Summer 2013 Move-In Dates Are Ready!

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If moving into your very own custom built home is in the cards for you – you may need to get started now with next summer as your target move-in date. In fact, we are encouraging buyers to look at our models now and get a feel for what they’d like to see in their own homes coming next year.

The time it takes on average for Charleston Homes to build your custom home is about five to six months. Now of course that timeframe changes with the onset of winter but we are still able to provide you with an exact closing date window. With a date in mind, you can then enjoy the peace of mind knowing that you will be in your new home next year according to schedule.

Most homebuyers neglect to realize is that time is definitely of the essence. In order for us to plan everything, get all your choices on record and decide what you want to do, how you want to do it and set up financing – we need to start now.

Call us today or visit one of our models, open seven days a week. There’s more information on our website at www.CharlestonHomesOmaha.com. We look forward to seeing you soon and wish you a warm, happy holiday season!

Interest Rates – Have They Hit Bottom?

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With the New Year right around the corner, we are anticipating where rates will be and what the housing market has in store. The trends we have been seeing for some time now, of extremely low interest rates and depressed prices, may very well be a thing of the past.

For buyers that have been on the fence waiting the market out, now could not be a better time to begin the build process on a new home. Not only do interest rates seem to be inching upward but also the costs that go into building a home. The price of land is also going up, as there is less and less land available in our area. The last thing you want to have happen is to miss out on such a phenomenal opportunity of being able to lock in the amazing rates that are still out there right now. At last check, buyers with decent credit for a typical mortgage are able to get an interest rate as low as 3.5% or lower depending on the loan product.

Building and construction, like any other commodity, definitely rises and falls in price – and we project prices to rise as surely will interest rates. So you should really consider moving sooner rather than later.

To be able to move in by next summer, now is the time to begin the process. We invite you to visit our models either at Portal Ridge or Saddlebrook and choose the home of your dreams!

Existing Homeowners Finding Current Real Estate Market Ideal for Transition to a New Build

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A common concern many existing homeowners that are considering building their next home have is whether or not they will be able to sell their home in time for the new home’s closing. In years past this has been an interesting issue with various ways to deal with depending of course on individual circumstances plus many other factors.

Today, however, things are different. With record setting low interest rates that are still available to most buyers, homes are selling fairly quickly. What this means for buyers of wanting to build a new home is that rather than worry about having a home on their hands that has not sold through the closing of their new one, they will need to look for an interim place to stay while their new home is still under construction.

The fact is that homes are selling fast. And though it is difficult to line things up perfectly to where a seller can simply transition from their old home to the new one, the good news is that things are leaning toward a sellers’ market.

If you would like to discuss new home construction we invite you to contact us today! We look forward to building you a Charleston Home.

The New Savannah Floor Plan is Available Now in Portal Ridge

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Here’s what you get with this 2-Story 4-bedroom Savannah!

It wasn’t too long ago that we shared with you the exciting news of our newest 2-story floor plan, the Savannah. And today, we are going to show you the finished model!

This four-bedroom, two-story home has more space than you can imagine, featuring an open kitchen and living area. There is a flex space on the 2nd floor and the main floor front room can be converted into an office. With a base price starting at $183,000, the typical Savannah home is pricing out at about $200,000, including many gorgeous upgrades.

People are becoming more interested in building their new home rather than buying an existing home. At this time, a brand new 4-bedroom home in the Omaha market priced at $200,000 is a great deal! You can build the Savannah floor plan all throughout the Omaha Metro.

Charleston Homes has high quality standards, including 42” kitchen cabinets, center islands, walk-in pantry and custom finishes that will add to the home’s coziness and comfort level.

We invite you to come out to see this home that provides an incredible value without sacrificing quality or style. Visit us at 101st & Giles or call 402-502-5600. We look forward to hearing from you!

How Homeowners Can Prepare To Weather The Elements On Their Concrete Surfaces

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We have all heard about the typical winterizing steps to take with your home maintenance; they usually entail cleaning out gutters of extra debris, leaves and junk plus things like reinstalling glass window panes to replace screens. There’s a lot more to winterizing and one item that is often overlooked is taking care of the home’s driveway and concrete surfaces.

