2012 Winterizing Checklist

Now that the cold and snow have started to set in this winter season, here are some key steps to take to ensure that your home stays safe and well maintained!

Want to learn a bit more? Visit our website here!

MORE Locations! MORE Designs!

With @home Builders, you’ll find what you’re looking for. New Home Communities in Rochester and Syracuse, New York that are distinguished by their convenient locations. Homes with unmatched comfort and attention to design. See for yourself!

The Estates at Beaver Creek is nestled between Victor and Canandaigua, giving you all of the conveniences from both locations, while providing a tranquil and peaceful setting.

Covington Place, in the heart of the Finger Lakes region, features well-manicured neighborhoods, and offers a convenient location that is close to the historic downtown, as well as many recreational opportunities.

The Preserve has the most desirable home sites in Henrietta, New York. Featuring protected woodlands and waterfront homesites, homeowners enjoy a quiet country lifestyle while living minutes from downtown Rochester.

Factors Walk, located outside of Pittsford Mendon, offers breathtaking scenery, magnificent views, and stunning homesites.

Timber Banks in Baldwinsville offers Villas, Row Houses, Cottages and Single Family Homes, as well as upstate New York’s only Nicklaus Design championship 18-hole golf course.

To learn about each of these individual communities, please visit our website here where a detailed description among other important information is available!

The Tweedy's Dream Home at Timber Banks

@home Builders would like to welcome the Tweedy’s into their Cottage Style home within the Timber Banks community. Enjoy this testimonial from the happy homeowners!

"My wife and I have had a “bucket list” of dreams for much of our married life of 46 years. We have completed many of them, including navigating our sports cruiser to Hilton Head for a year, living on a river, living on a lake, plus many more, too numerous to mention.

We have now completed the process of fulfilling another dream, building our final home, our dream home, in a golf community.

We just finished the last stages of completing this dream home, a patio home, at Timber Banks in Baldwinsville, NY on the Seneca Rivera and couldn’t be happier. @home Builders from Rochester, NY is the builder we have chosen to use. David Riedman, President; Brian Warren, Director of Marketing and Sales; and Paul Silvia, Construction Superintendent have all done an absolutely tremendous job satisfying all of our needs and desires. Believe me, there have been many.

Teresa Carpenter, the sales consultant, has been there for us every step of the way. She has gone above and beyond the call of duty to facilitate the process and keep us happy.

It has been a satisfying and rewarding process and we thank all of you.

We have a beautiful home on a Nicklaus Design Championship golf course, overlooking the 13^th hole. This community offers bike trails through the woods and a marina on the Seneca River. The amenities at Timber Banks are remarkable! We also have 24/7 access to the resident clubhouse which offers a fitness center, pool, hot tub, theatre room and internet cafe with free wifi! All of these amenities are available to us with the purchase of our home from @home Builders.

We totally and wholeheartedly recommend Timber Banks, @home Builders and all of the people who were involved, including David, Brian, Paul and Teresa.

Thank you all!!!"

Bill and Dottie Tweedy

*To learn more about living at Timber Banks, visit our website here!

Skip the Beige! Dive Into Color!

So many new homeowners don’t realize that the options are endless when selecting colors for their newly constructed home. The “Builder Beige” is a safe color that most builders use when the homeowners can’t decide on a color scheme. Why play it safe? Painting the walls of your home is the easiest way to get the biggest bang for your buck.

If painting your walls a vibrant color is a little too daring for your taste, you could always decide to paint your walls a subtle color and incorporate bold, colorful decals on an accent wall just to add a pop of color.

Painting your walls a neutral color and adding a metallic sheen top coat could also help to take your beiges from boring to exciting! Some stores have begun to offer metallic papers which would also add texture, contrast and sophistication. Remember, paint is easy to change and makes a striking statement in any room.

Before paint becomes an issue, you must first build the home of your dreams! Do so with the help of our Design Center. Christina Haag is a design professional and will help you create the home you've always wanted. Make your house a home by working with our Design Center ... and then add some paint!

