Blog

It has been a busy time for L R Hill Custom Builders filled with great opportunities for our customers.

We have an exciting concept that we are offering, your choice of a hardiplank exterior with a front porch or, at no additional charge, we offer an all brick exterior.  This offer is available on all of our models and can be custom build to your liking on any one of our Hanbury Woods lots.  So whether you like the cottage feel and finish of a coastal home or the look of a traditional all brick home, we have it available in Hanbury Woods.

Hanbury Woods is an exciting, new community in the Great Bridge school system in Chesapeake.  Those of you that follow us know that we have built homes throughout Great Bridge (Forest Lakes, Southwood, Etheridge Estates, Chessire Forest, Carriage House Estates, Greystone, Edinburgh, Etheridge Woods, Woodards Mill, Cahoon Plantation, Las Gaviotis, Cedar Wood, Foxgate Quarter, Berkshire Estates, Rollingwood, Emerald Greens, Emerald Forest, Wedgewood Estates, Heritage Point and Mariners Point, among others).

We started in Ashville Park in mid-2013, in fact, we opened our model in the late summer and had 23 lots to sell.  Now, as of April 15, 2015, we only have 2 remaining homes.  We invite you to take a look at our inventory for great, close out deals on these last two available homes in Ashville Park, Wilshire Village.

East Beach in Norfolk is in its final section and we are pleased to offer the Nantucket, our exciting, new luxury town house.  The Nantucket is a new design for a coastal town house offering that is only steps to the beach.  Currently under construction but selling quickly.  Only three remaining in phase 1!

Any of our homes are also available to be built on your lot on a lot of your choice.

We are excited to share with you our September Newsletter L R Hill Newsletter .  We have exciting things happening in Ashville Park and wanted to share our excitement with you.

Thank you for reading,

The L R Hill Custom Builders Team

L.R. Hill Custom Builders, Inc., has been named to “America’s Top 10” list of builders for the Virginia Beach area.  We are honored to receive this recognition.  America’s Top 10 rates virtually every member of the service industry from doctors and lawyers to home builders.

As state on America’s Top 10 site “It is essential to have the right home builder, the first time.”  Based on the feedback we receive, you can be rest assured that every home builder on this list has earned their spot on it.

We would be honored to build your next home with homes currently available in East Beach, Norfolk, in Ashville Park, Virginia Beach, and coming soon to Hanbury Woods in Chesapeake and The Cavalier in Virginia Beach.

I suddenly realized that 2014 marks thirty years since I built my first new home; thirty years and what a time it has been.  I wanted to write this blog about these thirty years.  I started out working for the US Navy as a Nuclear Engineer, in the engineering department of one of the local shipyards.  I was young and full of energy.  While working full time, I built my first house.  That house was in the Pine Ridge section of Virginia Beach.  I enjoyed the process so much that it wasn’t long until I built my first spec home for sale right across the street from my house.

Within a year or two, I had to make a choice between building homes for myself or staying in a very secure, nice paying job where I had already been promoted to a senior nuclear engineer.  Well obviously, I took the step and over these thirty years I have had the pleasure of building homes for so many nice families: homes for bank presidents, navy families, teachers, professors, store owners, restaurant owners, doctors, lawyers, engineers, pharmacists, pilots, celebrities, college friends, shipyard employees, real estate agents, brokers and company owners.  Virtually every business and occupation is covered by our customers.  We have built well over 1,000 homes, probably closer to two thousand, I just haven’t had the time to stop and count.  There are very few fine communities that we haven’t built at least a house or two in.  Then there are several communities with several hundred of our homes.  I have built homes for families and when the children become adults I have even on several occasions built a home for them or I have built for the young families and then for the parents.

Thing is, after all of these years, I still love what I do and find it very rewarding to have homes with my footprint on them all over Tidewater.

I can assure you that I walked every one of those houses many times during construction and take the responsibility of building a home with the deepest of responsibility.  The engineer in me forces me to analyze every issue to get the best result.  I know it frustrates my employees and subcontractors, but we really do not want to give our buyers anything but the best built home we can for the best price.  We cannot be prefect but we really do our best to make it right.

I guess I could ramble on all day but what I want to say is if you are in the market for a new home, please rest assured that if you entrust us to build it you will be treated with the utmost respect and your home will be OUR priority.  I will personally examine every phase of the construction.

