The team at Indy is gearing up for our Summerfest event! Join us and many Schell Brothers volunteers  at Delaware’s award-winning Active Adult community on July 30th @ 11am.  Enjoy BBQ by Bethany Blues  and learn about our high performance homes, Schellter™ Advanced Building Science and newly designed Courtyard Series plans.  There will be fun give-aways and opportunities to tour homes under construction. This is your chance to visit our community and meet and greet fellow and future Indy homeowners. Check out the details and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Schell Brothers was highlighted in the February 2011 Editor’s Notes in Builder Magazine for not only an impressive number of awards but also for our indomitable spirit. Our company has made it through the worst housing marketing in history but I wouldn’t trade the past few years for anything in the world. The challenging times not only forced us to become a better company but more importantly, really brought our team together.  Our mission to bring happiness to ourselves and our homeowners has shaped our company into what it is today and given our entire team a “higher” purpose.  The National recognition we have received is really a testament to how the pursuit of a worthy goal unrelated to financial gain can yield amazing results.  It’s exciting to think that this is only just the beginning for Schell Brothers.

“And the builder attendees showed similar grit and innovative thinking in the face of adversity. Schell Brothers, a small Delaware home builder, scored a major upset at the National Sales and Marketing Awards, earning five golds. The company’s secret weapon? Happiness. While other companies were cancelling holiday parties and forgoing incentives in order to cut costs, Schell Brothers upped the ante big time on morale-boosting for their employees. The employees responded in kind, and their increased efforts are reflected in those awards, yes, but more importantly, in the company’s doubled sales and revenues in 2010.”

Pretty cool stuff. Check out the whole article: True Grit – Attendees of this year’s International Builders’ Show displayed the indomitable spirit of the home building industry.

A Taste of Fun at the Indy Chili Cook-Off

They found a great way to warm up a few days ago with a fantastic Chili Cook-off at the clubhouse, attended by over 60 people, including quite a few prospective customers who stopped by to taste the good life at Indy.  Apparently you can view pictures of the award-winning cooks at the clubhouse and learn all about their unique recipes.

You’d never know it’s a bit cold outside because the activity continues to heat up at Independence in February, with the Polar Bear Plunge, Super Bowl Party, Valentine’s Breakfast and Kidney Foundation Fundraiser all on their list of plans!   And they’re saving some energy for the “Be Healthy Delaware” challenge coming up in March.  Presented by the News Journal and Delaware State University, the state’s “Get Up and Move” theme encourages everyone to participate in all types of physical activity, including walking, biking, running, swimming, dancing, and more.  Based on the energy I’ve seen from the homeowners at Indy, I’m sure they’ll be well-represented at the event.  Their spirit has set the new standard for 55+ communities in Delaware.  So, this is a shout out to the life-loving, always-smiling, high jinks-creating homeowners at Indy! I’m glad you’re enjoying every minute – and giving so much back to the local community, too!

The Triple Play has been a big hit at Schell Brothers during the month of January but it will be over soon.  Stop by our Welcome Centers to take advantage of big incentives before they end on January 31st.  See you soon!

Boaters in southern Delaware received an early Christmas present as State environmental officials recently announced that dredging of the picturesque Assawoman Canal is now complete after many years of work.  This means that boaters can navigate the Assawoman and Isle of Wright Bays that lead to popular restaurants and recreational venues in Fenwick Island, Ocean City, and more.   Of course, by way of Whites Creek, boaters also have access to the Indian River and Rehoboth Bay as well as to the Delaware Bay via the Rehoboth Canal.  Best of all, the Atlantic Ocean, through the Indian River Inlet, is only minutes away by boat.

One of the only new home communities with private boat slips and direct access to these waterways is Sunset Harbour by Schell Brothers, located on Fred Hudson Road.  Residents at Sunset Harbour enjoy fun and convenient access to these destinations, especially in the summer months when traffic on Route 1 begins to pile up.  There’s nothing like the prestige of showing up at a restaurant by boat, especially when everyone else is stuck in traffic!  In addition to visiting local eateries, boaters may also take a day trip all the way down the coast to Chincoteague without ever going into the ocean.

The accessibility of the Assawoman Canal opens up a whole new world to water enthusiasts and surely the remaining homes with boat slips at Sunset Harbour won’t last long.   Whether it be boating, kayaking, jet skiing, swimming or just taking a walk along the shore, the community is surrounded by water and all its beauty and bounty.  Sunset Harbour is one of the only communities that has been approved as a minor marina which allows continued maintenance dredging, stabilization of the banks of the canals and the construction of new docks.  Additionally, residents have private access to the community boat ramp.  I’m thinking it may be best to check out these homes now before interest rates continue to climb and the best homesites slip away!

