwed up on a flashing detailing, and we’re scrambling to make sure we did it right.”
It’s the kind of real talk that gives you a peek behind the scenes – because, as Tyler admits, things don’t always go to plan.
Watch part three of this Behind the Business series – and hear from Tyler as he explains why sharing his failures is just as important as sharing his wins.
Experience makes the difference
Tyler wasn’t always this candid about the bumps along the way. “When I was very young, I was one of those people that said, ‘Experience doesn’t matter, it’s just how hard you work.’ But that’s just something young guys say because experience does matter – and I have it now.”
He’s gained that experience through countless victories and, yes, plenty of mistakes. Those hard-learned lessons now give him an edge and something valuable to pass on to others.
“For me, there’s a fine line of sharing our victories and our failures,” he said. “I don’t want to only be sharing failures, because I don’t want to look incompetent, but ultimately, I fail every day at something in my life – and I think all high achievers do.”
It’s the kind of reflection that anyone aiming for the top can relate to: no matter how high you climb, the stumbles are inevitable.
The reality of home building
One of the realities Tyler faces is the unpredictability of construction.
Even with decades of experience, things can go wrong. During a home build tour, Tyler pointed to the ceiling with massive structural timbers, an impressive feature in the home. “These timbers that you see, lots of times are aesthetic – just there for looks. But these are structural. See that crack right there? That’s bigger than I’m comfortable with, so we might end up replacing that piece.”
It’s a perfect metaphor for what builders deal with daily: things don’t always go as planned, but the ability to spot an issue and know how to fix it is what separates good builders from great ones.
The everyday challenges
“I think there’s this perception when you get to this level, and you’re building these types of homes, and the budgets are bigger, that everyone has it all dialed in, and there are no challenges,” Tyler said. “But you can have the tightest schedule, and then one person doesn’t show up. You’re waking up every day knowing there are going to be challenges.”
It’s not just the big challenges, either. “With construction, there are so many things out of the control of your builder,” Tyler said. “Some of the younger builders I talk to, who are just starting out and want to do what we do, I really want to share with them where I’ve screwed up.”
Tyler believes in paying it forward. He knows that the mistakes he’s made over the years now make him a better resource for others who are just getting started.
Embracing technology
One thing that helps Killowen Construction navigate these challenges is technology.
With Buildertrend, Tyler is able to manage job sites from anywhere. “I think a fun thing for me with Buildertrend is being able to see more of the job sites without actually having to be there. It gives me a lot more peace of mind being able to see the actual work being performed, all the tasks my team is completing and seeing that schedule move in real time.”
While no amount of software can prevent a subcontractor from being late or stop a timber from cracking, having a system in place gives Tyler the ability to respond quickly.
He’s described himself sitting at his “command center,” watching all the Daily Logs and Schedules update across multiple screens – staying connected even when he’s not physically on site. That’s every builder’s dream, right?
Success through setbacks
Tyler’s openness about the challenges in home building is refreshing in an industry that often focuses on the glossy finished product.
“I love my job. I have a great job. It’s exciting, it’s challenging, I make a good living – it’s a really good job,” he said. “However, there are really hard days, and it’s not for everybody. I think it’s really important to show the true side of things.”
That balance – sharing both the wins and the fails – is what makes Killowen Construction’s story so compelling.
Tyler doesn’t just want to show off the big victories – he knows that every failure along the way teaches something valuable. And in an industry built on overcoming roadblocks, it’s that honesty about the struggles that makes Killowen Construction stand out.
Schedule a Buildertrend demo today to see how our construction software can help reduce your failures and increase your wins, just as it has for Killowen Construction.
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