Dream Homes and Development Corp.
Dream Building LLC.
Nearly Famous Rebuilding, Renovation, and Elevation Blog
11-25-17
Hello all –
I hope this blog finds you well and enjoying your Thanksgiving weekend.
At the start of this holiday time, let’s take a moment to count our blessings as we share special times with family & friends. We are thankful for the freedom and opportunity for achievement that we enjoy in our great country. We’re very thankful for the friendship and confidence you have shown by trusting us with your homes.
At this holiday time, the entire Dream team would like to take a moment to wish you health, peace and a very happy holiday season.
Today, among other things, we give you 11 tips for how to communicate, stay sane and keep perspective when events during your project (or life!) do not quite come up roses. We remind you about our Rebuilding Seminar on December 6th, which is the last one until March 2018. We include a recent press release about some of the developments we’ve been working on.
Nearly Famous Rebuilding Seminar – LAST ONE UNTIL MARCH 2018! Wednesday December 6th, 2017 – See us in person and or watch us on Facebook Live! Special Guest Speaker – Home Solar
Our next Rebuilding Seminar will be held Wednesday December 6th, 2017 from 6 pm at the Tuscan Bar and Grill on Hooper Avenue in Toms River, across from the Ocean County Mall. IT’S THE LAST REBUILDING SEMINAR UNTIL MARCH 2018, SO DON’T MISS THIS ONE! We’ll be joined by Kathleen Dotoli, Esquire, Jason Devooght (Devooght House Lifters) and Scott Lepley, architect. We’ll also be streaming it on Facebook Live and be online if you want to email questions or comments while the seminar is under way. We’ll have a special guest speaker on solar for your home, so reserve space early.
If you’re planning a project, whether a new home, elevation or renovation, and you haven’t already attended one of our seminars, come for tons of helpful information from our excellent speakers. We focus on homeowners early in the rebuilding process, who haven’t completed design work, or chosen a builder or architect. This seminar we’ll also discuss solar panels and their uses for your home.
We talk about architectural and engineering planning, construction technique, RREM guidance, choosing the right builder and consumer safety cautions, financing your project, and tips about home elevation in general. We also talk about RREM issues, (the lunacy of) managing your own project, and ways to avoid delays and going over budget. So, mark the date and call 609 693 8881 or 732 300 5619 to reserve your space if you want to attend. Pizza and wine will be served and space is limited.
Urgent Notice: We just signed 3 more clients last week, all who have plans and will be back in by Summer. Time is running out for projects you want to have completed by Summer 2018. Get your contracts signed now, so plans can be submitted and your project can start before January and be finished in time for summer. If you’re going to move forward anyway, there’s no sense waiting to start paperwork until after the New Year. There is a ton of work that happens before the construction begins on a project, and if you know you’re going to commit to your project, don’t wait for the last minute. Pick a contractor or builder and get started.
Press Release – Dream Homes New Home Developments & Projects: If you’ve been following the blog and website, you know we’re working on 2 developments in Ocean County (details are below for the 13 single-family lots and the 58 townhomes). In the last few weeks, we’ve also signed 2 new letters of intent for new developments which will start next summer and fall. See the November 20, 2017 press release below.
Dream Homes & Development Signs Letters of Intent for New Townhouse and Single-Family Home Developments in New Jersey with Retail Value of Over $88 Million
Asbury Park Press names Dream Homes “Best Home Improvement Contractor” and “Best Modular Home Builder” in Ocean County
FORKED RIVER, NJ – November 20, 2017 – Dream Homes & Development Corporation (OTCQB: DREM), a licensed new home builder and general contractor in New Jersey and Florida, is pleased to announce several new LOI’s to build townhomes and single-family homes. Dream is also providing updates on projects previously announced, and notes that it just won Best of the Best in Ocean Country from the Asbury Park Press for two categories: “Best Home Improvement Contractor” and “Best Modular Home Builder”.
Dream Homes is a fully integrated real estate Company specializing in the elevation and moving of homes, new construction of townhouses and single-family homes, as well as development and sale of approved, single-family homes and various residential properties located throughout central /southern New Jersey. Dream announces the following new projects, which have never before been discussed:
- A letter of intent (LOI) has just been signed to construct 74 townhouse lots in Bayville, NJ and is moving forward to contract (Approved, unimproved). The project is slated to begin in the middle of 2018 and has a retail value of $17 million.
- A signed LOI has been received to build 80 single family lots in Mickleton, NJ to begin early to middle 2018 with a retail value of $50 million (Approved, partially improved).