Believe it or not, your driveway and/or concrete could also use winterization. The main reason being that the surface is actually quite porous. When you combine that porous nature of the material with the elements of winter including salt, ice and other environmental abuses – it’s almost imperative that you do some preventive maintenance. Here are some guidelines to follow:

The most important thing to know is that your driveway will need its control joints, expansion joints and cracks sealed properly using a quality polyurethane sealant. It is preferable to use one that meets the Concrete Institute standards of ASTMC309 (look on the package).

Using a standard 10-ounce caulking gun, simply work the sealant into the driveway’s joints and seams. The main benefit of doing this will be to prevent salt and brine from penetrating the surface of your driveway and thereby beginning to deteriorate the surface. By doing this twice per year, once around this time of year before the really cold weather sets in, and the second time around is in April after the freeze is over.

Another key area to concentrate on are the expansion joints both at the foot of your driveway at the street’s curb as well as at the entrance of your garage. Both of these expansion joints are designed to absorb any change when the street expands, leaving your home standing unaffected by the imminent movement.

By grinding these joints down with a pressure washer and then caulking the areas, you will effectively be providing as much protection as possible against the elements, avoiding cracking and unsettling of the concrete. You can apply sealant by rolling it on with a paint roller for even application.

There is one more tip that will help you prolong the life of your driveway this year – and for years to come. As soon as you can, when snowfall has taken place, take the time to remove the snow as quickly as possible. This will help to reduce deterioration of your concrete from salt and compacted snow (which results from vehicle traffic over snow), less moisture is trapped underneath the surface, therefore reducing the otherwise rapid acceleration of damage to your driveway.

For more information on this important maintenance tip, watch our video above.

An Inspiring Interview With the Newest Homeowners of Our Custom Accessible Home

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A home should be the most comforting place of all – and at Charleston Homes we realize that sometimes people have specific needs in order to be able to enjoy that comfortable lifestyle. That’s why when Mr. and Mrs. Hoell approached us to help them build a custom home with unique and very specialized features dedicated to making their lives easier – we jumped at the opportunity.

We talked to them about what made them choose us in the first place, how they would rate their experiences with us and to share with us some of their favorite aspects of their new home.

The video says it all.

You can see that they are very happy with the results – as are we! They needed an open kitchen so we removed the center island, made some adjustments to the cabinetry and installed a side desk for convenience. They required a washer and dryer system that was simple to operate while convenient for both occupants of the home. Mrs. Hoell’s love of the outdoors was also not overlooked, with complete level access to a gorgeous back patio, allowing them the freedom to entertain openly without hindering them in any way.

In their own words, “Charleston Homes were the only ones that were interested [in giving us what we needed] and were not going to put any restrictions on what we wanted.”

When you think about it – comfort and security in one’s own home is one of the single most important aspects of having a good quality of life. Unless you are able to move freely, access things openly and easily – how can that comfort and security be possible?

We feel privileged to have had the experience to serve this terrific couple and appreciate the opportunity to give them exactly what they needed to be able to move into their dream house.
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If you or someone you know could benefit from a customized accessible home, contact us today. We welcome your call or visit to one of our model locations so we can get to work and move you into your own dream home!

Dealing with the Stress of Summertime on Your Sod

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This year was one of the hottest and driest years on record in the summer and our area was no exception. The hot and dry conditions wreaked havoc on many of our lawns. One of the most consistent worries of homeowners, particularly those without sprinklers, is that their grass will die.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

It turns out that grass that looks like it is dead is most of the time only just dormant. When grass becomes dormant, it has suffered a great deal of stress but can survive and even be revived. Here are a few tips on how to accomplish taking care to prevent or at least help prevent the damage and stress on your sod from the elements of nature during a hot summer.

Feed Your Lawn Regardless of Weather Patterns

Many people fail to realize that with fertilization, lawns have the added nutrients and food needed to stay strong during the challenging weather conditions. You can either regularly fertilize your lawn through a company that specifically does that or you can buy it at a home improvement store and do it yourself. All you need is a spreader and a bag of appropriate fertilizer. Most manufacturers have a recommended schedule that is either monthly or quarterly.