I should also mention that our people are top notch.  Our production manager, Paul,  has been with me since the early 1990’s.  Mark, our framing superintendent, has been with us since 1988; first he started by framing houses and then became our framing superintendent several years later.  Jeff, our customer service superintendent, has been with us since he was 19 years old.  Michelle, our office manager, has been with us for close to 10 years now.  I could go on about all of our subcontractors, but the point is, we work as a team and everyone will be focused on customer satisfaction.  Again, we can’t be perfect but we will please 99% of our customers.

So, how do you buy a house from us?  First thing is to look at our website and go visit our model in Ashville Park.  You can also contact us directly by calling Michelle at the office; she will either direct you to our sales manager, Vickie Sessler, she has also been with me since 1987, or perhaps Michelle will direct you to me.  Once you have taken the step and we are under contract you will be in direct contact with Michelle who will lead you through the selection process and in the field, Paul will meet with you in our pre-production planning session.  The purpose of this meeting is to get you and the person that will handle the the day to day, moment by moment, construction of your home.  Together at that meeting, we will go over the plans and specs in detail to ensure that we have interpreted, in the field, what you intended for your contract to say.  This is the easiest time to resolve any issues.  Then at the end of that meeting,  you will be given our direct phone numbers and we will start construction soon after.

Now, if during construction, you decide that you need to make a change, first you will contact Paul or Michelle.  Then a change request will get written and we will evaluate the change and cost, if any, and that is presented to you sometimes the same day or within a day or two.  The house continues on very quickly and when it is delivered to you we will have a lengthy walk through where you are encouraged to look at every aspect of the house.  The house is demonstrated and any damage is noted.  We do our best to make these repairs quickly.  We recognize that certain things will happen during the first few weeks or the first year.  We will give you the procedure to get us back and we will be available for this service work.  in face, we sell every home we build with a 10 year warranty through Quality Builders Warranty.  I might add that last year we won their “Builder of Integrity Award”.

So, I hope you have the opportunity to view our model home in Ashville Park or our homes in East Beach.  Remember, our intent is to always have at least one spec home available for quick move in (30 days).  Thank you for visiting our site.

Larry Hill

L R Hill Custom Builders, Inc. is honored to receive the “2013 Builder of Integrity” award from Quality Builders Warranty Corporation (QBW).  This is an achievement that acknowledges excellence in the delivery of the highest levels of customer service and quality construction within the home building industry.  Recipients of this exclusive award demonstrate a commitment to excellence in customer service and quality construction.

As a member of the QBW Program, L R Hill Custom Builders, Inc. has undergone a strict screening process to ensure their commitment to technical excellence, professional dealing, ethical practice and financial stability.  All members of the program are screened thoroughly on a regular basis, to ensure their continued dedication to quality.  From that group, only a small number of home builders, nationwide, receive the “Builder of Integrity” award.  As a member of the QBW Program, L R Hill Custom Builders, Inc. has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in customer service that has gone above and beyond the industry norm.

Quality Builders Warranty Corporation, a national ten-year new home warranty program, has been enrolling builders of the highest skill and integrity into its premier program since 1985.  QBW members provide a 10-year warranty insured by Liberty Mutual on all of their homes.

We here at L R Hill Custom Builders, Inc are excited to announce that we have opened our model home in the Wilshire Village of Ashville Park located at 1940 Emelita Drive, Virginia Beach.  This is the perfect place for your new home in Virginia Beach.  Ashville Park homes offer large lots (1/2 acre or more), a lot of family living space and it is conveniently located near Heritage Park, the Redmill shopping district and it is located in the desirable Kellam High School district which just opened the brand new school this year.  We currently have available inventory that is ready for immediate purchase.

In Norfolk, Virginia, L R Hill Custom Builders, Inc is proud to continue building in the beach front community of East Beach.  Currently we are offering single family homes in the Pleasant Avenue Row which are priced from the 530’s.  There are only 2 homes remaining in this grouping and these are certain to move fast.

We are currently building our very popular Carlisle Town Houses.  These are large,  brick town houses with private courtyards and each home has it’s own 2 car detached carriage house and most of these are being finished with the optional finished studio apartment above the detached garage.  These are already selling and will definitely sell out before completion.  These are priced from the 470’s.

