Fischer & Frichtel Blog

Fischer& Frichtel Home Builders in St. Louis gives you the chance to WIN a Shoot & Share Camcorder just for sharing your thoughts on home remodeling!

Fischer & Frichtel Home Builders in St. Louis wants to hear your thoughts!  In light of the recent addition of the FandF Homes Renovation Division, they’d like to know:  If you could renovate your home today, what is the one amenity or feature that you would include?

Would you add granite countertops, new cabinets, or a new floor to your kitchen?  How about a sunroom, media room, home office, or outdoor entertainment area?

Share your thoughts on our wall and be entered to win a Shoot & Share Camcorder to capture your favorite memories!

There’s something to be said for being the first to purchase the first home in a brand new community.  It takes a great amount of faith in the new home builder and appreciation for the product – especially in today’s market.
This week, Fischer & Frichtel’s Shadow Creek Community Sales Manager Kristy sold the first two homes in Shadow Creek.

One family will be visiting F&F’s Home Center today to meet with a Design Specialist who will assist them in designing the home of their dreams.
The Fischer & Frichtel Home Center provides a unique environment where new home buyers are cordially invited to choose from a tantalizing array of exquisite finishing touches to complement the classic design of their new Fischer & Frichtel home.
With just 14 home sites left, John Fischer is confident Shadow Creek will become a flourishing community in no time.

Fenton, Missouri is a prime location for a new home community.
Just minutes from Shadow Creek lay two of Missouri’s most beautiful wildlife areas; Lone Elk Park and the World Bird Sanctuary.
Covered in wooded hills and deep hollows, these two parks offer an experience apart from any in St. Louis.  Drive, hike, or picnic near the trails to experience buffalo, elk, and deer in their natural habitat.  The World Bird Sanctuary also rests peacefully in these woods and offers relaxing places to picnic and walk.

Not only is Fenton’s scenery exquisite, it is also home to one of the area’s premier school districts -Rockwood.  Located in West St. Louis County, Rockwood School District prides itself on high student achievement, outstanding teachers and staff, and great community support.

For more information on Shadow Creek contact Community Sales Manager Kristy Roderick at 314-843-8935.

Fischer & Frichtel has reached yet another milestone at Saratoga in Lake Saint Louis.  Community sales manager Kari Beanblossom reports that 104 of the development’s charming Terrace Condominiums have now been purchased, and homes have been selling at an average of one per week since July.

The scenic, multi-product neighborhood is located off Highway N, less than a mile west of Highway 40.  Fischer originally opened at Saratoga with 56 Towne Homes, all of which sold at record pace.

The firm then introduced its Terrace Condominium collection – carefree 2-bedroom homes grouped in 3-story buildings and arranged four per floor.  All are sunny corner units with two baths, a spacious kitchen, laundry room that can accommodate a full-size washer and dryer, and a covered balcony or oversize patio, depending on the floor.

Starting from just $99,900, Saratoga has made new-home ownership possible for budget-conscious buyers of all types, particularly during the nation’s recent economic turmoil.  Now, however, owning a Terrace Condominium has become even more affordable!

St. Charles County has announced the allocation of additional funds for down payment assistance through the HOME St. Charles program.  Qualified buyers at Saratoga are eligible for $7500 toward their down payment and, better yet, the program can be combined with MHDC funding.

“Applying both assistance programs to your down payment, it’s possible to purchase in this community for as little as $89,403,” Beanblossom explained.  “And customers opting to work with Fischer & Frichtel Mortgage Company can also receive a $1500 credit toward their closing costs.”

Nine of Saratoga’s 12 planned condominium buildings have now been completed, and pre-sales have just begun for the tenth building, where construction is expected to begin shortly.  Both buildings provide views of the pastures and show grounds of the neighboring National Equestrian Center.

Three Showcase Inventories remain for purchase in the completed building.  Two are move-in-ready, and one has been held at the drywall stage, allowing its future owners to make their own interior color selection.

One of the completed Showcase models is a third-floor unit with vaulted ceilings, and both are furnished with stainless steel appliances, 42” maple wall cabinets in the kitchens, hardwood entry flooring, and plush frise carpeting.

Saratoga’s “Madison III” display is open for viewing daily, and most visitors take time to tour Hawk Ridge Park, directly adjacent to the neighborhood on the east.  “The park is always packed,” Beanblossom noted.  “Besides the lake and fountain, there’s a splash pad for the kids, a large playground, huge picnic pavilion, and a walking trail that continues along the back edge of our community.”