Maintain At Least a Minimal Watering Schedule

Though the cost of watering your lawn can get way up there, especially during hot and dry times of year, it is essential to keep at least a minimum amount of watering going. At least once a day or ideally twice a day will be all you need to keep your lawn moist in order to survive the heat.

Patch Up Areas Needing Some Extra Help

Come fall season, one of the best things you can do to areas that have suffered extra damage due to the elements is to sprinkle some grass seed and maintain watering as mentioned above. It is important to buy grass seed of the appropriate type. Depending on whether your lawn is primarily in a shaded area or in direct sun, there are different types of seed available. For smaller patches you can buy it in bulk in most stores.
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No matter how bad your sod looks, keep in mind that grass is very resilient and with just a little bit of care plus some time and attention – you can have that perfect green lawn again!

How to Properly Clean Your Air Conditioner’s Outside Unit Yourself

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Most homeowners this summer have been using their air conditioning units fairly often with the record setting temperatures and extreme bouts of dryness we have been experiencing. And in doing so, they are naturally concerned about making sure their cooling systems continue to work as efficiently as possible. One of the ways to ensure a smooth running heating and cooling system is to keep it clean.

Debris, Dust and Grime Clogs Up An AC Unit

Though the build-up can accumulate over time, cleaning your unit literally only takes minutes. Over time, the grill in a typical outside AC system collects dried leaves, dirt, dust, grime, cotton and flying weeds plus cobwebs and other natural debris. Too much debris can clog your system and ultimately impact your air conditioner’s working efficiency.

Usually There is No Need for Service Calls

Contrary to what come companies may advertise, the truth is that most air conditioning systems do not require any services for at least three to four years from when they were first installed (new). There may be an occasional need but for the most part the only thing needed is a quick cleaning. While a service company may charge anywhere from $90 on up to do the same thing, you can easily take care of this small task yourself.

Cleaning the Coils of An Outside AC Unit is Simple

All you need is a regular garden hose. A sprayer attachment works well too but is not necessary. The most important thing to remember when cleaning your unit is to be gentle. The internal and outside components can easily be damaged if cleaned using a power washer of any sort. That’s why we recommend using a simple garden hose with or without a standard sprayer.

Step 1: Turn up the temperature on your thermostat so that while you are cleaning the unit does not kick on.

Step 2: Turn the water on and holding the garden hose about six inches away from the grill, start at the top of your AC unit.

Step 3: In a sweeping motion going across and then moving downward, row-by-row, systematically clean off each section of your unit, breaking up any dust, dirt, grime or other debris.

Step 4: Reset your thermostat to your desired temperature.
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That’s it! In just a few minutes, you have cleaned your air conditioner unit, unclogging the areas where air flows and made your unit operate much more efficiently!

Real Estate Market Update Summer 2012

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Anyone buying a home, selling, considering investing or building a home should be aware that this summer has been a very successful one for the real estate market. In fact, with some unprecedented trends going on in our marketplace, we have been very fortunate to be able to break out of the rut after the housing crisis of 2007.

Today, it is a phenomenal time to be involved in real estate. Whether buying or selling, people are out there and there is plenty of activity. Here is a quick look at how our market in Omaha is faring in three key areas.

Interest Rates Continue to Be at All-Time Lows

We have gotten used to these incredible rates but everyone knows that they will not last long. In fact, no one really knows how long we will have the benefit of such a low cost of borrowing money. But before it does change, we urge you to consider how much money overall can be saved by locking in these phenomenal rates – as low as 4% for a conventional 30-year fixed rate loan and in some cases 3% or lower for 15-year mortgages.

Sellers Enjoying Success With Increased Home Sales

The home inventory in Omaha continues to go down, a sign that the market is shifting toward a sellers’ marketplace. What this means for buyers is that you will face increased competition out there but as a seller it translates to a far better experience than you could have expected just a couple years ago. With about 4,500 homes currently active on our MLS right now, many of our customers are concerned about selling their home going into their new home contract. However for the ones that have a proper strategy in place, are backed by a strong real estate agent and have done all the work to prepare their home for sale – homes are selling in a matter of days.