In Chesapeake, Virginia, we are building a limited number of homes in the water front community of White’s Landing.  These homes will be priced from the 470’s for an all brick home with water views to the mid-700’s for an all brick water front home.  White’s Landing has easy access to I-664 and is located within the very desirable school district of Western Branch.

Finally, I want to thank the community of Heritage Park.  We had the pleasure of building homes for over 70 families and we closed our final home in the community on September 30, 2013; it is a beautiful Westminster with the optional 3rd floor.  We currently have the model home for sale, it is owned by Eastern Realty Holdings, LLC and is located at 1968 Champion Circle, Virginia Beach.

L.R. Hill Custom Builders, Inc., is proud to announce record new home sales for 2012.  We feel that this is the time to buy.  We have kept our pricing consistent for the last several years, however, all indications are that prices will start to climb in 2013.  According to our mortgage company, it is expected that 2013 will see the best mortgage rates ever which will mean that home buyers will receive record low mortgage rates on their financing.

L.R. Hill Custom Builders, Inc., is currently building in 3 different custom home levels in the Norfolk subdivision of East Beach with custom homes from the low $600’s.  Our custom brick town homes which are priced from the mid $450’s offer up to 3,000 square feet for living area and a 2 car detached garage.  The newest product is The Pleasant Row Beach Cottages priced from the uppers $470’s.

L. R. Hill Custom Builders, Inc., will be starting construction soon on three custom homes in the subdivision of Ashville Park in Virginia Beach.  Check back next week with updated information on this exciting new development.

Heritage Park has been a wonderful subdivision for us.  We here at L. R. Hill Custom Builders, Inc., have had the privilege of building over 65 beautiful homes in this location.  We currently have the final 4 homes under construction in this subdivision; two that are available now and two that will be available for spring delivery.  We are holding out one final lot for a custom home build.  We have listed our model home for sale, located at 1968 Champion Circle, Virginia Beach.,  It is fully decorated and can be sold furnished or unfurnished.  This home is beautiful and is priced to sell!  Please call for details.   The subdivision is located near the Sandbridge area of Virginia Beach and in close proximity to the Red Mill shopping area.

L.R. Hill Custom Builders, Inc., is proud to present the EVMS Charity House for the fall 2012 Homearama in East Beach, Norfolk, VA.  All proceeds from the sale of this beautiful home will be donated to the Eastern Virginia Medical School. The support of the Hampton Roads Building Community has been wonderful. We have had many vendors and services donate materials and labor for this special cause. Check back for updates as the building of the magnificent home continues. This home is currently available for sale.

Great news! Virginia Beach is rated 2nd best city to live in the U.S.A. The following is a quote based on findings published in the Daily Finance, January, 2012:
“Virginia Beach is extremely prosperous, due in large part to the presence of several, major military bases in the area. It has the eighth-lowest rate of violent crime among major cities and a 6.1% unemployment rate. It also has the second-largest acreage of parkland per capita behind New Orleans, which has suffered huge population losses in recent years. Virginia Beach also has the highest numbers of playgrounds per capita in the country.”

L R Hill Custom Builders finished 2011 with leading sales in the 500’s – 700’s price range. Our town homes in East Beach have lead in the town home category.

We have also seen a renewed interest in larger homes with more luxury items; surely a sign that housing is stabilizing, maybe even growing stronger.

The Virginian Pilot reported that in 2011 foreclosures have dropped to the lowest level since 2005. This is down nearly 50% from 2010 and is based on year end data for 2010 & 2011. That will have positive effects for 2012.

Today we have 4 homes in Heritage Park, in Virginia Beach’s desirable Kellam School District, that are either ready now or will be ready in 30 days. They are priced from $529,900 to $609,900. I do not expect them to last long, so if you need a house quickly we always have available inventory in the 500 and up range.

In East Beach, we have one home nearing completion that is located about 400 feet from the beach. Also, our town homes should be available for a summer closing. These normally sell before completion and offer up to 3,000 sq ft of living area with 2 car detached garage with available guest room/Mother-in-law suite above. They are all brick and only 2 blocks from the beach or 3 blocks to several marinas capable of housing any boat or yacht; and very important they are full ownership properties, not condos.