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Building to Bring Family Closer: Leslie and Thomas’s Build Journey

July 10, 2023

Family can often be the driving factor when it comes to home decisions. For some, moving closer to their loved ones makes perfect sense. And for others, creating a bigger space to accommodate multiple generations makes perfect sense. Leslie and Thomas’s build journey was heavily influenced by their desire to have their family members nearby as their daughters were growing.

For their whole marriage, the family has lived on the same street in the Greensboro area, and they have absolutely loved it. To them, it felt like home. However, the couple knew they wanted to have their family nearby, but they weren’t quite ready to move away.  So, when the opportunity to purchase land on their street arose, they figured it was a sign.

The new land meant that they would be able to build a home that was a perfect fit for their family of four and move Thomas’ parents into their old home. This way they were able to move family closer without completely uprooting. It was the perfect plan!

As Leslie and Thomas began the search for a custom home builder to help build their new home, they talked to several builders in the area to see what was possible. But then, Covid hit. The couple decided to take a brief pause of the search for a builder and instead put their energy into clearing their land, that way it was ready to build on when the time came.

With land cleared, their builder shopping resumed, and the pair still was drawn to Schumacher Homes.

They went in with a distinct idea of what they were looking for in their new home. More space wasn’t the final goal, Leslie and Thomas were instead focused on having a layout that fit the needs of their family in the long run. The Beverly plan was the closest floor plan that provided them with an open concept living space and space for each of their daughters.


Why did you select your floor plan?

“During our search, we looked at all sorts of floorplans, both single-level and two-story. We chose single-level ranch because we aren't getting any younger and felt steps may be impractical.”


Customizing the plan to get a perfect fit for their family was something the pair embraced wholeheartedly. To create an additional half bath and more storage space, the Deluxe Kitchen option was a no-brainer. This also allowed for additional flex space that was then converted into a Music Room for their girls. Other changes included removing the garage and extending the front porch to extend the home's width.

By the time they put their spin on the plan, their local General Manager remarked how unique the layout looked! With all the customizations made, the building began, and the family was able to watch each stage of their new house since they lived right down the road. Seeing the progress was a fun and memorable process since the house came to life right before their eyes.

Building a new home wasn’t the only big change going on for Leslie and Thomas’s family. While their new home was being built, they were also renovating their current home to move Thomas’s parents closer. Just before Thanksgiving, everything started falling into place one by one. Power was run to their home and their certificate of occupancy came quickly after, which meant they’d be able to be in their new home just in time for all the upcoming holidays.


Any advice you’d like to share with future homeowners?

“Have fun, be patient and don’t be afraid to ask questions about possible changes!”


Now with everyone settled into their new spaces, everyone, including their daughters has gotten used to their new normal. Each daughter now has separate bedrooms and Leslie now has her own office space which has been an added bonus.

The space was perfectly built to fit their family’s needs and both Leslie and Thomas agree that they wouldn’t change a thing about the layout. “We made great choices,” exclaimed Leslie!

Building not only gave them the perfect home, but it also allowed them to have family nearby. Now both sets of grandparents are nearby to watch their granddaughters grow and for that, the pair couldn’t be happier.

About Schumacher Homes
Schumacher Homes, based in Canton, Ohio, is America’s largest custom homebuilder, with operations in 25 locations in 12 states across the country. The National Housing Quality award winning company has built over 20,000 homes, customized to fit each family’s lifestyle, since its founding by Paul Schumacher in 1992. Schumacher Homes takes each customer’s inspiration and gives it a home. Each Schumacher Homes location includes a one-stop shopping design studio and model homes displaying the latest in architectural and product trends.