This past Veterans Day, Dan Kauffman spent the afternoon at Arlington National Cemetery, taking part in a traditional Wetting Down Ceremony.  Uniquely designed to honor fallen soldiers, the ritual reunited Dan with comrades he met during his deployment to Iraq eight years ago during Operation Enduring Freedom.  Dan often says that his success as a new home sales manager for Schell Brothers stems from the dedication and expertise he gained from spending 13 years in the US Army Reserves.  So, it was only fitting that, when Dan returned home after a customary Veterans Day commemoration, he learned that he was one of six sales professionals nationwide to be honored as a Silver Finalist for excellence in new home sales.   Dan Kauffman is a new home sales manager for Schell Brothers at Breakwater in Lewes, Delaware.

The Community of Breakwater, Dan Kauffman, Rebecca Fluharty, The Milton at Heritage Creek

Dan’s award was one of nine Silver Nationals received by the Schell Brothers and its family of companies, including Echelon Custom Homes and Echelon Interiors.  Having received five Silver Nationals last year, Schell Brothers nearly doubled that number in 2010.  Presented by the Sales and Marketing Council of the National Homebuilders Association, Silver Nationals are handed out to the top vote recipients in several categories.  These recipients then become national finalists for the Gold Awards which will be announced and presented January 12, 2011 at the Builders Show in Orlando, Florida.   In addition to the top sales award, Schell Brothers was honored for excellence in new home product design, interior merchandising, television advertising, print/Internet marketing campaigns, and website design.  Rebecca Fluharty, a designer at Schell Brothers, received honors two years in a row for the Milton home at Heritage Creek.  Last year’s honors were for the conceptual design, while this year’s award recognized the team’s ability to bring the concept to life.  This unique Victorian home is now available to tour at the Heritage Creek community by Schell Brothers in Milton, Delaware.

Schell Brothers is located at 55 Cascade Lane, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Twin brothers Chris and Preston Schell have set the standard for home building excellence and responsible land use in Coastal  Delaware. For more information about Breakwater, Heritage Creek, or other communities built by Schell Brothers including Independence, the premier active adult community in Delaware, please visit www.schellbrothers.com or call 302-226-1994.

Selecting the options for your new home, though exciting, can sometimes be a daunting experience. You may feel overwhelmed by the numerous options from which to select, or nervous about the finality of selecting items for a house which will be your home for many years. In order to make the process enjoyable, simple and seamless, here are some tips to help you along. First and foremost, think about the way you live. By considering the following questions, you will be sure to personalize your home to best suit your design tastes, as well as your needs.

• Will this be a full-time or part-time residence?
• How many people will be living in this home? What are their ages? Do any of the residents have special needs?
• How do you plan to use the space in your home? Is a home office necessary? Would you like to designate space for a home gym? Do you love to entertain? Think about how you use your time each day and how much of that time will be spent in your new home.
• Do you have pets? Consider flooring selections carefully – the nails of animals can scratch hardwood floors and catch in looped carpets.
• What do you love about your existing home that you want to replicate in your new one? What do you wish to change?
• What do you love? Which styles and colors make you happy? What do you find visually pleasing?
• What items are you bringing with you? If you have rugs, pieces of furniture, media equipment and/or artwork you will be showcasing in your new home, consider where they will be placed. Is wall space, lighting, electrical, etc. adequate for each item?

When preparing to meet with your builder’s selections professional, you may want to consider doing some homework prior to the meeting.
• Know what is available. Research the products offered by your builder. If possible, schedule some time to look around the design center prior to your appointment day.
• Look through home design books and magazines. Bring pictures that reflect the styles you like.
• Don’t forget the exterior! It can be challenging to select the color for the exterior of your home from a small sample. Drive through existing communities and look for exteriors you like and snap pictures of them for reference.

Most importantly, have fun with it! Your home is a reflection of you and how you live. There are no wrong answers. If you love it, go for it!

Erika Fields is the Selections Coordinator for Schell Brothers and has assisted over 300 customers in choosing the options for their new Schell Brothers home.