Sunday, September 7, 2008

Although the thought of the new interchange is exciting, there will be certain points that we as a community will need to exercise patience during the construction. With that in mind, and with the hopes of a far-simpler commute in the near future, please make a note of this important road closure.

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) advises local motorists traveling southwest of St. George of the closure of a segment of Pioneer Road which runs parallel to Interstate 15 between mileposts 2 and 3. Effective Monday, September 8th, a three-quarter mile stretch of Pioneer Road immediately north of the Sun River Parkway will close for approximately 30 days while construction crews work on interfacing the road with the new Atkinville Interchange over I-15. Both north and southbound travelers on Pioneer Road will be detoured to Bluegrass Way where residential speeds will apply. The closure will remain in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until further notice. Motorists are urged to use caution.

Drive safely!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

One of the crown jewels of SunRiver is our Community Center. From the beginning, we set our sights on developing a world-class facility that would bring our community together. To accomplish this goal, we built ballrooms, libraries, exercise centers, and computer rooms in order to create the perfect gathering point for social and private activities. According to SunRiver’s Lisa Hernandez, the Community Center “is a great way to meet new friends and get a sense of family and community with similar interests.”

The Community Center sets SunRiver apart from other adult communities. We’re proud of the fact that our residents have access to 28 different fitness classes, some of which are certified and sanctioned by the Arthritis Foundation. With personal trainers available for hire you can maximize your health and fitness easily. We’ve had many people tell us that they are now more fit than when they were 30 or 40 years old. What a great success!

SunRiver also involves our residents in running the Community Center, to make sure that we’re presenting the social activities that are most important to everyone. A full calendar of events is only a click away, which makes it easier to plan your activities. You can find the calendar by clicking http://www.sunrivertoday.com/sunriver/calendar.asp. Here are some other events that you may find interesting:

August 15 - Hot August Nights Dance/party. Come experience a 1950-60’s theme with live bank music and dinner!

August 18 - English Tea Party. Come enjoy English traditional delights, with sandwiches!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Last November, many of you noticed the beginnings of construction activity near Milepost 2 of I-15. At that time, you probably read SunRiver’s “Developer Inside Scoop” to learn more about the new interchange being constructed as part of the Southern Parkway project. Since then, progress has been made, and we’re excited about the opportunities that this on-ramp/off-ramp presents to SunRiver. Here’s a quick update:

We contacted Kevin Kitchen, UDOT Public Information Specialist, to inquire whether the project was on-track. “The foundation for the roadwork is currently underway with significant progress being made on the road base. The stage is being set to begin pouring some parts of the deck,” Kitchen said.

Within the next month, you should see sections of the deck being poured, along with the diaphragms for concrete pillars being formed. While the entire project isn’t expected to be completed until November 2009, there is a strong level of confidence that the Milepost 2 interchange will be completed earlier.

We are excited about the prospect of this new interchange, as it will improve the access to SunRiver dramatically. With increased access, we anticipate a higher level of visibility into our dynamic community and the potential addition of even more residents to our neighborhood.

Friday, May 9, 2008

One glance at the reduced flow of the Virgin River is enough to know that water is indeed a scarce commodity in Washington County. As a rule, SunRiver’s world class home designs are accompanied by desert-friendly xeriscaping and landscaping in order to help conserve water. According to SunRiver Operations Manager Kelly Stephens, “Our watering program is one of the most serious issues our landscapers face. We are very careful about water.”

At SunRiver, we take conservation so seriously that we take extra steps to ensure that we’re maximizing our water efficiency. On a regular basis, we have experts from the Water Conservancy District come in to assess our usage, test soil for water retention, and make suggestions for future use. With guidance and approval from the City of St. George, we rotate watering schedules over a 24 hour basis, to ensure that water pressure is maximized for all homes, both inside and out.

What does this mean for you? You can rest assured that SunRiver is taking critical steps that can maximize the “green”, in terms of both the environment and your wallet. But we can’t do it alone, you can help! Despite the fact that water usage typically increases during the summer months, there are many ways to reduce your “water footprint” while still maintaining a yard that will be the envy of your neighbors.

