The Keystone Design Studio has recently undergone some significant changes in products carried, color choices, and choices for optional luxury features.

Home buyers can choose from new brick colors, beautiful stained vinyl cabinets for the kitchen, granite countertops, new trendy paint color choices, and more choices in flooring.

All of these options give you the ability to make your home a reflection of your own personal style. 

What style trends are you seeing?  More bold paint colors?  Unique carpet styles?  Green products?

We’d love to hear from you!

Keystone was ranked number 284 out of the top 400 builders in the nation by Professional Builder Magazine.  The top 400 are decided based on number of housing units closed the previous year and housing revenue.  Last year Keystone was ranked 348.  Keystone moved up 64 steps from last year! Thanks to the staff who continually give their best every day and our homeowners who are the reason for what we do.

For more information on Keystone or our homes visit www.buildkeystone.com.

We’re all feeling first hand the effects of an adjusting economy.  Gas prices continue to rise and along with them - most of our food products.  Listed below are some ways to save at the grocery store.  I’m interested to see what changes you and your family are making.  Post some money saving tips or ways you are weathering the recession.

1.  Choosing generic or house brands can help you save up to 40% over brand name products.

2.  Shop early in the day and alone. You’ll be less likely to give in to impulse buys or distractions.

3.  Avoid purchasing non-grocery items such as toothpaste, contact solution, etc.  It may be convenient but it will cost more than purchasing at a drug store.

4.  Plan meals around items that are already in your pantry.

5. The most expensive items are placed on middle shelves at eye level. Look up and down for better savings.

6. Use coupons only on items you were going to buy anyway.

Some good news in the midst of all this economic turmoil is the net worth you build when you own a home.  Interest rates are at historic lows and home prices have dropped significantly.  Despite all the bad news out there, this is actually the best time to buy a home.  It’s a safe long-term investment.

Visit www.buildkeystone.com to learn more.  Don’t forget to post your money saving tips!

This past Friday was Augusta’s Relay for Life event at the Family Y.

Keystone had a team out there with t-shirts sporting our motto “Constructing a Cure”.  Our Keystone staff, trade partners, family, and friends, went above and beyond helping us to raise over $10,000 for the American Cancer Society!  This amount far exceeded expectations and the generosity of all involved was overwhelming.

Friday night was great. There were thousands of people on the field all support the cause of cancer research and patient care.  The memorial luminary walk was especially moving.  As we get photos of the event I’ll be sure to post them.

Thanks to everyone who was involved and supported us.  It’s hard to describe the feeling of seeing the community come together and fight back against a disease that has affected so many we know and love.

Everything seems to be going “green” lately - from cars to appliances to homes.  Keystone offers several features that are good for the environment and great for you. 

Keystone installs low “e” windows in all of its homes.  Keystone also prides itself on clean job sites and as little material waste as possible.  In the Keystone Design Studio you can choose from “green” carpet samples - made out of recycled material. 

And while these are just a few things that Keystone offers - what is of the most importance to you?  Where do you see the balance between environmental health and affordability?

Leave a comment - we’d like to hear what you think!

Keystone has several homes that are ready for quick move-in at prices significantly lower than market value.  These brand new homes are in pristine condition and many come with included optional luxury features.  These included features may be upgraded appliance packages, stained cabinets,  additional landscaping, cultured marble countertops, and more!

Some homes have been reduced by over $18,000.  With interest rates at historic lows, this is the time to buy!  New home construction does not negotiate on prices like the re-sale market. To take advantage of this opportunity ask about these homes now.

To find out which homes qualify for this program, please fill out the Contact Us form on the Keystone web site and ask about the “Ownership Incentive Program”. 

With Master’s Week and Spring Break both happening next week there will be no Design Studio Preview Night on April 7th.  The next Preview Night will be Monday, April 14th from 5 to 7 p.m.

Things are rarely quiet at Keystone and this morning was no exception!  Rhonda Oellerich our Vice President of Sales, opened the door to an office covered in aluminium foil.  From the pens, to notebooks, to the walls, nothing was safe.  A little April Fool’s fun from her sales team.

Take a look!

Our goal at Keystone is to build quality homes of lasting value for our home buyers.  The question we often find ourselves asking is what do our home owners see as valuable?  Lifestyles, wants and needs, are ever changing and we want to make sure our homes are meeting the needs of today’s buyers.

 Just as an example….fireplaces….are they something you really want in a home? Or is there something else that you would rather see?   Any and all ideas are welcome!  Please keep in mind that adding too many features of the home will raise the price.  What we are looking for are ways to improve our homes while maximizing their affordability.

 I look forward to your comments!

Keystone is a Gold Sponsor of this year’s Relay for Life on April 25th and 26th.  There will also be a Keystone team to walk the night of Relay.

 The American Cancer Society is an organization with a cause that is close to the heart of Keystone and one we want to support any way we can.

 Last year over 5,000 people attended Relay at the Family Y on Wheeler Road.  This event is held across the nation and helps to raise money to support cancer research, patient care, and advocacy.

 If you are interested in donating to Relay for Life you can go in to any of Keystone’s model homes or visit our team web site at http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeSouthAtlanticDivision?team_id=251029&pg=team&fr_id=8429.  If you can’t donate, come out the night of Relay and show your community support.

Celebrate.  Remember.  Fight Back.