Discover how buying or building a new home with Miller Family Homes will help you beat the heat this summer, and beyond!
Welcome to Kansas the land of endless summers, winds strong enough to knock you over without cooling you off, and humidity so high you would swear you were in a rainforest! Despite all of that, for those of us native to this area, we still love it and wouldn’t dream of living anywhere else. And if you’re a transplant questioning why you moved here – don’t, there are ways around the weather and so much to love about sunflower state. So why not embrace this gorgeous, sprawling land of unrivaled sunsets that we call home even more by buying a home built by Miller Family Homes? Why? Because our homes are built to help you beat the heat! (And our lovely, ever-changing weather all year round!)
“How do homes built by Miller Family Homes beat the heat?” you may be thinking. Our one-of-a-kind building techniques coupled with the systems we put in the homes allow us to build more energy-efficient, heat-beating homes.
Let’s start with the HVAC system. From the duct work to the components installed, each part plays an important role in keeping the homes we build at the perfect temperature all year round.
The air conditioner unit is a Trane® 13+ SEER and is sized based on the square footage of each home, not to mention placed thoughtfully in a location that receives as little direct sunlight as possible. This intentional placement allows the unit to run more efficiently without having to work as hard.
The furnace is a Trane® 92% AFUE energy-efficient blower furnace that meets the necessary qualifications to be rated as an ENERGY STAR® South system and uses more energy than it wastes. According to the Trane® website, for every dollar you spend heating your home, 92 cents is converted into heat. Learn more about this furnace here.
Our system includes a unique device called an Aprilair Ventilation Control System. This device helps reduce airborne pollutants. The EPA estimates that homes with this device contain five times less polluted air than air outside the home. This system also helps control the humidity in your home, reduce moisture problems, and diminish odors from cooking and pets. You can learn more about this nifty device here.
Our system has a huge air filter, a 5” MERV 8 Media Air filter to be exact. This large filter traps allergens, pet dander, bacteria, and other particles as small as three microns. For most homes and residential uses, you won’t find a bigger filter.
The sealed duct work that our system includes helps you save energy, thereby saving you money! How? Typical ductwork leaks heated or cooled air into all the spaces that the ductwork runs – which typically is between walls, under floors, etc. – not anywhere that you actually enjoy your home. Sealed ducts solve this problem by keeping the air within the duct until it gets to you through a vent. Ask a New Home Specialist to view our duct work and see the difference for yourself!
The system is controlled by you, the homeowner, with our Honeywell® Wi-Fi Thermostat. Looking for smart tech in a home – here you go! Control your system from anywhere with your computer, smartphone or tablet. You can learn more about this smart thermostat here.
Ready for the cherry on top? It’s not just the HVAC system that helps keep your home cool – the way we build makes a difference too.
Our homes include “energy heel trusses”. These trusses are built in a special way that provides better insulation and ventilation, thereby saving you money on your utility bills! Want to learn more about these trusses? Watch this video or visit this website.
The windows we put in our homes even help you beat the heat! How? We use Pella® 250 Series windows to help keep cool air in and heat out. Did we mention that they include a limited lifetime warranty? Learn more about the windows in our homes here.
As a bonus, with our dual-zoned systems in most homes, you don’t have to worry about a basement that’s too cold or a second floor that’s too hot – each floor has its own thermostat to ensure that it is the perfect temperature. No more carrying that coat to the basement to watch a movie in the middle of summer!
And if the home itself isn’t enough to cool you off, maybe a dip in the community pool will! Two of our communities have pools in the amenity package. Go for a swim, relax, have some fun and socialize with your neighbors! Interested? Click to learn more about the Clear Creek and Southern Ridge communities, both of which have community pools!
So, what are you waiting for? Buy a home built by Miller Family Homes and beat the heat this summer! Or build your dream home and beat the heat next summer!
A home is more than just a house – it’s where memories are made. And this Mother’s Day, we want to reflect on all the memorable moments that happen in a home all because of Moms.