Land Lots Going Fast

The number of available land lots on hand is coming down too. As a builder in over 55 neighborhoods, we at Charleston Homes have strong relationships with the community of developers. The big news in this area is that prices seem to have stabilized a bit and in some cases we are even seeing them come up somewhat. For people considering the purchase of a new home, this means that now is the best time to purchase.

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The one crystal clear message that comes out of the current state of our market is that now is the best time to buy. Before you regret not locking in amazing interest rates or not having first pick of some of the best homes on the market, we suggest you consider pursuing your real estate dreams today.

If you would like a customized consultation to discuss your specific new home needs, we invite you to contact us at one of our model locations – Saddlebrook at 402-934-2212 or Portal Ridge at 402-502-5600.

Charleston Homes Offers New 2-Story Home With Exceptional Features

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We have gotten a lot of interest on our Jackson floor plan, with plenty of space at almost 2,500 square feet of living space and a host of amazing amenities. But many of our clients have asked for something in a slightly lower price point – so we have answered them with our phenomenal new floor plan, the Savannah 2-story home.

The Savannah 2-story home is so new, in fact, that there is only one under construction at the moment and it is already sold! But we could not wait to share it with you so as you can see from the tour above, there is plenty to be excited about.

Charleston Homes’ Newest Two-Story Floor Plan Packed With Features

Most people would think that a lower price point would yield a much more basic home. But that is simply not true with the Savannah 2-story. We are happy to report that this floor plan is in response to the many requests we have received for a slightly more economical but equally as desirable home. And we did just that.

There is plenty of room inside whether you head into the large, spacious family room directly facing the open kitchen or you walk the extra wide hallways – there is no shortage of room. We designed the kitchen and great room’s layout with family in mind. You can enjoy spending time with your guests and family even as you are in the kitchen with the open concept space.

The overall square footage is not that far behind the Jackson Floor Plan, with our Savannah 2-story home featuring 2,236 square feet of finished space above grade. This is a true 4-bedroom home with the added surprise features of an extra living space on the second floor as well as a 3-car garage. The second floor laundry room, master suite and additional living space upstairs – are all highly popular features of this amazing home.

And we plan on having a model ready by late August – on display for you to experience this property first-hand. In the interim, however, we welcome a visit from you at any one of our model communities (Saddlebrook or Portal Ridge) to discuss our other floor plans. We look forward to seeing you.

Saddlebrook 402.934.2212
Portal Ridge 402.502.5600

Customers Most Frequently Asked Questions of Charleston Homes in Omaha

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Purchasing a home is one of the biggest transactions most people will ever conduct in their life and it is also one of the most exciting experiences!  When you decide to build a home, the excitement is multiplied ten times over. We know this because we deal with countless new homeowners every year that have made the choice to build the dream home that matches the needs of their family.

One of the things we encounter consistently with virtually every potential customer is being asked about whether we build only in certain areas and also the length of time it takes to completely build a home. Here are the answers to these very commonly asked questions, plus some additional information that you may find useful in your quest to decide whether owning a home built by Charleston Homes is right for you.

“Where Do You Build?”

If you visit our website, you will notice that we have advertised two neighborhood locations where we have housed our model homes. One of the biggest misconceptions, however, is that those are the only locations where we build our homes. The truth is that we have built in over 55 neighborhoods and the number continues to grow. We are not attached to only some specific neighborhoods – rather we are able to build in just about any custom neighborhood in the Omaha area. 

“How Long Does It Take?”

It is only natural that once someone makes the monumental decision to build a custom home, they are anxious to move in as soon as possible. Understandably, one of the most frequent questions we get asked – almost always during that very first meeting – is about the length of time it will take before the house will be complete.

In short – it depends. If you are coming in at a time during the year when we experience higher build volumes then it will take longer to get into your home. Conversely, if you come in at less busy times of the year or opt for a home that is partially completed (also called inventory homes) then the time frame can be significantly reduced. The typical build cycle lasts about five months, giving homeowners plenty of time to prepare for their new place while planning their lives around the move-in date.