- A contract will be signed to acquire the rights to a purchase contract via contract assignment for 48 waterfront townhomes with boat slips in Lacey, NJ. The project is currently in the approval process and is partially improved with all boat slips built. It has a retail value of $21 million and is expected to start in late 2018 or early 2019.In the addition to these new planned developments, Dream issues the following progress report:
- Dream just received CAFRA approval for the 58-unit townhouse development in Lacey Township, and was deemed technically complete Monday, November 13. A planning board hearing for preliminary and final site plan and subdivision approval is scheduled for December 11, 2017. Sales at retail for this development should be in the $16 million-dollar range.
- Dream submitted a use variance to the Board of Adjustment in Berkeley Township for approval on 13 single family lots, which are fully improved. The construction start date is estimated for later winter / early spring 2018 and these homes are planned for high-efficiency construction techniques, including passive solar roof panels, insulation of R50 in walls and ceilings, low-flow toilets and faucets and LED lighting throughout. Sales at retail for this development are projected to be in the $4 million-dollar range.
- Dream added six new clients for elevation & renovation work since September 1, 2017. Two of the new projects are in townships where Dream has not previously worked, two were from client referrals and the last two were “rescue projects” where Dream was called in to complete projects other builders had abandoned.
Dream Homes CEO Mr. Vincent Simonelli stated, “This year has been very positive for Dream, with solid growth in both our new home and elevation divisions, as well as strong additions to our personnel infrastructure, which are just now beginning to bear fruit. Our new Design Center in Point Pleasant has also led to an increase in modular traffic and sales, as well as facilitated and increased client selections throughout our entire region.”
CEO Simonelli continued, “Since being awarded the Ocean County Best of the Best in two categories (Best Custom Modular Builder and Best Home Improvement Contractor), we’ve had significant new awareness and interest from the public, which has led to more showroom traffic, completed estimates and signed contracts. Homeowners are also receiving referrals about Dream Homes from many industry professionals, such as architects, engineers and attorneys, who’ve either had clients with abandoned projects or simply want to retain Dream due to superior performance and reliability. Our phrase ‘The Region’s Most Trusted Builder’ accurately describes our company, and it’s becoming increasingly well known to homeowners in need of elevation & renovation work. It also helps that our management team has never failed to complete a project in over 24 years in the industry.”
Mr. Simonelli added, “Our business model over the last year has been focused on increasing the new home and new development portion of our business, until it represents 50% – 70% of our entire revenue stream, from the current level of 20%. New home development has a much greater scalability and growth potential than elevation/renovation work. We have enjoyed steady growth in the renovation/elevation portion of the company and anticipate that by year end 2018 each part of the company (new homes and elevation work) will represent 50% of total revenue. By mid-year 2019, new home construction and development should represent over 70% of revenue.
Mr. Simonelli concluded, “With the new developments where we’ve recently signed letters of intent, as well as the three developments that we have under contract and in development already, Dream is on track to have over $108 million in new home construction projects on the books in the near future. This work will occur over the next 3-4 years and is in addition to the elevation/renovation division of the business. At Dream Homes, we’re excited about these new developments, as well as the cutting-edge construction technologies we’re employing to create healthier, safer, more energy efficient homes. We’re looking forward to continued strong growth in New Jersey for many years to come and are happy to be a key part of the process to create better housing opportunities for everyone.
11 Tips for Good Communications with your Builder: I receive many calls about issues with other builders and contractors and many of them fall into the category of misunderstood or insufficient communication between Sandsters and their builders. Here are 11 tips to make the process and your relationship with your contractor less stressful.
- Do communicate via email as often as possible. It is effective, clear and serves as an excellent record of discussions.
- Do Not use texting excessively. Texting, like many other forms of communication created in the last decade, is often misused. Texting is for brief one or two line notes or reminders, not for long lists of changes and specifications. A good rule of thumb is if it goes longer than 140 characters (1 text message) you should probably call or put it in an email. Texting is very useful to share brief specific bits of information. Note: We stopped using texting between field people and clients since it is so fraught with error.
- Do realize and accept that you will have a relationship with your builder, often for a period of 6-9 months between planning, design and construction. It is not the same as hiring someone to clean your gutters.
- Do realize that your project will not go exactly as planned, since no construction project since the time of the Phoenicians ever has. Having a practical, reasonably relaxed attitude towards unforeseen events will help you retain sanity throughout the process. Not everything is a tragedy and very few things are an emergency. Rarely does anything occur in construction that necessitates you becoming stressed or anguished.