Roger Expresses His Thanks to @home Builders

Please take a moment to enjoy this wonderful testimonial from one of our very own "On Your Lot" homeowners:

Dear @home Builders,

I have been in my home for just over a year now. This has been a year of getting things in order, downsizing, adjusting and rearranging. The move to the city was a big one for me. I am in a period of discovery. I never knew the city had so much to offer. Along that discovery path is a place I now call home. Just the other day a friend complimented my house and said "this place is more than a house, it's a home. It feels so good when I come here." I have had so many compliments on my home and I wanted to let you know what a great treasure it is. I have you and your company to thank for a comment such as that.

So all in all, this has been a busy year, but a most peaceful one. I have done some upgrades (deck, fence, shed, landscaping) as I settle in; but the base product was and still is your design. I consider it an honor that you initially took the time to consult with me, design and plan a home that would reflect my tastes while keeping in mind that we needed to construct something that looked liked it belonged in the city. You ultimately followed through on giving me a finished product that turned out to be hassle free and a joy to live in.

Over the past year, I literally have had more than a dozen people ring the doorbell and ask such things as "Who built this place? Is this house brand new? What color is the siding? Where did you get the front door?" One woman even took a piece of siding and a chip of the trim color and went to Sherwin Williams to match my colors.

So I just want to say THANK YOU! You have more than lived up to your side of the bargain by giving me something to be proud of; something I truly enjoy; and more than that, a place that I can welcome both friends and strangers into that embodies the warmth and style that you helped to create.

Warmest regards,

Roger

*To learn how to build the home you want, exactly where you want it, visit the On Your Lot page of our website here!*

Get Inspired!

Designing a newly constructed home is no easy feat! With a blank canvas and an endless amount of options, it is easy to get overwhelmed in the process. If you need some inspiration, think of all of the places you enjoy spending your time. Whether it is a restaurant, store, or outdoor venue that you had in mind, you can be inspired by anything.

Think of how you would like to feel in your home and then think of where you were the last time you felt that way. Doesn’t everyone want to be uplifted each time they enter their home? What better way to do that then to incorporate memories of the things that make you the happiest.

Feel free to take advantage of the opportunity to use our Design Center when designing your new home! One of the most exciting steps in purchasing a new home is selecting the products and finishes that will complete it. We're sure you will absolutely LOVE doing that in our unique New Home Sales & Design Center. You will meet with our in-house Design Specialist, Christina Haag, and together you’ll walk through the process of creating your dream home.

Get inspired and get designing!

Happy Homeowners from The Preserve

Enjoy this testimonial from the Rotundos, who live in our Preserve community, as they share their overall experience with @home Builders!

"We moved into The Preserve in June 2010. Our experience in the home buying and building process couldn’t have been any better, thanks to the @home Team. Renee made us feel very comfortable when we first began considering The Preserve. She was helpful and readily available to answer inquiries. Most importantly, at no time did we feel ever feel pressured into anything. Throughout the building process, Renee and our project manager were there to guide us through every step. We were continually informed of any updates to the house and consulted about all details. It couldn’t have gone any smoother.

Communication by the @home team has continued even after we have moved in. They are there to provide guidance on issues affecting the house and quickly available to consult regarding any warrant issue. If you are considering building a house, look no further than @home Builders at The Preserve. You will feel comfortable throughout the home buying and building process. In addition to the wonderful staff, the community is filled with a wonderful people."

Jason and Candace Rotundo

Words From Perry Noun, General Manager of Timber Banks Golf Course

With Fall arriving, the newest golf community in Central New York looks to build on the momentum gained thus far in 2011. Timber Banks Golf Club & Marina Community in Baldwinsville has been the buzz around town for 2 years now and looks to remain so for years to come. The Nicklaus Design golf club, which is the only Nicklaus Design in Upstate New York, is no longer a secret. “The condition of the golf course is something that golfers in Syracuse have been waiting for” says General Manager Perry Noun III. “When you come down to Timber Banks you forget you are in Central New York. It is like a 4 hour vacation.”