Speaking of move-in dates, one of the perks of working with us is that at the time of writing your purchase agreement, we include a closing date that has a two-week window. What this means is that when you sign your contract, we will provide you with a closing date and we always meet the closing dates that we project. This provides welcome relief to homeowners that might otherwise be left in the dark about when their home will be ready to move in. This is a feature, among other things, that other builders, simply do not provide to their customers.
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To get an idea of why so many customers choose Charleston Homes, we invite you to visit one of our model home complexes in Saddlebrook at 150th and Fort or in Portal Ridge at 101st and Giles.

We welcome the opportunity to answer your questions about land, land development, where we can build, the cost of our lots and more. Please do not hesitate to ask us because we can build your new dream home just about anywhere and we look forward to serving you!

Why You Should Work With Our Sales Team

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If you are in the market for building and owning your own home, chances are you are considering new construction as many aspiring homeowners do. At Charleston Homes, we make it our passion to serve our clients with not only of the best homes but also a phenomenal experience throughout the process.

Dedicated Sales Team Dealing Only With New Construction Sales

Unlike many other companies, our sales agents comprise of three individuals that are primarily focused on serving our new construction clientele. Rather than serving a multitude of clients, our sales agents are uniquely positioned to providing you with hands-on, experienced and quality guidance that is driven by their exclusivity within the industry.

Two Model Complexes 

We recognize that many of our customers have hectic schedules. To accommodate, we have two model complexes that are open 7 days a week. This will give you an opportunity to walk through and experience for yourself what Charleston Homes has to offer. We are certain that one glimpse of our models will want to make it your own home.

Customization With Our Customers In Mind

We know that there are other builders in the market that advertise “everything is included” in the purchase price. However our experience and ability to understand our clients wants and needs has crafted a different outcome that is much more desirable for our homeowners. We are more concerned with having homeowners that are happy with their new home.

We invite you to visit one or both of our model complexes, meet with our dedicated sales staff and describe to us your dream home so that we can work to accomplish making that dream a reality. Our team will work with you to ensure that your experience is enjoyable, streamlined and smooth so that you can focus on the excitement of owning your own dream home soon!

Customer-Centric and Relationship Value Ranks High On Charleston Homes’ Priority List

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When you think of value, what goes through your mind? For most, when it comes to real estate, value is equated with the price of the home. With others it is a matter of finding the lowest price in custom neighborhoods. But for our team at Charleston Homes, value goes a lot further than that. To us the value is in our relationships. Whether it is how we interact with our vendors and suppliers, our management of contractors, how we maintain team spirit and camaraderie or most importantly how we relate to our customers – it is all about our relationships with each.

Value is not something that just begins when you sign a contract to build a new home and one that ends as soon as the keys are handed over. Rather, this is a lifelong relationship that starts from the moment you choose Charleston Homes and lasts for years as you enjoy your home.

Strong Relationships With Vendors, Contractors and Suppliers

Though we do pride ourselves in being the lowest price and very competitive builders in Omaha, what really sets up apart from the rest is how we interact with our team. Whether we are dealing with outside contractors, in-house team members or the many vendors and suppliers that help us achieve the greater goal of building wonderful homes – we are grateful for all of them! Even throughout our warranty process, we stand by our commitments and work to serve our clients through the best team work and strongest of convictions.

Positive Rapport With Lenders, Developers, Realtors and Community Members

Among our most revered relationships are the ones we hold with our community members, developers and lenders in the area. We work with people that have the common goal of serving the community and making it a better place for everyone. We have built in over 50 custom neighborhoods which is one of the reasons we receive extra support from those that we work with in Omaha. We enjoy a strong bond with the area Realtors and brokers, through whom we are able to channel our homes in other ways than our in-house sales team.  In short – we know how to effectively find our clients exactly what they seek and we successfully find them what they want in the neighborhood that they prefer.

Charleston Homes Team Members – Close Knit Like Family

Unlike many other companies of similar stature, our team is among the very few that has little politics and a much stronger sense of family within the team. Even cross-departmentally we do not have the kinds of friction that are apparent in many other companies. In fact, our sales team gets along great and works very well with our construction teams as they do with marketing, finance, warranty and other departments. This is just another aspect of being able to provide our clients the best value with their new home.

