ReBUILD Replaces Vacation Homes Destroyed by Superstorm Sandy

LONG BEACH ISLAND, N.J. - Feb. 23, 2015 - PRLog -- Like many seasonal residents on Long Beach Island, Patricia and Andy Hennelly weren’t sure if they could ever afford to rebuild their beach house destroyed when Superstorm Sandy swept through the narrow barrier island. After missing one summer at the Jersey Shore, the couple from Branchville, New Jersey, decided to explore their options for tearing down and rebuilding. Once they found Walters Homes – ReBUILD, they realized that they could have their beach getaway back in time for the next summer season.

Walters-ReBUILD was created post-Sandy to help residents build smarter, safer, and stronger homes. As the custom home division of Walters, ReBUILD combines home building expertise with sustainable building practices to offer Energy-Star certified homes that are built on a homeowner’s existing lot. To safeguard against future storms, homes are elevated to comply with FEMA’s (Federal Emergency Management Agency) new guidelines. Since its inception, ReBUILD has built 100 single-family homes in Ocean County; another 60 homes currently are in development or under construction.

“Our neighborhood sustained heavy damage,” said Hennelly. “But seeing what our neighbors went through and the workmanship of their houses, we felt like we totally lucked out by choosing Walters.”

“From the start, our goal at ReBUILD was to keep it simple and streamline the process so residents can get back into their homes,” said Matthew Gaudet-Walters, ReBUILD sales representative. “Our team is familiar with the local permitting process, land use regulations and RREM program rules. We also have the build-on-your-lot expertise to make the process efficient and affordable. We assist with all aspects from design and permitting to construction and completion of their homes.”

The Hennellys started their search for a builder with a firm budget in mind, and found that the ReBUILD team responded quickly with a realistic estimate. Since they had an odd shaped lot, the Hennellys weren’t sure of their options until they saw plans for the spacious West Wind model. The 1,600-square-foot floorplan was similar in size to their older home but offered a modern open floorplan.

“It was a very positive experience for us. The ReBUILD team kept us in the loop during the entire demolition and rebuilding process. Everybody was great every step of the way,and we were able to close six months after construction began,” said Hennelly. “I also really appreciated that in the end, after we customized and upgraded, their estimate was right to the penny. There were no surprises whatsoever. We look forward to retiring and making this our primary residence.”

“The vacation home market has been making a slow comeback,” said Gaudet-Walters. “The reasons vary: Either it’s not an immediate priority, they lack the funds or they’re just waiting to see what their neighbors will do. It may also be that they’re uncertain about the whole building process because they’ve heard horror stories.”

Home Designs To Fit Any Sized Lot

ReBUILD offers over 40 single-family designs, which can be customized so that owners can build a home that fully leverages the topography of their lot, according to Gaudet-Walters. One- and two-story floor plans feature three- and four bedrooms, starting from around $75,705. The 560 to 960-square-foot Minnow and Ocean Mist models were created to fit narrow lots found on the barrier island. Larger models include the spacious Catalina, offering 2,390 square feet of living space. All homes are equipped with a long list of standard features and amenities such as high-efficiency gas forced hot air systems, fiberglass insulated walls and ceilings, and tankless hot water heaters.

Hoboken residents James and Deborah Roofe bought their summer property one month before Sandy hit. They planned to eventually expand and renovate their older 967-square-foot ranch-style home, but in the aftermath of Sandy they realized it would also have to be elevated. Instead they opted to rebuild and weighing their options chose Walters – ReBUILD because of their competitive pricing and flexibility.

“We looked at modular homebuilders, but the sales people made us feel like some of the things we wanted were going to be a task to accomplish,” said Roofe. “Based on that, we took the easier route. We went with Walters where we felt we could really do anything we wanted within the building frame. They were much more flexible.”

Roofe sited a user-friendly website and upfront costs as the main reasons for choosing ReBUILD. “The team explained our options for the minimum and maximum sized houses we could build. We wanted a workable size house and a back yard we could enjoy.”

The couple chose the Coral model and worked with ReBUILD’s architect to customize it, adding two extra bedrooms and a master bath without impacting the footprint of the house. At 1,682-square feet, their new home is larger and more modern than their previous home. It is also Energy Star certified, which will mean lower energy bills.

“ReBUILD did a nice job and our house looks great. I’ve had nothing but great success during this journey, recovering from Sandy and moving on, said Roofe. “We are moving in every weekend, we are getting there, and by the time the summer comes we’ll be okay.”

Two ReBUILD sales offices are now open. At the Beach Haven West sales office located at 880 Mill Creek Road in Manahawkin, visitors have the opportunity to tour the fully furnished four-bedroom West Wind model. In Ortley Beach, the sales center is located at 1801 Route 35 north. For more information, contact the Ortley Beach sales center at (732) 793-0300 or the Beach Haven West office at (609) 597-6999. Or, visit www.waltershomes.com.