Author: Jasmine

Hi Mr. Neal,

My husband and I recently purchased a home in Canoe Creek.  I wanted to send this email to recognize our sales associate, Logan Clark and our Design Consultant, Sheri Roca.  We cannot say enough good things about both of them.

Logan was such a pleasure to work with him.  He was very nice, extremely knowledgeable and was willing to go out of his way to make sure we were happy with our decision to purchase a home from Neal Communities.  He spent a lot of time with us, answered all of our questions and made us feel very comfortable and confident in our decision to purchase our new home in Canoe Creek.  He was kind enough to offer his assistance at any time in the future if we ever need anything.  He was a pleasure to work with.

Our design consultant was Sheri Roca.  She is so creative and talented.  We started our design sessions just before the holidays.  The studio was very busy and my Mother was very ill, so it took us a very long time to finalize our selections but Sheri was always very pleasant, patient, understanding and tremendously helpful.  We purchased a Kiawah model and we did a lot of upgrades so it was very complicated and confusing.  There were so many details to think about and so many decisions to make and Sheri was so knowledgeable and helped us so much with our selections. She made the entire experience extremely pleasant.  We truly could not have done it without her help.

Your company is extremely fortunate to have Logan and Sheri as part of your organization and we hope that they get the recognition that they so richly deserve.

We are looking forward to our new home and being a part of the Neal Communities family.  It’s great to see all the wonderful things you’re doing in the Parrish area and the surrounding communities.

Kindest regards,

Bogie and Lin Winstead
Canoe Creek

After all the holiday parties, unwrapping gifts and having loved ones over to visit, your house could probably use a good tidying up. Post-holiday clutter is very real, but that doesn’t mean you need to take weeks to get your home freshened up. Take down the lights and seasonal decorations and spruce up your home with these simple tips to reset your living spaces.

Throw out expired products.

Take the plunge and purge out your kitchen pantry, medicine cabinet and bathroom drawers for any outdated items. It can be difficult to part with unfinished eye creams or lotions, but eventually they will begin to decompose, become less effective, and harbor potentially harmful bacteria. If products so much as feel or smell different than when you first used them, you’re better off pitching it just to be safe.

Reorganize your daily used items.

Do you find yourself reaching around items to get to a product you use every day? If so, put those more frequently used items closer to your reach and either push lesser used ones to the back–or get rid of them completely if you’re not using them.

Declutter drawers.

Everyone has that one drawer they regard as a “junk drawer” that’s compiled of all sorts of random things. Sort the drawer’s contents on a flat surface and rummage through to see if any items already have a designated spot in your home. If not, you know the drill; decide whether to keep or pitch depending on whether you use these items or not. Once you’ve tackled that beast, then you can move on to the other drawers throughout your home.

Take out a donation bag.

If you feel like you have perfectly good items that are collecting dust, consider creating a donation pile. Inspect closets for under worn clothing or lightly used shoes to get the pile started. Unopened makeup, dental hygiene products and blankets are commonly overlooked but can be extremely useful to a family in need. When you’ve gone through every storage space, donate to a charitable organization that you see fit.

Trade out decor.

Now comes the fun part! Swap out holiday-themed decorations for seasonal decor to align with the winter months. Rearrange your bed’s pillows, add a cozy throw blanket to the couch and scatter pine-scented candles throughout your home to fully embrace the season.

These small differences will be sure to make a huge difference in your house’s appearance, your daily routine and the overall feel of your home.

Mike Thomas, Purchasing Analyst here at Neal Communities recently moved into Indigo with his family where they built a Silver Sky 2 floor plan. This event was set into motion when a Wisconsin snowstorm nearly jeopardized the family’s annual vacation to Anna Maria Island – and introduced the idea of leaving the Badger State for somewhere with a little more sunshine.

During their last trip to Florida, they set aside a day to take a joyride through Lakewood Ranch and house hunt as they drove through the area’s neighborhoods. While it started out as a leisurely drive, it began to get more serious after seeing that these homes could potentially be a reality for Mike. Eventually, he got the whole family to make the move and they decided to rent for their first year living in Florida.

After they moved, Mike and his wife visited many different communities in the Lakewood Ranch area. He says that he began to notice minor but significant differences between the various builders and their communities.

“I like to think I have a keen eye for construction detail, and it was hard not to notice the quality craftsmanship and friendly, no pressure sales staff found at Neal Communities.”

Mike said that he’s always been fascinated by the building process and seeing projects come together visually. That’s what inspired him to document his own home’s progress, beginning by taking a single photo of the cleared out home site. Mike conveniently lived directly across the street from the home site, so every day he would stand in the same spot and capture a shot, or a couple, of the home as it was being built.

“I visited the site at least once a day, and sometimes even up to three times a day during the process. My goal was to get as many photos as possible so the time lapse would show all the steps involved in the creation of our home in a short amount of time.”

Using these photos, Mike made a time lapse that shows the house being built from the ground up. The video displays months of meticulous construction work in just seconds. See it below!