- Do Not call your builder 6 times during the day and expect them to stop work to discuss your latest idea or change item. You want them to be paying attention to working at their craft, not spending time on the phone. If you place a call to your builder’s cell phone during the hours of 8 am and 6 pm, it is not unreasonable to expect that they may be actually building something. Call the office and leave a message or send an email.
- Do expect a response within 24 hours, whether it is text, email or voice mail.
- Do keep changes to a minimum or accept that they will cause delay. It is common to discover changes you want during a project and these items should be communicated to your builder, ideally via email. However, excessive (daily) changes to the scope of work will cause everyone involved a lot of grief.
- Do Be Nice. The book “All I Ever Needed in Life I learned in Kindergarten” is a great resource. Since you will be working with whomever you choose for a fairly significant amount of time, it is a much better idea to be nice than to be mean, nasty, grouchy, unpleasant and negative. Treat people how you would like to be treated and require the same courtesy from your builder. We all know that one gets a lot more with honey than one does with vinegar, so act accordingly. Most importantly, ask yourself how you would like to be treated if circumstances were reversed.
- Do address issues quickly when they come up. Once again, issues will arise during construction that require discussion. Do talk them through, come to a solution and keep moving forward. Do not get consumed by any single item to the detriment of the entire process.
- Do realize that you are paying your builder or contractor for a finished product and not a day to day tutorial on how to elevate a home. Do not expect your builder to condense 20 years of experience into bullet points for constant daily explanations of construction process. Do expect a schedule and time line, updated as needed.
- Do realize that every project is a give and take process. Being flexible and accepting changes as they come will allow you to keep your sanity and not be in a small rubber room making baskets at the end of your project.
Dream Homes – Awarded the Best Home Improvement Contractor and Best Modular Home Builder in Ocean County for 2016 by the Asbury Park Press. That’s something we’re very proud of, but we’re even more proud that we’ve recently passed the milestone of 200 completed elevation/renovation projects since Storm Sandy. Dream looks forward to continuing to help New Jersey rebuild in the months and years ahead. Thanks to all the clients and friends who voted for us in that survey!
Dream Homes – Kitchen & Bath Design Studio & Custom Modular Division –
Though we’re known more for new homes and elevation projects than kitchens and baths, we also do quite a bit of remodeling. An excellent place to start Is at our Custom Modular, Kitchen & Bath design studio at 2109 Bridge Avenue in Point Pleasant, with complete kitchen layouts, flooring selections and our own in house modular home design studio. As necessary parts of the 1900 home projects we’ve completed since 1993, we are well equipped to accommodate your remodeling needs, from the simple to the most complex. Call 609 693 8881 to schedule an appointment or just stop by.
Insulation & Wall Thickness – How Much Is Needed and What’s Involved? Partial repeat from the blog of 11/18/17 and now a permanent part of our definitions section below. One of the most important (hidden) features of your home is the insulation. Under the current building code, your new home must meet stringent standards for efficiency, including heat loss and gain. Your elevation project is also a good time to add extra insulation and it is an excellent improvement on a cost / benefit bases. Energy efficiency is a complex system involving insulation, windows, air circulation, high efficiency furnaces and boilers and other factors. Everything must work together to achieve increased energy efficiency. Read the article in the 11/18/17 blog for more information.
Hurricane Preparation: We again remind you again about common-sense preparations to make for the next hurricane, with a link to the FEMA guide, “How to Prepare for a Hurricane”, which you must print now so you can refer to it if the power goes out. Hurricane Preparation – FEMA Hurricane Prep, Common Sense Reminders & Sobering Statistics: I’ve included it again here because it is so useful. Entitled “FEMA’s guide on How to Prepare for a Hurricane”, it includes tips on what to do before, during and after the storm to protect yourself and your property. Again, print this guide now for your reference – if the power goes out, you won’t be able to access the internet.
Dream Homes FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) Partial Repeat
Here are a few items from our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section. The October 8th blog has all of them or you can get them from our website at www.dreamhomesltd.com. It’s a useful, concise guide to address common questions and lets you know what you can expect when you choose Dream Homes as your builder.
Solar Power at Home –More Info and link: For the full story check the 10/29/17 blog, and here is the link.
Solar Roofing Shingles – We’ve been looking at solar roofing shingles as another method of generating power through passive solar. I’m not convinced yet that we’re on the right side of cost / benefit yet, based on several factors, but we’re getting there in our analysis. At the least, we’ll probably make it a standard feature in our new Dream Homes at Tallwoods subdivision in Bayville. We’re building 13 homes next year and that amount of houses is a good amount for some fairly aggressive energy efficiency features. One of them is roof shingles that simultaneously act as solar panels.
