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Realtor finds the real deal at Tall Oaks in Elgin Patti and Ron Warsaski recently purchased a new home at Tall Oaks in Elgin. The three most important factors to consider when shopping for a home may be "location, location, location." But if in doubt, many experts recommend that home hunters follow this sage suggestion: Buy where the Realtors buy. Patti Warsaski decided to follow that advice, only in reverse-being that she is a Realtor herself. When she and her husband Ron decided to relocate from their long-time home in Gurnee to be closer to loved ones, their friends and clients took notice when the Warsaskis set their sites on Tall Oaks, Wyndham Deerpoint Homes' new community of semi-custom homes in Elgin, located in Burlington School District # 301. "Many people trust in Realtors because they have the inside track on all the best properties coming on the market, along with plenty of information on the most desirable communities," said Patti. But who does the Realtor trust? "It is always the hardest when you're buying a home for yourself. It is far easier pointing other people in the right direction," she said. "Since we're moving from the far north suburbs, like everyone else, we had to do our homework." The Warsaskis did their research, using Patti's competitive edge-an intimate knowledge of the area and what to look for. She discovered Elgin a few years ago after a relative moved into the area. "I was impressed with the area's growth and development, from a Realtor's perspective, and I liked the school district," said Patti, who has two daughters, ages 17 and nine. "But that was nearly two years ago, so I just filed the information in my head. Then, we got serious about moving because my dad lives in Addison and we wanted to be closer to him." Why Tall Oaks? Patti said it's because she and her husband are both "very, very selective. If we could have morphed five existing resale homes into one we would have, but that wasn't a realistic option. We knew the only way to really get all of the items on our checklist was to start from scratch with new construction." Patti's "pickiness," as she calls its, stems from the fact that, as a Realtor, she has spent over a dozen years going in countless homes and has made mental notes along the way of what she wanted in her next home. "I also had to make sure that all four members of our family were getting what they wanted too," she said. The Warsaskis chose the Whitehall floorplan and took advantage of Wyndham Deerpoint Homes' ability to customize any design to the buyer's exacting specifications. They enlarged certain rooms-for example, they bumped out the family room by eight-feet and reconfigured the second floor by relocating a hall bathroom into one of the bedrooms to create a guest suite, complete with walk-in closet. They also expanded the entire second level by two feet and created a study loft. Additionally, they added decorative columns to the master bath, created a larger mud room and added several windows and arched doorways. These changes not only gave the Warsaskis a few hundred extra square feet of living space, it gave them the home that was 100 percent what they desired. "Through it all, Wyndham Deerpoint Homes worked closely with us on an open-minded, collaborative level. Even the little things we requested like changing the door jambs on the second floor bathrooms were accommodated by the builder," said Ron, adding that they decided to also duplicate the custom kitchen island shown in the community's Whitehall model in their home. "We welcome changes," said Diane Robinson, director of marketing for Wyndham Deerpoint Homes. "That is what makes us stand out from the competition. We can personalize any home style to satisfy a customer's tastes and help bring their dreams to life. "Our new Whitehall model is filled to the brim with memorable features and fine details that seem to leave a strong impact on people," Robinson added. "It's one of the most exquisitely decorated touring homes we've ever created, one that exemplifies the high caliber of residence we typically craft for buyers." Tall Oaks buyers can choose from 10 distinctive floorplans-including two ranch designs and two first-floor master plans-ranging from approximately 2,000 to 4,100 square feet and each offering three to four bedrooms, two-and-a-half to four baths, two- to three-car garage, nine-foot first floor, wood-burning fireplace, kitchen with oak hardwood floor, 93% efficient gas furnace, fully sodded homesite with professional landscape package, full basement, and a professional, transferable 10-year warranty. Other standard amenities (depending on the plan) include den, first-floor master bedroom, volume ceilings, dual staircase, hearth room, large two-story foyer, and second-floor laundry. A loft, bonus room, sunroom, bay windows, Whirlpool tub, and upgraded trim are among the popular options available. Base prices range from $402,500 to $539,750 (all prices subject to change without notice). "We discovered Wyndham Deerpoint Homes and let friends know about it," said Patti, who plans to move into her new home this summer. "One friend, who is also a client of mine, came along with us on our visits to Tall Oaks and came away thoroughly impressed. He was very close to going to contract with another builder. But at the last minute, a combination of seeing what a great experience we were having and a comparison of the quality of construction to the other builder made him decide to purchase at Tall Oaks with Wyndham Deerpoint Homes, too. Once he moves in, he will be only 10 doors down from us." Ron said he was particularly wowed by the Elgin area, adding that "the community is being revitalized and every time we go downtown, another building is being refaced. The riverfront area is being revamped and the new library is wonderful." As a Realtor, Patti said she sees a lot of communities "where the buildings need this same attention, but they just talk about their plans and nothing ever gets done. Elgin really talks the talk and walks the walk." Set off Rt. 20 near the intersection of Russell and Plank Roads in the west portion of Elgin, Tall Oaks is set on a handsome parcel that boasts quarter-acre to half-acre estate-sized homesites (10,000- to 18,000-square-foot lots), mature, preserved trees, lush foliage and attractive landscaping, and ponds. Community streetscapes offer plenty of curb appeal thanks to garages that are either side-load or recessed from the front door and homes that will sport Hardie Plank siding and architectural shingles. Tall Oaks is located in the highly rated Burlington School District 301. What's more, the community is easily accessible to Rt. 90, Randall Road shopping, and three local Metra stations offering quick service to downtown Chicago and other destinations. Homeowners can take advantage of a variety of Elgin area attractions, including a city parks, local golf courses, the state-of-the-art Gail Borden Library, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, and the Centre of Elgin downtown family recreational facility featuring an indoor aquatic center, fitness center, climbing wall and track. The Tall Oaks sales center is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To reach the community, take Rt. 20 to Plank Road, turn left onto Russell, and turn left onto Windhill Drive into the Tall Oaks entrance; proceed ahead to The Whitehall model at 163 Winding Hill Drive. For more information, call (847) 289-9600

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