Mike said, “The video turned out better than expected, but the house turned out perfect! Every step along the way from sale, design, visits with the builder, closing and beyond went as smooth as we could have ever asked for. Now that we are all moved in, I have more time to enjoy all the small details that set Neal apart from other builders.”

We couldn’t be happier for Mike and his family and can’t stop watching the captivating time lapse that he created. If you’re interested in beginning your own home building journey, connect with us on our website to get started!

It’s that time of the year where every weekend seems to be jam-packed with holiday parties and family gatherings. It can get busy for party hosts as well as party goers. As a visitor, it’s common curtesy to arrive with a gift in hand for the host. Adorn your party hosts with a gift of thanks that they won’t stow away, but will get use out of for years to come. Ditch the classic bottle of wine and step your gift game up this year with our holiday party host gift guide.

Olive Wood Cheese Board

Cheese boards are an essential for entertainers. Whether they’re serving up a spread of fine cheeses and charcuterie meats or a sweet and salty combo of dark chocolate and savory pretzels–you can never go wrong with this gift. It will come in handy for future events and may even serve a purpose on the evening of the event if there’s a surplus of snacks!

Encyclopedia of the Exquisite

This book serves as a lifestyle guide for the armchair traveler and the art lover. It’s a tribute to the esoteric world of glamour that doesn’t require much spending but makes us feel rich. Not to mention, its aesthetic hardcover decoration adds an exquisite touch to any coffee table.

Five Two Ultimate Apron

This is no ordinary apron, but a mighty kitchen assistant that helps protect clothes from stains, has built-in pot holders at the bottom corners and even a conversion chart stitched into one of the pockets. The apron comes in five chic colors and looks just as good on as it is multi-functional when prepping for a feast.

Upcycled Record Coasters

There will be no water rings in sight with these stylish coasters nearby. These coasters are made from reclaimed records and will be a big hit for music lovers. Each coaster has a unique color to it and will be sure to add a touch of flare to any living area.

Rabbit Super Wine Aerator

After the crowds clear out, it’s time for the after party! Gift your next host this sleek wine aerator to improve the quality and flavor of all red wines. Whether it’s used to serve up a few glasses for a small group or just the host, it’s a favor that will be appreciated regardless.

One day you’re carving pumpkins, the next, you’re prepping dishes for Thanksgiving! Don’t get caught up in the hassle of holiday cooking. Get ahead of schedule by whipping up these make ahead dishes leading up to Thanksgiving. They will pair perfectly with your turkey and save you lots of time so you can mingle with family before the meal.

Dinner Rolls with Whipped Honey Butter

The ultimate compliment to any meal. Prepare the rolls in advance and store in the freezer for up to two months. You might as well double the batch and save some for Christmas! What really takes these light and fluffy bread rolls to the next level is the whipped honey butter.

Sausage Stuffing

Stress less by getting this stuffing halfway done before Thanksgiving. This savory stuffing is loaded with sage, thyme and sweet Italian sausage. It’s a classic comfort side dish with a Southern twist.

Stovetop Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Make this scrumptious side a few days before the big day and reheat over a low heat on a stovetop.These whipped sweet potatoes are drizzled with a mixture of butter, maple syrup and pecans upon being served.

Green Bean Casserole

Get ready to replace your go-to green bean casserole recipe with this one. Made with fresh green beans, a smooth cream cheese sauce and topped with fried leaks. The leeks give the casserole a more elegant look opposed to canned fried onions. Everyone will be asking for you to share the recipe as soon as they scoop it on to their plate.

Broccoli and Bussels Sprouts Slaw

This crisp and crunchy slaw makes a nice contrast alongside a spread of richly indulgent dishes. Refrigerating the chopped marinated vegetables overnight gives them a more soft texture and allows the raw broccoli and brussels sprouts to soak up all the flavor.

Halloween is creeping up, no pun intended. Is your home ready? From paper bats to painted pumpkins, we’ve done our research and rounded up the most time efficient and easy to make Halloween decorations! Unleash your creative side with these simple DIY Halloween decorations to set the spooky mood in your home.

Paper BatsThese fluttering winged critters are an asset to any space. Paste them on a vacant wall or hang them from the ceiling to mimic them in their natural habitat, grazing across the night sky.

Painted PumpkinsYou won’t be needing to gather a knife, scoop, or chisel to decorate your pumpkins for this craft. Set the pumpkin carving kit aside this year and make one of these stunning painted pumpkins instead. Peruse through these pumpkins in the hopes that they’ll inspire you to create something truly special with your family this October.

Mini Ghost GarlandThe mini ghosts on this Halloween banner are a cute and quick addition to a styled mantel, cart, or simply haunting on a wall or door. All you need to make this banner is some cheesecloth, plastic golf balls, hot glue, and a black marker.

Skeleton Bubble BathThis cute and clever skeleton will be the epicenter of your home decor. If you wanted to make it a little spookier, consider adding a smoke machine and a black light. You could even set up a speaker to play bubbling noises on loop to bring the scene to life.