We listed our Inventory Home in Grand Oak, the Arlington, for $389,900. It has lots of goodies and a finished basement! It’s in the carpet phase right now and should be ready for move in by the end of the month! We have already had quite a few showings! In Summerwood, we have closed 2 homes both on Sophie Ct. Congrats to Brent for delivering 2 great homes! Our McCammon Chase spec is coming along beautifully and will be listed by the end of this month also. See our website at www.3pillar.com under Available Homes for all the great pictures!
Activity has picked up and it looks like people are out looking for new custom homes once again! Stay tuned!
Monday, February 23, 2009
It's been a busy February for 3 Pillar Homes!
We listed our Inventory Home in Grand Oak, the Arlington, for $389,900. It has lots of goodies and a finished basement! It’s in the carpet phase right now and should be ready for move in by the end of the month! We have already had quite a few showings! In Summerwood, we have closed 2 homes both on Sophie Ct. Congrats to Brent for delivering 2 great homes! Our McCammon Chase spec is coming along beautifully and will be listed by the end of this month also. See our website at www.3pillar.com under Available Homes for all the great pictures!
Activity has picked up and it looks like people are out looking for new custom homes once again! Stay tuned!
Activity has picked up and it looks like people are out looking for new custom homes once again! Stay tuned!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Showroom Etiquette
As a builder of high-quality homes, we strive to deliver something special to every customer. The days of "cookie cutter" housing are over! To insure that each home is unique, we rely on several resources to help our buyers fashion a house that reflects their individual tastes.
One resource is the showroom. Many of our vendors and trade partners include showrooms as part of their businesses, usually for retail (or walk-up) traffic but also for professionals like us and our customers. The best showrooms provide a wide variety of choices in real-world scenes or applications (called vignettes) that show how the products will look in a finished home.
The earliest showrooms showcased kitchen and bath products, such as cabinets, appliances, and plumbing fixtures. Recently, however, vendors of windows, doors, stair parts, countertops, trim, lighting, fireplaces, and other products have begun to use showrooms, too. That diversity has allowed us and our homebuyers to create truly personal and distinct home features.
When we use a vendor's showroom to make those choices, we usually have an allowance -- or specific dollar amount -- that we and our buyers have agreed to allot for those products. Our buyers (or prospective buyers) generally go to the showroom at their convenience, letting the vendor know that they are coming and what their allowance is. In order to insure an enjoyable and stress-free showroom experience, it is important for everyone involved to follow a bit of etiquette.
The first point of showroom etiquette is to make an appointment and stick to it. With an appointment, our clients are certain to have the expert assistance of the vendor's representative. Keeping a timely appointment means that our clients are more likely to make their choices on schedule. Like many of the decisions made in the process of building a home, selecting the many finish products within the agreed schedule is the buyer's responsibility and part of the partnership we strive to create between us.
The next item of protocol is to stay within the budget allowance. We make every effort to prepare (and remind) our buyers with regard to the budget choices they have already made. But showrooms are filled with variety and are designed to make the products look appealing. Many will be out of the range of the agreed budget amount. Although it is tempting to exceed the budget "just this once," getting off budget can have a ripple effect on other costs, pushing the buyers beyond what they can afford. The added stress may significantly reduce the owners' satisfaction with the building process and their new home. It is important to stick to the allowance amount and trust that there is a wealth of great choices within that number. We rely on our vendors, too, to stay within the identified budget and resist the temptation to "up-sell" to a higher-priced product line for their own financial benefit.
The last rule of thumb at a showroom is to make full use of the vendor's experts. Increasingly, these are design professionals who can help make product selection easier and more satisfying. Design professionals have a trained eye for what creates cohesiveness and comfort, such as selecting colors or finishes that complement each other. They are skilled, too, in assisting buyers to identify and satisfy their personal tastes. We encourage our buyers to ask questions and share their dreams with these professionals. We select vendors who have that expertise for our customers' benefit.
Equipped with these three simple rules, our owners will be able to relax, enjoy their showroom experience, and make satisfying choices.
One resource is the showroom. Many of our vendors and trade partners include showrooms as part of their businesses, usually for retail (or walk-up) traffic but also for professionals like us and our customers. The best showrooms provide a wide variety of choices in real-world scenes or applications (called vignettes) that show how the products will look in a finished home.
