Are you considering the pros and cons of a new home versus a used home? The pros pretty much outweigh the cons, and here’s a list of ten reasons why!

1. You can make a truly fresh start in a brand new home! No one else has ever lived there… it’s all yours!

2. Everything is all new, and under warranty! Your new home, and the products that comprise it, are brand-new and under warranty.

3. New homes are designed to be low maintenance, yet high style. They’re made of cutting-edge building products that require less care and maintenance.

4. Nothing beats that “New Home” feeling. You could replace all of the windows in a resale home. And add insulation, and replace outdated systems. But why bother? Buy a brand new, all-you home!

5. You can have it your way. One of the benefits of buying a brand new home is customization. Pick your cabinets, flooring, carpets, light fixtures, etc. to fit your lifestyle.

6. New homes have a longer life expectancy than existing homes, giving them a longer period of time to appreciate in value.

7. Many new homes offer energy-efficient windows and appliances, energy-conserving, long-lasting LED lighting and more… all features that decrease the your costs and carbon footprint.

8. Safety is a concern for any homeowner, whether buying new or old. But, when you buy a new home, you save yourself some worry since everything is brand new and environmentally friendly.

9. Today’s new homes are designed to fit the way you live, with convenient features like walk-in closets, kitchen pantries, finished basements… and plenty of room to grow. With resale homes, you may find that space is limited.

10. Buying a brand new home means that it’s yours from day one. It’s your home, and it reflects your family, your style and your taste.

Homes by DHR is a new home builder in Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, OK. Contact info@homesbydhr.com or call 405-888-5430 for more information.

Happy Holidays from American Country Estates! We have a contract on our first home at 11738 Carefree Lane, but we still have two homes remaining in our first release. These amazing homes are completed and ready for an immediate move in. We have extended our Fall Savings Promotion, and if you have been looking for a home you better act quick before they are gone. Interest rates remain low, and they would appear to be finally going up from today’s low rates. Please visit our website for full details on the remaining homes www.homesbydhr.com.

We have been busy improving the neighborhood. We recently paved another 815′ of Carefree lane providing paved access to all 22 lots in our first phase. We have made a decision to sell some of our lots to other builders who must still comply with our Restrictions and Protective Covenants (available on our website). We are hoping that by selling some lots, we can get more families into American Country Estates so that they too may enjoy our beautiful neighborhood.

Lot sales start at $25,900 and include paved access, electric, gas, and AT&T phone service. These lots are a minimum of .75 acres, they are build ready, and have rough building pads. If you have been looking to build a home in a beautiful country setting, only 10 minutes from Kickapoo and I40, look no further than American Country Estates.

We wish all of you a happy holiday season, and a bright and successful New Year!

Donny DeMarie

President

Homes by DHR is a new home builder in Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, OK. Contact info@homesbydhr.com or call 405-888-5430 for more information.

Every family has its traditions for the holidays – touch football games on Thanksgiving, taking the annual photo of “the kids”, traditional Polish/Italian Christmas Eve dinners, eating Chinese food and going to the movies on Christmas Day.

We took a completely unofficial poll, and came up with even more family traditions. Try adding one or two of these to your family’s celebrations to make spending the holidays in your new home that much sweeter, cozier and more memorable!

1. Sitting by the fire, sipping hot cocoa and telling stories from years past
2. Baking cookies / cupcakes / gingerbread men from secret family recipe book
3. Playing a holiday round of golf
4. Lighting the menorah together
5. A new tree ornament or decoration every year
6. Reading a favorite Christmas story together
7. Listening to Christmas music from Thanksgiving Day until Christmas
8. Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade
9. Picking pollyannas for Christmas / Hanukkah
10. Opening one present on Christmas Eve
11. Video chatting with relatives who are far away for the holidays
12. Staying in your PJs all day on Christmas
13. Going to Midnight mass / services on Christmas Eve
14. Letting the youngest (or oldest) member of the family open presents first
15. Caroling at the local nursing home
16. Lying under the Christmas tree when the lights are on
17. Bringing treats or gifts to those who have to work the holidays (nurses, firefighters)
18. Watching favorite holiday movies snuggled together on the couch
19. Lighting luminaria
20. Hiding one present for each child

Homes by DHR is a new home builder in Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, OK. Contact info@homesbydhr.com or call 405-888-5430 for more information.

Hello from American Country Estates!

Our Fall Savings Event is in full swing are there are still three homes available for an immediate occupancy. We have reduced our prices, added security systems with paid monitoring through September 2018, and we will pay your standard closing costs! These are beautiful homes, with all the included amenities. Visit our website for complete details www.homesbydhr.com. 