The golf club is not the only thing jumping at Timber Banks. @home builders recently sold 2 more Villas and Heritage Homes has 2 homes under construction. Over the past 8 weeks, 4 homes have been sold in the newest lifestyle community in Central New York. There is no other residential community that can match the amenities available to the residents of Timber Banks which include the Nicklaus Design Golf Club, 2 miles of walking trails, the Wedding & Banquet Center and the Marina. Combine the amenities with all of the real estate options available, Timber Banks has become the premier residential community in Syracuse.

The affordability of buying in Timber Banks is surprising. Dollar for dollar it is the best value in all of Central New York. With the Villas starting at only $180,000, everyone has an opportunity to become a part of the Timber Banks family. Not only does Timber Banks offer Villas, but also available are town homes, cottage homes, single family and estate homes and resort style apartments. Across the board value is one of the major advantages of building and living in Timber Banks.

Owner and developer of Timber Banks, Gary Pooler, is continuing to invest in the capital improvements of the community. New improvements for this year include the gazebo right at the staging area and the gazebo right on the Seneca River which is our wedding ceremony site. This site is the most picturesque spot in all of Upstate New York with the signature 16^th hole in the foreground and the winding Seneca River in the background. Also new for this year is the completion of the cul-de-sac at the end of Long Shadow Drive. This road was completed because of the increasing demand for cottage homes and estate homes. The lots available on the cul- de- sac are the premier lots at Timber Banks. One estate home is currently under construction and with the interest in the other lots, they will not last long.

The events that have been held are a major draw, as well. From the Fairway to Ireland golf tournament and live concert to the Spring Open, the Timber Banks Wedding & Banquet Center is a centerpiece of the community. There will be a Bridal Show held September 25^th and is open to the public! Stay tuned for details or contact General Manager Perry Noun III at (315) 635-8800 or by e-mail at perry@timberbanks.com.

For more information on Timber Banks, visit our website here!

@home Builders Welcomes The Bumpus’ Into Their Timber Banks Villa!

@home Builders would like to welcome the Bumpus’ into their villa within the Timber Banks Community! Enjoy this testimonial from the happy homeowners!

"We cannot begin to tell you how happy we are that we chose to build our villa patio home in the Timber Banks community with @home Builders. We decided to build a villa mainly because we felt with the overall layout and plan of the villa, we would get more value for our money. It was not just the overall craftsmanship of the home itself, but the surrounding amenities that drew us. The use of the clubhouse, pool, hot tub and fitness center are within easy access and the staff is courteous. In addition, being surrounded by Timber Bank’s spectacular Nicklaus designed golf course is an added bonus. Never avid golfers, we are taking advantage of playing there on a regular basis and taking lessons from the pro as well.

As empty nesters, we were looking to downsize but still have the opportunity to entertain guests. The villa has the perfect layout, giving private space for those who visit. The open concept, with the kitchen overlooking the great room, is perfect for entertaining a large crowd. We chose to build our villa with a basement with the thought it would be an added bonus for us in the future when finished.

We also cannot say enough positive things about the people who you employ. Paul, the head contractor and Teresa, your sales representative were there whenever questions needed to be immediately answered or work orders needed to be added. We found the contractors hired to work on the villa knowledgeable and more than willing to answer questions we posed during the different walkthroughs. Laurie’s experience at your showroom in Canandaigua to choose what went in our home went smoothly. Having all of the choices for kitchen cabinets to plumbing fixtures to floors to paint colors all under one roof made it an easy process to construct what we envisioned for our home.

The necessary meetings regarding the house with Brian, Paul and Teresa were always productive. Any issues we had were always rectified in a timely fashion. Laurie especially appreciated the fact that we could approach the HOA for a more colorful landscape design and worked with your landscaper to achieve it.

Again, we thank you for making us feel "At Home". We hope that in the near future more people will take the time to come see and make the decision to build in the beautiful area you are creating here in Baldwinsville, New York."

