“I’ve always had building in my blood,” says Bob Brandt, owner of Brandt Homes, Inc. His grandfather built in the 1920s and 1930s, making his mark on the community in the process. Bob followed in his footsteps and is grateful to God for his continued success throughout his lifetime. 

 

“God has been really good to me and my family through this business,” he reflects. “He’s brought us through some tough times, and we’ve seen a lot of good times.” His work has been very rewarding. “It’s been really enjoyable to help people.” 

 

Through the years, he feels blessed to have gotten into a larger market in Seven Oaks and Brighton Estates. “Then the market took a crash,” he notes. The year was 2008. The Great Recession hit without notice. Instead of being discouraged, Bob took the opportunity to pivot and go into a different market. What looked like a setback actually became a steppingstone for bigger and better things. 

 

His daughter, Allison Brandt Oliver, shares, “We started working for the luxury market after the crash. One of the turning points for my Dad’s business and my business (as owner of Brandt Oliver Homes), was the company called Castle & Cooke that came to Bakersfield. They developed a large portion of the southwest part of town.” They also brought a master plan to Bakersfield that they hadn’t seen before. Think wide streets. Beautifully landscaped grounds. And they also developed a 27-hole golf course with homes abutting it. 

 

“Their commercial properties brought a level of shopping that our town hadn’t seen before,” adds Allison. “They just elevated the living and lifestyle of our town, and we were very blessed to be a part of their team of approved builders.” As a result, that has been Bob and Allison’s niche for the past 25 years. 

 

As a luxury home builder, Bob has left his mark on Bakersfield. His work evolved through the decades, starting his business in the early ‘80s. First, he was involved in production before transitioning to semi-custom homes and then custom homes, ultimately becoming a luxury home builder. Allison joined him as well, earning her degree in Construction Management from CSU Fresno.

 

“My Dad definitely has a passion for not just homes but being influential in the design of them. He has a great artistic vision and is good with colors,” says Allison. However, Bob’s gifts have multiplied with his daughter’s business. With her eye for design, excellent color selection, and her ability to creatively execute projects, she is a godsend to her clients. Allison, however, is quick to credit her father, “He is a better manager than I am,” she laughs. “I am more of a creative who packages herself as a builder. I truly enjoy space planning and taking people’s dreams and visions and turning them into a reality. God is in control and He executes it through me.”

 

When she was younger, Allison thought she wanted to be an architect. “I thought all they did was the design part,” she laughs. But when she worked for an architect her senior year of high school, she noticed a different side. “All they did was sit in front of a desk and draw plans. They got creative but never left their cubicles.” Contrast that with Allison’s life today and there’s a world of difference. “I drive around and talk to multiple people a day.” Just as Bob saw his blueprints come to life, Allison gets to do that as well. She also interacts with her contractors. “I talk to the plumber’s helper who digs a ditch. I get to speak to them every day. I love that fact. My Dad always had a huge connection with the contractors. They are almost like family to us. A lot of our subcontractors have been with us a minimum of 25 years.”

 

Bob raves about his daughter. “It’s been a pleasure for me to watch Allison. She and I are different in a lot of ways, but she is very detailed and design conscious.” He’s impressed with her finished products. “It’s fun to watch her work.”

 

Why? Allison makes the “impossible” happen. Where other general contractors would shrug their shoulders and see limits, she sees possibilities and potential. “I had a client come to me and say, ‘I’ve interviewed a couple of builders, and I want a half basketball court in my house. They told me, ‘It can’t be done’ and laughed at me.” Allison says simply, “We made it happen.” 

 

For another client, they wanted an 8-10,000 square foot house but also had an auto collection. They were hoping for an underground basement with a parking garage. “No one told me it could be done,” the client told Allison. “Anything can be done if you open your checkbook,” she says honestly. With the funds in place, she went to work. “I nervously built it for 2 years,” she says. It was a labor of love. What was her greatest concern? Making sure that the Z07 Corvette could make it down the driveway and into the underground parking garage without a scratch. Allison sprang into action, leaving no detail to chance. “We made mockups, taking it down on the dirt before we poured the concrete,” she notes. Now people are flabbergasted when they drive by. “Most people don’t know it has an underground garage,” she points out. “And it’s never leaked, which is a good thing,” she laughs. The clients are very happy because their house and parking garage are simply “showstoppers.” 

 

Bob retired from his corporation in 2012, but he has stayed connected to real estate, rehabbing homes and maintaining rentals. Allison had already worked alongside him for 15 years, and when she started her own business, the trust Bob had built in the community carried over.

 

The Brandt family’s legacy is deeply rooted in Bakersfield. Allison proudly introduces herself as a fourth-generation resident and third-generation builder. Her brother, David Brandt, also worked in the family business before starting his own luxury building venture in Montana. “It’s ingrained in us,” Allison says. “We have creative minds, strong problem-solving skills, and management abilities. Math comes easy to us. Mom’s the English person in the family!” Charlotte, Bob’s wife, worked in nursing for 39 years while David, David and Allison did what they did best: build homes. 

 

Allison also stands out as the only female builder in Bakersfield’s luxury market. “I love bringing this legacy along,” she says. “I have a passion for our city and serve on the Planning Commission. It’s incredible to be part of shaping Bakersfield’s future.”

 

Her father has left his imprint on her. She looks up to her father for his ability to be calm under pressure. “He can let problems and challenges run off his back more than I can,” she shares. She also credits him for his honesty, integrity and character. And she still practices the principle that the customer always comes first.

 

Seven Oaks is home sweet home to Bob and Charlotte. “We have lived in three different houses on the same golf course,” notes Charlotte. They both love the neighborhood. As Bob says, “They have done a really nice job developing.” He loves the street scaping in the neighborhood. “We also appreciate the level of excellence to maintain the neighborhood,” says Bob. 

 

In his free time, Bob has played a lot of golf over the years. “Lots and lots and lots of golf,” says Allison. “I also love to travel,” adds Bob. He and Charlotte have traveled the world together. Think the Northwest Passage in the North Pole area, several safaris, and Italy countless times. “I love a good wine,” says Bob. He also likes socializing with his friends during the evenings. 

 

Bob’s faith has guided him throughout his life and career. While building our personal home in Seven Oaks, he paused mid-project to pray for guidance. “I hoped I wasn’t spending God’s money unwisely,” he recalls. He paused and prayed while framing the master bathtub. He prayed, “I pray that this house can help others know You better.” That prayer was answered and our home eventually hosted monthly events for men in the community called M6 for years. “We had an event every month,” says Bob. At one point, they had 300 men in the backyard worshipping the Lord. 

 

Looking back on decades of work, Bob reflects, “It’s been a good ride. Watching Allison and David carry the passion forward has been a real godsend.”

 

Bob’s legacy isn’t just in the homes he built. It’s in the standard of excellence he set, the relationships he forged, and the community he shaped. Decades of vision, faith, and craftsmanship live on in every street, every home, and every life he touched. He has left a mark here in Bakersfield that still lives on today.