Run for the Children

Those who know us beyond building homes, are aware that we are supporters of CASA, the Court Appointed Special Advocates, and their efforts to raise awareness and funds for the abused and neglected children of Fairfax County.  As a proud partner, we are happy to share some wonderful news with you.

Last Wednesday, Fairfax County honored Fairfax CASA with the top Service Award in the Volunteer Program category! From the CASA press release, “This award validates the extraordinary efforts of our CASA volunteers who demonstrate such dedication in standing up for the rights of abused and neglected children.  Our program was recognized for its enduring commitment to bringing in only the most qualified volunteers and providing those volunteers with the highest level of support so that they may advocate successfully for the children they serve. “

Fairfax CASA invites you to participate in the third annual Run for the Children 8K Race and 3K Run/Walk on Saturday, May 4th. For the third year in a row, the race will be held at the Fairfax County Courthouse complex and feature lively music, delicious food, great prizes, and exciting giveaways.  This race has garnered great support from the citizens of Fairfax and surrounding communities.  Be a part of this special event by visiting www.fairfaxrunforthechildren.com, and to learn more about CASA visit www.FairfaxCasa.org.

I invite you to join forces with us to make a difference in a child’s life. Every child deserves a happy childhood.

~ Ted

Featured Architect – Geri Yantis

As I reflect upon the individuality of each home I have built, each architect I have worked with has their own uniqueness as well. When I began work on a special Potomac project in 1991, I partnered with Geri Yantis. He and I have been working together since those wonderful houses we designed in Avenel. Geri also accompanied me as I was invited to build in The Reserve in McLean, VA and our own Marwood on the Potomac.

Martin G. Yantis (Geri) is a Principal at Sutton Yantis Associates Architects based in Vienna, Virginia. Geri received his Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University in 1984 and later attended George Washington University where he received his Masters in Business Administration in 1989. He has been practicing Architecture since 1985 and is currently registered in Virginia, Maryland, DC, Delaware, and New Jersey.

Together, we designed many homes in the Eagle Ridge part of Avenel, as well as on many Custom lots. We have designed custom homes in a wide variety of styles such as Traditional (Mandel Residence, Burke Residence, and more), English Tudor (Hekimian Residence), Contemporary (Mittu Residence), Mediterranean (RajPal Residence & Kataria Residence), and one-of-a-kind style, a Celtic Castle (McGeehin Residence). The pleasure of creating a special home for a client is very rewarding. Of all of the homes Geri has designed, the McGeehin Celtic Castle is the one that stands out the most. It is so unique, and the attention to design and detail throughout the exterior and the interior of the house was quite amazing. From the inception when the client asked to have a “Castle” designed for them, to the execution of the last details, the home truly is like no other.

Geri’s creativity has served us both well and adds a special dimension to our partnership. Visnic Homes’ strength of being able to execute a vision was critical when building the castle, and for that matter, any home. I look forward to many more years of working with architects like Geri.

All the best ~ Ted Visnic

Featured Architect – Bruce Hutchinson

Building a home can only be achieved when the talents in three areas come together to fulfill the dream of our clients. The Builder, the Craftsmen, and the Architect make this possible.

I have worked with several architects over the past 30 years, and I would like to express my appreciation for their talent, hard work, and service. Bruce Hutchinson, president of Hutchinson & Associates of Rockville, is one of these architects.

Bruce studied architecture at the University of Maryland and is a registered architect in Maryland, Virginia, and DC. He began his career under the tutelage of Wilfrid Worland. Wil (1907–1999) was an architect who between the 1930s and the 1990s shaped the suburban landscape of Washington, D.C.  Bruce’s theory of plans begins with circulation and how spaces are connected and relate to each other. He is a good listener and puts as much of the client (ideas and personality) into the house as possible.

Many of Bruce’s projects over the 30 year history of working with Visnic Homes contributed to the shingle revival of the suburbs of Washington, DC in the early 1990’s. The Boone Residence was one of these banner projects. My own home, the Visnic Farmhouse, was drawn by Bruce and served as a model for several other homes now known as The Waynesborough. Other houses like the Corby and Signora Residences, show how well Visnic Homes can collaborate with the client and architect to build a timeless gem.

One project stands out in my Portfolio of Homes. The River House in St. Michael’s, MD. With Bruce’s collaboration and the owner’s strong participation, our team came up with one of the most spectacular projects in Talbot County.

I am very grateful to have worked with Bruce and other talented architects around the Metropolitan area. Being able to execute a vision is our strength. I look forward to many more years of working with architects like Bruce Hutchinson.

Stay tuned for next week’s featured architect.

The Market is Speaking

As a follow up to my blog in the fall, it's my impression momentum is still building. A usual spring enthusiasm is back!

In what now seems like the old days, the post Super Bowl market is beginning to pick up.

It appears the baby boomers are ready to get on to the next phase of like. The time to build the last or second-to-last home is now.  Requests for first floor master bedroom homes is quite the norm, so is maintenance free and lock and go living.