There are benefits and detriments to this idea, although I love the elegance of it since we’re actually pairing something utilitarian and (a roof) with the potential for positive benefit (electricity generation). For one thing there is no cash (or lease) investment in solar panels and installation, but the solar roof shingles are 3 times as expensive as regular roof shingles. For a typical 2000 square foot, 2 story house with a 5 kw system, you’re saving over $15,000 installing solar roof shingles versus a solar system, but the roof shingles only produce 20% – 25% of the power of a solar array so it is a modest amount of power for a normal house.
A very positive upside from an aesthetic point of view is that there are no ugly panels on your roof. That may or may not be a factor in your decision, but it deserves mention.
Dream Homes & Development Corporation – who we are: As you may know, Dream Homes & Development Corp. (OTCOB: Ticker DREM) is a publicly traded, fully reporting (audited) company, and we’ve just released our 2nd quarter financials. I’m proud to report that sales, earnings and contracts have all increased significantly. Dream is the region’s most trusted new home builder and home improvement contractor and was recently awarded the Best Home Improvement Contractor and Best Modular Home Builder in Ocean County for 2016 by the Asbury Park Press. Dream is growing, improving our operations and service and adding new members to our team to better serve you. You can view financials on our web site at www.dreamhomesltd.com. Click on the SEC tab at the bottom of the page for information.
Dream Homes has a main office in Forked River and a Modular Design Center in Point Pleasant, and we’re the only public company doing home elevation work in New Jersey. You can view all the information about us online and if you like us and believe in what we’re doing, we would love to have you as shareholders. For more information and an information package, contact Matt Chipman, our investor relations person. Matt can be reached at (818) 923-5302, (310) 709-5646 or matt@GreenChipIR.com. You can view our operational results and financials at any time on our website at www.dreamhomesltd.com or at www.sec.gov.
Mission Statement and Comment: At Dream Homes, we’re the region’s most trusted builder and we’ll help you when no one else will. We regularly handle messy and unpleasant real estate, construction and renovation situations. We do the elevation, renovation and new home projects that few other people can do, and help people finish and get back in their homes. If you’re stuck and can’t figure out how to proceed, call us and we’ll do our best to help you.
At Dream Homes, we believe that taking on difficult unpopular projects is part of the social contract we have with the community and the Jersey Shore. We’ve never abandoned a client or failed to finish a project – we feel very strongly that it is our obligation to help Sandsters and others in need.
Design & Hiring Your Own Architect: Generally design & architectural fees are usually itemized separately and are (for us) a pass-through cost. In other words, we oversee the entire design process and it costs our clients the same amount (usually much less) of money than if the homeowner deals with the architect directly. This also results in significant savings in both construction design and redesign fees. Remember – the person who is going to build the project should be involved in the design from inception, so practical best practices can be designed in from the start.
On another note, please visit our new Dream Homes Jersey Proud Design Center at 2109 Bridge Avenue in Point Pleasant, where you can see modular home plans, kitchens, baths, flooring and tons of fixtures. You’re invited to visit us and see what we have – hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 – 2, closed on Tuesday, with other hours by appointment.
Insulation & Wall Thickness – How Much Is Needed and What’s Involved? See the blog of 11/18/17 for useful information on Insulation technique, wall thicknesses & energy efficiency
Siding, Trim and other Exterior Finishes: See the blog of 8/26/17 for useful information on choices for siding, trim and other finishes.
Decks, more decks and railing…Decks are one of the more popular improvements and one of the easiest ways to add value to your home. Decks fall into 3 main categories – pressure treated, composite and fiberglass. Railings can be pressure treated, vinyl rail or glass.
New Beach Bungalow on your lot from $89,800!! This model is perfect for many small lots in the shore area including Ocean Beach, Lavallette, Ortley and South Seaside Park.
Seaview and Bayview Models: From $149,000 including demolition. These homes are 2-3 bedrooms and 2 baths and suitable for 40-60 foot wide lots. Call 609 693 8881 for details.
Most home improvement contractors and new home builders are unwilling to provide turn-key elevation/renovation projects. It’s messy, requires diverse skill sets and deep administrative support and places all responsibility for everything directly on the builder’s shoulders. Dream Homes regularly perform turn-key renovation and design build projects and will remain as one of the best, solid companies in the years to come.