We are excited to announce the completion of Carefree Lane, which will now be paved throughout the planned first phase of development. In addition, we will be offering lot sales from $25,900. American Country Estates is the perfect location to buy, or build your new dream home.

We have beautiful .75 acre lots, paved streets, groomed lots and building pads, electric service (CVEC), gas service (ONG), and telephone (AT&T). We have protected your investment and community with our Restrictions And Protective Covenants. The lots will not last long, so act quickly to secure your favorite home site.

Don’t miss this opportunity to purchase a new home during our Fall Savings Event! It’s a great time to enjoy Shawnee’s newest community!

Homes by DHR is a new home builder in Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, OK. Contact info@homesbydhr.com or call 405-888-5430 for more information.

Don’t miss our FALL Savings Event going on now!  

•            New lower prices on all available homes!

•            We pay your standard closing costs!

•            We have included Frontpoint Security Systems w/3-Years of prepaid alarm monitoring. Rated best alarm system for the third year in a row!

•            Garage storm shelter

•            Front yard landscaping and automatic sprinkler system

•            Coming Soon – Lot sales from $25,900!!! 

These deals won’t last long!

Homes by DHR is a new home builder in Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, OK. Contact info@homesbydhr.com or call 405-888-5430 for more information.

A recent poll identified not being able to sell one’s current home as a homeowner’s greatest fear. In an age where, according to HGTV, every home should be a stylized showroom, fearing that your home won’t live up to the competition is all too real.

Here are 10 great ways to cheaply increase your home’s value.

1. Organize, Clean And De-Clutter.

Hire a professional cleaning service to clean your entire home. De-clutter your rooms to make them look more spacious – a big selling point for buyers.

And either sell your stuff, give it away or put it in storage.

Cost: $400

Value: $2,000

ROI: 400%

2. Light Up The House

Spending as little as $100-$400 on new lighting fixtures can bring your home’s best features to light.

Cost: $100 to $400

Value: $1,600 when $400 is spent

ROI: 300%

If you invest $1,500 in lighting, you can turn an average profit of $7,800. Giving your home’s value a boost of over $9,000.

Invest for the future – choose Internet of Things devices that can be controlled with a smartphone.

3. Maintenance and Inspection

Bring in a local designer to give you tips and suggestions for small changes that can help increase value.

Get an inspection to make sure there are no plumbing leaks, electrical problems, issues with the septic system or furnace, leaky windows, heating or insulation issues.

Cost: $800 for repairs

Value: $3,000

ROI: 275%

4. Landscaping In The First Impression

Increase your curb appeal by cleaning up your yard and plantings. If the outside of your home looks unkempt, it gives the impression to potential buyers that the rest of the house is just as unkempt. Also, overgrown gardens can block sunlight and the views, as well as allowing mold to grow.

Cost: $400 to $600

Value: $1,500 to $2,000

ROI: 200 to 275%

5. Update The Flooring

Shampoo or replace carpets. Add hardwood floors or repair existing ones.

Cost: $600 to $900

Value: Up to $2,000

ROI: 110 to 233%

6. Fresh Paint

Paint the walls and the baseboards and trim with a neutral color. Doing it yourself will save money, but hiring a painter will get it done faster and professionally.

Cost: $900 to $1,000

Value: $2,000

ROI: 100 to 120%

If you invest $2,000 on fresh paint for the whole house, it can result in a $3,000 profit, adding about $5,000 to the home’s value.

7. Upgrade Your Roof

Repairing or replacing your roof can cost up to $12,000. But simply adding a cupola adds elegance and curb appeal for less money.

Cost: $500 to $1,500

Value: $500 to $2,500

ROI: 66 to 233%

8. Paint The Exterior

Anything that helps add to your curb appeal is a worthy investment. Power washing and painting the exterior of your home is a great way to add value.

Cost: $1,400

Value: $2,100

ROI: 50%

9. Kitchen and Bathroom Remodel

If your cabinets are in good shape, an easy way to spruce up your kitchen or bathroom is simply painting the cabinetry.

An updated kitchen and/or bathroom with fresh paint, new countertops, stainless steel fixtures, new hardware and lighting can add an extra $2,000 to $3,000 to the value of your home.

Cost: $1,900

Value: $3,200

ROI: 68%

A $500 investment in making some small changes can increase value, too.

• Remove rust stains
• Apply new caulk
• Update knobs & pulls
• Replace faucets
• Install an eco-friendly toilet

Adding a half bath to your home adds up to 10% to your home’s value, while a full bath adds about 20%.