For a Lake Saint Louis address at an unbelievably affordable price, visit Saratoga (636-561-5530) while these valuable financing programs are still in effect.  Or see us online, www.FandFHomes.com

Panoramic skyline and sunset views, estate-size home settings, and a top-of-the-line design collection virtually ensure the success of Shadow Creek, Fischer & Frichtel’s newest high-fashion community, now under development in Fenton.

According to community sales manager Kristy Roderick, “There is very little ground still available for residential construction within the Fenton city limits, and Shadow Creek is already attracting a considerable amount of attention.  In fact, three of our homesites have already been reserved.”

Entered from Bowles Avenue, the development consists of only 16 prime half-acre to near-one-acre homesites, carefully arranged around two private cul-de-sacs and ringed by lush woods.  The selection features walk-out, ingrade, and lookout settings with 120-foot frontages, allowing the builder to include a 3-car side-entry garage with every home.

The tract’s natural beauty creates a breathtaking backdrop for Fischer & Frichtel’s nine high-end Luxury Home designs.  Pre-construction priced from $499,900, the various ranch, story-&-a-half, and 2-story plans are lavished with exceptional amenities.

A sampling includes fully sodded yards, 9-foot main-floor ceilings, 42” wood-burning fireplaces, luxury kitchens with oak or birch cabinetry and premium appliances, dramatic master suites, 2-story great rooms or activity rooms (per plan), hardwood foyer flooring, and oversize patios.

Purchasers are also assisted by the firm’s professional designers when making their all-important color selections.

Elaborating on Shadow Creek’s enviable location, Roderick noted that the community is just a 5-minute drive from Interstate 44 and served by the top-ranked Rockwood School District.  Homeowners are entitled to all of Fenton’s municipal services and to special resident rates for the countless swimming, sports, and fitness activities offered at the city’s RiverChase Recreation Center.

The Fenton area abounds with shopping opportunities, including the many retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment facilities at nearby Gravois Bluffs Plaza.

Streets have been poured at Shadow Creek, enabling interested homebuyers to tour the site and choose their favorite home settings.  However, Roderick is currently working with prospective customers from Grandview, a Fischer & Frichtel community at the intersection of I-270 and Gravois Road in Sunset Hills.

Floorplans, driving directions, and additional information are posted on company website, www.FandFHomes.com, and Roderick welcomes calls at 314-843-8935.

Instant access to Highway 40/64 and Fischer & Frichtel’s fashionable Luxury Home collection are just two of the attractions that were responsible for the impressive number of home shoppers visiting Leighton Hollow this summer.

Sally Amaral was named sales manager for the upscale community in Dardenne Prairie four month ago. “We’ve had excellent traffic the whole time I’ve been here – lots of affluent downsizers from West County and St. Charles and quite a few out-of-towners, as well,” she stated. “Leighton Hollow’s location and price point are major draws, and customers are amazed by the amount of home they can get for their investment.”

The community also offers purchasers a choice of two distinctive “village” settings, each with its own entrance from Weldon Spring Road. Village A is a private cul-de-sac enclave of 18 homesites, 18,000 to 24,000 square feet in size, with 100-foot frontages.

Village B’s 41 homesites present a wide selection, ranging from 9,700 to 21,000 square feet. Many are on cul-de-sacs, and 80-foot frontages allow for the option of a 3-car garage with any homestyle.

Fischer & Frichtel’s 9-plan Luxury Home portfolio features expansive ranch, story-&-a-half, and 2-story designs, base priced from $271,900. Among the many exceptional price-included amenities are 9-foot main-floor ceilings, oversize trim, finely crafted cabinetry, and zoned heating/cooling in multi-level plans.

“No two homes in this community are alike,” Amaral remarked. “Every one of our owners has done something different, and that calls attention to Fischer & Frichtel’s willingness to customize. All purchasers are able to work with the company’s professional designers to create a home that truly reflects their personal taste and lifestyle.”

For buyers hoping to move promptly, three stunning Showcase Inventories – all with 3-car garages – have just been completed in the community. Set on a walk-out site in Village B and listed at $340,532, the “Durham” is an expanded ranch with an elegant brick façade, three bedrooms, volume ceilings, a 42” great room fireplace, arched opening to the dining room, and extensive hardwood flooring.

Also in Village B and priced in the low $380’s, the “Hadleigh” is a 4-bedroom two-story with lawn irrigation system, hardwood flooring throughout the main-floor activity areas, Classique interior doors with levered hardware, spindled stair rail, granite countertops in the island kitchen, a direct-vent fireplace, adult-height vanities, and a lavish master suite that simply has to be seen!

