Ray Snoznik’s strong work ethic and drive began at an early age. As a teenager, he spent his time mowing lawns and helping neighbors with repairs and odd jobs. His father offered him his old pickup truck and he started a framing crew, laying the foundation for what would become a lifelong career in home building.
Since starting his own company—R. A. Snoznik Custom Homes—45 years ago, Snoznik has never looked back. His passion and drive for the building industry are reflected in the quality of his work. Now considered East Pittsburgh’s highest ranked and most reviewed homebuilder, he is currently focused on building homes in his own developments in Westmoreland County: The Village on Kistler Ridge and Summer Grove (named after the Snoznik’s beloved dog), both in Penn Township.
“In addition to our exclusive developments, we do consider select offsite building opportunities,” noted Kelly Snoznik, who works alongside her husband in the business. “We’re intentional about the projects we accept, so we can maintain the quality, experience, and level of service for which our company is known.”
What Makes an R.A. Snoznik Home Special?
For more than four decades, R.A. Snoznik Homes has built its reputation one home at a time. Many of the company’s new clients come through referrals from satisfied homeowners, while others are drawn in after seeing the quality and craftsmanship of an R.A. Snoznik home firsthand.
“We receive a tremendous amount of word-of-mouth business,” said Kelly Snoznik. “It’s not uncommon for me to meet someone and later discover we built a home for a friend, family member, or coworker of theirs. After 45 years in the industry, most people know someone who has built with us.”
That lasting network of homeowners is a testament to the company’s commitment to quality construction, personalized service, and building homes that families are proud to call their own.
Carolyn Confer is one of those people. The company was recommended to her by a friend when her family moved from outside of Pittsburgh to Jeannette, PA.
“We were trying to get into a new house before our daughter started school; we wanted to move out to the suburbs, and the house we chose was a spec home that they were building in The Village on Kistler Ridge,” she explained of the four-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom, single-family home.
“They showed us different models, but the spec home was available sooner and we were on a tight timeline,” she added. “They talked to us about our budget, the timeline, and what we wanted, and they made really helpful recommendations. It was nice.”
Joan Olszewski’s sister-in-law saw an advertisement when R.A. Snoznik began building at Kistler Ridge and recommended that the family contact the company.
“We met with Ray, and we were impressed,” said Olszewski. “We were debating between Ray and another builder, and we found Ray easier to work with. He’s a very down-to-earth guy, and he’s easy to talk to. His wife, Kelly, is part of his team, and she’s super helpful.
“My husband was working out of town for six months, so Ray met with us on Sundays because he knew my husband’s situation,” she added. “He’s very flexible.”
According to Kelly Snoznik, while R.A. Snoznik Homes offers a portfolio of thoughtfully designed floorplans, every home can be tailored to meet a homeowner’s lifestyle and preferences.
“Our floorplans are designed with the neighborhood in mind,” said Snoznik. “We want each home to complement the community as a whole. If you introduce a floorplan that doesn’t fit the character of the neighborhood, it can affect the overall look and feel.”
She notes that today’s buyers continue to seek open-concept living spaces, spacious kitchens, first-floor owner’s suites, dedicated home offices and energy-efficient features. R.A. Snoznik Homes works closely with clients to personalize their homes while maintaining the architectural consistency that helps preserve the value and appeal of the community.
“We give our clients the flexibility to make their home their own,” Kelly Snoznik added, “while ensuring that the neighborhood retains the quality and character that attracted them there in the first place.”
The appeal of R.A. Snoznik Homes extends well beyond traditional residential developments. Best known for its custom and semi-custom single-family homes, the company has also adapted thoughtfully designed floorplans to fit unique homesites throughout the region.
“We recently completed a home in Fox Chapel on the last remaining lot in an established neighborhood,” said Kelly Snoznik. “The property had some challenging topography, but the homeowners loved one of our floorplans, and they chose to build there rather than compromise on the design they wanted.”
That same flexibility has also helped the company expand into select commercial and multifamily projects. One recent example is Chestnut Lofts in Penn Township, a mixed-use development featuring three commercial spaces on the ground floor with five luxury apartments above.
“The apartments are all brand new and include private garages and beautiful views of the surrounding area,” said Kelly Snoznik. “It’s a charming location, and the units leased very quickly. Residents also have access to community amenities, including pickleball courts that are nearing completion.”