10. High Quality Photos of Your Home

After you put in all this work on your home, don’t forget to use high resolution images when you post photos online.

90% of buyers start their new home search on the internet. Make sure you post plenty of really good quality photos to draw the interest of potential buyers.

These tips will help you put your home’s best foot forward – without costing an arm and a leg!

Homes by DHR is a new home builder in Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, OK. Contact info@homesbydhr.com or call 405-888-5430 for more information.

Are you prepared for football season or are you still sitting on the bench? We’ve got some tips for how to make your Game Day at home even better when you and your friends can’t make it to the stadium!

1. Your guests are coming to hang out and enjoy the game. Make sure there is plenty of comfy seating – a sectional sofa, club chairs, ottomans and floor pillows are couple of options.
2. Decorate with team colors. It’s festive and shows team spirit!
3. The TV is crucial. Depending on the size of your party room, you’ll need to make sure the TV is placed properly so that guests can see it from various spots in the room. What’s better than watching a big play on a big screen?
4. Between the hype and the yelling – be sure to keep everyone hydrated with beer, soda, lemonade, water.
5. When it comes to food, buffet-style is easiest for your indoor tailgate. Make sure there are plenty of snacks like veggies & dip, chips & salsa, pretzels, etc.

And stick to crowd pleasers… like these!

• Slow Cooker Chili
• Buffalo Wings
• Gumbo
• Touchdown Brownies

Homes by DHR is a new home builder in Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, OK. Contact info@homesbydhr.com or call 405-888-5430 for more information.

We would love to build you one of our floor plans, customized just the way you would want it…You can pick the elevation, brick, and color combinations. Not sure? Don’t worry, we can help…

Looking for a three car garage, and a fireplace? We can add those features to any of our floor plans. Would you like to design your own tile backsplashes, and pick your own flooring? No problem, we would welcome the opportunity to work with you!

So, come on out to American Country Estates…pick a lot, and let’s get started on building you a home just the way you want it!

Homes by DHR is a new home builder in Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, OK. Contact info@homesbydhr.com or call 405-888-5430 for more information.

It’s that time of year in Shawnee again… Back to School! Time to start thinking about school supplies, clothes, sports equipment… the list is endless!

Check out these numbers:

1. Families plan to spend an average of $97.74 on school supplies like notebooks, pencils and backpacks
2. 30% of back-to-school shoppers will wait until one or two weeks before school to start shopping
3. The average family with children in grades K-12 plans to spend $63 on back-to-school shopping

And that’s just the beginning! Once you’ve done the shopping, it’s time to start prepping for early mornings, sports practices, music lessons, and homework.

Getting yourself and your family back into the routine of school days can be exhausting, yet so exciting. With this daily checklist, your kids won’t miss a beat, or a homework assignment.

Before School

1. Lunches are packed and in a location where kids can easily grab them in your Virginia Home.
2. Backpacks are packed with all books, folders, projects, etc., and in close proximity to lunch box.
3. All necessities for the day are present and accounted for – Gym clothes, musical instruments, permission slips, etc.
4. Kids are dressed, preferably in clothes that match.
5. Keep a daily calendar for school events to make sure that kids only wear pajamas on Pajama Day. (As opposed to the day they just feel like not getting dressed.)

After a long day of learning, your kids will most likely be ready to kick their feet back and have a snack.

After School

1. Have a shoe rack at the front door in order to prevent kids from tracking dirt all over the house.
2. Have a snack prepared and readily available in your kitchen. Fresh fruit, cheese & crackers, pretzels and nuts are all filling, healthy and nutritious.
3. Set up a coming home routine, complete with some down time to clear their minds before they start homework.

Getting your home and your children ready for the new school year can be tedious for your children, but having checklists like this to get them prepared will help them get excited for all of their new classes and friends!

Homes by DHR is a new home builder in Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, OK. Contact info@homesbydhr.com or call 405-888-5430 for more information.

The kitchen is truly the heart of our homes. They are centrally located, feature breakfast bars, and they are designed to bring the family together. Featuring custom cabinetry, door hardware, upgraded plumbing and lighting fixtures the kitchens are warm and inviting. We installed granite counter tops, and custom tile backsplashes to add some creative design elements.

Our kitchens feature plenty of counter space and cabinets. We incorporated stainless steel appliances and natural gas stoves. Making your new kitchen both functional, and beautiful!

Homes by DHR is a new home builder in Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, OK. Contact info@homesbydhr.com or call 405-888-5430 for more information.