Jim and Lori’s Journey of Building a Custom Home That Finally Felt Like Theirs

After a lifetime spent helping others create homes, Jim Polito never imagined how different it would feel building a custom home for himself.

For most of his life, Jim Polito stood on construction sites helping other people bring their dream homes to life. Planning, craftsmanship, and problem-solving were part of his everyday life for decades. But when he and his wife Lori began thinking about their next chapter, the idea of building a custom home became something far more personal.

This time, they were the ones imagining the home; the spaces they would live in, the routines they would build, and the life they would create and live inside it.

Even after moving, the feeling is surreal. As Lori puts it, “We pinch ourselves sometimes. We’re in here, and we’re like, can you believe this is our home? We just love it.”

Leaving Naples Behind for a New Chapter In Florida

After retirement, Jim and Lori knew they wanted a change.

Naples had been home for years, but the rhythm of daily life no longer felt right. The decision itself was not complicated. So they began to look elsewhere.

Lori started searching online, exploring different communities without overthinking it. One day, she came across homes in the Lakewood Ranch area. Something about them caught her attention.

“I found a great place,” she told Jim.

They decided to call. Not long after, they were on their way to see a model home.

The moment they stepped inside, Jim slipped into a familiar rhythm. He moved through the space slowly, taking in the layout, looking closely, asking questions. Years of experience showed in the way he observed everything.

Lori noticed it right away.

“You’re interested, Jim?” she asked, half-smiling.

“Yeah,” he said. “I really am.”

And just like that, what began as a simple search started to feel like something more.

Building a Custom Home That Truly Reflects Who They Are

For Jim and Lori, building a custom home was never about settling for something standard. It had to reflect how they actually live, both now and in the years ahead.

Because Jim uses a wheelchair, accessibility shaped the design from the very beginning. Their decisions were grounded in what would make daily life easier and more comfortable. “I had specific needs,” Jim explains. “I needed level thresholds. We wanted bigger closets. We needed bigger doors to access each one of the rooms in the home.”

These choices influenced the home structure in a meaningful way. Nothing felt adjusted later or added as an afterthought.

They also thought carefully about how they spend their time. One of the most important additions was a dedicated office for Lori, giving her a space that was entirely her own.

“They stretched the home and gave me my own office, my own space,” she says. “Most homes just have an office for one person, or you could set it up for two people, but to have your own space is key.”

In the end, the home came together through decisions that were personal, practical, and intentional.

“We didn’t want to stick with what everybody else has,” Lori says. “We like to do things our own way.”

Finding the True Partner in Building a Custom Home

As their plans came together, Jim and Lori found themselves enjoying the experience more than they expected. Instead of feeling weighed down by decisions, they found themselves looking forward to seeing each part of the home take shape.

What stayed with Lori was how smoothly everything moved from one step to the next. There were many decisions to make, but it never felt overwhelming. Even during moments of uncertainty, especially when choosing finishes, they were able to work through options without feeling stuck or unsure.

The design phase, in particular, became something they engaged with closely. It was not just about picking elements, but about understanding how everything would come together in the end.

For Jim, the difference became clear as the home progressed. After years in construction, he paid attention to how things were done. The level of detail and consistency stood out to him in a way that felt reassuring.

By the time they moved in, the home reflected exactly what they had set out to create. Nothing felt compromised or out of place. It simply came together the way they had hoped.

A Home That Makes Them Pause and Smile

What makes the story even more meaningful is that Jim and Lori had already built a custom home before. They believed it would be difficult for any home to surpass that experience. And yet somehow, this one did. 

 “We never thought it was going to be nicer than the last home, custom home we built,” said Jim.

Today, the two of them often find themselves pausing for a moment, noticing the light in the rooms, the comfort of the space, and the quiet feeling of finally being settled. As Lori puts it, “Lee Wetherington Homes did everything, absolutely everything. If you’re shopping for a home, look at Lee Wetherington Homes. I mean, they will do everything, virtually, and anything that you need.”