**For more information on living in our Timber Banks Community, visit our website here!

Hang Around Victor Day

The 35th annual Hang Around Victor Day in Victor Village will be held Saturday, September 10th, from 9-5pm. This year, 100% of Victor merchants in the Victor Village festival grounds are participating in Hang Around Victor Day in some way.

In addition to merchants, various vendors will be present including local non-profit groups, kids area vendors and food vendors.

There will also be four musical groups who will play in the afternoon under the Frontier Entertainment Tent following the awards ceremony for the YMCA 5K Race for a Cause.

For more information on this event please visit the festival's Facebook page or call 585-394-0787.

YMCA Dream Home Open House

This is a wonderful event happening later this month! Be sure to schedule it in on your September calendar. For more information, visit our Facebook page!

Generation Y is Looking to Live in the Suburbs

The latest demographic trends are here!

There has been a great shift in demographic trends over the last few years. As the economy improves, the younger generation is looking to take advantage of low market prices and get into the home of their dreams before prices begin to escalate. Suburban settings in today’s world offer much more than they used to. Suburban towns have been redeveloped with walkable town centers that offer all of the conveniences that urban living would.

Generation Y’s view on homeownership has drastically changed over the years, as well. What they want is good quality housing, great service and a good price. Customers are now looking for environments that offer them a good deal while providing them with the quality of life that they are after.

Urban areas are having difficulty meeting customer expectations while keeping prices at a level that they would be comfortable with. Generation Y is a very intelligent group who is always looking to get the most out of their money!

If you'd like to browse through the communities we have to offer to begin your dream life in your dream home, feel free by visiting our website!

Now Is A Great Time To Buy A New Home!

The uncertainty vexing the housing industry seems to be coming to an end in some markets – and builders couldn’t be happier. New home buyers are benefiting from an historic opportunity, thanks to inventive designs, reduced pricing and low interest rates.

As the housing market has changed, builders have adjusted their product designs accordingly. For example, the call for smaller, more energy-efficient homes represents a hard truth: It costs a lot to build – and maintain – a bigger home. From tighter lending to material costs to heating & cooling, over-sized abodes are expensive propositions. In many markets the designs of homes have been scaled back, however the space is better utilized then the enormous homes of the past. Cottage or bungalow-style homes have been the answer for some markets. These homes have floor plans that are flexible, spacious and sustainable, while the smaller footprint means lower material costs for builders. The bottom line: Homeowners get a more affordable, more manageable version of their dream homes. And builders have a more affordable, more efficient line of homes to offer. Everybody wins!

If you’re sitting on the fence, don’t wait too long. Now really is a great time to buy a new home.

For more information. visit our website! Drop us a line with feedback or questions. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page, too!

Brian Warren - Director of Sales and Marketing

Steps For The Home Building Experience: Part Two

We're revealing Steps 3 and 4 of our home building experience! If you missed 1 and 2, look for them under our July tab.

Step 3: Building

As a respected, award-winning local builder, we work with only the finest subcontractors and suppliers. We're your partners, at your side throughout the entire process. And our dedication doesn't end the day you move in. We have extensive experience building custom homes on individual home sites throughout Ontario and the surrounding counties. Each home is built 'on paper' before it gets built in the field, ensuring a finished product that fulfills your vision. And after you've moved in to your new home, our customer service staff remains at your service to address any warranty issues that may arise.

What truly differentiates @home is our team of professionals. Those individuals, and a dedicated group of contractors and vendors, mean that we can deliver a quality product with a focus on customer service and open communication. So, if you want to build a great home ­at a great price ­– on your land or ours – in the Rochester or Syracuse area, give us a call. We'll be around to answer questions and make sure that your house is everything you dreamed it would be.

Step 4: Owning

We wrote the book on homeowner satisfaction – literally! The @home Builders Homeowner Manual is your personalized guide to everything you need to know about your home and the process of building it. Reference material, checklists and helpful tips galore! Warranties are spelled out in easy-to-understand language, with contact names, phone numbers and all policies. Warranty Service Request Forms help to make repair requests a piece of cake. @home is committed to keeping a long-term relationship with each and every home buying to ensure that you needs and wants have been met to the fullest.