The earliest showrooms showcased kitchen and bath products, such as cabinets, appliances, and plumbing fixtures. Recently, however, vendors of windows, doors, stair parts, countertops, trim, lighting, fireplaces, and other products have begun to use showrooms, too. That diversity has allowed us and our homebuyers to create truly personal and distinct home features.
When we use a vendor's showroom to make those choices, we usually have an allowance -- or specific dollar amount -- that we and our buyers have agreed to allot for those products. Our buyers (or prospective buyers) generally go to the showroom at their convenience, letting the vendor know that they are coming and what their allowance is. In order to insure an enjoyable and stress-free showroom experience, it is important for everyone involved to follow a bit of etiquette.
The first point of showroom etiquette is to make an appointment and stick to it. With an appointment, our clients are certain to have the expert assistance of the vendor's representative. Keeping a timely appointment means that our clients are more likely to make their choices on schedule. Like many of the decisions made in the process of building a home, selecting the many finish products within the agreed schedule is the buyer's responsibility and part of the partnership we strive to create between us.
The next item of protocol is to stay within the budget allowance. We make every effort to prepare (and remind) our buyers with regard to the budget choices they have already made. But showrooms are filled with variety and are designed to make the products look appealing. Many will be out of the range of the agreed budget amount. Although it is tempting to exceed the budget "just this once," getting off budget can have a ripple effect on other costs, pushing the buyers beyond what they can afford. The added stress may significantly reduce the owners' satisfaction with the building process and their new home. It is important to stick to the allowance amount and trust that there is a wealth of great choices within that number. We rely on our vendors, too, to stay within the identified budget and resist the temptation to "up-sell" to a higher-priced product line for their own financial benefit.
The last rule of thumb at a showroom is to make full use of the vendor's experts. Increasingly, these are design professionals who can help make product selection easier and more satisfying. Design professionals have a trained eye for what creates cohesiveness and comfort, such as selecting colors or finishes that complement each other. They are skilled, too, in assisting buyers to identify and satisfy their personal tastes. We encourage our buyers to ask questions and share their dreams with these professionals. We select vendors who have that expertise for our customers' benefit.
Equipped with these three simple rules, our owners will be able to relax, enjoy their showroom experience, and make satisfying choices.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Reed
He’s getting so big! When Karlton and Yalonda first starting the building process with 3 Pillar Homes Yalonda was still pregnant with this little guy! It’s hard to believe they have been in their home for over six months now. 3 Pillar Homes looks forward to watching Reed grow up into a young man (hopefully a 3 Pillar Homeowner one day :)!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
First Annual Summerwood Extension Homeowner's Association Meeting
3 Pillar Homes hosted the first annual Summerwood Extension Homeowner’s Association meeting on February 5th, 2009 at their model located at 5241 Summer Ridge Lane in Galena, Ohio. There were 15 members of the community in attendance along with president & CEO of 3 Pillar Homes, Zenios Michael Zenios, and member of Silvestri Homes, Carlos Silvestri. Items discussed included deed restrictions, plan approvals, budget and general neighborhood comments. The meeting had a pleasant tone and we look forward to update you with more good stuff as they come up. If you are a Summerwood Extension Homeowner and missed the meeting, contact Emily at emilychapin@3pillar.com for more information.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Bath Trends: The Royal Treatment
How far the bathroom has come in housing history, from an unheated shack outside to a treasured private retreat. Sure, the basic functions of a bathroom are intact and in place, but in today's master suites, especially, the space has evolved to include a variety of spa-like amenities and luxury features.
As in the kitchen (the other "hot button" room of any house), design professionals and product manufacturers have focused their efforts on the bathroom with an increasing variety of styles, finishes, and features. Consider these current bath trends:
Shower Power: Forget about a single showerhead hung from the wall. Today's showers offer multiple, adjustable heads on every wall and from above, with wall-mounted control pads to set and manipulate spray patterns, intensity, and temperature. Some heads, called shower tiles, are set flush to the wall or ceiling to provide a gentle spray, while handheld shower wands allow users the ultimate in water control.
