Founded in 1976 by Pete and Sue Jacobson, Lake Country Builders set out with a straightforward mission: use Pete’s carpentry skills to provide quality work at fair prices. The company started with a van full of tools and a belief that taking care of people would eventually take care of the business. Today, the firm has grown into a design-build organization operating across Minnesota and Wisconsin, employing an in-house carpentry team and offering design and project management services. Patrick Jacobson, son of the founders and now president, says the core idea remains the same.
A House Is Built from the Top Down
Patrick Jacobson describes the company’s purpose as handcrafting clients’ visions while impacting lives. He notes that great homes are designed around how people live, cook, entertain, and age, rather than following temporary trends. The firm has cultivated a reputation for creating homes built to last. A master carpenter once taught the apprentices to begin with the end in mind, reinforcing a top-down approach to construction. Patrick agrees that this commitment to design and client relationships has remained steadfast over the decades.
The company has handled significant challenges over its 50-year history, including economic recessions, housing downturns, high interest rates, labor shortages, material shortages, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Pete and Sue Jacobson say creativity is essential to surviving hard times. To maximize value for clients during downturns, they built out a Design Division and a Small Project Division and expanded into Northern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. Patrick adds that when times get difficult, there is always pressure to compromise by chasing the wrong work or cutting quality. The firm has tried to resist that pressure, focusing instead on protecting the elements that created the company: people, relationships, craftsmanship, reputation, and client commitment.
Looking to the Future
The family believes the fundamental promise of their business will carry them into the next 50 years. Patrick says the scale has changed, the process has changed, and the homes have changed. Yet, the core promise remains the same. He states that doing excellent work, taking care of people, and keeping commitments are the only ways to succeed. The firm will continue to rely on these values to work through the future of the industry.
A Memorable Project Inspires New Business
A standout project for the company was Pete’s personal home in Linden Hills, inspired by an Italian villa. He built it himself with his sons and the Lake Country Builders crew. The result was a beautifully authentic home that attracted attention from passersby, who later became clients.