by Michele Weaver | Apr 21, 2017 | Great Design, HER Home
Who’s the best home builder?
Actually, that’s answered one home buyer at a time. And, in the Omaha, Nebraska, area, Sherwood Homes and Lane Building Corporation are raising the bar regarding what it means to be best. Part of that solution has been embracing Design Basics’ Woman-Centric Matters!® approach, which helps home builders focus on design, products for the home, and customer experiences from women’s viewpoints.
Though separate companies, Sherwood Homes and Lane Building Corporation build the same home designs, with the same tradespeople, using the same products; however, having two entities allows them to build in a wider variety of neighborhoods. Currently, the companies are building in 20 different subdivisions. Jerry Standerford explained, “Having building lots throughout the Omaha metro, buyers can get the neighborhood and school district they want. Or, we’ll help our clients find and secure a home site in one of Omaha’s other quality neighbor-hoods.”
A Better Experience
It is impossible to build a quality home without providing a quality new home experience. At Sherwood/Lane, that begins with a user-friendly website. But the customer experience gets into full swing when one of Sherwood/Lane’s three agents get involved.
“Our agents are really new home specialists and are very knowledgeable about home building,” Standerford said. “But even more important, our agents care. They’re focused on the buyer’s interests and helping each of our clients get the best home for their house-hold.”
Pre-construction, the agents assist with home plan and building lot selections, product decisions and finishes, and pricing. Communication is key, and with that, education. Home buyers don’t know what they don’t know.
Better Decisions
Sherwood/Lane offers dozens of different home plans, which, within reason, can be modified according to buyer preferences. The agents work out of furnished model homes that allow prospective buyers the opportunity to see the construction quality firsthand and experience the livability of the homes. Because it’s sometimes hard to visualize a home’s flow or perhaps a certain room size, being able to walk through the model home eliminates guesswork and avoids future remorse. Actually experiencing a dining area helps buyers know if it might need to be enlarged, for example.
Offering multiple move-in ready homes, Sherwood/Lane is also a market leader when it comes to buyers who are relocating to Omaha. Not surprisingly, many of those buyers are families with children who prefer traditional two-story homes. The company is seeing a higher number of multi-generational household clients and offers several popular two-story homes to incorporate a first-floor in-law suite. According to Standerford, “We’re also seeing the influence of websites such as Pinterest and Houzz among our clientele, which is helping them identify and prioritize what they want in a home.”
Sherwood/Lane opened their Personalization Studio in 2006 and it’s been very popular with their personalized clients. Akin to a “university environment,” prospective home buyers meet there with their agent to further appreciate the included features and learn about avail-able options.
Read more about Sherwood/Lane’s Personalization Studio and home building design process.
by Michele Weaver | Feb 14, 2017 | Great Design, HER Home
While southern Maine may be best known for Lobster and Lighthouses, homebuilder Mark Patterson is making strong inroads for adding a third “L” – Livability. “It’s evident when you walk into one of our homes or our showroom,” Mark said, adding, “We put livability first. For example, our buyers may be looking for an open floorplan, well-planned storage, or an oversized, walk-in shower, amenities you just won’t find in used homes.”
But all new homes are not created equal. Mark continued, “Some builders build what they like. At PATCO, we focus on what our buyers value and appreciate.” That includes practical as well as aesthetic features. “It starts when you arrive home. Just inside the door from the garage you’ll find our ‘drop zone,’ which is great whether you need a place to set heavy things down or to keep clutter out of the kitchen.
“We’re the only homebuilder in the area that has a design center, which makes choosing products for their new home so much simpler. From stylish door options to designer carpeting, beautiful cabinetry and hardware choices, our clients find our showroom takes the selections process from stressful to delightful.”
Furthermore, PATCO’s design center is an educational environment in which home buyers discover and gain an appreciation for products for their new home, such as one-piece fiberglass bathtub/shower enclosures that are low maintenance, giving homeowners back a little more time. Mark is quick to point out the well-known products, “People trust brand names and it’s an important element in knowing they’re getting a quality home.”
Construction quality is non-negotiable with PATCO’s customers. That’s why PATCO homes are highly energy efficient, utilizing Tyvek® house wrap, Low E and Argon gas insulated windows and performance insulation in the walls and ceilings. The company’s homes are also backed by 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, providing the peace of mind that comes with a 10-year structural warranty.
Read more about PATCO Construction, Inc., including photos of their design center and newest home!
by Michele Weaver | Dec 14, 2016 | Great Design, HER Home
Sanders Lifestyles introduced Woman-Centric homebuilding to the Wichita, Kansas, area in a noticeable way, as their Hudson II model was selected “Pick of the Parade” for homes priced from $400,000 – $450,000 in the Fall, 2016 Parade of Homes. “The home and the Woman-Centric concept were very well received,” said builder Troy Sanders.
