It’s more than just the name with BetterBuilt, it’s their mission! Troy Speegle, founder of BetterBuilt of Northwest Florida, has over 45 years of experience in the industry and what started as military, government, and commercial projects, has now grown into serving the luxury home market along the Emerald Coast. Troy and his BetterBuilt team are committed to the highest standards of skilled craftsmanship, quality materials, flawless execution, and supreme customer service. As its premier community, The Village at Grayton Beach is in the final phase of construction and BetterBuilt is now setting sights on other new construction opportunities within WaterSound West Beach and more!
How did you get into the building industry and how was BetterBuilt of Northwest Florida established?
Construction is in the Speegle family blood line. My grandfather was a builder, my dad was a builder and my son is a 4thgeneration builder and the current owner as of January 2021. In 1996 I opened a field office for Speegle Construction, Inc in Niceville at the request of my dad in order to service the military construction needs of bases located throughout the Florida Panhandle. Our first job was a playground at Poquito Bayou in Shalimar which was a very small beginning. Under my leadership the field office grew rapidly and in 2002 the company passed from father to son and the corporate office relocated to Niceville from the Florida Space Coast. Over the course of the last 26 years, Speegle Construction has successfully executed over $600M in contracts for the Air Force, Army Corps of Engineers, Navy, Post Office, Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Escambia county. Project types included dormitories, fire stations, public safety facilities, basketball arenas, office facilities, command and control facilities, libraries, medical clinics, test ranges, hangars, food service facilities, flight simulators, post offices, schools, waste water treatment facilities and public utilities.
In 2006, I began to attend the annual Parade of Homes event in our area. I was disappointed by the quality of what I was seeing in many of the homes. I firmly believed that there was a better way to build. I wondered what it would be like to bring an emphasis on quality to a residential construction company. Timing is everything and since I was extremely busy with my commercial line of business I waited for a better time to pursue what was a dream which was to build high end homes known for their quality construction. By 2012, land was cheap and there was a feeling that the “Great Recession” was behind us and that residential construction had finally turned the corner. Sensing the opportunity, I launched BetterBuilt. I chose this name because I wanted it to remind us what we were all about. Our catch phrase of “Our Name is Our Mission” resonated with our team members. Putting this name on our shirts, our hats, and our vehicles holds us accountable to each other and also to our customers. That was almost 10 years ago and our product continues to receive high reviews. Our approach has validated that while people want a good deal, they value quality more than a cheap price and sub-par construction.
What makes the Village at Grayton Beach unique to other homes you have built in the South Walton/30A area?
The Village at Grayton Beach is a 47-lot master planned community where the look and feel harkens back to a time when people used to sit on their front porches and visit with their neighbors. The homes all have either single or stacked porches on the front of the house and employ design elements common to a coastal environment. The exterior color palette consists of soft and subtle tones that blend well with each other. The neighborhood has a large zero-entry pool and pool deck for residents located at the end of an oak lined street. The Village at Grayton Beach is located in close proximity to the Shops at Grayton, Grayton Beach State Park the famous Red Bar restaurant and the Communities of Seacrest Beach to the East and Blue Mountain Beach to the West.
Pinecrest at Inlet Beach 
The Village at Grayton Beach
What are the new building trends that you are including in your new homes?
BetterBuilt will launch construction of Phase 3 of the Village at Grayton Beach in January of 2022. These new homes will be three-story homes located in close proximity to the pool. The majority of them will be between 2,600 to 2,800 square feet and will feature a new color palette that will consist mostly of shades of white with a front door accent color which we think will be a fun addition. These houses will also have new, upscale finishes such as white oak floors, newly released custom tile packages, wooden accent walls, crown molding throughout, kitchen farm sinks, Thermador appliances, two separate living areas, large and spacious open floor plans for the kitchen/living/dining area, natural gas tankless water heaters, Trex brand or equal deck material at porches, crushed marble soaking tubs, natural gas fire places in most units and separate HVAC units for each floor including a dehumidification and outside air unit. Structured cabling, fire alarm and smart home features will be standard on all homes.
If you were building your dream home, what is a “must have” feature?
My must-have feature would be smart home technology which allows for remote control of the HVAC, lighting, and security of the home.
Do you have any tips for new home buyers?
Focus on quality and the reputation of your builder. Also, allow more time for the construction of your home due to shortages in labor and materials which are systemic in our market.
