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News from Charles H. Simms
Town homes and patio homes are longtime company's special niche
by Ken Mosier for Home Building Plus, Dayton Daily News, 03/27/10
Charlie Simms is a fourth-generation builder in the Dayton area, and his company, Charles Simms Development, is second-generation itself.
"I bought it from my father. So we have been in business for 52 years," he said.
Simms has carved out a niche in the town home and patio-home market. The company is building in four communities: The Highlands at Yankee Trace, Twin Lakes West and Maple Run - all in the Centerville/Washington Twp. area; and Cinnamon Ridge in Beavercreek.
"We basically have two communities that are for first-time and move-up town home buyers and two communities that are more geared toward emptynesters that have the ranch floor plans and the first-floor master (bedroom suite)," Simms said. "Within the four communities, we have eight different floor plans."
Simms has 20 market homes. He noted that the homes may qualify for the federal home buyer tax credit.
"They have to sign a purchase agreement by April 30 and close by June 30," he explained. "We definitely have homes to accommodate the people (wanting the tax credit.)
"Most of our buyers need their homes in 30 to 90 days," he continued. "So we have to have them built and ready. We always have quite a bit of standing inventory."
Being a market home doesn't mean a buyer can't add personal touches.
"We normally stop at the drywall (stage), and then we allow people to pick all their interior finishes, including all flooring, cabinets and countertops," Simms said.
He noted that standard features in his homes include volume (vaulted) ceilings, recessed lighting, oversized windows and patio doors.
"Our communities are all in great locations with very functional floor plans - there is no wasted square footage," he said.
Simms' Web site (www.simmsdev.com) has locations of each community, its model and hours, a photo gallery, video and information about each of the floor plans and communities. The site also lists any specials that the company is running.
Basic prices for the town homes start at $149,900 in Cinnamon Ridge (two bedrooms with loft) to $154,900 for a three bedroom home in Twin Lakes West. Basic prices for a three-bedroom patio home in Maple Run start at $224,900, and a three-to-four bedroom home in The Highlands at Yankee Trace starts at $249,900. Square footages range from 1,658 square feet for one of the Maple Run models to 2,616 square feet at Twin Lakes West.
Charles Simms Development is an Energy Star Builder.
"We have gone to a 92-percent, high efficiency gas furnace, and we are putting in insulation above the codes," he said. "We put R-19 instead of R-13 in the walls and we have R-38 instead of R-30 in the ceilings."
Simms refers to the home-buying process with his company as "one-stop shopping."
"People can come in - with or without a Realtor - and we have all the paperwork there. They can apply for a loan right in our model, and our (finish) selections are there in the model.
"When the home is ready to close, I personally do the walk-through with the home buyers - I have done over 2,000 of them in the last 25 years, " he said.
Each home has a 1-year warranty on everything.
Charles Simms Receives 2009 McDaniel Zengel Award
Charles H. Simms received the 2009 McDaniel Zengel Award for a lifetime of contributions to the homebuilding industry, the Greater Dayton community, and the HBA of Dayton and the Miami Valley. The annual inaugural dinner was held on February 7, where Karl Zengel presented Charlie with one of the highest recognitions given by the Homebuilders Association.
Charlie has just completed his term as President of the Ohio Home Builders Association, during which he worked hard to advance and protect the interests of the local homebuilding industry. Charlie was also President of the Dayton HBA in 1999.
Charles Simms Development Receives Highest Rating
The Dayton Area Better Business Bureau has given Charles Simms Development an A+, their highest rating. A BBB Accredited Business since 1987, Simms has met the highest standards for accreditation from this independent consumer watchdog agency. For more information about The Better Business Bureau and Simms Development, click on the link below. http://dayton.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=51&bbb=0322&firm=1384
Charles Simms Development Corp. Partners with Energy Star
The US Environmental and Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy have recently recognized Charles Simms Development Corporation as an Energy Star Builder.
The Energy Star Program helps consumers, businesses, and public organizations protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Energy Star for Homes promotes energy-efficient homes that improve home quality and homeowner comfort, lower energy demand, and reduce air pollution.
By submitting newly constructed homes to a stringent environmental test, Simms has demonstrated the highest level of energy efficient construction standards.
"We are very proud to be a part of this new national program," President Charles H. Simms said. "We are going to put the Energy Star on every new home we build. Hopefully, all of our new home owners will spread the word about saving energy and its long term positive effects for our planet. "