Family ReBUILDs Dream Home after Superstorm Sandy

BEACH HAVEN, N.J. - Feb. 6, 2015 - PRLog -- Kelly and Stephen Paciello’s home in Beach Haven West was among the many destroyed when Superstorm Sandy barreled up the New Jersey coast in 2012. While some homeowners retreated from the area, the mother of three was resolved to return to the property her family called ‘home.’ After exploring her options, Paciello decided to tear down her existing home and replace it with a brand-new residence constructed by Walters Homes – ReBUILD.

Walters Homes – ReBUILD, created to assist Jersey Shore residents who are struggling to rebuild after the devastation of Superstorm Sandy – re-constructs storm-damaged homes from the ground up, making them safer, stronger and more resilient to natural disasters. Since its inception, ReBUILD has built 100 single-family homes in Ocean County; another 60 homes currently are in development or under construction. Residences, which are rebuilt on a homeowner’s existing lot, are elevated in compliance with FEMA’s (Federal Emergency Management Agency) new guidelines.

Paciello, a dental hygienist, chose the spectacular four-bedroom, two-and-one-half bathroom West Wind model, which offers more than 1,600 square feet of well-designed living space and is substantially larger than her previous three-bedroom, one-bathroom residence. After being displaced for two years, the family moved into their new home in November and couldn’t be happier.

“After Sandy destroyed our home, I walked around for about a year feeling completely clueless and not really knowing what my next steps should be,” Paciello said. “One of my patients suggested I meet with Walters Homes, and it was the best decision I could have made. During our first meeting, I threw all my problems on the table, and within a couple of weeks all the wheels were in motion. It was one-stop shopping: Walters took care of everything, from permitting and demolition to working with my insurance company and helping me obtain my RREM (Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation) grant.”

The Walters Homes team was involved, attentive and made the entire building process – from start to finish – absolutely seamless, according to Paciello. “I am in the business of working with people and can’t say enough about the professionalism of every person I was in contact with at Walters Homes. Despite all the chaos that was going on in my life, building my home was a stress-free experience. The Walters team encouraged me to visit their design center and wanted me to have fun picking out the flooring, fixtures and other options for my home. Because of the company’s outstanding industry reputation, I knew I was in very good hands,” she said.

Not only is Paciello’s new home larger and more modern than her previous residence, it also is more energy efficient. Every Walters-built home is ENERGY STAR certified, resulting in significant energy and cost savings for the homeowner. Homes include features such as high insulated walls; low E-insulated windows; energy-efficient lighting; and high-efficiency heating, cooling, and hot water heater equipment. When combined with other Energy Star features offered, homeowners can save around 30 percent on their annual utility bills.

“There are no words to describe what happened when our children walked through the front door and saw their beautiful new home for the first time,” concluded Paciello. “We missed two years of birthdays, holidays and other family events in our own home, and are looking forward to making wonderful memories here for many years to come.”

Built to Weather Any Storm

ReBUILD is focused on helping consumers navigate through the process of re-creating their house. Buyers can choose from more than 40 single-family home designs, specifically crafted for their property. One- and two-story floor plans feature three- and four-bedrooms, and range in size from 500 square feet to more than 2,200 square feet. Pricing starts from around $75,705.

In an effort to redefine the way homes are being built along the Jersey coastline, ReBUILD has raised its construction standards so that homes are built above the flood elevations and can withstand wind speeds of up to 120 mph. Walters Homes also works closely with homeowners to assist with permitting, financing, insurance claims and more.

“As a builder with deep roots at the Jersey Shore, we felt an obligation to help the impacted communities and homeowners following Superstorm Sandy. Although it has been more than two years, many people still are struggling to rebuild their primary and second residences,” said Matthew Gaudet-Walters, ReBUILD sales representative. “Through our ReBUILD division, we have created an unprecedented opportunity for property owners to rebuild smarter, more energy-efficient homes that adhere to the new standard for building in a designated flood zone area.”

Two ReBUILD sales offices are now open. At the Beach Haven West sales office located on 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.