The most value of all our relationships remains to be the one we have with our customer. We take pride in considering our clients family and we will stop at no end to provide the best experience ever! We invite you to come visit one of our models today – or come in and spend some time with our talented team!

5 Year Anniversary

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5 years has gone by so fast!  We are very grateful to our customers, employees, contractors and the Realtor community.  Thank you for helping us make a positive difference in the Omaha housing market.

Be sure to visit our blog again soon.  And, stop out to see our models at Saddlebrook and Portal Ridge for more information or to tour our models.  Make a Charleston Home Your Next Home.

How to Assess the Financial Strength and Stability of Your Chosen Builder

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When you’re making the dream of owning your own home a reality, it is only natural that you want everything to be perfect.  And when you’re building your home the cornerstone of that perfection begins with a strong builder that has a proven track record and solid reputation within the community. These days, almost everyone prefers to stretch their dollar as far as it will go, and the last thing anyone wants to do is to get involved with a builder that just can’t live up to its financial obligations.

To help guide you through the process of selecting a quality builder that has the financial strength to sustain the entire project of building your home, here are three essential questions to ask before choosing a builder:

What Is the Condition of the Company’s Financial Health?

Since most builders are are privately owned, they are not likely to share financial information such as statements, tax filings or other documentation that will indicate how strong (or weak) they are as a company.  At Charleston Homes, we believe this information is critical in making the decision of whether or not to hire a builder. Charleston Homes works with several banking partners and we invite our existing and potential clients to inquire about our relationships with them.  Our banking partners include Security National Bank, First National Bank and Pinnacle Bank.

Ask your prospective builder to provide as much financial information as possible so you can get a glimpse of their financial health.  A financially weak company is definitely a risk in terms of investment, and best avoided if possible.  Without a solid financial backing, how can you be sure your project will be completed with the best resources possible and how can you be sure it will be finished on time?

How Are The Relationships With Suppliers and Vendors?

The majority of work performed when building a home lies within a set of key suppliers and vendors. Suppliers install the home’s foundation, lumber, siding, heating & cooling, plumbing and electrical systems, windows, cabinets and roofing.  All it takes is for just one component to stall for the rest of the project the slow down.  The most prevalent reason for delays in construction usually amounts to payments made late or none at all to vendors and suppliers.

Check to find out how the builder you are considering relates to their vendors and suppliers.  Ask for a list of their construction partners to find out whether the builder makes payments on time or has a reputation for being late or delinquent on payments.

Our policy at Charleston Homes is one that keeps our partners happy while continuing to run a smooth building process for our clients.  It’s a win-win situation for all and we’re happy to be able to stand behind our word.

What Do Past Clients Have to Say?

Nothing speaks louder than the words spoken by a past client.  The experiences relayed by past clients are a direct reflection on the builder’s financial integrity.  Does the builder respond to concerns in a timely and effective manner?  Are there typically many delays in the process of building the home?  Delays generally translate to unhappy or unpaid suppliers that are unwilling to continue working until payment is current.

The only delays we experience are those that are due to unforeseen weather circumstances.  Other than that, a builder should never deviate from the schedule and all projects should be completed on time and on schedule as they are with Charleston Homes.

As we approach our five-year anniversary, at Charleston Homes we have had nothing but resounding success with our clients.  We pride ourselves in offering the utmost transparency and openness and make sure that we provide our clients with a solid foundation – both literally and financially.  We welcome you to contact any of our vendors, suppliers, partners or past and present clients to learn of their experience while working with us.  Please contact me, Mike Freestone, Finance Director at Charleston Homes if you have any questions and I’d be happy to share our financial information with you.  We are sure you’ll be pleased and look forward to serving your needs!

Introducing The Stunning Jackson Floorplan

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We at Charleston Homes are excited to announce our new Jackson floorplan which is now open at Saddlebrook.  In short, this floorplan rocks! I wanted to give you a quick tour to show you some of the elegant, functional and exciting new features of this floorplan.  Of course, it's always better to see it in person which you can do by coming to see us!

