Schell Brothers' Blog

Delaware Home Builder – Schell Brothers Dominates Regal Awards

schellbrothers — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:31:59 +0000

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.

Delaware Homebuilder, Schell Brothers, Wins Unprecedented Seven National Awards

schellbrothers — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:11:12 +0000

The National Association of Homebuilders recently held its prestigious annual event in Las Vegas, titled “A Night of Recognition”. The exclusive affair honored the best of the best homebuilders across the country and, as usual, some of the smartest design and marketing minds were in attendance, hailing from places like New York and California. These heavy hitters from the marketing and architectural industries were there representing the big boys in homebuilding for whom they had created house plans, marketing, and more.

Amid the expected attendees at the event were three star-struck representatives from Schell Brothers, a small homebuilder in Sussex County, Delaware. One of the three, Christina Wagamon, summed it up best, “This night is bigger than life – it’s like the Academy Awards for homebuilders.” During the evening, Schell Brothers emerged as the beloved underdog, with the MC playing victory music as the women were called to the stage to accept their first award. In a room full of Industry Goliaths, Schell Brothers surprised all by winning not one, but two National Gold Awards: Best “On the Boards” Single Family Detached Home for The Milton model at Heritage Creek in Milton, and Best Interior Merchandising for The Mariner model at The Retreat at Love Creek in Lewes. In addition to the two coveted gold awards, Schell Brothers walked away with three National Silver Awards including Best Custom Home and two Best in American Living Awards. According to Wagamon, it’s extremely rare for any company from Delaware to win a single National award, so for one small Delaware homebuilder to win seven in one year is a classic Cinderella story.

The story of how Schell Brothers shared the room at such a big event with homebuilding giants and waltzed away with some of the highest accolades started quite simply and has remained true to its original purpose. When asked why he left a lucrative career on Wall Street to start Schell Brothers, Chris Schell responds “Sometime in my sophomore year in college I realized that many people sacrifice happiness in an effort to achieve monetary wealth. I promised myself I would never do that. One night I realized I was doing exactly what I promised myself I wouldn’t . . . the next morning, I made a clean break and decided to pursue a life of happiness doing what I love, building homes.” As a result, Schell Brothers was born. When asked how Schell Brothers has managed to remain profitable during the housing downturn, Schell remarked, “Ironically, I think we remained profitable by not focusing on profit but instead on customer happiness . . . while every other builder was reducing the quality and appearance of their homes to cut costs, we stayed focused on maximizing customer happiness . . . everything else just sort of fell into place.”

Upon winning the national awards, Schell was quick to give credit where it was due, “I am not surprised that the Milton plan won a national award; Rebecca Fluharty is a master of design, and Joni’s merchandising magic is unmatched. The whole team is so deserving of these awards.”

Rebecca Fluharty and Joni Hitchens with the GOLD!

Delaware New Home Builder Schell Brothers wins National GOLDS!

Best Interior merchandised by Echelon Interiors

Best “On the Boards” Single Family Detached Home designed by Rebecca Fluharty

Schell Brothers Receives Unprecedented Seven National Awards

schellbrothers — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:41:48 +0000

Schell Brothers, a leading Delaware home builder based in Rehoboth Beach, has received seven national awards, presented for excellence in the home building industry in 2009. The company won an unparalleled five “Nationals Awards” from the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) in addition to two “Best in American Living Awards”, sponsored by NAHB and Professional Builder Magazine. The Nationals Awards, which are the most esteemed honors associated with the building industry, pay tribute to superior new home sales and marketing, and home design achievements. Builders across the country compete for the coveted national honors from the NAHB, emphasizing the level of accomplishment by Schell Brothers in Delaware. Nationals winners are the exclusive finalists for the ultimate Gold Awards which will be announced at the Builder’s Show in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 19, 2010. The Best in American Living Awards will be distributed at a press conference during the Builder’s Show, honoring Schell Brothers and other builders who have provided the most inspiring and innovative residential designs in the country.

