About Us
Virginia Building Solutions, LLC was formed in 2004 by John Garrett for the purpose of constructing systems built homes and purchasing building lots for speculation in Williamsburg, Virginia. After successfully building modular homes in the # 1 planned community in America, Ford's Colony, John began to receive requests to build modular homes for land owners who had seen the finished quality and structural advantages of Systems building after originally planning to build a site built home. These land owners did their research and found that they did not have to pay the high cost, suffer the extended builder backlogs or wait the length of time it takes to build on site. By utilizing the experience gained from building homes for speculation coupled with ten years in the factory built home industry, John decided to begin custom building for clients and even site builders who were impressed with the quality and time savings of modular homes.
In November of 2006 John was contacted by the editor of Building Systems Mageazine who featured John's success in the Modular Builder Profile section of the November/December issue. With the shift in the housing market in mid 2006 and the growth opportunity apparent in the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck of Virginia, John decided to expand the business by installing a model home and design center in Tappahannock, VA. Just as the doors opened in Tappahannock, John was featured on July 1, 2007 in an article which made the front page of the Real Estate section of the Richmond Times Dispatch. John was contacted and interviewed for the article, "Modulars build a reputation" which featured the changing perceptions commonly held about the quality and benefits of building a modular home. Two of John's clients were also interviewed and quoted in the article. 'Eric Kean did his homework before he contracted (with Virginia Building Solutions) for a modular home, "At the end of the day, I tried shooting holes in it, but modular homes are better built, and you get a better bang for your buck".
Virginia Building Solutions is a custom systems built / modular home builder based in Tappahannock, VA serving all of Eastern Virginia, the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula and Williamsburg to Central Virginia, Richmond, Powhatan, Goochland, Louisa and Lake Anna. In 2019 Virginia Building Solutions opened a new Model Home/Design Center in Rocky Mount, VA, serving all of Southwest Virginia, the Roanoke Valley, the New River Valley, Lynchburg to Danville, Bedford. Franklin County and Smith Mountain Lake.
Virginia Building Solutions offers the best combination of Custom Quality Finishes demanded by the most discriminating homebuyer and the superior Off Site Building Methods of Systems Built / Modular Construction. Virginia Building Solutions also offers hundreds of custom home plans ranging in size from under 1000 to over 4000 square feet. We are proud to offer an extensive line of Energy Efficient, Green Friendly off-site built modular homes with hundreds of unique options - so you can customize with ease and style. View our Photo Gallery, Home plans, Standard features and dozens of Options. You can also bring us ANY plan for a FREE feasibility estimate.
Contact us to today for custom modular home prices, designs and mortgage loan financing options.
Don't forget, with modular construction you don’t have to wait for spring to start building. We can build year round.
Owner/Builder/General Contractor
John Garrett
Owner
Hometown: Rocky Mt. VA, near Roanoke, VA. John is married with a daughter, Rachel. John's Wife and co-owner - Paige - is from Tappahannock, VA.
During college John was selected to Alpha Kappa Delta honor society, received numerous honorable mentions from the Faculty and Deans List for academic performance and was named by Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. John graduated with Honors from Roanoke College, Salem, VA.
After college John worked for the corporate office of a nationwide factory homebuilder and soon entered sales and management. For eight years John was moved from location to location as a general manager for two of the largest factory homebuilders in the nation. During his tenure John was recognized numerous times for his achievements in business productivity and managment success. In 2004 John started Virginia Building Solutions, LLC becoming the first modular builder to offer systems built homes for sale in the #1 planned community in the nation, Ford's Colony.
In 2006 John was selected to the President's Builder Advisory Board for Ritz-Craft Homes. John was named Builder of the Year for Ritz-Craft Homes in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. John has also served a three year term as a member of the Advisory Board Council for The Bank of Lancaster, and a two year term for Peoples Bank. In 2015, 2017 and 2019 Virginia Building Solutions has awarded Home of the Month by the Modular Home Builders Association. In 2019 Virginia Building Solutions was awarded Home of the month three times! In 2017 the MHBA awarded VBS with Home of the Year for the Scott home in Heathsville, VA. Other recent awards include Home Builders Digest 2019 ranked VBS in the top 13 Custom Home builders in VA. Virginia Living Magazine has named VBS Best Home Builder in Eastern VA in 2018 and 2019.
Fran Graves
Home Sales & Design, Kitchen Design Specialist
Fran is a resident of Tappahannock and is married with five children and 11 grandchildren.
She is active in the community and has performed many civic rolls including serving as a PTA President.
Fran is a graduate of Long Island University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts. She has held numerous positions in the home building industry ranging from product sales to project superintendant for a custom home building contractor. Fran has been awarded with numerous awards for her achievements in home, kitchen, cabinetry and product sales.
Fran also brings twenty years of experience as a Kitchen designer to the VBS team. She has represented multiple brand name cabinet companies and offers professional custom design services to VBS customers.
Fran has been an integral member of the VBS team as a Home sales and design consultant since 2009. She was named as Sales Professional of the year by Ritz Craft Homes in 2010 and 2012.
