this New Jersey builder specializes in providing the expanding roster of high-end amenities new homeowners expect

by Jessica Jones-Gorman • Photos by Doug Polle

When Michael Zimmermann bought his very first home, he tackled a couple of fixer-upper projects to update the property, and his friends and neighbors immediately took notice of his craftsmanship and skill.

“I’m very focused on quality, always have been,” Zimmermann said. “I put in a lot of extra effort with every job I did in that first home, and it was evident in the finished project. As I started doing more and more projects around my own house, I knew this was a career path I wanted to pursue.”

Zimmermann, who has a degree in business from Clemson University, was working in the computer industry at the time, sitting behind a desk for a Fortune 500 company by day and hammering nails on nights and weekends. But the attention his handiwork garnered inspired a complete reinvention.

“I always wanted to be a builder,” he said. “So I took a chance and started a business.”

That was almost 30 years ago. Today, Zimmermann is a powerful player in the custom home design field.

“I started small, buying properties, fixing them up, and subsequently renting them, which led to the construction of new homes a few years later,” Zimmermann explained. “My company, MLZ Corporation LLC, was officially launched in 2000.”

Since then, he’s built 27 homes in Spring Lake, all classic colonial-style beach styles, and more than 30 others throughout the state.

“I’ve built homes in Rumson, Bay Head, Mantoloking, and Avon,” Zimmermann said. “But the focus of my work has been in the Spring Lake area. There was a strong demand here for second homes— people were looking for a high-quality finished product that they could simply move into, and that’s exactly the type of work I like to do.”

“Outside kitchens, built-in fire pits, and in-ground pools are must-haves in this [Spring Lake] beach town. When I first started, renovations were not as high-end, but now homeowners expect a higher level of workmanship.”

Zimmermann has also worked on a couple of hotels and other commercial buildings, and says his favorite projects are those that help revive local neighborhoods. He recently built two residences on the site of the former Sandpiper Inn in Spring Lake, which he explained was a welcome change to area residents.

“The homes we added there were a better fit for the neighborhood,” the builder said. “We also recently took the oldest home in Mantoloking and raised it up. It’s jobs like that—ones people say cannot be done—that I really like to complete.”

The Brielle resident has also built a number of homes in his own neighborhood, and is unconditionally proud of being Jersey born and bred.

“I’ve lived here all of my life,” he said. “And I’ve built houses in a lot of different communities, which are always very welcoming and appreciative of the work that I’ve done.”

And that work is constantly evolving. According to Zimmermann, homeowners in the Garden State are currently seeking open floor plans, eliminating formal living and dining rooms, and opting for high end amenities.

“Outside kitchens, built-in fire pits, and elaborate in-ground pools are now must-haves in this beach town,” Zimmermann explained. “And we’re also building more bedrooms with en suite baths. When I first started, renovations were not as high-end, but now homeowners expect a higher level of workmanship, little or no maintenance, and a large and expanding variety of perks.”

Like soundproofing.

“We’ve been doing a lot of that, which requires the use of rubber insulation between the walls and in the ceiling,” Zimmermann said. “These are beach homes which often host a numerous guests and the soundproofing eliminates a lot of noise. It’s something that allows for privacy and completely blocks the sound of the bath and shower, as well as voices from room to room. If it’s not added, there is a noticeable difference.”

For Zimmermann, it’s all part of a creative process that has been his driving force for the past three decades.

“I design a lot of these houses myself, and every job is different,” he concluded. “I love starting a new project, plotting the layout of the windows based on where the sun rises in the morning, or arranging a porch around how the wind blows off the ocean. Each day and each home is fresh and new, and different ideas take each project to the next level.”

Homes by Zimmermann
732.861.6332 / homesbyzimmermann.com