Here are a few tips:

1. Increase the amount of yard space dedicated to xeriscape design – rock gardens, patios, and that new deck you’ve been eying can easily replace grass and water-hungry shrubbery. Be sure to get ARC and HOA approval for all designs before installing them.


2. Go native! Dixie is home to beautiful plant-life that is both eye-catching and drought resistant. Needs some tips on how to design your yard? The design center has two Certified Landscape Architects ready to provide professional services for a fee.


3. Avoid manually adjusting your water! Our watering plan maximizes water efficiency and pressure. Even if you see sprinklers running during the day, please know that this is part of the city-approved plan.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

One of the more common home construction materials in Southern Utah is stucco, which forms the textured concrete exterior of a number of the homes in SunRiver. Stucco is a natural complement to the surrounding red-rock setting in St. George, and is a preferred material because of its beauty, natural look, and ease of maintenance (just spray it down with a hose)! However, one of the characteristics of stucco, or any concrete for that matter, is that it expands and contracts with a change in seasonal temperatures.

During the winter, the stucco on your home may develop hairline cracks which can cause considerable concern to those who have never before owned a stucco home. However, such hairline fissures are quite common, and the magic of the season is that the summer heat will cause the stucco to expand, thereby reducing the cracks or making them disappear altogether.

What you should watch for, however, are fissures that widen and become large or gaping cracks. If your home is within the one year warranty period from the time of construction, SunRiver will come out one time to repair cracks larger than 3/8 of an inch. Because of this, it’s best to wait until near the end of the warranty year in before requesting an evaluation and repair of any stucco cracks. More information about the warranty is contained within the Homeowner Warranty Manual.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Three new sales agents have joined the SunRiver family this year, and with their expertise and enthusiasm, we’re certain that they will help us reach our goal of bringing even more new residents to join our active living community in 2008!

Jo-Ann Geer: As an experienced real-estate agent with solid knowledge of home construction (thanks to her husband, a home builder), Jo-Ann is a welcome addition to our sales team.

Peter Judd: Peter is returning to SunRiver, and brings a wealth of real-estate experience as well as in-depth knowledge about the SunRiver lifestyle, our community, and our world-class amenities.

Gary Fandel: Gary will focus on re-sale homes at SunRiver and bring extensive experience with re-sales and home appraisals to our team. As an aside, after working in Alaska, we’re sure he’ll find the weather in St. George to be a vast improvement.

We’re excited for Jo-Ann, Peter, and Gary to join our team. Together, we’re sure that we’ll have a great 2008!

Wednesday, Febuary 27, 2008

This year, just as in past years, the St. George Area Parade of Homes drew crowds of people to Southern Utah to enjoy the beauty of luxury homes surrounded by the beauty of eye-popping nature. And, just as in years past, SunRiver’s showcase home was again in the spotlight as a model of technical innovation, creative architecture, and stunning design.

For the Parade, we showcased our Temptations design, and we’re happy to say that the home lived up to its name as crowds of parade attendees poured into the home to admire its features. SunRiver’s strategy of building an un-contracted home paid off, as our design team was able to pour vision and inspiration into every aspect and detail of the home. Designing a Parade home without buyer constraints allows us to showcase “the art of the possible” which is what sets SunRiver apart from every other community in St. George. Our design team provides visions that are “better than what people often imagine on their own.”



And the plan paid off as the home was sold quickly during the Parade. According to SunRiver Broker Margie Hare, “the buzz from the Parade of Homes builds a sense of urgency” which leads to buyers making offers. We’re still enjoying the fruits of SunRiver’s success at this year’s Parade, with additional sales coming from member referrals combined with the “Temptations” that people experienced at the Parade.

Wednesday, Febuary 13, 2008

Home ownership in our golden years should equate to hosting dinners with close friends and new acquaintances, not worrying about fixing a leaky pipe. SunRiver continually raises the bar for luxury home quality and comfort, but we don’t stop there! Our Warranty and Care Free Living department is always ready to resolve home issues as quickly as possible, so that you can focus on your putts, not your pipes.

