Welcome to our first issue of Schiavi at Home! Quarterly, we will be sending out these newsletters full of helpful tips for you, events you may find of interest and news of our family here at Schiavi Home Builders. We hope you enjoy this installment and would love to hear your feedback. Just e-mail us at sales@schiavihomes.com.

APRIL IS NATIONAL LAWN CARE MONTH

Once your beautiful new Schiavi home is in place and you have filled the cupboards and found your favorite gardening tools which were packed in with the holiday lights , your thoughts may turn to making your yard as inviting as the inside of your house. For information on building a lush lawn click on www.thisoldhouse.com/shortcuts. If you are interested in being earth friendly while preparing and maintaining the lawn, check out www.extremelygreen.com. This website will guide you through all sorts of gardening issues using green products and techniques.

CHILI KEEPING US WARM

With lots of snow still chilling our toes the crew here at Schiavi warmed up with a late afternoon chili party on March 26th. Seven kinds of chili, three baskets of muffins and lots of fruit and chips filled the table. Sharon’s moose meat chili and Jason’s white chili were the favorites while everyone loved Cindy’s tasty corn muffins. And at the end of the day––– no one had to take home leftovers!

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Our owner in–the–store, Scott Stone, well–known for his generosity and commitment to sharing his success, contributes on a regular basis to many charities in the area. In addition, he encourages all his employees to not only join him in donating but also to volunteer where they can.

Recently Schiavi Home Builders donated to Big Brothers and Big Sisters by supporting Linda Poto’s participation in the local bowl–a–thon. Linda, who is the wife of our construction manager, John Poto, raised over $100.00.

Mike Noble of Schiavi Home Development out of our Bethel Office is a member of the Oxford Hills Board for the March of Dimes. He began doing walk–a–thons for them in the mid–90’s. Last winter while accompanying his 11 year–old daughter, Charlee to snow skiing lessons he chose to wear a Walk for America sweatshirt he had earned several years before. At the end of the lesson the ski instructor introduced herself as the Executive Director of the March of Dimes in this area (now known as the March for Babies). Mike was put on the board immediately. He’ll be walking in the May 4th walk–a–thon which will be a 6 mile loop starting and ending at Key Bank in Norway. For more information, click on www.marchforbabies.org.

NEW ON OUR LOT

Two new model houses on our lot stand out as excellent examples of the unique craftsmanship that Schiavi Home builders can produce for you. Out in front of our office is a wonderful new Rustic Retreat. The lodge style home has two bedrooms and a loft. It is sided with beautiful cedar shingles and pine logs! Decorated exquisitely, it only needs a quiet pond in front to be your next home.

Our other brand new show house is a lovely red cape. It has a spacious country kitchen with bead board cabinets. The upstairs is studded in for a dormer bath and two bedrooms just waiting for you to finish off in your own special style.

A PROJECT FOR YOU

Remember that big yellow Tonka truck pushing its way through the streets of your sandbox? Now you can build a new sandbox at your house! We just found these simple on–line instructions from eSSORTMENT.com. We have posted the instructions on our website. They’ll guide you through building a sailboat shaped sandbox! Click here to see the instructions on our website.

If you would like to try using a new product to build your sandbox, the Frame It All people can tell you how to put together composite plastic timbers and joints to make all sorts of different shapes and sizes. Go to www.frameitall.com/sandboxes for information.

HOMESHOW 2008

The Annual Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce Home Show is one of our favorite weekends of the year. We love meeting interested buyers and learning what they are looking for in their new homes. It also gives us an opportunity to show off our beautiful inventory of more than a dozen homes. This year several thousand people came out to visit our model homes and learn about the home buying and building process. Our staff greeted visitors, guided folks on tours of our homes and answered lots of questions. Representatives from Norway Savings Bank were also available to discuss financing options with buyers.

Rave reviews were given about our new Rustic Retreat which is sided with natural logs and shingles to accent its cozy lodge–like interior. Another favorite was the ever–popular St. James which has a unique floor plan, high–end amenities and transom windows over the interior doors. Many comments were also about the updated look and quality construction of our single and doublewide homes.

MEET – Ken Winer
Our Site Coordinator

Ken is the Daniel Boone of our crew. His job begins at the beginning– – – with the land. Ken goes out to the site that our customers have chosen for their new home to determine whether the project is feasible. Often he has to clamor over rocks and downed trees, cross streams and climb hills to get to the hoped–for site. Once there he determines whether the house will fit on the site, if the crane will be have room enough to maneuver, if the trailer trucks will be able to deliver up the road and so on.

Read more about Ken here.

We’re so glad that you were able to spend some time learning about our business, our staff and our commitment to community. If you would like more information about Schiavi Home Builders, please go to our website www.schiavihomes.com.

Sincerely,
Scott Stone
& the Schiavi Home Builders crew