It is often said that “home is wherever mom is.” Moms are the lifeblood of a home. They set the tone for the day, they heal ouchies with a single kiss, they scare away monsters with a simple peek under the bed, they sing silly songs and comfort hurt tears – moms are the unsung, often underappreciated cornerstone of every home. As children, we often overlooked how much our moms did for us and never fully realized it until we have or had children of our own. As adults, we ache for the days of our mother’s warm embrace and simple cuddles on the couch that slipped away all too quickly. We cling to our heartfelt memories and joyful pieces of the past that we keep tucked away and return to often with our own children to keep glimpses of our own mothers alive in the next generation.
As you think of your own childhood years spent at home with mom what comes to mind? How did your mom make the most of your home’s spaces?
Was it cuddling up on the living room couch to watch your favorite movies with your mom’s secret recipe-seasoned homemade popcorn?
Maybe it was the kitchen where the two of your created culinary masterpieces together, French toast, cookies, and three-course meals that would make even a top chef envious? Or at least trying not to burn the birthday cake for Dad!
What about the dining room table where the two of you created cards, scrapbooks, and works of art next to the likes of Monet and Picasso, or at least tried to, but loved every creative minute of it? You would revel in your mother’s hidden talents as she hemmed jeans, patched holes, created signs for school events, made Halloween costumes fit just right, and made every meal – whether it be a special occasion or simple breakfast – seem just as delicious and important as any other, always asking about your day and eagerly waiting to hear about all that you did.
Perhaps it was sneaking into Mom and Dad’s room in the middle of the night because of the scary summer thunderstorms, and your mom welcoming you with open arms and a tuck-in right beside her?
Maybe it was how creative your mom was and made the most of every space, using that unfinished basement as a space to create the best, and messiest art projects, build the grandest blanket forts, and even play indoor dodgeball on the rainiest of spring days? She turned closets into rocket ships and back patios into canvases for chalk art, scooter races, and bubble-blowing contests.
Little did you know, but your room wasn’t just your own personal hideaway, it was also your mom’s favorite place in the house. She would sneak in there when you were sleeping at night to peek in on you, watch you breathe, and imagine what you were dreaming about. When you were gone for the day or at a friend’s house, sometimes she would just go stand in there and ache for you to be home but cherish the fact that you were forming a life all your own. She put so much care into making your room special and perfect for you from the start, decorating it before you were even born, then carefully folding and organizing your baby clothes, then toddler clothes, then big kid clothes. She would tell you to keep it clean “or else” then help you clean it because she didn’t want you to have a mess, until you – and your messes – got bigger, and then she would leave it to you so that you would learn responsibility.
Speaking of learning responsibility, think back to the bubble baths where water would seemingly leap out of the tub on its own and you could hear mom down the hallway hastening to “keep the water in the tub!” as she would sneak around the corner with an ever-watchful but oh-so-loving eye, ready to leap in with a towel to sop up the escaped water and gently dry you off as you climbed out of the tub, ready for jammies and bedtime cuddles.
Remembering watchful eyes, maybe it was how mom always knew what was going on in the backyard…even if you were being as quiet as a ladybug, making mud pies in every tiniest bit of dirt you found, or climbing the neighbor’s giant maple tree. She knew what was going on every time and would call to you from her outpost – the window above the kitchen sink – to “get down from there before you break your neck!”
Maybe it was time spent gardening or soaking up rays in the backyard with mom as the two of you caught up on your day, lathered up with baby oil to “really let the sun soak in.” You ended up looking more like lobsters than bronze beauties but nonetheless, you connected with your mom more like a friend than a parent for the first time.
As you grew, your mom grew with you, learning to be more patient and take the passenger seat to let you take the steering wheel. Literally and figuratively! Remember sitting in the car parked in the garage where your mom calmly explained how to put the car into reverse and back up, all the while she was panicking inside but was smiling and ever-patient on the outside as you flew down the driveway that was once the canvas for your dual chalk masterpieces.