Trust the Process
Having built more than 900 homes, the company knows what works and what doesn’t. For this reason, they walk clients through a five-step process that includes the following:
- Pick Your Plan: Prospective homebuyers tour model and other available homes to find a layout that fits their lifestyle. This tour focuses on function behind the plan designs.
- Review Your Budget. Buyers will meet with R.A. Snoznik’s preferred lenders to review their best available programs to help them achieve a comfortable monthly payment. Cash payment and construction financing options are available.
- Reserve Your Homesite. Buyers pay a $5,000 refundable, 10-day lot reservation deposit to lock in their lot choice while finalizing home plan pricing details.
- Finalize Your Home and Pricing. Buyers walk through the plan and included features in detail and the company reviews option pricing with full transparency. Clients receive a fixed, itemized final price with no allowances or surprises.
- Purchase Agreement. Buyers undergo a final review and sign an agreement with final terms. Lot closing and/or construction loans are scheduled, and construction begins within 30 days. The current build timeline is between 8-12 months, and everything is clearly defined before construction begins.
“We had never built a house before, so we didn’t know what to do,” said Confer. “They walked us through every step really nicely, and if we got lost on something, they made great suggestions to help us through it.”
Customization is Key
While certain features come standard—such as energy-efficient insulation and high-quality construction—homeowners have plenty of opportunities to personalize their homes.
“We offer up-to-date selections for cabinetry, flooring, and countertops, allowing homeowners to create a space that reflects their personal style,” said Kelly Snoznik. “From kitchen finishes to lighting selections, buyers can tailor their home to fit their lifestyle and design preferences.
“Lighting is often where homeowners like to make a statement,” she added. “Many view it as the jewelry of the home. Ultimately, it comes down to creating a home that feels uniquely theirs.”
The Family Touch
One of the things that the Confers liked most about working with R.A. Snoznik Custom Homes was the fact that both Ray and Kelly were available to help whenever needed.
“Even though Ray is the owner, he took the time to be with us and to show us around,” said Confer, adding that Ray’s brother works on the homes as well. “Kelly is always available and when you call her, she gets right back to you. She really wants you to be comfortable and have a place that’s a good fit.
“I had everyone’s cellphone numbers and emails, and I could always get ahold of them if I needed something or had any questions,” she added.
Confer also appreciates that the company is involved in the community and helps to support the areas in which it builds. When she began working with her daughter’s school, Confer decided to redo the teacher’s lounge, and the Snozniks bought a couch for the room.
“Kelly even came into the school when I was redoing the lounge and helped me move tables around,” said Confer, adding that the year before, the company had provided funds for a coffee cart. “They are very involved in the community, and very family oriented—they are just nice people.
“I could flag them down on the side of the street and talk to them about whatever we need,” she added. “It really seems that they care about you having the right fit and being happy with your home.”
Olszewski was so happy with R.A. Snoznik’s work on her first home that her family is using the company to build their second home now. They bought their first home after moving from Alabama back to Pennsylvania in 2020, and as empty-nesters, were looking to downsize to a patio home.
“We found a couple of choices that we liked in this area, but the homes that Ray builds have really nice interiors and you can customize things so that they are not so cookie-cutter,” said Olzewski. “While we liked our patio home, we decided that it was too small now that we’ve got grandchildren, so we decided to build a home with him in Summer Grove, one of his newer developments.”
The Olszewski’s new two-story home will feature four bedrooms and a walk-out basement and provide the room they need for a growing family. Framing began in June, and the home is expected to be completed in nine to 12 months.
“This will be our seventh home, and one of the things we like most is that even though you choose from roughly eight floor plans, unlike other builders who make you stick with the basics, Ray is very agreeable to making individual changes to suit your needs,” Olszewski said.
She added that she is very pleased with the design of her new home, which features a “really pretty” family room, vaulted ceilings, a large deck with fireplace, a bar/media area and a walk-out basement.
“Ray is also building a sauna for us and creating wine storage,” she said. “He’s really willing to work with any suggestions you have, especially when it provides more customization. While you can find other reasonably priced homes, you can’t always get this level of custom design.
“I feel like going into this house, we’re getting our money’s worth,” she added, noting that she and her husband are very happy with Snoznik’s pricing. “And communication has been great. I don’t think that there’s one time that I’ve sent a message that they haven’t replied in a good timeframe.” NH