by Christy Heitger-Ewing | photos ThreeSixty Indy
Nestled in the heart of Zionsville, Holliday Farms, with its rolling landscapes, creeks, and ravines, has become the premiere community for homeowners who are looking to build a beautiful custom home in a picturesque location. With more than 300 lot reservations, there are currently 160 lots available.
“It’s a great location, featuring nature trails, parks, and countless amenities. There is a clubhouse, tennis courts, swimming pool, and a Championship 18-Hole Golf Course and 9-Hole Executive Course designed by world-renowned architect, Pete Dye,” says Kristen Hale-Shaffer of Kent Shaffer Homes, noting that the 2020 Home Show will take place at Holliday Farms.
Choosing a neighborhood is an important part of the process, as is selecting the right custom home builder. When shopping around, Shaffer encourages people to ask for the builder’s financial standings to protect their investment.
“Home builders pop up, then maybe a couple of years later when the economy goes south, you don’t hear from them again,” says Hale-Shaffer. Kent Shaffer Homes, on the other hand, has been in business for 35 years.
“We bring a hands-on approach to building, only taking on the number of projects we can personally manage ourselves,” says Hale. That typically results in erecting between 6-15 homes annually.
“Kent and I supervise every project,” says Hale. “We’re the point of contact for our homeowners as we walk them through every step.”
Sometimes during the design process, a client is unable to visualize what the home will look like so Kent Shaffer Homes provides 3D renderings of the floor plans, including rooms and elevation. This way nothing is unforeseen, and homeowners can see what the finished project will look like before it starts.
They also utilize online scheduling software that clients can log into. Throughout construction, all documents between the builder and the client are kept in that program so that paperwork can’t be lost.
“They can see the schedule of who is going to be out there on a weekly basis or updates if we get delayed due to weather or some other reason,” says Hale. “It’s easy for everyone to communicate with everything being in one central spot that is easily accessible.”
Clients also appreciate that Kent Shaffer Homes employs an interior decorator who helps guide them throughout the selection process.
“When clients decide to build, I think one of the things that really stresses them out is all of the choices they have to make,” says Hale, noting that a homeowner can spend upwards of 100 hours making selections. Their interior designer, however, meets with the homeowner to get their sense of style and then pre-selects a handful of options per room to streamline the process. According to Hale, “It really cuts down on the time spent by the homeowner and makes the process easier and less overwhelming.”
For more information on Holliday Farms or building your custom home with Kent Shaffer Homes, visit kentshafferhomes.com.
