Make Your Home Your Castle at Castle Heights

When Donato Maisano was getting remarried and looking for a new home, his profession ensured that he would fit the profile of a savvy buyer - someone who could make an informed decision about price, quality and investing in a property. Maisano has been a real estate appraiser since 1973.

The community he selected was Castle Heights, a 55-plus community of custom-built homes from By Carrier, Inc. in Cheshire. "The fact that I have done appraisal work in Cheshire means that I am very familiar with the competition in town and the cost per square foot in communities of custom-designed homes," Maisano said.

The fact that By Carrier, Inc. planned and built the community was a strong selling point with Maisano. He was confident that his money would be safely invested in a By Carrier property. "A few years ago I did an analysis of one of the other By Carrier properties. I was very impressed with that project," he said.

Maisano had actually done an appraisal of the development's land for another prospective sale before Castle Heights was built. He remembered the parcel well: 64 gently rolling acres with picturesque mountain views and walking trails that border the Quinnipiac River.

Maisano said that he never really wanted to buy new construction. "For most of my life, I had heard horror stories of people fighting with builders. But I was so impressed with the Carriers. It is a family operation, so there is no passing of the buck. Everybody's involved."

He realized just how involved the Carriers were on the day that his granddaughter's crib arrived.

"Jake Carrier (the builder) was over at the time supervising some work. He stopped everything and had his guys assemble the crib. When they found that a screw was missing, Jake drove over to Home Depot himself and got it." Castle Heights is halfway to completion of its 88 homes. Phase IV of construction will begin in September. With another builder, Maisano noted, he might be worried about buying a unit in an "unabsorbed (uncompleted) project." But he invested in Castle Heights with confidence based on By Carrier's reputation, its 40-year history and its numerous awards. "I think a lot of the appeal here is the quality," he added. "People really get value for their dollar. So often you go into a project that's new construction and you get nickled and dimed to death."

Maisano said that his house has ten or 12 custom colors that came at a price that was "more than reasonable." He added that buyers get so much with the base price that, "if you want to add a few things, it doesn't break the bank."

For example, standard features include spacious, open floor plans, vaulted ceilings, architectural trim details, hardwood flooring, granite counter tops, natural gas fireplaces, central air, European-style showers, paver walkways and decks or patios. "There is so much flexibility here. It's very different from a cookie-cutter condominium project," he said.

George J. Santos, who does marketing, sales and design for By Carrier, agreed. "Every home is a different design," Santos said. "We design for individual needs. We sit down and work with buyers on the design to accomplish their dreams."

For example, two women who purchased a home together wanted two master bedroom suites on the first floor, complete with master baths and walk-in closets.

Other buyers have wanted homes with wheelchair accessibility inside and out. "They don't want ugly ramps. Our wheelchair accessible designs are nothing like that. You can't even tell from the outside," noted Santos.

Castle Heights homes are planned with foresight, he added, and an eye to the changing needs of a maturing homeowner. "I am a certified aging-in-place specialist," Santos said. This certification from the National Association of Home Builders helps By Carrier to "build homes that allow people to stay in their homes as long as possible."

By Carrier also works hard to minimize living costs in their homes. The company is a certified green builder and all of their homes have a five-star Energy Star rating when it comes to heating and cooling. Santos said that the average bill for all utilities - electricity, air conditioning and heat - for a 2,500-square-foot house is about $2,500 per year.

While each home is different, most homeowners want open floor plans for easy entertaining, said Santos. Other popular features include four-season Florida rooms, archways, crown molding, columns, stone masonry and more.

With home sizes between 2,100 and 4,500 square feet, people typically aren't downsizing. "It's a lifestyle change," said Santos. Residents meet new people in the community. They make new friends, form clubs and even go on vacation together. "I've heard it said by some people that it reminds them of college," said Santos.

Other residents choose quieter pursuits and are drawn to Castle Heights by its natural surroundings. Exterior maintenance is covered by a $250 monthly fee since the development is zoned as detached condominiums. "This place is incredible - like living in a park," Santos said. "The great part is you don't have to do anything if you don't want to (outside) but many people do want to. They have flower gardens. One customer even has a waterfall."

Castle Heights open houses are held on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and tours can also be arranged by appointment. For more information, call George J. Santos at 860-305-3256 and visit www.castleheightsofcheshire.com or www.bycarrier.com for additional properties.

Castle Heights Cheshire, CT

Builder: By Carrier, Inc.

• Price: $469,600 to $750,600
• Style: Custom one-floor living
• Rooms: 6+
• Bedrooms: 2 or 3
• Baths: 2.5+
• Square Footage: 2,100 to 4,500 square feet
• Acreage: 64 acres
• Tax rate: 26.85 mills
• Best features: Custom designed, open floor plans
• Contact: George J. Santos Broker 860-305-3256