Why does this matter to you? If a company isn’t committed to being in the line of work for which you are contracting, they will not support it correctly during and after the project. That means less resources (personnel and otherwise) devoted to your project. Currently at Dream Homes, we’ve been actively hiring carpenters, helpers, marketing and support staff for 2 years. We’re committed to the elevation /renovation business and improve every single day – our commitment to provide additional, better resources to our clients is ongoing.
Moral of the story: Try and avoid working with any company not committed to the type of project you are undertaking. Ask to see current projects in process or being started.
Need to Phone a Friend? Need a Rescue? 2017 Scheduling & Priority projects – If you’re stuck in a stalled project for whatever reason (contractor in jail or indicted, bankrupt, lazy, inept, no money, etc.) we’ll help you with a prompt evaluation of your situation. We do consultation and estimates immediately for projects that are stuck. It doesn’t change what happened to you in the past, but at least you’ll know how to get back on track, without chasing someone for a month to get an initial meeting and written estimate. As a note, often we’re the only company willing to finish projects that have been abandoned.
Kathleen M. Dotoli, Esquire – Consumer Protection: Kathleen is a workers’ compensation and disability attorney in Toms River and speaks regularly at our Rebuilding Seminar. Kathy gives an excellent presentation about consumer protection that will save you money and grief. (Next one is Wednesday, December 6th, 2017). Email Kathy at kmdotoli611@aol.com or call her office at 732 228 7534 for a copy of her seminar presentation.
Video & Past Seminars
Photos & Videos – Click on the link below
https://blog.dreamhomesltd.com/video-photo/
Future Homes & Townhomes for Sale: We’re actively working on the development approvals for several properties in Bayville and Forked River.
Dream Homes at Tallwoods: We’ll be offering 13 beautiful new 3 and 4-bedroom single-family homes for sale in the mid $200,000 range in late 2017 / early 2018.
Dream Homes at the Pines: 58 new 2-3 bedroom townhomes, with garages, in a private wooded setting. Anticipated opening in spring / summer 2018.
If you’re looking for new homes this year or early next year, give us a call and we’ll get you information.
Yeah, We Do That for You… This was an excellent article from the 1/8/17 blog, which received positive response from many people. If you missed it, go back and read it now at https://blog.dreamhomesltd.com/2017/01/08/dream-homes-nearly-famous-rebuilding-blog-1-8-17-why-use-dream-homes-yeah-we-do-that-for-you-hometown-hero-award-in-brick-rebuilding-seminar-1-18-16/
Definitions & Important Considerations That Can Delay Your Project: Click on the link below
https://blog.dreamhomesltd.com/definitions/
References & Testimonials – Click on the link below
https://blog.dreamhomesltd.com/references/
Remember – if you have a specific question, send me an email or a text. Don’t wait for a seminar or a site visit to clarify a point. Whether you are a Dream Homes client or not, I’ll always try and help you or guide you in the right direction. If you’ve sent an email or left a voice mail and haven’t received a response, try and contact me again. Messages are lost occasionally.
Note to Sandsters: Though I write this blog and hold the seminars to help guide homeowners through the maze that is any reconstruction project, Dream Homes does what I write about. Dream Homes & Development Corp. and Dream Building LLC are new home builders and general contractors who are actively renovating and reconstructing projects up and down the shore. We supervise and manage elevation projects & house moves, demolish and build new homes, and develop and build entire new neighborhoods. In the past 23 years, we’ve completed over 1500 new homes, 190 elevation projects and 500,000 square feet of commercial buildings. 28 of our elevation projects have been rescue projects, where we came in to save a homeowner when someone else left. Dream builds new homes, demolishes existing damaged homes, elevates and move homes, complete additions and renovations and rescues homeowners when their other contractors abandon them. We work with private clients as well as Path B clients in the RREM program. Call, text or email to set up an appointment for a free estimate on your rebuilding project.
That’s all for today Sandsters. I hope my words helps you move forward. As always, call or write with any questions.
Regards,
Vince Simonelli
Dream Homes & Development Corp. (OTCQB: DREM)
Dream Building LLC
New Home Builder #049531
Home Improvement Contractor #13VH09325600
Office: 314 S. Main Street
Mailing: PO Box 627
Forked River, NJ 08731
Office: 609 693 8881 F: 609 693 3802 Cell: 732 300 5619
Email: vince@dreamhomesltd.com
Website: www.dreamhomesltd.com
Blog: http://blog.dreamhomesltd.com
Twitter: #foxbuilder
The Region’s Most Trusted Builder 