Harbor Hills Country Club

Harbor Hills Country Club latest news and event information on Central Florida's finest luxury home golf course community.



Thursday, April 01, 2010

Harbor Hills Development Guides Clients Through Homebuilding Experience


Building a home is not just about selecting the right location and picking the perfect floor plan. It is a journey that without the right guidance can become riddled with stress & runaway budgets. Harbor Hills Development’s General Partner, Michael Rich, has over 40 years of experience in Florida real estate development and believes in a team approach to each home he builds. Mike, also a licensed real estate broker, steers the teams in business decisions, real estate, design, financing and client sales.

“There are so many details to cover when building homes of this caliber that you really have to break down the process. We find this the best way to build the home our customers want in a way that doesn’t overwhelm or frustrate them,” said Mike. “We have a flexible but structured process that makes our buyers feel more at ease.” Guiding this process are Harbor Hills’ four most important principals; communication, organization, personal attention & integrity.

Every member of the Harbor Hills team is committed to these principals and the focus is on customer satisfaction and quality of workmanship. Mike depends on his two sons, Sean & Adam, to head up the sales team and show new clients the type of lifestyle & home that can be expected in this unique golf course & lakeside gated community.

“Activity has really picked up here,” said Sean, who also lives in the community with his young family. “We are seeing about 50 new faces a week in our sales center.” Sean & Adam are more than just experts on Harbor Hills Golf & Country Club; they are ambassadors of the community. You might see Sean, getting golf tips from a group of members or Adam fixing a resident’s computer. And on Wednesdays, at the members’ weekly buffet, you are sure to see all three, Mike, Sean & Adam, sharing a meal with friends & neighbors. “Meals are a big thing around here,” laughs Adam. “We meet nearly everyday for lunch at the clubhouse restaurant. It keeps us involved in the community as well as the business. With us, it’s really one in the same. Keep the community strong and the business prospers.”

Harbor Hills Development makes their smaller size work to the advantage of their customers. “The fact that we are a smaller company means that we are in constant contact with each other & our customers. It allows us to work with our customers in a way that larger builders just can’t.” said Mike. “We have every aspect of the building process covered. Kyle Snyder handles construction, Angela Rogers handles design and Kim Smith makes sure the project stays on track and in budget. We all work together and most importantly we all work with the customer.”

Duane & Margo Gawron, new residents in the Exclusive Bella Vista community agree. “There was really no comparison,” Duane says with Margo agreeing whole heartedly. “We had a rural setting with absolutely no congestion. The hills were there. The trees were there. And we had a vista of Lake Griffin on top of it all.”

Still, construction integrity and the ability to design the home the way they wanted it were just as important to Duane and Margo as location and community. “Special and quality – that’s what we wanted and Mike Rich and Kyle Snyder gave us what we asked for and then some.” This is not the first custom home The Gawron’s have built. In fact, it’s their fifth. “It can be testing,” Duane says of the building process. “But with these guys and all the people who worked with us, the level of anxiety was definitely low, and actually quite pleasant.”

Kyle, Director of Construction and Harbor Hills’ contractor maintains the integrity of the construction standards. “I’ve worked with the big corporate builders, and their system is simply not set up to build the type of personal relationships we develop with our client’s here.” said Kyle. “The customer and the quality of our homes are always kept at the forefront of any project.” Kyle personally conducts both a framing walk thru and closing walk thru with each client, and usually a few more in between. He carefully walks buyers through their home pointing out areas of significance and answering any questions on construction.

As far as what goes into the homes, Angela Rogers, Harbor Hills Design Coordinator, helps to guide buyers through the endless sea of design ideas and choices. Buyers are able to select every aspect of the home from countertops to cabinet layouts; to paint colors and flooring selections. Harbor Hills works with clients until they get the buyers distinct styles and selections incorporated into the home. “At that point, the house really becomes theirs,” said Angela. “Our clients already have strong ties to the home; but it’s great to see the emotional attachments begin to form.”

Harbor Hills commitment to personal attention goes beyond just having the client select countertops and cabinet. Customers are guided through the complete process whether they select one of Harbor Hills fifteen model home plans or the custom home of their dreams. The architect is consulted, floor plans are often modified to suit particular clients needs, the electrical plans are modified and everything is reviewed. “We are always customizing our homes to meet clients’ needs and keep up with the ever changing market conditions & latest design trends.” said Mike.

Kim Smith, Harbor Hills Construction Manager, makes a final review of the blueprints with the buyer and the home is ready to permit. “We don’t really ever build the same home twice.” said Kim. “Each one is its own special project.”

Simply stated, this gated golf course community is special. Nestled among the hills that overlook Lake Griffin, it is a place people want to live. Harbor Hills doesn’t just offer a great home on a great lot, it caters to each individual and offers a lifestyle that people want.
“The relationships we build with our customers don’t stop when the home is finished. They become part of the community and we see them at lunch, sit with them at dinner shows, play golf or tennis with them. For me, that is really the best part, said Mike. “All the work we put into our homes really only depends on two simple things: We want their homes to be better than they even imagined and we want their lives to be enriched by where they live. That’s how high we aim.”


The first part of our New Bella Vista private enclave is now developed and we have delivered our First Homes. Several other homes are under construction. Several more homes are about to be started including a New Model the Arrezzo. Stop by the Clubhouse for information
Bella Vista is an enclave of vast vistas and rolling hills nestled in a naturally secluded community that is the ideal location to build the custom home of your dreams. Many of the home sites in Bella Vista at Harbor Hills feature fabulous golf course views. A limited number of the most pristine home sites remain, please call for complete details. Our custom team is ready to guide you through the steps to finding the perfect home site and floor plan to build the home of your dreams:
THE LAND - We will be happy to give you a private tour of all of the available home sites to help you choose the perfect site based on views and the type of home you want to build.
THE HOME - We'll work together to find a home plan with the features that you have dreamed of (casita, courtyard, infinity pool, wine cellar, theatre room, gourmet kitchens, you name it we have done it.)
THE FINANCING - We can also introduce you to lenders with competitive financing rates for our custom homes


For information on how Our Team can help you build your Dream Home stop by our Real Estate Information Center in our Clubhouse or call us at 1-800-822-5558 or email us at harborhillssalesinfo@harborhills.com