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.

Imagine hosting a dinner party and having 400 guests in attendance, especially when you’re a home builder and word on the street is that we’re supposed to be in a down market.  That’s what happened on Saturday, October 2nd, when Schell Brothers, a local builder in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, celebrated with hundreds of families who purchased homes from the company since its inception seven years ago.  “As soon as we sent out the first invitation about the event, the responses began to pour in,” said Chris Schell, owner of the company.  “I couldn’t be happier, because this is something I’ve always wanted to do for the people who mean so much to our company.  Through the years, I’ve gotten to know many of the individuals who live in our homes; they really are an extension of the Schell Brothers family.”

With continued national news stories focused on the struggling housing market, the Schell Brothers event is an indicator that the Delaware beach locale is not following negative national trends.  Under the theme “Coming Together – Building Memories“, the Schell Brothers party was held in Dewey Beach, Delaware, where guests enjoyed striking sunset views over the bay.  Midway through the evening, Schell addressed the crowd, thanking them and explaining that an unrelenting focus on customer happiness has been the catalyst for the company’s continued success amid a down market.  According to Bob Scannell, an Independence homeowner who attended, “The Schell Brothers’ mission was fulfilled again this evening:  there are hundreds of happy homeowners who continue to have pride in Schell.”

In addition to homeowners, the event included prospects who are close to finalizing their home purchase.   Attendees were treated to music and fine dining, and there was even a choreographed performance by members of the Schell Brothers team to honor the homeowners.  Late into the evening, homeowners and employees danced together and shared stories at Venus on the Half Shell and adjacent North Beach, specially chosen to showcase the water-oriented atmosphere that, along with low tax living, draws so many people to coastal Delaware.

Chris and Preston Schell have set the standard for home building excellence and responsible land use in Coastal Delaware.  Sussex County is a natural draw for new home buyers due to the beach environment and its  ranking among the most favorable of all U.S. counties in terms of property taxes as a percentage of home value.

Chris Schell explains how and why Schell Brothers was started. To learn more about our mission and philosophy listen to Chris on WGMD.

]]> http://schellbrothers.com/blog/chris-schell-on-the-radio-with-dan-gaffney-of-wgmd/feed/ 0 http://schellbrothers.com/blog/delaware-home-builder-schell-brothers/ http://schellbrothers.com/blog/delaware-home-builder-schell-brothers/#comments Wed, 12 May 2010 15:31:59 +0000 schellbrothers http://schellbrothers.com/blog/?p=169 On Friday, May 7^th, the Delaware Association of Homebuilders held the 18th annual Regal Awards ceremony to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of its builder and associate partners.  Billed as the “Black and White Gala”, the elegant event honored the best Delaware home builders for achievements in marketing, advertising, architectural design, interior merchandising, project management, and sales.

The Schell Brothers family of companies – which also includes Echelon Custom Homes, Echelon Interiors, Zero Energy, and Renew-Energy Smart Renovations – walked away with 30 awards, representing nearly one-half of the 65 prizes handed out to builders during the evening.   The scope of honors presented to Schell Brothers spoke volumes about the company, a small homebuilder in Sussex County Delaware, as the gracious group received recognition in nearly every category.  Seven awards went to the Schell Brothers/Echelon in-house marketing team, including best image campaign and best websites for both a production and custom builder.  Echelon Interiors walked away with three honors for model merchandising in new Delaware homes, ranging from condominiums to single family residences.  Several individual team members were recognized for outstanding performance in categories that included selections coordination, sales, and project management for Delaware new construction.  The grand finale of the evening was the announcement of the outstanding residential communities in Delaware, grouped by price range.  Schell Brothers took home three grand finale awards for Breakwater in Lewes, Independence in Millsboro, and Heritage Creek in Milton.  Independence received honors as the best active adult community in Delaware.

When asked to comment on receiving the unprecedented number of awards, Chris Schell, owner of Schell Brothers, was quick to give credit where it was due, “I couldn’t be more proud of our company than I am right now,” Schell said.  “This night really shed light on how far we’ve come as a company and how much we have accomplished together.  It’s been an awesome journey and this is just the beginning.  If we can achieve this kind of success in the worst real estate market in history . . . just think what we can do during the recovery.  This team is capable of extraordinary things.”

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 Delaware homes for sale by Schell Brothers, please visit www.schellbrothers.com or call 302-226-1994.