Consider even the simplest of spaces in the home – the laundry room, where laundry seemed to wash, dry and fold all on its own, but there was one person behind it all – Mom. You would toss dirty garments, shoes, and other items in and they came out clean! It was like magic! Pretty close – it was Mom!
Whatever memories of your mom you have, many of them are connected to your idea of “home.” In good times and in bad, Mom always made the best home.
Whether or not you have kids, biologically, through adoption, or even just ones of the furry sort, you do your best to make your house a home, wherever you live. And that’s all that matters – you and your loved ones, and the memories you create together in the space that you share with each other. This Mother’s Day, try to carry on some of your favorite traditions from your mom. Even something as simple as going outside to blow bubbles or crafting at your dining room table or watching a movie on the couch, whatever you did with her, relive it again. And if you’re lucky enough to have your mom, make sure you invite her to join you! She will be so thrilled that you remembered those special moments and wanted her to join you in experiencing them again! We assure you, that’s better than any $5 logo-embossed card you can find!
And if your mom is no longer here or you’re unable to be with her, know that by reliving your favorite memories of her, you’re keeping the best parts of her alive and with you.
Update as of 4/20/2023: Our new Welcome Center & Model home, the Newfield is open in Clear Creek now!
This new Welcome Center and model won FIVE AWARDS during the Spring 2023 Parade of Homes! Whether you are looking to buy or build, this gorgeous home is sure to inspire you! The pictures are beautiful and the Matterport is handy, but you’ve got to stop by and tour this home for yourself to truly experience the inviting beauty of this home. (Not to mention the free and delicious latte, cappuccino, americano, or hot chocolate of your choice!)
Our snazzy new Welcome Center & Model home is on schedule to open the first weekend of the Parade of Homes, April 15th and 16th!
We are so very excited to show off our new Welcome Center and model! Our team has worked tirelessly to get ready for these to open and are ready for you to be able to explore them for yourself! Don’t miss the soft opening during the Spring Parade of Homes as we’ll have a giveaway with some great prizes you could win, lenders available, and more all readily available to assist you! In the meantime, we wanted to provide a little sneak peek of some of the gorgeous details you’ll find in our new model.
But first, a little bit about the new Welcome Center. Typically, the sales office for most builders – including ourselves – is located inside the model home, tucked away in a bedroom. Well not anymore for Miller Family Homes! Our new Welcome Center is a one-of-a-kind, beautifully decorated space loaded with information about buying and building in Clear Creek. With free espresso and other beverages you’ll want to take advantage, sit back, relax and enjoy exploring all Miller Family Homes has to offer for your pathway to homeownership. Chat with a New Home Specialist or explore on your own using our helpful customer resource-enabled TV.
Now on to the exciting new model home! You’ll exit the Welcome Center and then enter the gorgeously stylized model through the front door highlighted with gorgeous side lights. Built to inspire your buying and building this model features a dedicated, decked-out entryway, open-concept floor plan, designer kitchen, and hidden surprises in every room! Everything from one-of-a-kind trim details to gorgeous built-ins and unique but trendy aesthetics – you’re sure to find something you love about this home and want to incorporate into your own. Look for the personalized touches throughout the home and envision what it’s like living in a home built by Miller Family Homes.
Easily accessible from the main entrance of Clear Creek, just past the newly updated community swimming pool and pavilion, you’ll turn onto Laguna St. and notice this gorgeous new Welcome Center and Model right away at the entrance of our newest collection in Clear Creek – The Crossing. With an oh-so-popular paint color, beautiful landscaping, and helpful signage, you’ll easily find yourself in a parking space just outside the Welcome Center, ready to explore this gorgeous home! Don’t miss your chance to see all that Clear Creek has to offer and learn more about how you can buy one of our move-in ready homes, just waiting for your own perfect touch, or build the home of your dreams on any of our available homesites – including lakeside options and homesites with established trees!
Is that unfinished basement holding you back from buying the new home you’ve been dreaming of? Don’t let it!