Who is the Warranty and Care Free Living team?
SunRiver’s customer service team consists of HoneyDawn, Krista, and Farren, who use their combined years of superior customer relations experience to quickly understand your issues and get to work on the best resolution.

What should you expect from SunRiver’s world-class team when you report a home repair need?
•  Initial diagnosis: Much of the initial troubleshooting can be done directly by our team in order to provide a quick diagnosis and resolution. Call, come in, or email us to get this process started.
•  Simple fixes: Problems with drywall, stucco and grout can be quickly inspected and/or fixed by Farren from our internal team
•  Complex fixes: If the issue requires attention from a specialized sub-contractor, our team can usually schedule the repair on-the-spot for resolution within 10 days. In addition, SunRiver follows up personally on many sub-contractor repairs to ensure that you remain ‘delightfully satisfied’.

Proactive Maintenance
All newly-constructed homes in SunRiver receive two thorough inspections after you move in. The first is about 45 days after closing, with the construction superintendent. The second is about 11 months after closing to ensure that any issues are resolved before the 1 year home warranty expires. The second inspection addresses any issues arising from the settling of your home, including minor stucco cracks, which are common.

Springtime Issues
Spring can mean rain in St. George, and one of the top customer inquiries reported by our Warranty and Care Free Living team during the spring concerns drainage. St. George soil does not soak up water quickly, and hard rain can leave behind puddles of water.

SunRiver inspects the neighborhoods after especially hard rains, and if large puddles remain after 72 hours, then further inspection will be done to see if a drainage system is needed. Each puddle is handled on a case-by-case basis.

How to Report a Problem
•  Put the request in writing. We’re happy to do the initial diagnosis over the phone, but please email, fax or come in to put your repair request in writing.
•  Neighborhood representatives are a great avenue for bringing your concerns to SR team.

All said your home is in great hands. So relax and enjoy “care free living” at SunRiver.

Friday, Febuary 1, 2008

In order to make a “great 2008” for attracting new residents to SunRiver, we will be developing a short survey to administer to many of our 2007 buyers. The survey is optional, and is meant to help us understand the driving forces behind your decision to purchase a home in SunRiver’s community. We will commission a team to contact a random group of 2007 buyers via telephone. If you receive a call from our survey team, we hope that you will take a few minutes to share your point of view with us and help us make 2008 an even better year than the last!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Each year, thousands of visitors come to Washington County to view some of the finest homes in the country during the St. George Parade of Homes. This year, the Parade of Homes takes place from February 15-24. The homes illustrate the future of homebuilding by showcasing latest innovations, designs, and creature comforts that create the high quality of life that we enjoy in St. George.

Many of you became acquainted with SunRiver and our active adult community through the Parade of Homes, and we believe that the parade remains a tremendous marketing opportunity. In addition to our exquisite homes, people will naturally be drawn to our community of active adults with similar interests! If you have friends who you’d like to see join our family, we recommend inviting them to join you in a fantastic round of golf, followed by dinner at the RiverWalk Grill and a drive around the Parade of Homes route in the county. We’re sure they’ll like what they see, and SunRiver’s numerous amenities and linked-in lifestyle will be the piece de resistance!

More than anything, we encourage all residents to welcome visitors to SunRiver and St. George at anytime, and to look for opportunities such as the upcoming Parade of Homes to bring in future friends to our unique community!

Monday, January 28, 2008

Despite worries surrounding housing markets across the nation, SunRiver enjoyed an incredible year of welcoming a near record number of new residents to our active adult community. SunRiver’s sales remained strong, and our design team and agents found a variety of new methods for bringing potential buyers into our community.

In 2007, we’re proud to say that many potential buyers became enthusiastic residents after seeing what SunRiver had to offer. Even more buyers committed after touring the community and seeing the camaraderie that exists among our family of residents — it was truly the cherry on top! We enjoyed seeing the excitement on our prospective buyers’ faces as they anticipated joining our community and making new friends.

Well done everyone on a great 2007, and here’s to an even better 2008!

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