Customizing with Nathan and Amanda
By Simon Liu
This post is a part of our homeowner blog series, where we interview recent Parkwood buyers and see how they’ve customized their homes to suit their unique needs, preferences, and lifestyle. Scroll down to view the photo gallery.
Nathan and Amanda were among the first Parkwood homeowners to move into Sterling Ranch. Having toured our Stapleton model years before, they knew they wanted to eventually build their own Parkwood.
“We saw how unique the model was. It was nothing like any of the other homes,” Amanda said. “We would look inside, and it was amazing, but we didn’t know if we could ever have a house like it.”
Things finally worked out when they found out about our homes in the new Sterling Ranch community. In late 2018, Nathan and Amanda moved into their new Saybrook farmhouse in Sterling Ranch.
What’s in a forever home?
Like many of our buyers, Nathan and Amanda were immediately drawn to the architectural style of our homes. When it comes to your ‘forever home,' it’s not just about what’s in style or trendy now. Instead, it’s important to consider how your home might look in fifteen, thirty, or even a hundred years.
“That classic, timeless style really made it feel like it could be our forever home,” Amanda said. “It’s not going to be a trend. It’s not going to fade away. It has that classic look that we couldn’t get anywhere else.”
They were also impressed by the standard features that were included in the base price of the home. With all the moving and errands that need to be done on closing day, the last thing you want to worry about are basic features the builder wouldn’t include, like landscaping.
“People move in and they have about 90 days to get their landscaping done. You’re moving in and now you have to worry about finding a landscaper, submitting plans, and all this other stuff,” Nathan said. “We didn’t have to worry about that.”
Rather than paying extra for basic features like hardwood floors throughout the main floor and a landscaped backyard, they could focus their budget where it mattered most.
Personalized Space
Customization is a big part of the Parkwood process, and one of the main reasons why many of our buyers choose to build with us. Starting with our standard plans, Nathan and Amanda got to sit down with our home designer, go through every part of the floorplan, and really customize it to make it their own.
“Building a semi-custom home is one of the things that drew us to Parkwood,” Nathan said. “You don’t get that with any other builders. You just get what you get when you buy those other homes.”
On the main floor, they added a bedroom suite, complete with a full bath, for extra living space. They also added the extremely popular and functional mudroom, where many Parkwood families see a lot of practical use.
“We knew we wanted to add a main floor bedroom and, because it was already an option on the website, it was easy to see how much it would cost,” Amanda said.
Upstairs, Amanda knew exactly what she wanted to make sure the master bath was just right. Expanding the shower and opting for double shower heads was just the start. Working with Doug, our architectural designer, they redesigned the countertops to fit a linen closet so they can always find an extra towel without leaving the master bath. For even more storage, they redrew the master closet to add a storage closet in the hallway.
“Doug was super open to any ideas that we had,” Amanda said. “It was really our home, the way we wanted it, and not just a pre-done floor plan.”
Living in a Parkwood
When it comes to building a semi-custom home, your experience working with the builder becomes that much more important. That means a positive experience with our sales team, our construction managers, and our warranty guys.
“Everyone we worked with is so awesome,” Amanda said. “If there was an issue, they would take care of it. They listened to our concerns and asked questions, making sure that it’s all taken care of and resolved, whatever it is.”
A big thank you to Nathan and Amanda for building with Parkwood Homes and take a look below to see their gorgeous Saybrook farmhouse!