Much like an underground gold mine, a home’s unfinished basement is just waiting to be tapped and put to the perfect use. Discover the hidden value in buying a home with an unfinished basement.
Often, unfinished basements are seen as a major obstacle for many homebuyers. They see it as another project, something that will take thousands of dollars to finish before they can even enjoy or use the space, or even worse – wasted space that they’ll never make use of. Its time to rethink the unfinished basement! There is serious potential value – and space – just waiting to be put to use! Consider an unfinished basement as a blank canvas, perfect for you to use, adapt and finish based on your specific needs and circumstances. Don’t believe us? Grab a cup of coffee and read on to discover the potential uses for an unfinished basement along with some light DIY finishing ideas that you may not have thought of before.
And if you’re not a DIYer or maybe you’re certain you need a full basement finish, after reading you’ll notice that at the end of the article, we’ve included a link to contractors and home remodeling companies that can help you fully finish the basement the way you want. The benefit of finishing the basement with the help of a contractor, after purchasing and closing on a home is that for the most part, you get to choose where the walls go, what gets finished, and what doesn’t, and more to really make your basement your own, not predetermined by someone else’s plan or vision.
Now let’s dig in!
We’ve broken our list of potential ideas for an unfinished basement into three different categories: Completely Unfinished, Light DIY Finishing, and Full Finishing so that no matter your current square footage needs or future plans, we’ve got you covered. Some of these ideas can overlap, so that if you want, love, or need more than one, you can make room for it! That’s the beauty of blank canvases like unfinished basements, you choose how it’s used, adapted, and adjusted over time and as you need!
Ideas For Your Completely Unfinished Basement
That’s right, from the day you move in, your unfished basement offers automatic instant value.
STORAGE
Pretty obvious and the most common use, but still valuable nonetheless, unfinished basements make a great place to store things – and lots of them! Empty your storage unit and have room to spare. Better yet, install some inexpensive shelving and you can take your storage vertical and easily find what you’re looking for when you need it. If you’re a canner, showcase all your beautifully canned veggies and mixes – like a cellar, but prettier! You can always go super cute and functional with some baskets and bins and a label maker to make a storage haven.
ROOM TO RUN
Bring your outdoor activities in! Completely unfinished basements make a great space for bringing some of the typical outdoor activities inside. Consider this, on bad weather days, you’ve got a place to let your kids run off some energy and enjoy the things they normally do outside! Chalk on the floor – no biggie! Bubbles – yes, please! Scooters and tricycles zooming around – go! Personal roller rink – yep! Red rover, red rover send the unfinished basement right over! Even just a little light finishing will make it a playroom space your kids will brag about to their buddies! Add some foam mats or soft cushy rugs, build a fort or tent, and leave it up with no pressure to take it down, hang some climbing ropes or even build an indoor obstacle course! The list goes on, and on!
Light DIY Finishing Can Go A Long Way
Depending upon how you choose to use the space, by adding just a few items, your unfinished basement can be transformed into an ultra-functional workspace, art studio, home gym, entertaining space, and more!
HOME-GYM HAVEN
Really, without any finishing at all, your unfinished basement can be a home gym. Put your treadmill or weight set down there, add a yoga mat and TV if you like to use workout videos and you’re set. You’ve got a great place to sweat without having to worry about cleaning up or soaking and stinking up carpet! If you want a “prettier” place to exercise, paint the concrete floor or add some foam mats, install some shelves to hold your equipment, hang a motivational poster and bam – you’ve got a home gym your neighbors will want to buy a membership to!
And if you’re into martial arts, boxing, dance, yoga or Pilates, an unfinished basement can make the perfect studio for these activities! Leave it barebones or easily dress it up with mirrors, some paint, foam flooring, and the sport-specific necessities (a punching bag for boxing, a bar for Pilates, etc.) – either way, you’ve got a large space that you can move in without having to worry about knocking anything over or bumping elbows with another.