At one of our communities, in the last 60 days, we’ve received three commitments to build a main level master home.

Requests for our brand of quality and service has pulled us as far as Harford County to the north, St Michael’s to the east, Leesburg, to the west, and now to Richmond to the south.

Clearly we are on the other side of one of the toughest times in the history of housing in our area.  And it is exciting for us to see how exciting it is for you.

Then...and Now!

Being in a service business for 23 years brings along a great deal of relationships, and with that...opportunity. Especially if you do a good job and create a respectable reputation.

Our "early days" opportunity, was during a time like today, when housing was down, but picking up. We were fortuitously in a position to build on custom lots that were sold off by the RTC in the early 90's. That opportunity resulted in approximately 60 homes in what is now one of the most significant communities in Montgomery County, Avenel. We built along side a few of the finest Homebuilders there, and ultimately produced more Custom Homes than any other.

That was an opportunity that fed into our basic business idea... "do the right things...and do them right."

As a result, we were then approached by a family to develop an older Potomac Estate that rested on a long wooded driveway, and against our coveted Potomac River...Marwood. There, we pulled in utilities, carefully protected trees/nature, resulting in a prestigious Best Environmental Builder of the Year Award, and went on to build 21 totally unique Custom Homes.

Before the dust settled on Marwood, we had been approached by 2 other developers. On the Maryland side we were asked to build our homes in Ardnave, an enclave of 14 lots, 10 of which were built on by our company, and in Virginia, we were approached by Miller and Smith who wanted our growing reputation to assist them with selling 15 homesites for homes in their Custom section of The Reserve in McLean. We were the only Custom Home company to start, and finish in the community.

And today....

...we are a preferred Builder in one of the top Golf Course Communities in the area, Creighton Farms near Middleburg...

...we have been approached by a large land owner from the Eastern Shore, who would like our company to be the exclusive builder on 7 of the most gorgeous lots on the water, 3 minutes from the airport and 5 minutes from downtown Easton...

...we have access to 2 top shelf lots in Potomac that are not officially on the market...yet, and are 2 minutes from the valet at Congressional Country Club...

...and we have land opportunities on spot lots in McLean.

These opportunities are born directly from and are part of the reason we are one of the only Custom Home companies to ever win not one, but two National Custom Home Builder of the Year awards. Once in 1995, and one this past February. We take our ethics and the work we do very seriously. Our relationships with some of the most successful people in the region have been extremely rewarding. We feel honored that people put their faith and trust in us, and we give them our Very Best as a result.

I love this stuff.

Enjoy this wonderful time of year!

Ted Visnic

That's Entertainment!

I was thinking about how advances in electronic gadgetry are described as a “wave of technology”.   If technology is a wave, I’ve enjoyed observing it from the beach as much as occasionally riding the surf myself (Here’s to you Vint Cerf).  My iPad is with me at all times!

It’s remarkable how fast lifestyles and houses are changing as a result.  Significant space for multi-user computing and internet access near daily living is a must.  Homework and home management are forever changed. 

How about home entertainment?  Life before flat screens is a fond memory.  Aficionados still appreciate the privacy of a finely tuned theater room (and we’ve built some great ones recently), but today’s enormous panels and the quality of off-the-shelf surround sound systems deliver a big time viewing experience to the average rec room. 

Most interesting to me though is a recent move to combine technology with another popular wave….outdoor living.  Covered outdoor spaces are getting quite sophisticated with comfortable furniture, a fireplace and food service facilities.  Now, there’s a demand for a flat screen and sound systems in the Outdoor Living Room.

As a football fan, I love this idea.  Watching ‘away’ games surrounded by the elements, under cover, close to conveniences, no waiting lines……….Now that’s entertainment! 

Hot, but Not Bothered!

I enjoy a certain feeling of satisfaction, confidence and affirmation when my generator overcomes a power failure.  Same thing as my four wheel drive muscles through mud and heavy snow.  It feels good to be ahead of the curve and in control when the elements hit.

It’s uncomfortably hot today.   I am so happy that I have geothermal conditioning!  And the coolest thing about it is I get this same warm feeling on extreme winter days and each time I open my electric bill.  Comfort in my 4,500 square foot home costs less than my old 1,200 square foot place. I love it.

I put my geothermal system in 16 years ago.  I’ve enjoyed a lot of “assurance moments” in that time and look forward to many more.

I feel even better when I think about how many systems we’ve done for our clients over the years.  The first was 1991. I’ve lost count, but I’ll bet over the past 22 years we’ve installed more geothermal systems than any other area builder and in every imaginable size and configuration.   The photo on Facebook shows one of the units that conditions a 20,000 square foot home.

I love my geothermal system, but knowing so many in the Visnic Homes family do too, makes me feel especially warm inside.  This is the most satisfying assurance moment of all. 

Stay cool!

Ted.