If home is where the heart is, it starts with Toney Sullivan Construction, a family in the building business, building homes for families.

When you work with Toney Sullivan Construction, you don't get one general contractor, you get three. There's the original Toney, his daughter, Christy, and his son, Toney II. Together they are the heart and soul of Toney Sullivan Construction.

The elder Toney grew up in the small town of Newberry where he learned the values of taking care of one another and respect. He's been in the construction business for 40 years and has seen his share of changes in that time. Back in the day, there were no building codes, and no permits. Houses were built from experience and know how and passed down from generation to generation, master to apprentice.

Toney began working as plumber for someone else and as his experience grew, he started working on his own. In the 1970s he moved into the construction business, building a few homes on the side, maybe three a year, while he continued to work his plumbing business full-time.

Then in the 1990's, Toney began having health problems and his son Toney II stepped up to the plate to help his father run the business. But Toney II wanted to put more of his effort into the building side, so the day he graduated from high school, the Sullivan family made the decision to grab the construction "bull by the horns" and go for it. While they still worked on plumbing, those contracts waned and general construction took over as the mainstay of the family income. Christy soon joined the group and now the three work sideby- side-by-side, leaving Toney with a little more time for himself.

Toney Sullivan Construction prides themselves on building homes, not products. They have built homes in subdivisions all over Alachua County. From Turkey Creek on the 18-hole golf course, to Belmont, a serene community in Jonesville that pampers its residents with parks for people and pets alike. In Belmont, you can chose from the 1,451 square foot Sterling model or the 1,792 square foot Cambridge. Regardless of the size of the floor plan you chose, they all include top notch amenities like elegant crown molding, sophisticated tiled floors and raised tray ceilings.

Meadows on the Prairie, a neighborhood full of walking trails and a recreational area bordering the Kanapaha Prairie, is just a hop, skip and a jump to Archer Road, I-75 or the VA hospital. Here, buyers can choose from the Savannah model with features like ceramic tile in the foyer and baths, or a jetted tub in the master bath. The Charleston has all of the Savannah features plus add-ons like natural maple cabinets and beveled laminate for the kitchen and bath countertops. From one end of the county to the other, Toney Sullivan homes are in high demand.

When asked why he thinks his business has been so successful, Toney replies, "First and foremost, I thank God for my success. Without him I'd be nothing. Second, I try to be considerate of the people I'm working for."

Don't leave it up to Toney to toot his own horn, though, others are quick to applaud him and his considerate demeanor. The realtors at Bosshardt Realty Services, Inc. have watched Toney in action and have sold many of his houses.

Anne Koterba knows Toney goes out of his way to please his clients. "He goes above and beyond to make his clients happy and he puts a lot of pride in his work. People see his plans and they just fall in love with them."

Bobby Houdershelt, who works for Bosshardt with his wife Debbie, doesn't just think Toney is a great guy, he thinks all three of the Sullivans are wonderful. "They really are a family of builders building for families. I've never worked with such an accommodating builder. And with Toney, his word is as good as a written contract. He takes promises seriously."

Then, there's Linda Rabell and Kirsty Freshwater, who sell Toney's homes in Belmont. "People see Toney's homes in developments elsewhere and they want him to build their home here. Toney Sullivan Construction is an old-fashioned builder who takes their clients' wants and needs to heart."

Having a house built can be a stressful time for families, but Toney understands and tries to accommodate his clients. He once worked with a young couple who were moving to Gainesville from out of state when their financing fell through the day before closing. Toney stepped in, helped them find a new mortgage company and get settled in their new home. After the couple moved in, Toney and his wife even stopped by the house to make sure things were OK.

"I have a family and I couldn't imagine one of them going through something like that. I did what I could to help them out," explains Toney. "This isn't just a business to me."

Toney Sullivan Construction, a family of builders, building homes for families- homes with a little bit of love built in.

Toney, Christy or Toney II can be reached at 352-333-0030. You can also check out Toney Sullivan Construction homes at Belmont or Meadows On The Prairie