This floor plan is 2486 ft above grade with a base price of $198,000.  You can literally put this floorplan anywhere in Omaha market as it will fit into just about any kind of neighborhood.  Of course, we have different exterior elevations that will really dress up the front of the home.

We've completely redone the kitchen by adding staggered cabinet options and a hidden pantry.  It's very spacious and open to the family room.  In fact, you can see the family room and stone fireplace from the kitchen.

In the family room, we've had customers asking for stone fireplace.  We listened to our customers, and made this very popular addition to the floor plan.  The fireplace adds an extra bit of ambiance and coziness.

The gorgeous two-story entry really gives that wow factor. It offers a stunning look into your home when guests come over for a visit.  In fact, you can greet them at the top of your sweeping staircase!

This is the true four-bedroom home with a large master.  The master bedroom also has a big walk-in bathroom with separate tub and shower.  The walk-in shower is tiled, and there is a huge walk-in closet that comes standard with this floor plan.

The kitchen in this home is absolutely stunning and has its own dining area.  There is also a formal dining room in this floorplan as well.  The Jackson floorplan is perfect for entertaining and family flow.  You won't find anything in this price range with as many amenities and upgrades as this beautiful home.

As always, we'd love to meet you and show you this model in person.  We're open seven days a week, so come on over and visit us anytime! We will take you on a personal walk-through of the Jackson and show you everything it has to offer.

How We Help You Keep Your Heating & Cooling Bills As Low As Possible

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Energy efficiency in your new home is very important during any time of the year as it directly affects your overall utility bills. During both the summer and winter months, we want to ensure we keep as much of that conditioned air, from both the air conditioner and furnace, within the home. Today, we wanted to explain a few of the features we utilize in our new homes that help to keep this conditioned air within the building space and not lost to the outside, which in turn will lower your monthly energy bills.

First of all, for our wall insulation we use a blown-in fiberglass composite material. This insulation is a loose fill product which condenses to fill any voids or air gaps within the wall cavity and also fills around all plumbing and electrical in the wall. We first cover the wall in netting and then fill in between each stud cavity.  Our recent change to 2x6 exterior walls allows us to achieve an R-21 rating because of the depth and overall density in the stud space throughout our exterior walls.  The thicker the insulation you are able to install, the higher the R- value, or the higher thermal resistance of the structure.  Higher thermal resistance equals a more energy efficient home.

Another area of your home where we focus on energy efficiency is the type of windows we install.  We use a true vinyl window made by Andersen. Vinyl is a great building product as it has a very low heat transfer rating.  All of our windows are also Low-E rated.  This Low-E rating means that our windows block around 84% of all ultraviolet light from entering the home through the window.  Each of these two characteristics help minimize heat from penetrating into the home during the summer and escaping the home in the winter.  Again, the more conditioned air you can keep within your home the less your furnace and air conditioner will have to work, thus helping to reduce your monthly energy bills.

A third area where we focus on energy efficiency is our use of Lennox furnaces that are 93% efficient. This means that the  furnace uses 93% of the energy it requires to operate to actually heat the home. 7% of the energy used is lost through the combustion process and not utilized in producing heat for the home. The unit uses two pvc pipes that extend from the unit directly to the outdoors.  One is an intake to bring fresh air in to fuel the combustion process and the other is to remove the by-products created from the furnace during this same process.  This is also another important energy feature in your new home in that the furnace is not using already conditioned air within the home to complete the combustion process, but fresh air from the outside.  The more conditioned air that is kept inside the building envelope and the more efficient the furnace, the less the furnace has to run to replenish that conditioned air.

Above are just a few of the many different energy features we incorporate into our new homes.  All of these features together help create a more comfortable home as well as a home that is very energy efficient.  For more information on our homes, please feel free to call or e-mail us anytime or stop by our models in Saddlebrook or Portal Ridge.

Happy 2012 from Our Family to Yours!

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As we embark upon a New Year of great possibilities and more opportunities – we wanted to take the opportunity to give a shout out to all our wonderful partners and supporters! Thanks to you, our clients, contractors, agents and staff – we were able to achieve a record-breaking sales year in 2011! In fact, we believe there are many more wonderful achievements to come in the year ahead. Come watch the newest video on our blog – we look forward to seeing you!