Rob Pilcher
Service & Sales Manager
Rob Pilcher is a jack-of-all-trades at Virginia Building Solutions and is no stranger to the construction industry; in fact, he’s touched almost every aspect at some point during his career. Rob previously worked at Virginia Building Solutions before a 10-year stint running his own business renovating homes in Richmond.
At Virginia Building Solutions, Pilcher serves in pricing, service and sales.
What makes Virginia Building Solutions unique, Pilcher said, is being a part of a team.
“When you buy a home from VBS, it’s a team effort,” he said. “You don’t get an individual, you get all five of us. So if a customer calls up and wants an answer about their home, anyone of us can usually answer the question.”
System-built homes and their ability to be customized have become more popular in recent years, Pilcher said. In addition, the homes are built protected from weather and are cost and time efficient.
When he’s not working, Pilcher enjoys flying and spending time with his family and grandchildren.
Madison Schneider
Sales Consultant
When Madison Schneider joined the team at Virginia Building Solutions in 2021, she didn’t realize that her varied work experience, including health care, banking and real estate, and her people skills would culminate in her current role as a sales consultant.
Madison is one of the first friendly face customers encounter once they enter the Tappahannock sales center. Meeting people from all walks of life is one of Madison’s favorite things about her job in addition to helping their home building dreams become reality.
“Having experience in different fields of work has taught me to see different perspectives,” Madison said. “I love getting to know people and their different styles. When clients have difficulty visualizing what they want to build, I am able to guide them along to bring their thoughts to the drawing board.”
Madison loves the team atmosphere and culture at Virginia Building Solutions and regards her co-workers as “one big family.”
Her future goals are to build her forever home with Virginia Building Solutions and to maybe flip homes as a business in the future. She is a lifelong resident of Tappahannock, where she resides with her son. While spending time with her son, Madison also enjoys fishing, the beach and do it yourself projects.
Amanda Carroll
Administration and Sales Assistant
In December 2022, Amanda Carroll joined the Virginia Building Solutions team in the role of Office Assistant at its Tappahannock office. Her duties include performing general office administrative tasks, entering data and servicing receivable and payable accounts.
A former Navy veteran, Amanda brings a wealth of experience to Virginia Building Solutions.
Home construction runs in Amanda’s family (her father is in the industry), in addition to her love of house flipping shows on television.
She is a graduate of Randolph-Macon College and lives in the area with her two sons.
Amanda says she enjoys “working with a team to make people’s dreams come true,” and likes the feeling of being part of the VBS family.
When not working, Amanda enjoys watching her sons play sports, going for long car rides and seeing the countryside, as well as traveling to Arizona.
Rocky Mount
Frank Hodges
General Manager
In early 2024, Frank Hodges joined the team of Virginia Building Solutions in Rocky Mount as general manager. With 41 years of experience, Hodges brings a wealth of knowledge about all facets of modular home construction, manufacturing and sales. In previous roles in the industry, Hodges has served as head of engineering and VP of sales, among other managerial responsibilities.
As general manager, a lot of what Hodges does at Virginia Building Solutions is behind the scenes. He makes sure all order details and logistics are correct, projects are running on time and commitments are met.
What Hodges said he especially enjoys is connecting with customers and seeing their dreams come true and their expectations are fulfilled.
Since joining VBS, Hodges said he is impressed with the team culture.
“it’s a family atmosphere,” he said.“Everyone here is willing to help and support one another.”
Hodges added that he’s looking forward to contributing to Virginia Building Solutions’ mission of continuously improving processes and efficiencies to enhance customers’ experience.
A lifelong resident of Franklin County, Hodges and his wife, Terri, have two grown sons and three grandchildren. In his spare time, Hodges enjoys chainsaw carving, family camping in their RV and radio-controlled trucks.
Melissa Wibaldi
Sales Consultant
Administrative assistant Melissa Wibaldi began full time employment at Virginia Building Solutions in April of 2021. A quick learner, she has embraced the ins and outs of Virginia Building Solution's busy construction business. Her responsibilities are clerical duties, scheduling, invoicing, building permits, contracts and continues to learn more each day.
Melissa enjoys that the team commitment towards customer care that she has experienced at VBS. She says, "It's really great to work in a place where everyone here is completely dedicated towards finding the right solution to meet our customers' needs and are committed towards their ultimate satisfaction."
Melissa calls Franklin County Virginia home with her family of three. She enjoys rural living and loves being in the outdoors.
Jennifer Steele
Sales Consultant
Jennifer, born and raised in Franklin County, Virginia, knows this area and its people well. Having worked previously in the housing industry, she applies her experience and people skills to her current position. Jennifer enjoys the details of product selection and how certain materials, color and finish combinations can make a home come together.
Jennifer especially enjoys getting to know her customers personally and hearing how they came to Virginia Building Solutions.
“Home is a sacred place that is personal and dear,” Jennifer said. “I see it as a privilege to help people in realizing their dream home.”
Jennifer added that she likes the welcoming environment of Virginia Building Solutions and appreciates how motivated and excited everyone is in assisting customers in their home building journey.
When not at work, Jennifer enjoys attending her church, relishes cooking for her large extended family and taking vacation trips to Topsail Island beach.