Richard Knappe was introduced to the construction industry at a young age and has been involved in the business ever since. His father, Ib Knappe, emigrated from Denmark when he was a teenager and worked a journeyman coach maker. Richard followed suit as a journeyman carpenter, personally framing more than 250 homes, and eventually moving into a supervisory role where he oversaw the construction of more than 500 homes in the Calgary area.
Today, Richard and wife Jennifer are the proud owners of Cedar Creek Custom Homes. The couple opened the business in June of 2009 in Canada and, after spending several summers on the Pend Oreille and falling in love with the area, made the decision to expand Cedar Creek Custom Homes to Priest River in 2018.
“The people of North Idaho are some of the nicest folks we’ve ever met,” says Richard. “We love the community feel and hospitality. It fits perfectly with our overall values as individuals and as a company.”
For nearly a decade, Cedar Creek Custom Homes has been providing executive-level general contracting services, building luxurious custom homes and overseeing major residential renovation projects. They specialize in catering to busy executives and business owners who are looking for an exceptional finished product in addition to an enjoyable building experience.
“From being available for site meetings on evenings and weekends to using state-of-the-art project management software to allow our clients to track every aspect of the construction schedule and budget from anywhere in real time, we’ve gone out of our way to ensure we provide an experience that is 100 percent personalized and transparent,” says Richard.
One aspect that truly makes Cedar Creek Custom Homes unique is their uncommon approach to financial transparency, giving their clients complete control over the building budget. “Clients benefit from our contractor discounts from suppliers and see the actual quotes that we receive from trades. This promotes trust between all parties,” says Richard.
Over the years, they have built a reputation as the go-to builder for quality vacation homes, in turn creating a niche market that focuses on projects that require an exceptional eye for detail while leaving room for creative flexibility.
Richard and Jennifer attribute the success of their business to their amazing clients, superior sub-contractors and exceptional staff.
The couple agrees that possession day is the most rewarding part of the entire process. “There is nothing more heartwarming than revealing a dynamite finished product to a most deserving client,” Richard says. “The biggest payoff is watching the homeowner use their new home to create incredible new memories with friends and family. Possession day often comes with tears of joy, hugs, and of course a celebration beverage!”
The Knappes continually look for ways to provide insight for their clients and those looking to build a new home. They are thrilled to announce some exciting developments for 2019. These include the premiere of their YouTube miniseries, “Inside Cedar Creek,” which will give viewers an honest look at what building a custom home is all about. They will also be offering free custom home building workshops for ladies in April and May to help women feel more comfortable with the building process and give them the tools and confidence they need to make informed decisions throughout the process.
“We absolutely love the building process itself,” says Jennifer. “It’s incredibly satisfying to see a client’s dreams come to life from idea to completion.”
Cedar Creek Custom Homes
PO Box 2218
Priest River, Idaho 83856
208.597.1021