For more information. visit @homebuilders.com! Drop us a line with feedback or questions. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page, too!

Steps For The Home Building Experience: Part One

We've come up with FOUR great steps for having a positive home building experience, but we're only revealing the first two! Stay tuned for a future post where we'll dish the last two steps.

Step 1: Planning

Deciding on which floor plan suites your families needs is almost as important as choosing the location in which you want to live. @home Builders offers dozens of designs and floor plans to suite every lifestyle. No cookie-cutter homes here! Each home reflects its owner. Our designs are distinguished by their comfort, convenience and contemporary designs. From floor plans to financing, planning to purchasing, we take the time to understand your family and help you design the home that you've always wanted. Our neighborhoods fit every lifestyle.

The Estates at Beaver Creek is nestled between Victor and Canandaigua, giving you all of the conveniences from both locations, while providing a tranquil and peaceful setting. Covington Place, in the heart of the Finger Lakes region, features well-manicured neighborhoods, and offers a convenient location that is close to the historic downtown as well as many recreational opportunities.

The Preserve has the most desirable home sites in Henrietta, New York. Featuring protected woodlands and waterfront homesites, homeowners enjoy a quiet country lifestyle while living minutes from downtown Rochester.

Factors Walk, located outside of Pittsford Mendon, offers breathtaking scenery, magnificent views, and stunning homesites. Timber Banks in Baldwinsville offers Villas, Row Houses, Cottages and Single Family Homes, as well as upstate New York’s only Nicklaus Design championship 18-hole golf course.

Step 2: Designing

Personalizing your new home is the fun part! Choosing finishes, materials, colors and designs help to make your vision come to life. At our new Design Center, you'll find everything from faucets to flooring here under one roof. It's convenient and easy. Take your time mixing and matching until you come up with just the right combinations. Our Design Center offers only the best products and features, as well as many Green options to fulfill your desire to be environmentally friendly.

Our Design Center is an amazing place to fantasize, brainstorm, and plan – with 2,500 square feet of space, dedicated to displaying all of the cutting edge products that will be built into your new home. You can do one-stop shopping here, so when you’re done you’ll see how everything works together.

We will carefully select the finishes, materials and colors that allow you to truly personalize your new home. Together, we can create a home that reflects your own sense of style while it fulfills your family’s needs. You'll feel confident in your decisions before we've even started to build your new home.

For information about our neighborhoods and our Design Center, visit us on the web here!

Reasons Why Rochester Is Such A Great Place To Live

Diverse Neighborhoods

Rochester is filled with diverse neighborhoods, towns and styles of homes. This tends to draw many people to this area simply because there is something for everyone here. Among all of our different communities, we offer single, double, and multi-family homes; waterfront properties; new houses built to your specifications; close proximity to city or country dwellings and so much more.

Educational Opportunities

The educational opportunities are limitless here in Rochester! The public schools have award winning athletic programs, beautifully maintained facilities, and staff members that have proven to be the best of the best. This area is filled with highly regarded universities and colleges such as RIT and the University of Rochester.

Entertainment/Attractions

Rochester has so many attractions – from festivals, concerts, wineries, theaters, museums and science centers, to breathtaking scenery and outdoor activities. This area hosts many cultural festivals such as the annual Ukrainian, Polish, Greek and Puerto Rican festivals. Rochester also holds a number of popular arts and crafts and jazz and musical festivals throughout the area with help from the local orchestras, Broadway shows, and galleries.

There is always something to do in Rochester! Thanks to the diverse collection of restaurants and shopping centers, you will never be bored. Downtown Rochester is constantly filled with energy and excitement, making it a great place to work, live and visit.

The many waterways in the area offer endless possibilities. The Erie Canal and Finger Lakes are home to a number of beautiful beaches, year-round fishing and an array of other outdoor activities that will be sure to keep you busy during the summer months. Rochester’s rich history allows for visitors and residents to enjoy the vast array of entertainment that this beautiful place has to offer.

