About Bigelow Homes

As homebuilders, Bigelow Homes prides itself on tradition. We have been a leader in the building industry for almost 30 years and our main objective is to focus on quality and customer satisfaction with cost-efficient homes. Each development project builds on tradition and reputation for satisfying our customers. Currently, Bigelow Homes has housing developments in 10 different communities.

Bigelow Homes started very simply about 30 years ago when Joel Bigelow was about 19 or 20 years old. With his own crew, he began his business by repairing roofs and shingling homes and barns. Then he expanded into construction of commercial building and pole buildings for dairy and hog set-ups, as well as commercial steel buildings.

"We dabbled in that for two or three years and then we went into home building. We've been doing home building ever since," said Bigelow.

As a young man, Bigelow worked union construction for a couple of years, but preferred to be his own boss and started doing miscellaneous jobs. "I built a home for my own family and then from there, I just specialized in single family housing."

"We're kind of a paper contractor," he explained, "Basically we subcontract everything out, but we have a staff of about 35 people on our payroll, from management to job coordinators, to service personnel who perform repair work and service in our homes. We have two carpenters on staff to do interior finishes."

From his early beginning of working miscellaneous jobs, Bigelow expanded his business into developments in Austin, Kenyon, Kellogg, Zumbrota, Pine Island, Kasson, Mantorville, Byron and Rochester.

"We're homebuilders and developers," said Bigelow. "I'd describe our company as aggressive, hardworking, and honest. Through hard work, you can overcome a lot of negatives. It's hard for me, starting this as a young man, I never dreamed that our building and development company would do over 50 million a year. I never dreamed that we would be this large, but things just kept on happening and I guess my model and my vision has been to do the best job possible for the least dollar and to be honest and to be ethical with our customers."

When choosing development property, Bigelow Homes tries to look two to three years in advance.

"We have model homes in the right prices and the right subdivisions and the right areas of towns," said Bigelow. " I guess we just have a vision and look ahead to what's needed and what the economy is going to do. A development is kind of a risky business, no question about it. I'm a firm believer in some luck, but preparation and opportunity where they meet, that's what I call luck. We're thankful that we're basically the number one builder and developer in the Rochester area."

Joel has learned that attitude is important for achieving success. He believes that people like to work with positive people and companies. His personal beliefs and his personal business philosophy are similar.

"I treat everyone the same, no matter if they're clean-up personnel, a painter, banker, or the president of the Wells Fargo Bank. I treat everybody basically the same and try to treat them with respect. We're so thankful that Rochester is a growing, expanding community. With all the good things happening in the Rochester market with economics, and the Mayo Clinic, I just think it's growing area and it's going to continue growing. I've been blessed and I feel blessed," said Bigelow. "I feel like I have a lot more to give to the community in southeast Minnesota and I'm going to do the best I can."

Please note that lot styles as well as all pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.