Schell Brothers’ five Nationals Awards span a variety of categories ranging from home design to model merchandising, with two of the honors recognizing the achievements of the company’s prestigious affiliate known as Echelon Custom Homes. Awards were presented to Schell Brothers/Echelon Custom Homes in the following categories:

Best “On the Boards” Single Family Detached Home for The Milton model by Schell Brothers at Heritage Creek, designed by Rebecca Fluharty
Best Product Design for a Custom Home: Robinson Residence by Echelon Custom Homes Home design by David W. Dutton (GMB Architects & Engineers)
Best Interior Merchandising for a Model Priced Under $500,000: Schell Brothers/Echelon Interiors for The Mariner model at the Retreat at Love Creek, merchandised by Echelon Interiors
Best Website for a Builder: Echelon Custom Homes, developed by Ivana Biela, Jeremy Bell and Mike Brown
Best Clubhouse: Independence Hall by Schell Brothers at Independence, Pat Mulligan, Project Manager

The 2009 Best in American Living Awards are recognized as the pinnacle of achievement in residential design. Schell Brothers received Best in American Living Awards in the following two categories:

Gold Award: Best Single-Family Detached Home 1,801 to 2,400 sq. ft. for the Madison model by Schell Brothers at Heritage Creek, designed by Chris Schell
Silver Award: Interior Design in Best Community Facility 151 Units and over, Merchandised by Echelon Interiors

Schell Brothers is a Delaware home builder committed to providing new homes with energy efficiency, craftsmanship and curb appeal in communities that have lasting beauty and value. In addition to building attractive communities, Chris and Preston Schell have set the standard for responsible land use and historical preservation in Coastal Delaware. For more information about Delaware new homes for sale by Schell Brothers, please visit their website or call 302-226-1994.

Gold Award: Best Single-Family Detached Home @ Heritage Creek

Best Interior merchandised by Echelon Interiors

Best Clubhouse: Independence Hall Active Adult Community Delaware

Best “On the Boards” Single Family Detached Home designed by Rebecca Fluharty

Best Product Design for a Custom Home: Robinson Residence by Echelon Custom Homes

Best Website for a Builder: Echelon Custom Homes

Autumn at the Delaware Beaches

erika — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:45:50 +0000

It may be too late in the season to take a dip in the waves or catch a tan on the sand, but the Delaware Beaches still boast plenty of activities throughout the autumn months. Here are my top ten favorite things about fall in coastal Delaware:

10. This time of year I am lured back to the boardwalk by the cooler days and smaller crowds. The 1-mile boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach is the perfect spot for getting some fresh air and exercise.

9. First Thursdays in Lewes – Join the locals on Thursday, November 5th in downtown Lewes for live music and special offerings from area restaurants and merchants. You’ll most likely find me at Striper Bites enjoying great fare and libations.

8. Sea Witch Festival – This local tradition includes the always hilarious costumed pet parade. October 23 -25.

7. The return of the off-season specials at local restaurants – Most area restaurants offer great deals throughout the non-summer months.

6. Jazz Fest – Many local venues will be showcasing live jazz music. October 14 -18. www.rehobothjazz.com

5. Outlet shopping – Sure, you can shop at the outlets all year round, but the Fall is the perfect time to start tackling that holiday shopping list. Buy a $1 Pink Card at the Tanger Outlets office to save an additional 25% at participating stores while benefiting the fight against breast cancer. Don’t forget – Delaware is tax-free!

4. Independent Film Festival – Around 100 films to see this year, including shorts, documentaries, and foreign films. November 11-15. www.rehobothfilm.com/festival.html

3. Dogfish Head Punkin Ale – This delicious seasonal brew is available in September and October. Get some before it’s gone! www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/seasonal-brews/punkin-ale.htm

2. Punkin Chunkin’ — Live music, rides, delicious fare, and pumpkins being hurled overhead – what more could you want on a cool autumn weekend? Whether you prefer the craftsmanship of the whirligigs or the sheer power of the air cannons, each “chunker” is a site to behold. November 6-8. www.punkinchunkin.com

And the number one reason the fall is my favorite time of year in coastal Delaware is:
No more meters! Parking is free throughout Lewes, Rehoboth, and Dewey Beach until the summer months return. So come visit and, while you’re here, check out the beautiful Delaware homes for sale so you can linger longer! Maybe you’ll decide that Delaware is the place for you even when the summer sun has set for the season.
Hope to see you out and about over the next few months!
- Erika

Family Fun Day at Breakwater

dboysen — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:33:15 +0000

Visit www.schellbrothers.com for more info!

Live Like a Local: Blueberry Picking!

dboysen — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:22:41 +0000

by Barbara Dean

One of my favorite things to do in June is pick local blueberries. Here in Sussex County, Delaware, there is a large blueberry farm near Dagsboro where you can go to pick your own berries. The fields are open 7 days a week. Here are some tips from a local:

Wear a hat no matter how overcast.
Spray your legs with bug spray.
Take water to drink.
Bring a bucket! The farm provides buckets for picking, but don’t forget to take containers to bring the berries home.
Blueberries freeze well, but make sure you DON’T rinse them before you freeze them. Rinse them when you are ready to thaw and use them.
They are sold by the pound. Here’s the best part: you can eat while you pick, and they don’t weigh you on the way out!

I use the berries for pies, muffins, pancakes and just plain old snacking. Close to home, fresh off the vine and supplying antioxidants that taste good – what a great way to spend an afternoon!

For information call 302-238-7043.

Happy picking!

Barbara Dean is a Sussex County native, born and raised in Lewes, Delaware. Barbara is the Controller at Schell Brothers and has been with the company for 5 years.

Personalizing Your New Home

erika — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:11:35 +0000

by Erika Fields

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.

Great blog from our friends at Eastern Shore Housing

admin — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:20:33 +0000

Here’s an excerpt from a new blog over at Eastern Shore Housing:

Thanks to Twitter and Schell Brothers (@SchellBrothers) we learned this week that Delaware is officially the best place to retire. Kiplinger’s Magazine researched the total tax burden — income taxes, property taxes and sales taxes — for a typical retired couple in each of the 50 states and Washington, DC. And the results are clear: Delaware retirees pay far less in taxes than retirees living anywhere else in the country.

Retirees who live on a fixed income need to choose their place of retirement wisely. With taxes sometimes taking a big chunk of the household budget, retirees should look for areas that offer low taxes overall, and a state with no income tax (like Florida or Texas) isn’t always the answer.

Kiplinger’s factored in the finances, expenses and incomes of a hypothetical couple with each state’s average home price and compared the “retirement tax bite” state by state. Living in Delaware, the average retired couple enjoys zero income tax, zero sales tax and relatively low property taxes. According to Kiplinger’s a couple in Delaware can expect to pay about $543 a year in taxes.

Taxes in the runner up state, Alaska, are nearly double that at $1,032 and in Pennsylvania, the country’s least tax friendly place for retirees, couples can expect to pay about $7,391 in taxes. For all the results and details, check out the original article here.

You can read the whole blog here.

We’ve been saying it for a long time, and finally it’s catching on! Delaware IS the best place to retire in the US! Read more about why Delaware is for you over at Delaware4U.

Delaware for you!

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:14:53 +0000

As the waves of life carry you to new adventures, you’ll find that Delaware is the place for you. Whether you’re just starting out, or looking forward to retirement, we have choices to fit your lifestyle. We know you have big plans for the next phase of your life and we invite you to choose the community below that fits your dreams. Our neighborhoods are located near the beautiful Delaware beach resorts, the picturesque dunes of Cape Henlopen State Park, and the lively boardwalk at Rehoboth Beach. You’ll love the low taxes and high quality of life that are unique to the Delaware beach resort area.

Heritage Creek

Located near the historic town of Milton, Delaware, Heritage Creek is a cut above other communities in Sussex County, combining the convenience of a full maintenance community with the prestige of a generously appointed neighborhood. Whether you’re young in years or young at heart, you’ll immediately fall in love with Heritage Creek, where overflowing flower boxes adorn every elegant residence, and tree-lined boulevards welcome you home.
Visit the website at www.heritagecreekmilton.com

The Vineyards at Nassau Valley

You’re ready to retire but not about to leave the action behind. If the thought of a traditional retirement community makes your skin crawl, you’ll love the Vineyards vibe. Or, perhaps you just graduated from college and scored an awesome job near the beach – how fortunate that you don’t have to leave your trendy lifestyle behind. This is a hip, urban lifestyle at the beach, appealing to folks of all ages – where you can walk to restaurants, boutiques, recreation and more – all within full view of a picturesque vineyard landscape and serene lakeside atmosphere.
Visit the website at www.vineyardslewes.com

Independence

So, your favorite memories were college days – you keep in touch with sorority sisters or roommates from the dorm – and you’re willing to admit that beer pong and frat parties still sound appealing. In this active adult community designated for those 55 and better, you’ll fall in love with our 24,000 square foot clubhouse, where the only limits are the extent of your imagination. Laugh with friends new and old in the fantastic lounge, swim year-round in the indoor pool, and relive your college days with parties on every occasion – all within a short walk from your home.
Visit the website at www.independencede.com

Breakwater

You’ve always dreamed of living in a neighborhood that offers something for everyone and every age – a community pool with lap lanes for adults and colorful games and slides for the little ones. If you’re looking for an active lifestyle in one of the most prestigious neighborhoods east of Route 1, Breakwater is the only place for you. Ride your bike to the beach in Lewes, Delaware, or follow the Junction Breakwater Trail to dinner in Rehoboth Beach without ever setting foot on Route 1.
Visit the website at www.breakwaterlewes.com

The Retreat at Love Creek

For you, the beach is a year-round draw – you love the warm summer breezes and the bright colors that signal the arrival of fall. The wooded views and fountain-adorned ponds will beckon you home at The Retreat at Love Creek, where you’ll feel like you’re on vacation all year long.

The Marina at Pepper’s Creek

Everyone knows you love the water, and the most important thing you have to think about right now is what to name your boat. You’re looking for a community with a marina and boat ramp – trouble is, most of those places cost so much you’d have to sell your boat to live there. Tucked away in a quiet community in Dagsboro, The Marina at Pepper’s Creek is a hidden treasure with a price that fits your budget, just minutes from the ocean by boat.
Visit the website at www.pepperscreekde.com/marina/

The Woodlands at Pepper’s Creek

Quiet and serene describes your perfect evening and a small community with friendly neighbors is what you seek. Check out The Woodlands, where nearly every home boasts a view of the picturesque stream that winds through wooded vistas. Friends gather on porches to share stories, and families picnic in the adjoining park all summer long. Feel like taking in a movie in an authentic local theater? It’s just a short walk away.
Visit the website at www.pepperscreekde.com/woodlands/

Spring Schellebration a huge success

admin — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:00:06 +0000

Many thanks to all of you who toured our communities in person and on-line during the Schellebration weekend! The event was a blast – over 20 dogs were pampered at our dog grooming station at Breakwater, and an equal number of cars were shiny clean after a visit to the car wash at The Woodlands! We received rave reviews across the board – including the outdoor music at The Vineyards, the ‘70s Disco Dance at Independence, and tours of amazing model homes at all of our communities.

The best part was meeting so many new people and reconnecting with friends who have visited many times before. Those of you who took advantage of the Schellebration incentives are reaping the benefits of low interest rates and fantastic values – you’ll soon be enjoying the beach lifestyle in your brand new home! If you were unable to participate in our Schellebration weekend and are interested in learning more about our communities and the current incentives, please register below. We’ll bring you up to date on our unique floorplans, specially designed neighborhoods, and why now is such a great time to invest in a new home.