SPACE TO CREATE
If you are a crafter, seamstress, photographer, painter, woodworker – whatever your hobby or passion is, an unfinished basement holds the potential to be the perfect workshop or art studio. With little to no finishing, you can set up shop and get to work! Spruce up the space for a cozier, more inviting feeling or leave it as is and create away! Consider this, many basements have windows that open so you’ve got easy ventilation, you won’t hurt the concrete with paint or clay or whatever your medium may be, and you’ve got room for all your supplies plus space left to create! Make a mess without the stress! If paint goes flying, there’s no need to rush and wipe it off. Fabric scraps and wood chips all over the floor, no problem! That’s the beauty in a basement workshop – no one has to see it unless you want them to! If you’re a photographer, you can make an easy-to-adapt photo studio with adjustable lighting and room for multiple sitting options. You could even set up a darkroom to develop your own film and prints.
If you see your passion in the list below, get inventive and think about the seemingly endless possibilities an unfinished basement has to offer your creative needs:
Singing or Playing an Instrument
Photography
Painting or Illustrating
Sewing & Quilting
Scrapbooking
Sculpting
Woodworking
Mixed Media
Chalk Art
Indoor Nursery or Gardening
Beer Making
Textile Art
Performing Art
Crafting
Graphic Design or Computer Art
Tattoo Art
PERSONAL PUTTING GREEN
If you’re a golfer, then an unfinished basement could be the ticket to improving your game! That’s right, there’s room to install as simple or complex of an indoor putting green as you want or even a virtual driving range! You can practice your swing all year and in the privacy of your own home! Go fancy and deck out the space, add a bar, a couple of TVs and make a full-out golf haven or go simple with easy-to-install astroturf and a couple of homemade cups, either way, you’ve got the perfect escape right in your own home!
UNWIND WITH YOU-TIME
Whatever you enjoy doing to relax and unwind, an unfinished basement may be the ticket to creating your personal escape space or retreat. There’s room to adjust and set up the space nearly any way you need! With a little creativity and ingenuity, and as much finishing as you want, you can have your very own sanctuary space! Here are just a few ideas of things you can create in your unfinished basement with a little light finishing:
Wine Cellar
Personal Library
Home Theater or Entertainment Room
Meditation Room
Game Room (Video Games, Board Games, Table-Top Games, Pool Table, etc.)
Man Cave
Playroom (An escape for the kiddos!)
See the “Space To Create” ideas above if your relaxation is in creating!
INDIE-INDUSTRIAL-STYLE ENTERTAINING SPACE
Have you been dying for the perfect space to entertain? With a little work – and we mean just a little – you’ll have a super chic, industrial-styled entertaining space sure to make your guests envious! Paint or stain the concrete floor, add a pop of color to the concrete walls with paint, fabric, stained wood planks – pretty much any material other than drywall, add some creative storage and find the perfect bar-styled furniture, a TV or two, a centerpiece game table and comfortable-chic furniture and you’ve got a one-of-a-kind space perfect for entertaining that’s easy-to-clean and perfect for accommodating multiple guests! Don’t believe us, check out what others have done to create oh-so-cool entertaining spaces in their unfinished basements.
WORK AWAY FROM WORK – OR SCHOOL
Do you work remotely or for yourself? Needing an office space but the main floor is full – or will be full and you’re holding out for the home with perfect office space? Don’t! If there’s an unfinished basement you’ve got the room to make the office of your dreams! With a very small amount of finishing, you’ll have an office area so perfect you’ll never want to go back upstairs! Even better, you’ll be able to work in peace away from the noise of the main floor. And if you work from home while caring for little ones then an unfinished basement truly is the perfect solution! Create a combination office and playroom – your kids can play while you work away!
If you homeschool your littles, then an unfinished basement can become the perfect school space with very minimal finishing! Add some bright colors with fabric, paint, and foam to the floors and walls, install some shelves and seating, and add some desks or tables and chairs and you’ve got a great place to educate! Even better, you can adapt this space over the years to best fit your children’s education needs over time. Did we mention it’s easy to keep clean? Hello fun – and messy art projects and erupting science experiments!