Tub Time: Bathtubs are not only getting longer and deeper, and with requisite whirlpool jets, but also can include mood lighting and spillover troughs to create a more relaxing experience. Called "chromatherapy" by one plumbing manufacturer, these tubs feature underwater LED lights that gently change color across a wide spectrum of soft pastels; effervescent bubbling action from multiple underwater ports enhances the soothing effect. Meanwhile, overflow tubs enable a deeper soaking experience without the worry of making a mess.
Wellness Centers: In addition to featuring luxury items, bathrooms (especially master baths) are getting larger -- large enough, in some cases, to include in-home spa amenities including massage tables and yoga or dance studios that offer more convenience, privacy, and cleanliness.
Clothes Care: Along the same lines as the in-home spa and studio concept is the idea of a home-based laundry center, including personal dry-cleaners and closet-like clothes fresheners and flat-rack dryers in addition to traditional laundry equipment. If the bathroom has the footage, why not install such products to make life easier, cut down on errands, and save a bit of money while attaining a higher level of quality care for your clothes?
Personal Service: Master bathrooms have become destinations. As such, they need additional conveniences, including laundry and clothes storage as well as a place to prepare snacks and refreshments. Often called "morning kitchens," these mini-service areas offer built-in coffee and espresso makers, compact refrigerators, bar sinks, microwave ovens, and perhaps undercounter dishwasher drawers (not to mention adequate cabinet storage) to privately serve the owners as they get ready for work in the morning or wind down at the end of the day.
Universal Access: Whether to accommodate a temporary injury, a more chronic disability, a young child, or an elderly relative or guest, the concept of universal or accessible design can be easily and affordably achieved in any bathroom without sacrificing style or luxury. Multiple-height vanities, lever-handled faucets, D-shaped cabinet pulls, and zero-threshold showers with built-in seating and handheld heads are just a few design and product ideas that support universal design.
As in the kitchen (the other "hot button" room of any house), design professionals and product manufacturers have focused their efforts on the bathroom with an increasing variety of styles, finishes, and features. Consider these current bath trends:
Shower Power: Forget about a single showerhead hung from the wall. Today's showers offer multiple, adjustable heads on every wall and from above, with wall-mounted control pads to set and manipulate spray patterns, intensity, and temperature. Some heads, called shower tiles, are set flush to the wall or ceiling to provide a gentle spray, while handheld shower wands allow users the ultimate in water control.
Tub Time: Bathtubs are not only getting longer and deeper, and with requisite whirlpool jets, but also can include mood lighting and spillover troughs to create a more relaxing experience. Called "chromatherapy" by one plumbing manufacturer, these tubs feature underwater LED lights that gently change color across a wide spectrum of soft pastels; effervescent bubbling action from multiple underwater ports enhances the soothing effect. Meanwhile, overflow tubs enable a deeper soaking experience without the worry of making a mess.
Wellness Centers: In addition to featuring luxury items, bathrooms (especially master baths) are getting larger -- large enough, in some cases, to include in-home spa amenities including massage tables and yoga or dance studios that offer more convenience, privacy, and cleanliness.
Clothes Care: Along the same lines as the in-home spa and studio concept is the idea of a home-based laundry center, including personal dry-cleaners and closet-like clothes fresheners and flat-rack dryers in addition to traditional laundry equipment. If the bathroom has the footage, why not install such products to make life easier, cut down on errands, and save a bit of money while attaining a higher level of quality care for your clothes?
Personal Service: Master bathrooms have become destinations. As such, they need additional conveniences, including laundry and clothes storage as well as a place to prepare snacks and refreshments. Often called "morning kitchens," these mini-service areas offer built-in coffee and espresso makers, compact refrigerators, bar sinks, microwave ovens, and perhaps undercounter dishwasher drawers (not to mention adequate cabinet storage) to privately serve the owners as they get ready for work in the morning or wind down at the end of the day.
Universal Access: Whether to accommodate a temporary injury, a more chronic disability, a young child, or an elderly relative or guest, the concept of universal or accessible design can be easily and affordably achieved in any bathroom without sacrificing style or luxury. Multiple-height vanities, lever-handled faucets, D-shaped cabinet pulls, and zero-threshold showers with built-in seating and handheld heads are just a few design and product ideas that support universal design.
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