We’re not quite two weeks into the New Year, and already there’s good news for shoppers dreaming of living in a fully custom home by summer.
As part of its latest move in developing Overland Park’s Golden Mile, Rodrock Homes is opening up new home sites beginning today in its Summerwood community located at 159th Street and Quivira Road. For home seekers interested in both privacy and luxury, the initiative is welcome news.
“With over 50 acres of green space but home sites for just over 200 homeowners, Summerwood features some of the finest home sites available within the Golden Mile,” said Brian Rodrock.
All sanctuary-like in feel, some sites are located in cul-de-sacs and others back to water views or green space. Given Summerwood’s location close to Blue Valley’s newest schools, industry insiders expect the sites to sell quickly.
On-site agents Angela Fitzgerald and Michelle Capek say they’ve already been called on by private buyers wanting in early on today’s public opening. “If you are planning to build a new home and want to move in by summer, the time to visit us is now,” Capek said.
For those wanting to move in sooner, two furnished models and a limited number of homes-in-process are also for sale.
Shoppers agree the luxurious homes and sites are available at a value. Combined homes and sites in the exclusive Summerwood Estates section of the community begin at $750,000, with others in Summerwood available in the $400,000s. Homeowners can choose from more than 20 Rodrock Homes’ customizable home designs or bring their own plans for building.
Since Rodrock Homes acquired Summerwood last fall, buyers are enjoying more selection, value and luxury than ever before. “I tell clients, once Rodrock takes over, the subdivision just takes off,” said Barbara Higgins, Reece & Nichols real estate consultant. “There’s a confidence people have in the [Rodrock] name, that they can’t go wrong when they buy there,” Higgins said.
Rodrock said he’s excited to see Summerwood reach its full potential. “Past developers weren’t able to give Summerwood the attention it deserved because of the recession. With this new phase, we’re changing that fact forever.”
And while Rodrock Homes is employing its 30-year industry legacy, financial strength and family-owned business ethics to re-energize Summerwood, it’s not the first time the company has revitalized a recession-weary community. Within months of its 2011 acquisition of Wyngate — located just one mile east of Summerwood — the neighborhood became one of the top-selling communities in the area.
Homeowners Doug and Allison Butts said Rodrock’s track record for developing quality communities played into their decision to buy in Summerwood. “Doug and Allison’s previous home was in a Rodrock community,” said Realty Executives’ Doug Pearce, who recently helped the Butts find their new home in Summerwood. “So there was a comfort level there that made their buying decision easy.”
“We looked for over 10 years at a lot of different neighborhoods,” explained Allison about her choice of Summerwood. “We really like the space in between the homes, and we love the idea of a resort-type pool.” The pool is just one part of Summerwood’s state-of-the-art amenity park slated for completion this summer. In addition to the lagoon-style pool, homeowners will enjoy exclusive use of a new clubhouse, cabanas, sport court, nature trail and play park for children.
Amenities inside Summerwood’s Rodrock-built homes are equally luxurious, said Realtors like Reece & Nichols’ senior sales executive Brent Sledd. “With Rodrock Homes you don’t have to break the bank on upgrades,” confirmed Sledd, whose Sledd-Fleet Team garnered home sales totaling $30 million this year.
“They’ve added a lot of standard features like double showers, outstanding trim packages, and energy-efficient furnaces and insulation,” the Realtor said. “When I think of Rodrock Homes, I think of value and good square footage for the money.”
For Summerwood buyers Sarah and Jerad Fritz, the company’s customer service was also key. “This is our third experience with new construction,” Sarah said. “We actually are really amazed. We’ve never dealt with customer service this good before — it’s top notch.” The new homeowners said Rodrock Homes really listened to their needs, plus “they didn’t try to sell us anything we didn’t want.”
Coming from Montana, the Fritzes said they also fell in love with Summerwood’s wide-open spaces. “A lot of Kansas City subdivisions felt confining to us, but the view at Summerwood reminded us of Montana,” Sarah explained.
With Summerwood’s new home sites opening today, shoppers hoping for a new view by summer are in luck, said on-site agent Angela Fitzgerald. The bottom line? “New year, new phase, a new home. It’s a great time to buy,” Fitzgerald said.
