Lee Wetherington Homes is a locally owned custom luxury homebuilder dedicated to creating exceptional homes and unforgettable customer experiences along Florida’s Suncoast. Guided by our mission to provide the best possible home building experience, building life by building better homes – and inspired by a greater purpose – we bring consistency, integrity, teamwork, and excellence to every step of the homebuilding journey. For more than 45 years, we’ve earned the trust of homeowners in Sarasota and Manatee counties through innovative design, enduring craftsmanship, and a commitment to serving our community with heart.
Lee Wetherington Homes not only prides itself in focusing on our customers, but on our community as a whole. Our founder, Lee Wetherington, has shared the firm’s success with everyday people on the Suncoast for over four decades – including an initial $1 million gift in 2002 to establish the Lee Wetherington Foundation, administered by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, that focuses on impacting less-fortunate and disadvantaged youth. Since the early 1990s, Lee Wetherington Homes has both donated millions, and spearheaded and coordinated projects for Boys & Girls Clubs regionwide, Harvest House, the Sarasota County Library System, United Way and many other organizations that impact where we all enjoy life.
Lee Wetherington, a Vietnam veteran and U.S. Marine, built his first home in the Gulf Gate area of Sarasota. He ran a successful drywall company in Jacksonville but saw potential to build beautiful houses on the Suncoast after vacationing there in the early 1970s. The first house Lee built himself, setting in motion the vision for who we are today.
Lee Wetherington acquired his Florida contractor license and founded Lee Wetherington Homes. The firm’s first office was in the Florida room of his home, with just enough space for a small desk and simple chair.
Lee Wetherington joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County’s board of directors. A decade later, he served on the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County’s board of directors. Lee continues to keep community and philanthropy a cornerstone of his firm.
Lee Wetherington Homes is recognized during the Parade of Homes, which showcases premier homes and communities across Sarasota and Manatee counties. Since then, the team has won over 300 top awards for impeccable design, innovative green building and more.
Lee Wetherington wraps up his tenure as a Director of the National Association of Home Builders, America’s network of craftsman, innovators and industry leaders. He served in this role since 1991.
Lee Wetherington is presented with the Hearthstone Builder Lifetime Public Service Award from Builder Magazine – the National Association of Home Builders’ industry publication. The award was given based on the firm’s steadfast commitment to community service.
It was a year filled with milestones. Lee Wetherington and the entire team earned many awards throughout 2003, including:
Lee Wetherington Homes is named one of America’s Best Builders by Builder Magazine. The firm is known for its homebuilding innovation, appealing styles, financial success and significant community involvement.
The Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club, located on Fruitville Road in Sarasota, was officially dedicated. Lee has been involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties since 1991 – even chairing the building committee responsible for funding and constructing three clubs in Sarasota, Venice and North Port.
Lee Wetherington Companies donates 16.31 acres – valued at over $800,000 – to Oscar Scherer State Park. The land was used as a buffer from surrounding urbanization.
Lee Wetherington Homes completely refurbishes the Boys and Girls Clubs of Manatee County’s Teen Center at the Bayshore Club, stripping the structure down to the studs. A new study area, furniture, televisions, games, computers, carpeting and more increased attendance from 25 kids to over 100.
Lee Wetherington partners with Harvest House to spearhead a campaign, along with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, to buy nine duplexes as transitional housing for 18 formerly homeless families – mostly veterans. The Lee Wetherington Family Village, paid for by the Lee Wetherington Foundation, transformed lives and a neighborhood.
After breaking ground in 2019, Lee Wetherington Homes officially moved into its new 15,000-square-foot, energy-efficient headquarters just east of I-75 at 7590 Fruitville Road in Sarasota. The new contemporary-styled two-story building replaces the former office in Lakewood Ranch, and its convenient location provides customers easy access to our team.
For Lee Wetherington Homes, 2023 was an incredible year in which the entire team was nationally and regionally recognized for truly ingenious custom home designs. Awards won included:
Kitchen & Bath Design Awards – Kitchen & Bath Design News
Lee Wetherington Homes celebrates 45 years of designing and building custom homes along the Suncoast, a testament to the trust that thousands of past and present homebuyers have placed in us to create art out of their vision for Florida living. As our story continues, what will always stay the same is our commitment to integrity, the best possible customer experience – and fulfilling the American dream.
