Being a military family, the Andersons have moved quite a bit. After Erik Anderson completed his residency in Pensacola, Florida, they were excited to learn that he would be stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Based on proximity to family, the Andersons preferred Ohio and have been looking forward to getting settled into their new life.
The Drees team helped Erik and wife Michelle identify opportunities to build near the Air Force base. They ended up choosing to build in a custom community through Drees’ Build on Your Lot program. The Andersons begun their home building process from afar and experienced much of the journey virtually, making their experience a little more unique than the typical new home purchase.
Erik and Michelle sat down to provide us with insights into their building experience.
What floor plan did you choose?
We choose the Alwick based on the room layouts, square footage and elevation options. We loved that we could add a sunroom. Although, we made a few structural changes, it was the best option with the least amount of changes for our family.
As you have watched your new home’s design come to life, what have been your favorite spaces and features?
After months of looking at blueprints, it was so wonderful to see walls actually go up, and now that we’re finally settled, our favorite place is probably the whole first floor. We love how open it is and all the windows bring in so much natural light, which is really important to us. We had a little decorating fun in the powder bath and it makes us so happy to catch a glimpse of it when walking by. As a family, we spend a ton of time in our kitchen and family room, but the open floor plan makes it so easy to host friends and family too!
What did you enjoy most about the building process?
Can I say everything?! This is the first home we have built and we were skeptical about doing it from a distance. When we started, we lived in Florida and were unable to see our home site or a model of the home in person. We relied on the Build on Your Lot General Manager to be upfront and honest, and present us with the best options. He was great to work with and truly made this process seamless, especially during a difficult time.
The Design Center Director Alexa Drees made choosing our exterior and interior options not only easy, but also fun! I had talked to so many friends who said they felt overwhelmed during their selections process with different builders, but we never had that feeling. Alexa was attentive to our style and vision, and helped provide options that would fit both. She even sent us multiple samples when we weren’t sure on selections, which made the virtual process painless.
What advice would you give others who are interested in building a home?
Building a home is a huge investment so don’t just pick the first floor plan you like. Make sure you research the builder and their craftsmanship, but also their work ethic. Floor plans can be altered, but builders cannot.
Why did you choose to build with Drees?
Drees has a great reputation and we wanted a home that would also be reputable for years to come. We wanted a builder that was ethical, hardworking and attentive to detail, and Drees checked all those boxes for us.
What factors made the Build on Your Lot program the right fit for your family?
We were unable to find an existing community we loved. We also needed to live in a certain area for work purposes and Drees didn’t have a community there. When we discovered they offered the Build On Your Lot program, we were hopeful it would be a great fit. The General Manager talked us through our options and helped find a home site that was within Drees territory and ours.
Learn More
To learn more about building your own Drees home, visit dreeshomes.com and select your location. Interested in other personal stories from the Homeowner Spotlight Series, click here.
