Being able to customize something down to the very last detail is one of the most appealing parts when it comes to building a custom home. For George and Sally, they dreamed of being able to pick everything from the floorplan down to the door stops.
This wasn’t the couple’s first time building their own home. They initially built a home in a neighborhood but were limited when it came to design selections.
George had grown up on a 75-acre farm, and they both knew they wanted the space to give their children a similar upbringing. When it came to building this time around, they wanted to experience limitless options and to move to a larger property without the restrictions of an HOA.
In March 2021, things started falling into place. After dreaming of building for over 5 years, Sally decided to start exploring the idea even more. With the real estate market booming in 2021, she decided to ask George’s sister (a realtor) how much their current family home would list for. “I was FLOORED when she told me.” With this new information, the couple realized that selling their current home could be a great investment that would help them afford their dream home.
Plus, with both adults working from home and their children not at school age yet, Sally realized this was the ideal time to move forward. “I Got the WILD idea to ask George if we could make this happen,” she exclaimed, “and he was surprisingly on board!” Within 2 weeks of deciding to move forward, the couple signed with Schumacher Homes and in a month their old home was on the market.
Why did you choose Schumacher Homes?
“So many reasons! Schumacher's reputation for quality construction and years of experience was a big factor…It was important to us to have a solid home in a realistic timeframe. It was also in the middle of a pandemic, and we appreciated how well Schumacher had continued to perform despite unprecedented challenges… We benefitted from Schumacher's reputation and relationship with their vendors because they were able to get product and contractors when other builders were not. Some features such as 2x6 walls, poured foundation and pex plumbing were standard features that were upgrades with other builders.”
Now that Sally and George had settled on a builder, it was time for the fun of designing their dream home to begin. On the couple’s wish list was at least 3,000 sq. ft. open concept, a first-floor owner’s suite, a two-story great room and laundry near the garage entrance. Plus, with working from home, a first-floor office was a must-have for the new home. “We chose the Olivia II because it checked all the boxes,” said George!
Choosing the Olivia II was just the beginning of their design process. The couple quickly went straight to work to begin customizing their plan to be unique to the family's needs. “We added a fourth bedroom and bathroom upstairs to create a second office,” said Sally. In addition, the front flex room was moved to the back of the house so they could have a dining room and still entertain when the time came.
The favorite (and incredibly kid-friendly) customization was removing the wall between the laundry room and the messy kitchen. This created one big room and created a loop from the garage door through the mud room, laundry, messy kitchen, kitchen and back to the mud room.
Natural light was the other focus for the couple and there is now no shortage of windows to provide it. George says, “we added a wall of windows in the great room and also added feature windows in the dining room and owner’s suite to facilitate this.”
With all the design decisions decided, it was time to move forward with bringing their dream home to life. “Our pre-con meeting reassured us that we absolutely made the right choice with Schumacher,” Sally remarked. “They went through our plans in great detail and caught things we’d never notice.” Small things such as door swings and centering the front door since some floorplan changes moved the location. “We were so glad to have them looking out for us,” the pair both agreed.
Despite everything starting smoothly, some hiccups in the family’s personal life popped up. About a week before dig day, the family was given the news that George was in heart failure. But thankfully as the home was getting mechanicals, George was getting open heart surgery. “It went perfectly,” said Sally, “and now he’ll be with us for a long time.”
During this stressful time, the couple was incredibly grateful to the builder, Andy. Thanks to him, the family was able to focus on surgery and recovery. Sally and George remarked, “It was a huge relief knowing our home was in good hands.” Because of Andy, the couple was able to communicate and navigate as a team.
Walking into their completed home was so unreal for the whole family. They were finally home and had the place of their dreams.
What is your favorite room in the new house? Why is that?
“The kitchen. We spend most of our time as a family there. It's the center of our home. It helps that it's gorgeous.”
Reflecting on their new home, Sally appreciates that the build was the best thing their family could have done and it even makes them function better. “The kids love the loft, and we love that they can play independently up there while we accomplish things downstairs.” With the holidays and celebrations approaching, the couple is excited to host family and friends and have plenty of space to both sit, eat and even sleep!
While building a custom home is work and can be challenging at times, it is without a doubt a learning experience. George remarked, “It is all absolutely worth it!” By choosing a builder they trusted, they are beyond happy with the outcome. “We’re so excited for the memories we will make here as our kids grow up.”
About Schumacher Homes
Schumacher Homes, based in Canton, Ohio, is America’s largest custom homebuilder, with operations in 22 locations in 11 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.