Growing up in a charming Cape Cod home that her father built and her mother designed, Susan White developed a love for the building industry at an early age. That love was passed to her son, Berkley, who was only three years old when Susan built her first home. Growing up in and around the trade, Berkley often accompanied his mother to home construction sites where he learned the trade from the ground up.
When Susan, Berkley and his wife, Kim, founded Classic more than twenty-five years ago, they had no idea that this love would be passed to a third generation. Berkley and Kim’s son, Will, is now integral to the Classic legacy.
Taking a cue from his father Berkley, Will White grew up in the family business. He watched and learned from his father, adhering to the same principles that Berkley had learned from his mother, Susan. Today, those principles — choosing the best materials available, working with credible building partners, working as a team, and most importantly, always doing what is right—are paramount.
Will graduated from the University of South Carolina in May 2023 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and a minor in Marketing and Real Estate Finance. With a work ethic as strong as the generations before him, you could find him in Classic’s office and on job sites in less than a month following his graduation. With both experience and education, he was soon handling estimates, purchasing and construction management, and the list continues to grow.
Classic’s success has never been left to chance. Throughout the years, they have built a reputation for providing efficient project management and open communication throughout the life of the project and beyond. Their numerous awards and industry recognition attest to their dedication to the building trade and to their customers.
To date, Classic has built more than 1,500 homes in the Carolinas and has almost 75 years of combined experience in homebuilding. Well-known and widely respected as one of the southeast’s premier builders, Classic was chosen as a member of the Southern Living Custom Builder Program nearly two decades ago. They introduced the area’s first Southern Living Showcase Home to the Grand Strand in 2012, opened their second Showcase Home in 2017 — the first built in Georgetown County — and recently expanded the Showcase Home concept to Brunswick County, North Carolina. The Inverness, located at the Thistle Golf Club, was introduced as that area’s first Southern Living Showcase Home in 2023.
Classic’s experience and intrinsic understanding of the business is complemented by a close-knit team of professionals—including Berkley’s wife, and Will’s mother, Kim, a talented Residential Home Designer and Classic’s General Manager. Susan White’s younger son, Abe, owns First Flight Stairs and Millwork. His craftsmanship can be found throughout many of Classic’s homes. “Our employees are like family and our most valuable asset,” Susan said. And, in an industry where change is rampant and turnover is common, Classic’s employees are an exception. There is little turnover and a long list of prospects that desire to be part of the success story that began in 1999.
What is Classic’s recipe for success? “It’s about respect,” said Berkley. “Respect for the wishes of our homeowners and respect for our team members who each bring something unique to the process.”
Speaking of recipes, it would be remiss not to mention that Susan White, Classic’s co-founder and President/Founder of sister company, Classic Interiors, is a gourmet cook. Her recipes have appeared in Bon Appetit, and her beautiful interior design, including her signature kitchens, make Classic homes a classic!
Classic Homes
524 Broadway Street
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 839-0537
classichomebuilding.com
