Killowen Construction Behind the Business: Scaling to $50 million in a decade with Buildertrend (part 1 of 5)

We’re excited to bring you a new Behind the Business series featuring Killowen Construction, a custom home builder based in Utah. In this five-part feature, you’ll hear from company owner and founder, Tyler Farrell, who you might recognize from the hit Netflix show, “Dream Home Makeover.” Follow along on his journey of starting a construction business from the ground up – and how Buildertrend helped them scale to become one of the top custom home builders in the area.

The journey from humble beginnings to industry leader is one marked by passion, perseverance and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

For Tyler Farrell, president of Killowen Construction, the path to success has been anything but conventional. From his love for building “really cool things” to his strategic embrace of Buildertrend’s tools, Tyler has transformed a small, one-man operation into a mid-sized home-building powerhouse with an annual revenue of $40-$50 million.

Watch part one of this Behind the Business series – and hear from Tyler himself how he used technology to take his love of building to new heights.

The origins of Killowen Construction

Killowen Construction, now a decade old, carries a name that holds deep personal significance for Tyler. “Killowen is a little village in Ireland where my grandfather is from, and to honor him I chose to name the business Killowen Construction,” Tyler shared. This homage to his roots reflects the deep connection he feels to his work and the values that guide his business.

A modest beginning with big dreams

Tyler’s own journey began in California, where his career wasn’t progressing as he’d hoped.

“My wife and I decided we were going to come back to Utah to start this company,” Tyler recalled.

His initial business plan was modest. He aimed to work alone – building one or two houses a year – with a focus on his passion for carpentry.

“I really liked carpentry, so my hope was to do some of the finish carpentry and maybe make an extra couple thousand dollars per house by doing it myself.”

However, as word spread about his craftsmanship and dedication, more opportunities came knocking. The demand for his homes grew, and it quickly became clear that Tyler could no longer handle the workload on his own.

The need for structure: Enter Buildertrend

As Tyler’s team expanded, so did the complexity of the business.

What started as a solo endeavor – with everything “in my head” – soon required formal systems, policies and procedures. This is where Buildertrend came into play.

Once they had Buildertrend’s systems, templates, schedules and best practices in place, they were able to hire more people.

The use of Buildertrend’s tools allowed Tyler to translate his vision into actionable processes that his team could follow.

“By trying to take everything out of my mind and put it into a system my people could relate to and operate well in, [Buildertrend’s] tools were really important with helping me scale,” Tyler said.

Scaling up to building dream homes

Today, Killowen Construction is a mid-sized home builder specializing in custom homes that range from $4-$6 million each.

The company now builds around 10 homes a year, each one a testament to the team’s skill and dedication.

Tyler’s passion for his work shines through in every project. “Part of it is the thrill, and I love that we build really cool things. That’s the part of my job that is super interesting to me,” he said.

His journey from a solo carpenter to the leader of a thriving construction company is a story of grit and growth – and the power of the right tools at the right time.

Looking ahead

As Killowen Construction continues to grow, Tyler remains grounded in his love for the craft and his appreciation for the team that helps bring his vision to life.

“Sometimes I sit back and realize how lucky I am to be building these types of homes and have the kind of team that knows how to do this and do it very well,” he shared.

Tyler Farrell’s story is a testament to the power of combining passion wtih the right technology. With Buildertrend as a critical partner in their success, Killowen Construction is poised for even greater heights in the years to come.

Follow in Tyler’s footsteps by scheduling a free demo with Buildertrend – and learn how our software can help you build a solid foundation for your business and allow you to scale beyond what you ever thought possible.