Transom windows provide added light with privacy
Sanders was looking for a way to distinguish his company and his homes from other area homebuilders when he heard about Design Basics’ Woman-Centric Matters!® approach at the International Builders Show. After researching the idea further and discussing the concept with family and colleagues, Sanders realized embracing women’s preferences in the home – in design, the products featured in the home, and designing remarkable customer experiences – was the way to go. “The Fall Parade would be an ideal opportunity to debut the Woman-Centric concept,” according to Sanders.
With the Parade little more than six months away, Sanders needed the right home design right away. Troy had previously built the company’s Hudson model in Iron Gate, the same Bel Aire, Kansas, neighborhood that his Parade home would be in, and gave the plan to Design Basics. “I wanted to shrink my original Hudson homeplan and yet add many of the innovative Woman-Centric amenities.” Design Basics revised the plan accordingly, including a new exterior design. To help build awareness of his new approach, Sanders placed a large sign at the front of the building lot during construction, “Coming soon – Wichita’s first Woman-Centric home.”
The company also had a new website designed based on Woman-Centric principles. Those efforts must have worked. “I had a lot of visitors during the Parade who said they had to come and see this Woman-Centric thing,” Sanders said, continuing, “I heard a lot of great comments.”
Impressive custom finishes throughout home
Sanders’ Hudson II features an enviable rear foyer. “When I had the time,” Sanders began, “I would take visitors to the garage entry and remind them this is what they would be coming home to, as most people come into their home from the garage. The big walk-in closet was a home run, as was the drop zone area with USB charging ports and mail slots. The bench, too, as you can sit down and slide shoes off right under the bench to keep them out of the trafficway. People really liked how that was done. And, putting a motion detector light switch there was so appreciated for those times when your hands are full coming in from the garage.”
Read more about Sanders Lifestyles’ Parade home and the Woman-Centric Matters!® program.
by Design Basics | Mar 22, 2016 | HER Home
A well-designed, organized rear entry foyer not only reduces stress in your daily life, but also aids in entertaining!
Daily Activity
Studies report for homes with an attached garage, the door from the garage into the home has become our primary entrance for the household. Designers have typically concentrated on front door entry foyer design, and the entryway from the garage was kind of an afterthought, which often defaulted to a little space where the clothes washer and dryer could be placed.
"After a long day, I arrive home, open the door from the garage only to be greeted by piles of laundry. It's like I'm starting my second job when I get home and find dirty clothes taking over the laundry/mudroom!"
Such was representative of comments we received from women we spoke with. A Woman-Centric Design approach elevates rear foyer design for both practical and aesthetic considerations. And it doesn't double as the laundry room--keeping your blood pressure in check. "Getting the family out the door on time in the morning with everything they need," was the inspiration for cubbies and lockers for the kids...and adults. "Having a place to take off muddy shoes," pointed out the need for a seat. Take a look at these layouts for rear entry foyer design:
Maybe your family pet needs its own cubby with toys, treats, and a leash to head out for a walk. (See the Dandridge plan above with a built-in Pet Center.)
Or, your teenager’s friends are over often to practice for their garage band or to shoot hoops–rather than have them coming in and out of the kitchen for beverages and snacks, set up a mini fridge and snack basket for their convenience (and your own sanity!).
Entertaining
You may be wondering how a well-designed, organized rear foyer entry is beneficial if you enjoy entertaining? Do you feel better and have less stress when your kitchen counter is always presentable, or the alternative? We think we know the answer.
Keep household stuff stashed 'behind the scenes' so you can show off your beautiful counter tops, and never be embarrassed again when company drops in!
Function and Style
Just because the rear foyer entry leads off the garage and is mainly used by members of the household, doesn't mean it should lack style! At Design Basics we always think about function and style as working in tandem, not an either-or decision. Is your kitchen functional AND stylish? How about your bathroom, office, etc.? Oftentimes, the style you choose determines the functionality of that space and vice versa. Our Finally About Me® persona profiles support this design combination:
- A Margo tends towards: contemporary, edgy, form over function; her home is unique
- A Claire tends towards: formal, sophisticated, form and function; her home makes a statement
- A Maggie tends towards: casual, spontaneous, function over form; her home is carefree
- An Elise tends towards: traditional, practical, function over form; her home is her haven
Using this information, we created design concepts for rear foyer entries based on these personas - same footprint, different functionality and styles. (Maggie and Elise both value function over form and tend toward a more 'convenient' design; therefore, share a similar design concept.)
Maggie, Elise Design Concept
A rear foyer entry is more than just a place to stash your stuff. It takes the clutter out of the kitchen/dining area and becomes the hub of the household's comings and goings. It provides functionality, yet is stylish and flows with your home's interior design. It's flexible in its design, provides storage, helps you de-stress, and aids in entertaining!
Join us next time for Entertaining: Indoor Gatherings
Livability at a Glance™ is our proprietary color-coded floor plan system that highlights four different lenses especially important to women: Entertaining, De-stressing, Storing, and Flexible Living. Discover your Lifestyle Profile by taking our Livability at a Glance Quiz.
For more resources on thoughtful design and products:
