News

Home Builder Ranks Among Nation’s Best

May 9, 2012

For the second consecutive year Rodrock Homes has earned a place on PROFESSIONAL BUILDERS’ Housing Giants list. The annual ranking from the industry’s leading national publication recognizes the top home builders across the country based on revenue from homes closed in one year.

Not only did the family-owned and operated home builder make the list again, but also moved up five spots from last year to grab the #179 position. The top of the list is dominated by publically traded national building companies.

Being able to compete against the largest companies from around the nation is not something being taken lightly by the residential construction company. “One of the main reasons Rodrock Homes not only made the list, but also moved up is because we focus on taking care of people,” said Brian Rodrock, CEO of Rodrock Homes. He continued, “We strive to create a flexible, highly-customized homebuilding experience with everyone that chooses to live a Rodrock Home.” Based on the recent recognition, it appears to be working.

Q & A With Home Builder: The Right Decision, Every Time

May 8, 2012

If you’ve spent time in the Blue Valley area lately, chances are you’ve run across a name that’s hard to miss. Inscribed on monuments marking entries to some of the area’s most sought-after communities, posted on SOLD signs, and lingering on the tips of buyers’ tongues, it’s a name that’s come to be synonymous with building both quality communities in southern Johnson County: Rodrock Homes.

Rodrock Leadership - Jeff Reglin, Jeff Gifford, Brian Rodrock

Photo Credit: Laurel D. Austin

Fueled by a boost in first-quarter sales, the launch of four new furnished models in Wyngate, and the recent acquisition of the Summerwood community, Rodrock Homes is giving recession-weary Johnson County home buyers something more: more quality, more selection, more service, and more value than ever before.

Led by Rodrock Homes’ CEO Brian Rodrock, the three principals of the third generation family-owned building and development company recently explained why and how they’re offering home seekers more–even during times when other builders are cutting back.

What can buyers expect to see from Rodrock Homes this spring and summer?

Brian Rodrock, Chief Executive Officer: We just opened four new furnished models in Overland Park’s Wyngate community for buyers to tour. People will be able to see things on that model row they haven’t seen before in the city—all new floor plans, a whole new level of trim detail, and innovative interior design by Twigs’ Interiors. Combined with our showcase homes, shoppers can see more homes, more quickly at Wyngate than anywhere else in the area.

Isn’t it expensive to feature so many model homes?

BR: In a word, yes. But we’ve got the financial strength to do it and we feel like it’s worth it, because buyers appreciate being able to see, feel, and touch the quality of their home before they sign on the dotted line.

How long does it take to build a Rodrock Home?

Jeff Gifford, Chief Operating Officer: Not as long as people might think. Clients choosing from our existing inventory now can build a custom home that’s just the way they want it and still be moved in before school starts in August.

You build homes at lots of different price points. Why?

BR: We do, and we think our clients benefit. Because we buy a wide array of materials and finishes, customers can better choose where they want to spend their money—and where they want to save. We don’t make you spend $8,000 on a garage door if you don’t want to–we can also give you a $2,000 option so you’ll have the extra $6,000 to spend somewhere else.

What do you think home buyers fear most about building a new home?

Jeff Reglin, Chief Marketing Officer: I think they worry they won’t get enough of a voice in the process. In addition to the project managers that all builders have, we recently hired new builder liaisons—they’re industry professionals assigned to each homeowner to answer questions and address concerns every step of the way, even on nights and weekends.

What else are you doing that’s unique to the industry?

BR: I’m probably most excited about the way we customize each of our homes. Our partnership with Twigs’ Interiors gives our upper-end clients the opportunity to build what feels like a million-dollar home for much less. Each homeowner gets a personalized, one-on-one design experience with a local firm that’s won national awards. Twigs is evolving people’s homes so far beyond just Johnson County beige—come see our models.

What amenities are buyers loving?

JG: The trim detail on our homes is phenomenal compared to what it was even a few years ago–custom moldings, wainscoting, cabinetry, and box beam ceilings. The outdoor areas have evolved too—on most of our homes a covered porch comes standard.

Sales with realtors are up 40% so far this year. Before that, how did Rodrock Homes weather the economic storm?

BR: Believe it or not, the storm was important for us. It made us stronger, smarter, and even more determined to serve our homeowners. In any boom there’s always a bust—and the reason we’re surviving now is that we’ve stuck to our family principles of treating people right through both those times.

In addition to building homes, you develop communities too. What’s the significance?

JR: If you build a home in one of our communities like Wyngate, Summerwood, or Bristol Ridge, you can be sure we’re just as invested in protecting the long-term value of your home as you are.

You’ve been developing and building a lot in southern Johnson County recently. Why there?

BR: The Rodrock name has been developing communities in Johnson County for over three decades now. We believe that the quality of life there means it’s the right place to be for many of our buyers.

Do you have a mantra that drives your business?

BR: Yes, and I was just repeating it to myself this morning as I pulled out of my driveway. It’s “make the right decision, every time.” In other words, never take the easy way out.

What’s the best way for folks to learn more about Rodrock Homes?

JR: Come tour our models in Wyngate, Chapel Hill, and Bristol Ridge, or call us for a meet and greet. We’ll walk a potential home site with you or meet you in our office any time.

Home Builder Introduces Summerwood and New Wyngate Model Row

April 29, 2012

Thanks to Rodrock Homes, Overland Park homebuyers now have one more option for luxury-living close in to the city.

The builder and developer’s recent acquisition of the Summerwood community, located just steps from 159th and Quivira, represents more than just another expansion in the company’s already substantial south Overland Park footprint.

For buyers, it means more and better home site choices than ever before.

In addition to its sought-after location and proximity to Blue Valley’s newest award-winning schools, Summerwood features something other nearby communities don’t: extended and estate-sized lots surrounded by an unprecedented abundance of green.

“Summerwood’s unique in that it gives homeowners the best of both worlds,” says Rodrock.

“It’s both a hub and a haven,” he explains. “It’s located next to Blue Valley’s top schools with quick access to Overland Park amenities, and yet homeowners say it feels like a sanctuary.”

Perhaps that’s because the majority of Summerwood home sites back to undisturbed fields dotted with native grasses and trees.

Serene and expansive, the sites make picture-perfect settings for the sprawling open home plans, covered decks, patios, and outdoor fireplaces that today’s buyers crave.

And while the number of large home sites available for purchase within the Blue Valley school district are dwindling, prices remain within reach. Estate-sized sites and homes in the neighborhood’s exclusive Summerwood Estates can be purchased for $750,000 and up, and Summerwood homes and sites begin at $450,000.

With nineteen homes in Summerwood Estates already occupied, a limited supply of just sixteen estate-sized sites remain.

In Summerwood, construction of twelve showcase homes is ongoing with more sites available for purchase.

Still, potential homebuyers may want to hurry. Despite its plentiful green space, only 212 total residents will get to call Summerwood home.

But fewer residents doesn’t mean Summerwood homeowners won’t get to enjoy the large scale, community-building amenities Rodrock Homes is known for; to the contrary, the planned zero-entry pool, luxury clubhouse, and looped walking trail will rival those found in more populous neighborhoods.

The value of Summerwood’s amenities, wide open spaces, award-wining schools and a locale close-in aren’t lost on Kent Welch, the Graham-Welch Co-founder who recently signed on with Rodrock Homes to promote the community.

“Summerwood’s Overland Park location, its Blue Valley schools, and its green space—you put all those together and it’s a recipe for success,” says Welch.

But because Rodrock Homes measures success in terms of customer satisfaction, the company is offering its customers the option of another nearby neighborhood in which to build the home of their dreams.

Which is why—less than a mile west of Summerwood along 159th Street—Rodrock Homes is also giving buyers a choice to build in Wyngate.

Also developed by Rodrock Homes, Overland Park’s Wyngate community is similar to Summerwood with its luxury amenities, close-in locale, award-winning Blue Valley schools, and starting home price of $450,000.

And while Wyngate home sites aren’t quite as expansive as those in Summerwood, the community’s kids enjoy a luxury their Summerwood counterparts don’t: the freedom to walk to school.

In addition to amenities like a swimming pool, clubhouse, and sport courts, Wyngate features a paved neighborhood nature trail connecting its community to Cedar Hills Elementary and Pleasant Ridge Middle School. From it, Wyngate children and parents can reach their schools within minutes.

Similar and yet different, Summerwood and Wyngate present Overland Park buyers with a sweet dilemma: the task of choosing between two great options.

“You’ve got two of the best new home communities sharing the best schools virtually along the same [159th] street,” says Rodrock, who’s built his business by giving clients plenty of options. “Between the two, you’re likely to find what you’re looking for,” he says.

But how to choose?

Jeff Reglin, Rodrock Home’s Chief Marketing Officer, suggests seeing for yourself.

“The bottom line is that folks need to come out and take a look at both neighborhoods and tour our furnished homes in Wyngate’s new model row,” says Reglin.

Industry watchers say the expanded model row, which opened just this spring and features homes available for immediate construction in both Summerwood and Wyngate, offers new home seekers one-stop shopping at its best.

“In recent years buyers haven’t had the choice to tour this many furnished homes at one time,” says Rosemary Vitale, Vice President of New Homes for Reece & Nichols, Wyngate’s chosen realtor.

“In Wyngate’s model row you get to see all the hottest design trends, latest floor plans, layout features, and creative uses for materials that provide maximum functionality and beauty,” Vitale says.

Decorated by Kansas City’s award-winning Twigs Interiors design firm, the homes showcase the latest in both architecture and decor. Outdoor fireplaces, European double showers, wine closets, and paneled great rooms are adorned with the latest materials including river rock, grass cloth, silvery faux paint, and even tangerine-hued leather.

Undoubtedly, the fresh-faced homes will give potential buyers visiting Wyngate and Summerwood a lot to think about. “When you see it all together, it’s always exciting,” says Vitale, who adds, “Sometimes you have to see it, feel it, and touch it to be convinced.”

Builder Expands Model Home Inventory

April 1, 2012

In a bold move virtually unseen in the new home market during the last four years, Rodrock Homes is expanding its inventory of furnished models for buyers to browse.

“Choosing a builder shouldn’t require a leap of faith,” says Rodrock Homes’ CEO Brian Rodrock. “Buyers want to see before they believe.”

With up to ten furnished homes open for viewing in Overland Park, Olathe, and Lenexa, the company is using its financial strength to give new home seekers what they want most in a home: see-it-and-believe-it proof of the builder’s quality, selection, and value.

“Rodrock has always been a frontrunner,” says Kathy Koehler, CEO of Reece & Nichols’ Koehler Bortnick Team. “Most builders pulled back on their spec and model home inventory back in 2008, but Rodrock understands you have to spend money to earn a buyer’s trust.”

The builder says expanding its number of furnished homes in communities like Overland Park’s Wyngate and Olathe’s Prairie Point is well worth the cost. It’s a strategy backed by realtors and real estate experts alike.

“People want to see what kind of refinements have occurred since the last home the builder built,” says Dan Whitney, President and Owner of Landmarketing, an independent new home market research company. “For buyers who might be hesitant about coming back into the market, it gives them that extra bit of reassurance,” says Whitney.

And because buyers have withheld from the marketplace over the last several years, Whitney cites a “tremendous pent-up demand” for new homes that he predicts will continue to grow throughout 2012. “We’re already seeing that the number of new home permits in January and February is twice what it was last year,” says Whitney.

Koehler also notes her team’s transactions have doubled since last year. She expects the lowest interest rates in 40 years coupled with unseasonably warm weather in March to push those numbers even higher. “Because of the weather, the spring home market is beginning about 40 days earlier this year,” she says.

For new home seekers, that means shopping time is now. “It’s a good thing we’ve readied our homes early,” says Rodrock Homes’ Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Reglin, who notes that shoppers can see the most furnished new models in one place in Rodrock Homes’ Wyngate community. “We’ve got three new homes in Wyngate’s model row plus additional furnished homes open for viewing throughout the neighborhood,” says Reglin.

Located in Overland Park near the intersection of 159th and Grant, Wyngate’s model row is impressing shoppers in terms of both quantity and quality. Placed one after another, its models showcase highly evolved versions of the builder’s best homes, featuring carefully crafted luxuries like custom crown moldings, stone and stucco exteriors, designer-tile double European showers, and covered decks and patios with fireplaces.

“If a buyer can see the portrait a builder has painted in a finished a model and the quality of the workmanship, it makes them feel much better about entering into a contract,” says Koehler.

In addition to top-notch quality, Wyngate model-row visitors are seeing something unexpected in the homes they tour: inspired, innovative interior design. Thanks to a partnership with Kansas City’s award-winning design firm Twigs’ Interiors, shoppers are walking away with fresh ideas in décor.

“We try to push the envelope as much as we can,” says Lisa Mermis, Owner of Twigs Interiors. “Visitors will see things like more trim detail than ever before, stone walls, iron newel posts plus spindles, and items influenced by travel.”

Case in point is Wyngate’s Lancaster III, a traditional 2-story where modern luxury reigns.

Described as “collected and unafraid,” the home’s interior design is a meld of styles, says Mermis. While the kitchen’s mosaic Mexican tile archway and turquoise beaded chandelier are inspired by exotic locales, touches like crisp-white wainscoting and lamp-shaded sconces reflect a more buttoned-up glamour. Other elements like floor-to-ceiling stone walls and river rock entry floors incorporate the textural beauty of nature.

“We’re fortunate to have a developer in Rodrock Homes who’s willing to bring a fresh design perspective to Kansas City,” says Mermis, who recently incorporated 2012’s hottest color, Tangerine, into one of the homes on Wyngate’s model row.

“People want to see our model row,” says Reglin, “because it’s a traditional row with some non-traditional decor mixed in.”

But even if buyers don’t find the design of their dreams amidst the furnished models and in-process homes awaiting them at Overland Park’s Wyngate, Olathe’s Prairie Point and Maple Brook Park, or Lenexa’s Bristol Ridge and The Reserve, Rodrock Homes’ Chief Operating Officer Jeff Gifford says there are still more options.

“We’ll sit down with you and redraw an existing home plan to meet your needs,” says Gifford.

Yet chances are, most buyers will discover what Maple Brook Park homeowner David Everett did when he first walked into the model that would ultimately become his home. “This place just bit us,” recalls Everett, “we knew we had to have it.”

Buyers Applaud Custom Floor Plans

March 24, 2012

When married couple Dan and Shefali Rouen talk of love at first sight, they’re not referring to what you might think. “We fell in love with the Larsen II,” says Dan, referring to the Rodrock Homes’ 2-story with the open floor plan and sweeping master suite that first captured the couple’s imagination.

With over 20 finely tuned home plans to choose from, Rodrock Homes’ clients of all ages and life stages are finding homes they love to live in. Traditional 2-stories, open 1 ½ and reverse 1 ½ plans, and luxuriously updated ranch homes are inspiring buyers with new visions for their lifestyles.

“While you still see a lot of 2-story homes, more people of all ages are wanting their bedroom on the main level,” says Rodrock Homes’ Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Reglin. “We’ve responded by adding more 1 ½, reverse 1 ½, and ranch plans to our offerings. Our St. Maarten 1 ½, Dillon reverse 1 ½ , and Heartland ranch plans are new additions that are resonating with buyers.”

What’s more, many of Rodrock Home’s more traditional 2-story plans feature a first-floor flex room. Adjacent to a bath and shower, the space converts easily to an extra bedroom, cozy den, convenient office, or toy room and draws praise from newlyweds, empty nesters, and those caring for young children and parents alike.

Going a step further, buyers say Rodrock Home’s unique willingness to customize floor plans to match customers’ lifestyles is what sets the company apart. “I recently had a client who was looking for a specific plan,” explains Keller Williams’ Michelle Campbell. “Rodrock Homes pulled out an all-new plan and reworked it several times to accommodate my buyers,” says Campbell.

Rodrock Homes’ CEO Brian Rodrock isn’t one to advocate a one-size-fits-all approach to homebuilding. “We’re not too proud to move a fireplace, window, or even a wall if it makes sense for our client,” says Rodrock.

When Bristol Ridge homeowner Dan Byers asked for nearly all three of those modifications, Rodrock Homes agreed. “Knowing Rodrock and seeing what they had done in the past, it didn’t surprise me that they wanted to help us every step of the way,” says Byers, who chose to combine the best of two Rodrock Homes’ plans—the Goodland and Goodland II—to create his customized reverse 1 ½ story home.

“We literally took the fireplace out of the house and moved it outside to a covered, screened-in deck that’s visible from the living room,” says Byers. “We also added a television cabinet above the fireplace and a door to give us access to the deck from our master bedroom.”

And since the homeowner wanted room for all his “toys,”—three cars, a motorcycle, and a golf cart, says Byers—Rodrock Homes’ Chief Operating Officer Jeff Gifford suggested expanding the 3-car garage. “They enlarged the garage by setting it on an angle, and in doing so expanded it to 3 ½ spaces,” explains Byers, who says Rodrock Homes’ flexibility made building his 5th new house a better-than-ever experience.

Because Wyngate homebuyer Sally Kuntz had also built new homes before, she expected to pay more for the changes she requested to her 2-story, 5-bedroom Sterling III home. “I was very pleased and surprised that I didn’t get charged a lot more,” says Kuntz.

While she chose the Sterling for its elegant, “almost circular” entry staircase, upstairs laundry, entertainment-friendly butler’s pantry, and his-and-hers television space in the master suite, she longed for a first-floor workspace she could share with her husband.

The solution? “We converted our main-level bedroom and shower into an expanded den and office space just off of our living room,” explains Kuntz. She finds the new customized area—which features an arched opening, cabinets, an extra computer workstation, and cozy faux wood beams–to be perfect for working alongside her husband.

“We both have our own space,” she says, “and I can pay bills, work on the computer, or even watch television while he does his work too.”

Like he did for the Kuntz’s, Rodrock’s Jeff Gifford doesn’t hesitate to sit down with homebuyers to redraw blueprints. “Some of our best floor plans have resulted from changes we’ve made to accommodate clients’ lifestyles,” he explains. “We’ve evolved lots of our most popular plans, like our Larsen, Lancaster, and Sterling over time—they just get better and better,” says Gifford.

Which brings us back to Dan and Shefali Rouen, lovers of the latest Larsen plan. While the Bluestem homebuyers are enamored with the 2-story home’s open feel, efficient use of space, and “amazing” master suite, Dan Rouen says he’s really excited about recent changes to his kitchen floor plan. “We just enlarged the kitchen to include an expanded 4 by 8 foot island,” says the homebuyer.

Because his home backs up to a lake, Rouen also agreed to elongate the windows in his great room into floor-to-ceiling models.

“That was Brian Rodrock and Jeff Gifford’s idea,” explains Rouen, who says the Rodrock brothers’-in-law passion for building have made his experience “ten times better” than his last new-home build. “These guys help you as if they were working on their own homes,” he adds.

Overland Park’s Wyngate Tops Sales in 4th Quarter

February 26, 2012

The right place at the right time—it’s where all of us want to be.

But if you’re considering buying a new home, knowing where and when to buy is especially important. Fortunately, smart homebuyers looking to fourth quarter statistics are finding short and sweet answers to both questions.

Where to buy? In Wyngate. When to buy? Now.

Recent data shows Wyngate is tops with buyers and builders alike. “More buyers in our price range chose to make Wyngate their home last quarter than any other new home community in south Overland Park,” says Wyngate developer and Rodrock Homes CEO Brian Rodrock.

“The number of homes sold in Wyngate equaled the number sold in four other nearby communities combined,” adds Rodrock, who notes the data applies to single family homes south of 135th street ranging in price from $375,000 to $575,000.

What’s more, the trend seems to be continuing into 2012, with Wyngate’s premiere status bolstered by the sale of six new homes just last month.

And to meet its increasing demand for houses, Wyngate builders including Rodrock Homes and Wheeler Design are giving springtime home shoppers a luxury: a sneak peak at up to eight different homes, with five models furnished in partnership with Kansas City’s Twigs Interiors.

“You won’t see models like this anywhere else,” says Rodrock Homes’ Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Reglin, who’s energized by both the number and quality of home plans Wyngate builders are offering shoppers.

“Wyngate’s model row is the equivalent of a one-stop showroom for new home buyers,” says Reglin. “It gives them the chance to view the most homes in one place at one time with design features they won’t find anywhere else,” he adds.

Wheeler Design’s current showcase home is one prime example. Details like soaring box-beam ceilings, custom millwork on walls, and a see-through fireplace enjoyed from both inside and outside the home add luxurious charm, while elements like a mudroom expanded to include computer workspace increase the home’s modern livability.

Thanks to Twigs Interiors’ in-demand designs, many of Wyngate’s model homes transcend Johnson County beige for a fresh, sophisticated, and up-to-date look. Features like antiqued crystal chandeliers, ceilings stenciled in silvery grays, mosaic-inset entry floors, and river-rock master baths make the models interior design standouts.

“We’re focused on bringing the best interior design from all over the country right here to Kansas City,” says Lisa Mermis, owner of Twigs Interiors. “We’re lucky to get the opportunity to do that in Wyngate,” she says.

With up to 30 home plans available, Wyngate buyers also have ample opportunity to find exactly what they want in a home. Many reverse, 2-story, and 1 ½ story plans come standard with amenities new homebuyers crave: stone and stucco exteriors, covered decks and patios, European baths with double showers, custom cabinetry and millwork, granite countertops, and 3-car garages.

Some homes also feature a main floor flex room that’s perfect for use as an office or bedroom. “We want your home to fit the way you live,” says Chief Operating Officer Jeff Gifford. “That means we’ll sit down with you to modify a floor plan to meet your needs.”

And while customization usually costs homebuyers a pretty penny, homes start at just $400,000. What’s more, residents say home sites are some of the lowest-priced in Blue Valley.

“We fell in love with a model home in Wilshire Farms, where the lot would have cost us much more,” says homebuyer Marcy Saylan. “Lucky for us, Rodrock Homes agreed to build us the same home in Wyngate.”

In addition to value-added pricing, Wyngate homeowners enjoy something else over Wilshire Farms residents: backdoor access to some of Blue Valley’s best schools.

With a paved neighborhood nature trail connecting to Cedar Hills Elementary and Pleasant Ridge Middle School, Wyngate kids can walk to school in minutes.

“Residents never have to bother with the car-line,’’ says Kerwin Holloway, Reece & Nichols Broker Associate, “because the school drop-off point is virtually within their own community.”

Although Wyngate sits in the heart of Blue Valley at 159th and Grant, its location nestled between woods to the east and a tree-line to the west make it seem miles away from the hustle, bustle, and noise of suburbia.

Add to that a surprising 9-½ acres of parkland, paved nature trail, and single, winding rose-lined entrance, and it’s easy to see why this picturesque community appeals to new home seekers and builders alike.

“Wyngate presents a special opportunity for homebuyers—it’s one of those rare communities that puts a homeowner in the heart of the action but still seems restful,” says Jerry Reece, CEO of Reece & Nichols Realtors. “Even with schools, shopping, and businesses close-by, the neighborhood maintains a secluded feel.”

And while experts and statistics don’t lie, seeing means believing for builders and buyers throughout the metro. To see for yourself the most new homes, the latest in interior design, and the fourth quarter top-selling community in its price range in southern Johnson County, visit Wyngate today.

Buyers’ Choice: Rodrock Homes Builds to Suit Anywhere

February 20, 2012

Your dream house, in your dream location, built by a builder that’s a dream to work with. For new homeowners, achieving one or even two of these things may be possible. But realizing all three at once? That’s a dream come true.

Steeped in three generations of homebuilding bolstered by strong financials, Rodrock Homes is making new homebuyers’ dreams a reality by giving them something other builders can’t: the freedom to choose exactly what, where, and how they build their dream home.

Unlike other builders who limit buyers to certain neighborhoods, Rodrock Homes’ clients can choose to build virtually anywhere they please.

“We’re committed to building the home you want, in the location you want,” says CEO Brian Rodrock. And although Rodrock is currently developing Overland Park’s Wyngate community and building in 10 other communities throughout Overland Park, Lenexa, and Olathe, he doesn’t pressure clients to stay within those confines. Rather, he helps each of his customers pursue the homesite of their dreams, wherever that may be.

Patrick and Nancy Carolan knew they wanted to build in Overland Park’s Bluestem neighborhood, even before they chose a builder or a home. “We knew we wanted to stay close to our gym, our schools, and our work,” says Nancy, who notes the couple also wanted space for an in-ground swimming pool.

But when they found a model home they loved in Overland Park’s Wyngate community, Rodrock Homes quickly agreed to re-create and even customize the home of their dreams several miles to the west in Bluestem. “They were immediately ready to make it work for us when other builders were not,” says Nancy.

Rodrock Homes is also helping new home seekers without a specific homesite in mind find the perfect place to put down roots. Potential buyers who want to live near schools, work, or family are leveraging Rodrock Homes’ expertise and relationships to help them locate an ideal spot. Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Reglin explains. “Brian Rodrock’s long-term knowledge of the Kansas City area, his relationships with other developers, and our company’s financial strength make us a sought-after builder,” says Reglin. “That means we can build just about anywhere, with more options to help you find the homesite that’s right for you.”

But for Rodrock Homes’ buyers, the options don’t end there. Access to a wide selection of homesites is rivaled by something else: a large array of home plans. With nearly 30 home plans available, it’s easy for home seekers to find what they’re looking for. And with over a dozen furnished models ready for viewing, clients can see exactly what they’re getting before they sign on the dotted line. “While other builders have been forced to reduce their inventory of furnished homes, we’ve increased ours,” says Reglin. “We think it’s important for potential homeowners to visualize living in their homes.”

And for many real homeowners, life in a handpicked Rodrock Homes’ residence is even better than imagined. Luxuries like covered decks and patios, European double showers, granite countertops, custom cabinetry with walk-in pantries, stone and stucco exteriors, and three-car garages come standard on most of their portfolio, with prices starting around $250,000. “I love the quality of our home,” says homeowner Ann Watson.

In addition to amenities for a value, Nancy and Patrick Carolan found Rodrock Homes’ willingness to customize their home an unparalleled selling point. “My husband is an engineer and wannabe architect,” quips Nancy, “and we wanted a bedroom downstairs. Jeff Gifford rearranged our home plan to make that happen.”

Gifford, Chief Operating Officer of Rodrock Homes, says service like the Carolans received is all in a day’s work. “It’s not uncommon for us to sit down with a ruler and a pencil and make changes, “ says Gifford, “because we like our homeowners to get exactly what they want.”

Through Rodrock Homes’ innovative partnership with Kansas City’s Twigs Interiors, clients also get exactly what they want in the interior design of their home. Qualifying Rodrock Homes Custom Design Experience clients receive one-on-one service from award-winning interior design experts, one-stop shopping at the Twigs’ studio boutique, and access to one-of-a-kind materials. “They give you plenty of choices, and if you don’t like one option, they always have another one ready,” says homeowner Amy Munson.

Yet with so many choices, one question emerges: isn’t a hand-picked homesite, a customized home plan, and one-on-one interior design out of financial reach for most buyers?

Not so, says Brian Rodrock, who points to a variety of company programs that make purchasing easier. In addition to assuming ownership of construction loans, Rodrock Homes offers clients a Guarantee Buy Program for their existing home, a 10-month build program, and even a 30-day quick-close package.

Yet ultimately, says Rodrock, “buying a home isn’t just a real estate transaction. It’s our family doing business with your family.”

And homeowners say it’s this personal approach to business, along with freedom of choice, that sets Rodrock Homes apart. With the ability to build anywhere and countless combinations of home plans, design services, and build programs available, Rodrock Homes will custom-craft a complete dream home package just for you. “Just call or stop by our office on Lenexa’s Dice Lane to see for yourself,” says Rodrock.

Dreaming of Building? Clients Tell All

January 31, 2012

Quality. Value. Service. Trust. If you’re dreaming of building a new home, these aren’t just qualities you want in your builder—they’re realities you deserve.

And while third-generation Kansas City new home builder and developer Brian Rodrock could tell you exactly how Rodrock Homes delivers on all of these points, he won’t.

“We could toot our own horn all day,” says the CEO, “but what really matters? It’s what our clients say about us.”

With over 500 satisfied Rodrock Homes’ homeowners in 11 communities across Kansas City, comments have been plentiful and positive—even from clients who were initially wary of the new home building process.

“We thought going with a new house was going to be stressful,” says Overland Park’s Wilshire Farms resident Katey Chamblin, “but Rodrock Homes made it easy.”

Homebuyer Marcy Saylan agrees. “They’re willing to go out of their way so that you understand the process,” says Saylan, who recently purchased a new Rodrock Home and sold her existing house through the company’s buyout program. “I had a lot of questions and they took time out to address all of my concerns.”

But time devoted to questions doesn’t equate to time-wasted getting answers, says Chamblin, who’s been enjoying her new home for nearly a year now. “Day or night, whenever I’ve contacted the Rodrock Homes’ staff, I’ve always gotten responses back within a hour,” she says.

Such spot-on service usually comes at the cost of either a hefty price tag or short cuts on quality. Not so, say Rodrock Homes’ customers who delight in the solidly constructed luxuries they’re finding in homes ranging from $250,000 to $500,000.

“The standard features that Rodrock provides are upgrades by most builders’ standards,” says Andrea Larson, who along with husband Steve moved into their new home in Rodrock Homes’ Wyngate community just this month.

Fellow Wyngate neighbor and interior design graduate Kate Anthony agrees. “We feel like Rodrock Homes has the most beautiful, well-designed homes in the area, with layouts that are better thought-out,” says Anthony. “They utilize every dollar to make the home the best it can be.”

To stretch dollars even further, homebuyers like Anthony are taking advantage of innovative new programs offered exclusively by Rodrock Homes.

One such program, Rodrock Homes’ Custom Design Series, gives clients free design services from Kansas City’s award-winning Twigs Interiors, plus exclusive access to design materials that can’t be found anywhere else. “I wouldn’t have known where to begin without this,” says Saylan. “It’s amazing that Rodrock Homes gives their clients a chance to work with a company like Twigs.”

It’s just one way the builder is upping the quality quotient in homes where three-car garages, stone elevations, upgraded furnaces and air conditioning, double showers, hardwood flooring, and spindle staircases are considered standard.

Even outside suppliers reflect Rodrock Homes’ emphasis on heightened quality. “You can learn a lot about a builder by the subcontractors they use,” says Larson. “Our experience with everyone Rodrock Homes uses, from lighting to appliances, and especially Twigs, has been great.”

Evident in the builder’s attention to detail and time spent one-on-one with clients is a bottom-line truth: Rodrock Homes cares.

“I can’t say enough about the company,” says Saylan. “They’ve been incredible to work with. They’re a big company, so they don’t have to cater to each customer, but they do.”

As a case in point, homebuyer Melissa Lovell was surprised when Rodrock Homes’ company owners took time to walk a potential home site with she and her husband Kyle before the two made a buying decision.

She attributes the builder’s personable approach to its owners’ emphasis on family. “I’m a family-oriented person and I like that the owners of Rodrock Homes are all a family too,” says Lovell.

And while it’s true that the company’s founders are family themselves (the three brother-in-law owners live within blocks of each other,) clients say they seem to care as much about homebuyers’ families as their own. Charles Gurera says his family’s story is one such example.

While out looking at model homes, Gurera approached the builder “on a whim” about a home to accommodate Joseph, Gurera’s wheelchair-bound seven-year-old son. He was shocked at CEO Brian Rodrock’s quick response.

“Brian sat down and listened to us, then pulled out a brand new blueprint and began to modify the house so it was just what we needed for Joseph,” says Gurera.

Rodrock also helped Gurera choose the perfect level lot and redesigned the home’s façade to give Joseph easy access. “How Brian Rodrock worked with us spoke volumes,” says Gurera.

Indeed for many buyers like Gurera, the decision to build with Rodrock Homes comes down to something no amount of money can buy.

When asked what distinguishes Rodrock Homes from other builders, Gurera doesn’t hesitate. “Trust,” he says. “They’ve never let me down or run me around. I’ve got confidence that Rodrock Homes is looking out for my best interests.”

Speaking from a history of homebuilding, homebuyer Allen Turner confirms Gurera’s assertion. “I’ve worked with four other builders and Rodrock Homes has been my most pleasant experience yet.”

And while listening to others’ recommendations is helpful, nothing compares to working with Rodrock Homes firsthand. To see for yourself the difference a Rodrock Homes’ experience can make, visit rodrockhomes.com.

Builder Delights Buyers with One-Stop Luxury Design

January 23, 2012

Remember that commercial where people had an “Easy button?” Where tasks that should have been difficult suddenly become easy?

Thanks to a new and innovative partnership with Kansas City’s award-winning Twigs Interiors, Rodrock Homes’ clients are finding the formerly complex process of top-to-bottom luxury home design to be just that: easy.

Homebuyer Marcy Saylan is one grateful beneficiary of the Rodrock Homes Custom Experience. “The prospect of selecting everything for our new home—from trim work to stain colors, cabinetry to flooring—seemed overwhelming,” says Saylan. Yet once Twigs’ design experts helped her define, visualize, and procure the materials she loved most for her home, her concerns disappeared.

“I wouldn’t have known where to begin without Twigs,” says Saylan. “It’s amazing that Rodrock Homes gives their clients a chance to work with a company like Twigs.”

Born out of Rodrock Homes’ CEO Brian Rodrock’s acute desire to make each customer’s new home building experience the best it can be, the Rodrock Homes Custom Experience in partnership with Twigs has been a hit with clients.

“If you buy a Custom Experience home from Rodrock Homes anywhere today, we’ll pay for you to enjoy a personal, boutique-style design experience with Twigs’ experts,” says Rodrock.

While the ultimate result is a stunning, one-of-a-kind home, customers who’ve taken advantage of the program say it’s also saved them time, energy, and money along the way.

“Since we’re currently living out of town, efficient use of our time is really important to us,” says Kate Anthony, whose new home in Overland Park’s Wyngate neighborhood is under construction.

“When we walked into the meeting with Twigs, everything was laid out for us,” Anthony continues. “They already had a table filled with paint, stain, cabinetry, granite, carpet, and tile samples that achieved the look we wanted. We were able to touch on everything in just 60 minutes.”

Personalization and efficiency stem from a streamlined process in which Twigs designers do their homework. First, they pore over client questionnaires, interview information, and “look books” filled with a customer’s preferences. Next, they present clients with concept boards featuring all proposed materials at once.

“It’s helps so much to be able to see everything together,” says Rodrock Homes’ buyer Melissa Lovell, “because right away you can see what you like and eliminate what you don’t.”

Also timesaving is Twigs’ one-stop shopping format. Once forced to run between meetings with up to ten separate vendors, homebuyers now find themselves relaxing in Twigs’ Overland Park show room, aided by designers who help them choose materials that best fit their personality, lifestyle, and their pocketbook.

Just ask Rodrock Homes’ Design Experience customer Andrea Larson, who recently worked with Twigs to create a home that included the light and bright kitchen of her dreams.

“One of the things I loved most is that our Twigs designers showed us a design within our budget,” says Larson. “It would’ve been easy for them to show us a design that exceeded our allowance. But everything they showed us was within the standard price, was good quality, and very beautiful—so we didn’t walk away feeling like we had ‘settled.’”

And while even standard options reflect a level of aesthetic that’s typically found in custom homes alone, pricing remains well below the custom-home benchmark.

“Starting with homes priced in the upper $300,000s, clients can customize their residence from start to finish, all with the help of a dedicated Twigs’ design team,” says Rodrock Homes’ Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Reglin. What’s more, customers who wish to spend less can still take advantage of Twigs’ expertise through optional, leveled packages offering the firm’s design services.

According to homebuyers, even a few hours spent with Twigs is well worth the time. “We love that we’re getting a home that’s not like anyone else’s,” says future Wyngate resident Charles Gurera. Jeff Gifford, Rodrock Homes Chief Operating Officer, agrees. “Twigs gives our homebuyers so many design choices that you’ll never see two homes exactly alike,” says Gifford.

Homebuyer Amy Munson attributes the design variety to Twigs’ way of work. “They give you plenty of choices, and if you don’t like one option, they always have another one ready,” she says, noting a first-hand experience where Twigs’ team members went the extra mile. “One of their designers even sat down with us to hand-draw a tile pattern for our kitchen backsplash and master bath,” she says.

Fellow Rodrock Homes’ homeowner Andrea Larson echoes Munson’s sentiments. “We had such a great experience working with Twigs,” says Larson, “that we wish even more homebuyers knew about it.” If you want to know more, visit Twigs’ three decorated model homes in Overland Park’s Wyngate neighborhood at 159th and Grant, or contact Rodrock Homes and Twigs Interiors today.

Final Homes Offer Value in Maple Brook Park

January 15, 2012

Saving the best for last. It’s a phrase applied to encore performances, pinch hitter homeruns, and decadent desserts. It also describes the final homes available in Rodrock Homes’ Maple Brook Park.

“Builders like to say that the last homes for sale are the best,” says Rodrock Homes CEO Brian Rodrock. “But for Maple Brook Park, it’s absolutely true.”

Situated on home sites coveted for their quiet cul-de-sac locale, daylight or walkout basements, and covered back-porch decks and patios, the number of remaining homes is dwindling into the single digits.

Current Maple Brook Park residents aren’t surprised to see their neighborhood filling fast. While they love their community’s prime Olathe location, nationally-ranked schools, and friendly feel, most chose Maple Brook Park because it offered what they couldn’t find anywhere else: amenities at a value.

“We were looking for the nicest house in the best location at the most affordable price,” says resident Ann Watson, who recently relocated her young family from Texas to Maple Brook Park. “There were lots of track homes in Texas and we knew we didn’t want that. The quality of these homes is exceptional.”

For community residents, quality equals amenities not usually found in their price range, like double-head European showers, covered decks and patios, custom cabinetry, crafted trim for doors, windows, and moldings, wood flooring, granite countertops, and even upgraded heating, air conditioning, and insulation. “Those were all features we weren’t finding in resale and other homes at our price line,” says resident Bill Lundell, whose real estate agent son-in-law led Lundell and wife Connie to a new home in Maple Brook Park.

But even with the tip-top quality and customized amenities lauded by homeowners, combined home and home site prices in Maple Brook Park remain only in the mid-$200,000s. All of which begs the question: do homebuyers sacrifice customer service in return for value?

Not at all, say homeowners like Jesse and Ann Sieve, who worked with Rodrock Homes to customize the open floor plan home they purchased last summer. “Whenever we asked for something,” says Jesse, “Rodrock Homes would almost always respond by saying ‘we can make that happen.’”

Rodrock Homes’ can-do track record stems from a promise its three owners made years ago: to deliver quality, value, and service for every home and to every customer, regardless of spending thresholds. “Whether you’re building a starter home or a custom estate, you’ll enjoy the same level of commitment and care from us,” says Rodrock Homes’ Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Reglin.

“Rodrock Homes goes above and beyond,” agrees Watson, who was pleasantly surprised when the company’s management team executed a one-day Sunday turnaround to plan her basement finish and ease her relocation schedule.

Indeed, ease of life—delivered through customer service, amenities, and location—seems a priority at Maple Brook Park. Close to K-7 highway, K-10 highway, and Olathe’s thriving 119th street corridor, residents can drive to work, grab groceries, or sneak away to movie theaters within just minutes.

Three-year Maple Brook Park resident Steve Accardi loves that his neighborhood sits not far from the newer Olathe Northwest High School and just across the street from Ravenwood Elementary School. “My wife walks our son to school every day,” says Accardi.

Yet close-in conveniences don’t mean neighbors are too close for comfort, since many homes back up to woods or undeveloped farmland. “We’re close to so much, yet it’s serene and beautiful here,” says David Everett, who says he “couldn’t pass up” the atrium split home he found with wife Kris last summer.

Still, more irresistible than both its locale and beauty are the luxuries within reach at Maple Brook Park. “Maple Brook Park affords homeowners the amenities they thought they couldn’t afford before,” says Jeff Gifford, Rodrock Homes’ Chief Operating Officer.

In other words, if you’ve ever dreamed of owning a two-story, four-bedroom home with stone trim, a three-car garage, a covered outdoor entertaining area, a walk-in pantry, a mudroom with cubbies, and an upstairs laundry, you may find just such a home is more affordable than you think.

But with the number of choice remaining homes and home sites in the single digits at Maple Brook Park, you’ll want to hurry to choose the best and last. Residences are selling quickly in a neighborhood where value and customer service go hand-in-hand.

Just ask Maple Brook Park’s David Everett, who found the experience of finding and finishing his new home simpler than expected. “It was the smoothest process,” he says, “because Rodrock Homes makes it that easy.”