For many single-family homeowners, snow is a four-letter word. In fact, in the Chicago area snow can often turn shoveling into a winter sport. But at Midlane Country Club in Wadsworth and Creekside at Inverness Ridge in Inverness, most residents don’t care how much snow piles up around them as both communities offer something most others do not – maintenance-free, single-family homes.
“A maintenance-free home is most often associated with a condo or townhome, rarely a single-family home,” says John Wozniak, president of Wheaton-based J. Lawrence Homes, developer of Midlane Country Club. “Yet many homebuyers who want the space and privacy of a single-family home are more than happy to leave lawn mowing, leaf raking and, most importantly, snow shoveling to someone else.”
Brian Brunhofer, president of Deerfield-based Meritus Homes and developer of Creekside at Inverness Ridge, agrees. “Our target buyers have demanding careers and very busy families, which make time a valuable commodity,” he says. “At Creekside at Inverness Ridge, residents can enjoy a spacious, estate-style home without having to tend to yard work or find someone to do it for them.”
Shoveling snow from streets, driveways and sidewalks is a thing of the past for residents of maintenance-free single-family homes like those found at Creekside at Inverness Ridge and Midlane Country Club.
At both communities, residents of the maintenance-free homes pay a monthly assessment fee that takes care of exterior maintenance services such as snow removal from streets, sidewalks and driveways, in addition to salting; lawn maintenance, including mowing and leaf raking; and community landscaping.
And at Creekside at Inverness Ridge, a gated community, the monthly assessment also covers the maintenance of the community’s conservation area and six-foot wide walking path, which can be a great venue for cross-country skiing this winter.
“We understand how hectic life can be, so we wanted to make things like maintaining a home’s exterior as easy as possible for our buyers,” says Brunhofer. “They don’t need to worry about finding a dependable landscaping company or scheduling service times as everything is taken care of by the established homeowner’s association, which is extremely diligent and proud of their landscaping program.”
Residents of the maintenance-free homes at Midlane Country Club can also rest easy about their snow removal service, which is managed by BioView Maintenance. According to Wozniak, BioView uses the latest technology for tracking snowfall so the firm’s trucks are aware of a pending snow storm well before most residents. “The crews shovel right up to a resident’s front door. They do a better job than I do at my own home,” he added.
And without all that snow shoveling, residents at both Midlane Country Club and Creekside at Inverness Ridge will have more time to actually play in the snow, instead of clear it. “No more putting off a sledding excursion with the family to dig out driveway,” said Brunhofer. “The maintenance-free lifestyle at Creekside certainly isn’t the only reason to live here, but it sure is an extra bonus. Who doesn’t want to spend more time with their family and less time with a snow shovel?”
The gated community of Creekside at Inverness Ridge features 27 estate-style single-family homes surrounded by established move-up homes, mature trees, a creek, a walking trail and preserved prairie land.
Buyers can choose from five floor plans at the community, including two ranch layouts, one two-story design with a first floor master suite and two traditional two-story plans. Homes range from 2,610 to 3,716 square feet and feature three to four bedrooms, 2 to 3½ baths, full basements and attached two- or three-car garages. Pre-construction pricing starts at $489,900. For more information, contact Robin Johnson at 847-381-0725 or RJohnson@MeritusHomeBuilders.com, or visit www.MeritusHomeBuilders.com.