Estates of Wolf Creek offers family-friendly amenities in a country setting

For most people, a home purchase is the single largest investment they will make. And, once that initial investment is made, many buyers dislike having to keep pouring money into their houses.

That is just one of many reasons buyers seeking new home construction are taking a look at The Estates of Wolf Creek, located just south of 191st Street and west of Ridgeview Road in Spring Hill.

The Estates of Wolf Creek is situated on 240 acres that includes an elementary school, which opened in 2013. To date, there are 60 owner-occupied homes, according to Bob Garver of Wolf Creek Development LLC. There are four builders involved with the project: Wolf Creek Homes, Kelly Dunn Construction, KC Builders and Design and Robert Garver Builders, Inc. The development is just entering its seventh phase.

Garver said the extra touches used in the construction of the homes at Wolf Creek make them “practically zero maintenance,” on their exteriors. Double-wall construction, waterproofed foundations, the use of acrylic stucco that has paint mixed in and stone accents on facades means the only exterior painting ever required is on the entry and garage doors.

Double-wall construction is fairly unique to new-home construction in the metropolitan area, according to Garver. “It’s a big deal, an awesome feature,” he explained. “A lot of homes are single-wall construction, which means that the Tyvek and siding goes up against the studs and then the windows go in after that. The code has changed in some cities where builders no longer are able to install windows behind the siding.”

Garver said building homes that way leave them more prone to water leaks around the windows. Double-wall construction means plywood is nailed to the studs and the house wrap (i.e. similar to Tyvek) is mixed into the plywood. “We use zips sheeting,” he said. Next, the windows are installed and then the stucco or stone is applied on top of that. “It’s a far more superior method to construct a home,” Garver said.

Yet going the extra mile for homebuyers doesn’t end there, Garver said. “Our foundations are given waterproofing to a thickness of 60 mil, allowing Wolf Creek Homes to offer a 10-year foundation warranty against water leaks. We have not had one basement leak in 60 homes,” he said.

In fact, all the new homes in Wolf Creek come with a one-year builders’ warranty and the opportunity to buy an additional homebuyers’ warranty from 2-10, from a third-party warranty company that offers several different warranty plan options.

In addition to the elementary school in the award-winning Spring Hill school district, community amenities include a swimming pool, children’s play area, walking trails and a five-acre fishing lake stocked with bass, catfish and blue gill. The lake features two illuminated fountains, Garver said. A second swimming pool with clubhouse is planned for a later phase. Home association dues are $600 a year.

“We are a family-friendly and family-oriented community,” Garver said. “We welcome families in all stages of life.”

Eight different floor plans are offered, and buyers are welcome to bring custom plans as well. Most plans are ranches or two-stories with four bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, three-car garages, and are priced from the mid $200,000s to $400,000.

Special interior amenities include upgraded trim packages of crown moldings, window casings and hand-crafted fireplace mantels. Hardwood floors and tiled bathrooms are also standard features.

The Estate of Wolf Creek’s homes were showcased in the 2013 and 2014 Parade of Homes Tours, with two floor plans taking top honors from the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City. The 2014 American Dream Award went to both The Savannah, a 2,596-square-foot, prairie-style home, and The Rosewood, a five-bedroom, three-bath traditional ranch plan with 2,729 square feet of living space, according to the subdivision’s website.

Walk-out, daylight lots are currently available and with this newest phase, according to Garver. Homes are constructed in a time frame of approximately four to six months.

The community has a feel of being out in the country, but has the convenience of being within 10 minutes of Olathe Medical Center and large employers such as Garmin. Easy access to U.S. 69 and 169 highways ensure that residents quickly reach all areas of the metropolitan area, according to the community’s website.

The Estates of Wolf Creek is marketed by Lisa Rater with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. Its sales office is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

This story was originally published June 11, 2016 at 12:04 AM with the headline "Estates of Wolf Creek offers family-friendly amenities in a country setting."