For more information. visit our website here! Drop us a line with feedback or questions. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page, too!

Going Green By Conserving Water

There are many ways in which you can be a “green” new home buyer. Many of you know how you can help to save power and energy, but what about saving on your water consumption? Consider the kitchen area, bathrooms, laundry rooms, outdoor irrigation, and pool/hot tub maintenance.

When building a brand new home, you have the advantage of choosing the appliances and fixture you want in your home. Keep water conservation in mind when selecting items such as your dishwasher, toilet, and washer. Other items to consider are your faucets, hot water heaters and sprinkler systems. With all of the energy saving options out there, it isn’t hard to introduce energy saver brands in your home. These energy saving options not only help to conserve energy and help the environment, they can also help to save you and your family a lot of money. Many of these products will eventually pay for themselves over time with the savings.

Heating water accounts for around 15% of a home’s energy use. “Green” water heaters use up to 50% less energy than standard models. Regular tank water heaters keep water hot and ready to use at all times in insulated storage tanks, which means that you end up paying for the water to be continually heated at all times, even when you aren’t using any water. “Green” water heaters, such as the tankless water heater, heat water on an as-needed basis. Water is circulated through a large coil and is heated only on demand, using gas or electricity. This option means that there is an endless supply of hot water.

Energy Star washers use about 37% less energy and over 50% less water than regular washers. Many have a greater capacity as well, which means fewer loads of laundry. By switching to an Energy Star qualified washer, you could save $135 each year on your utility bills, and with this savings you could fill three average sized swimming pools!

These are just some of the examples that can show you what a difference “going green” can make!

For more information. visit @homebuilders.com! Drop us a line with feedback or questions. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page, too!

Top 10 Tips For Moving Into Your New Home

1. Become familiar with your surroundings. Locate the most important places of interest such as local grocery stores, banks, gas station, gyms, schools and hospitals or health care facilities. Also become familiar with the location of the nearest post office and be sure to fill out a change of address form. Take a drive around town and be sure to check out all that your community has to offer. The local Chamber of Commerce or Visitor Center may be able to help you with this.

2. Have all medical (for your family and pets!), dental, legal and school records transferred and taken care of before you make your move. Ask your doctors if they may be able to refer you to a provider in your new area.

3. Transfer all of your utilities and services before you officially settle into your new home. Schedule disconnection of all utility services at your old home. Be sure that all of your bills are accounted for such as electricity, gas, water, sewage, cable, phone, and internet. Also, change the address to any previous subscriptions you may have been participating in.

4. Stop into the DMV to get a new driver’s license and new tags for your vehicle.

5. Keep all receipts and documentation from your move in a safe place. Be sure to include items from the sale of your old home (if this pertains to you), papers from the moving company or truck you used, and everything you accumulated from the purchase of your new home. Having everything in one place will really help during tax time.

6. Safety First! Change all of your locks and codes to be sure that you and the members of your household are the only people that have access to your new home. Check all smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and make sure that you have a number of fire extinguishers and other safety products somewhere where they are easily accessible.

7. Set up a checking account in your new locations before your make your move. Not every bank is available in every location so be sure that your current bank is available where you are going and if not set up a new account at a different bank. You will need access to money during all stages of your move. Some businesses will accept checks or cards, while others are cash only. So you will need to be sure that all of your money is easily accessible.

8. Make sure that you make a box just for the essentials when packing. You may want to include items like the coffee pot, coffee, snacks, toilet paper, trash bags, cleaning supplies, hand soap or water bottles.

9. Try to label all or most of your boxes beforehand so you will have an easier experience when it comes time to unpack and organize. Double check the amount of boxes and supplies you will need. Keep all valuable or difficult to replace items with you instead of packing them away on the moving truck.

10. Go out and introduce your family to your new neighbors. Other than helping you to boost your social crowd, this will help in case of emergencies and will help you feel more secure in your new surroundings.

For more information, visit our website here! Drop us a line with feedback or questions. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page, too!