Village A showcases a split-bedroom “Woodside” ranch with a majestic brick-&-stone elevation; 12-foot ceilings in the fireside great room; built-in stainless steel appliances, birch cabinets, and granite countertops in the center island kitchen; a gracious hearth room; coffered ceiling in the master bedroom; luxury master bath; Jack-&-Jill bath; and a list price in the mid-$480’s.

For information on special incentives currently in effect at Leighton Hollow, contact Amaral, 636-300-4128. Displays are open daily, and directions are posted on the company website, www.FandFHomes

St. Louis’ first-ever St. Jude Dream Home^® opened for public viewing at Talbridge in St. Charles on Saturday, July 31, and turnout for the weekend-long premiere showing was phenomenal!  More than 1800 visitors explored Fischer & Frichtel’s spectacular “Glenhurst” story-&-a-half, the Grand Prize in the metro area’s inaugural St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway program.

Fischer & Frichtel was selected as the homebuilder for the charitable effort, which benefits the world-renowned St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.  Under the daily supervision of project manager Chris Fischer, construction of the Glenhurst began in late spring in Fischer & Frichtel’s upscale Village A at Talbridge.

The 3311-square-foot residence is valued at approximately $525,000 and showcases a three-car garage, two-story great room with window wall, main-floor master suite, three secondary bedrooms on the upper level, 3-1/2 baths, and a host of lavish interior appointments.

Raffle tickets were made available to the public in June and, once again, St. Louisans demonstrated their legendary generosity, eager to purchase the $100 tickets in support of St. Jude – and perhaps win the gorgeous Dream Home or any of the numerous other valuable prizes to be drawn in September.

Jennifer Myers, Event Marketing Representative, reported that nearly all of the 9,000 tickets had been sold by grand opening, and the final 350 were purchased onsite by guests touring the home during the first two-day open house.

There’s still a chance for latecomers to enter, however.  Approximately 300 tickets have been reserved for the Dream Home Giveaway Special, which will be televised at intervals on September 10 on Fox 2-KTVI.  Phone lines will open at 5:00 a.m. that morning for purchase of the remaining tickets, and the Grand Prize drawing will be broadcast live at 9:00 p.m.

Seventeen additional prizes will be given away, ranging from $500 gift cards to artwork and home furnishings.  Entrants who purchased raffle tickets by July 23 will also be eligible for the Early Bird Drawing, $3,600 worth of gasoline courtesy of QuikTrip.

The Dream Home will remain open for touring at Talbridge through September 5, on Saturdays from 9:00 to 5:00 and Sundays, noon to 5:00.  Visitors can register – free! – to win the Open House Prize, a queen bedroom set valued at $6,000 from The Bedroom Store.

Rosalee Echele is volunteer coordinator for the open house events and described the Dream Home’s premiere showing as “exciting and orderly,” in spite of the crowds.   “After seeing all the stunning features in the Glenhurst, many ticket holders were so impressed that they bought another ticket to increase their chances of winning,” said Echele.  “Children were even picking out their favorite rooms, just in case this might soon be their new home.”

The youngsters’ enthusiasm prompted Echele to reflect on the true significance of the St. Jude Giveaway program.  “It’s all about dreams,” she concluded.  “The Dream Home fulfills the dream of finding a cure for a seriously ill child.”

One of St. Charles’ most desirable neighborhoods, Talbridge fronts Fairgrounds Road, just north of Friedens Road and east of Highway 94.

Organic Methods
If you’re not interested in using chemicals on your yard or in your garden, you may be interested in these organic options:

Boiling water:  Pouring boiling water on weeds will kill weeds, but carefully pour the water as to not get any on plants you’d like to keep.

Mulch: Not only can mulch help prevent weeds from growing, mulching can kill existing weeds.   Spread two or three inches of mulch to eliminate weeds and help hold water in your garden’s soil.

Soapy water: Add five tablespoons of liquid dish soap to four cups of water.  After mixing it, pour it into a spray bottle and apply to weeds – this works especially well on hot days.

Alcohol spray: Mix between one and five tablespoons of alcohol with four cups of water depending on the stubbornness of the weeds, pour into a spray bottle and apply to weeds.

Vinegar: Undiluted vinegar is also effective in killing weeds.  Put it in a spray bottle and apply to the weeds.

Stop them before they start!
Weeds generally will not grow in extremely healthy grass; Revitalize your lawn!
Fertilize your yard yearly, but be careful not to over-do it, too much fertilizer can nurture those pesky weeds!  Learn to read the weeds.  Knowing what condition particular weeds grow most favorably in can help you eliminate the problem.   For example, ground ivy grows best in damp soil, so if you’ve got ground ivy, consider improving drainage by aerating your lawn.