Forbes Deems Rochester One of Best Places to Buy a Home

Forbes Magazine featured this article on May 9th, 2011, deeming our city of Rochester as one of the best places to buy a home right now. Thanks to its great school system and fairly priced homes, it's easy to see why Rochester and its suburbs are attractive areas to settle down.

The article goes on to say "Though home prices in most areas around the country remain weak, the attractiveness of purchasing a home continues to diminish in the wake of the real estate bust. Fears of price erosion, a weak economy and foreclosure dog markets coast to coast.

But not everywhere. In places like the suburbs of Rochester, N.Y., houses look like a great buy. You can get a relatively new 3,000-square-foot home on a nice quarter of an acre lot in a good school district for between $300,000 and $400,000. "The real estate here is very inexpensive, it's about the same as renting and it actually makes sense for families," says Delores Conway, a real estate economics professor at the University of Rochester. "The houses are solid investments with good school systems that are fairly priced.""

To read the article in its entirety, please click here.

Timber Banks Golf Club & Marina Form Alliance of Golf Talent

Timber Banks Golf Club & Marina announces the appointment of Jim Roy as playing professional and special instructor at the Nicklaus Design course in Baldwinsville, NY….

Jim joins Head Golf Professional and Director of Instruction- Kevin Savage (the player of the year and teacher of the year in the Central New York PGA Section in 2009) to form an alliance of golf talent combining knowledge, experience, teaching skills and playing ability unique to golf in Upstate NY.

Since 1975, Jim Roy has built a reputation for being one of CNY’s and New York State’s top amateur golfers. As a student at the University of South Florida he won several Florida titles as a Sun Belt All- Conference member for 3 straight years and winning the Florida State Championship.

In 1981, Jim won the New York State Amateur Championship and in 1983 qualified for the PGA Tour and the U.S. Open at Oakmont. He was runner- up in the 1986 Cosco Open and the Rhode Island Open and came in third in the New York State Open. In 1989, he played in the U.S. Open at Oak Hill. In 1993, he decided to regain his amateur status and turned in his pro card. From 1998 to 2009 Jim was a 4 time New York State Mid Amateur Champion and competed in 5 U.S. Amateur Championships. In 2006 Jim completed the sweep of the Ashe, District, Post Standard and player of the Year honors, the first player to do so in local golfing history. In 2007 Jim was inducted into the Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame. In 2010 he earned his card on the PGA Champions Tour as a full time member.

Jim will be offering individual lessons as well as combining with Kevin to offer specialized golf clinics. The first clinic is scheduled for May 7^th that will cover the full swing (from irons to woods). On May 14^th they will cover the short game (putting and chipping). Call 635-8800 for more information.

A Letter From A VERY Happy Homeowner

Dear @home Builders,

I have been in my home for just over a year now. This has been a year of getting things in order, downsizing, adjusting and rearranging. The move to the city was a big one for me. I am in a period of discovery. I never knew the city had so much to offer. Along that discovery path is a place I now call home. Just the other day a friend complimented my house and said "This place is more than a house, it's a home. It feels so good when I come here." I have had so many compliments on my home and I wanted to let you know what a great treasure it is. I have you and your company to thank for a comment such as that.

So all in all, this has been a busy year, but a most peaceful one. I have done some upgrades (deck, fence, shed, landscaping) as I settle in; but the base product was and still is your design. I consider it an honor that you initially took the time to consult with me, design and plan a home that would reflect my tastes while keeping in mind that we needed to construct something that looked liked it belonged in the city. You ultimately followed through on giving me a finished product that turned out to be hassle free and a joy to live in.

Over the past year, I literally have had more than a dozen people ring the doorbell and ask such things as "Who built this place? Is this house brand new? What color is the siding? Where did you get the front door?" One woman even took a piece of siding and a chip of the trim color and went to Sherwin Williams to match my colors.

So I just want to say THANK YOU! You have more than lived up to your side of the bargain by giving me something to be proud of; something I truly enjoy; and more than that, a place that I can welcome both friends and strangers into that embodies the warmth and style that you helped to create.

Warmest regards,

Roger