SPACE FOR GUESTS
Surprisingly, it doesn’t take much to create a guest room in an unfinished basement. Of course, you can go all out with a full-on finish and create a room that would make the Hilton jealous or keep it simple – with a few effortless and soft touches you can creative dividers, add a splash of color plus a great area rug and some cute decor, you’ll have an ultra-comfy, shabby-chic space any guest is sure to have sweet dreams in!
Perhaps you’re looking to make a little extra money off that basement space? Maybe you’ve got a friend or family member that needs a place to stay but can’t afford to live on their own. Whatever the case me be, with a little creativity and resourcefulness you can turn your unfinished basement into an apartment! You didn’t hear it from us, though! Take a gander at the examples below and then create your own little money maker!
COMBINATION SPACE
Because there is so much potential just lurking in that unfinished basement, you’ve probably realized that you can convert it into a “combination space” or “flexible space” with many of these ideas in different areas or sections of the basement to truly meet whatever your needs in a home may be. Whether it’s a combo game room, art studio, home gym, or perhaps it becomes a space to run and play with an area creatively closed off for guests. Whatever the need, with a little light finishing, you can convert an unfinished basement into one, or multiple of these ideas, and even adapt it later as your needs in a home grow and change!
More Expensive, But Worth the Investment Full Finishing
Not up for DIY? We hope you’ll give it a try! Surprisingly, after you do some light finishing you may find it easier than you thought to lightly finish out the basement completely, or even just a few spaces in the basement. If you’re not up for DIY or you know that you want a finished basement in any capacity, you’ll need to consider hiring a contractor and make sure you’ve done ample planning to ensure that the way you want to finish the basement will not only work for the needs of your family but will add value when it comes time to resell your home. If you want a full-on finished basement or even just part of a space in the basement that requires electrical, plumbing, permanent flooring, or drywall, we highly recommend hiring a professional contractor to perform the basement finish for you.
Light finishing isn’t as serious of a matter as most of what you do can be easily undone, taken down, moved, or covered up by the next homeowner or even yourself if needed. But a full-on finish is much more permanent and requires specific codes and zoning to be met. Once framing and drywall go up, you are kind of stuck with it, unless you plan on doing some major remodeling. The good news is, once a basement is finished, it will add value to your home as it will be adding square feet and most likely additional bedrooms and bathrooms. Again, we highly recommend careful planning prior to finishing your basement, as it is more permanent and will affect your home significantly.
For example, let’s say you know you want the world’s largest man cave in your basement, so you spend the time, money, and effort to finish the basement out as the biggest man cave you’ve ever seen and you love it and enjoy it for years to come. But, as your kids older and you find you need more bedrooms, and you really wished you had the space in the basement to add them, but you can’t because you have the world’s largest man cave, so now your only option is to either do some major remodeling or purchase a new home with more bedrooms. If you had done some light finishing to create your ultra-mancave from the start, you could easily adjust the basement space and/or pay a contractor to finish the basement out with additional bedrooms now. Not only adding value, because of the additional finished square footage but adding more bedrooms thereby upping your resale price if, or when you choose to sell the home. Hence the need for serious planning and saving before you decide how you want to finish your basement.
If you want to fully, or even partially finish the basement there are a couple of options.
Get a quote from a contractor to finish all or part of the basement.
If you’re handy, determine what it would take to finish the basement (materials, time, etc.) and contact your local building and permitting department to see what’s required. Often, even if you’re skilled and capable of construction work, without a licensed contractor signing off on the work, it won’t pass code or permitting, thereby devaluing your home, rather than increasing it.
Even if you are a home repair aficionado, hiring a professional is still the best way to go for anything to be considered permanent and to add monetary value to the home. Visit the Wichita Area Building Association Remodelers Council here to see a list of licensed, vetted contractors you can contact for a quote regarding a basement finish. Find a contractor here.
Whether you own a home with an unfinished basement or are looking to buy a home with an unfinished basement, we hope that you’re seeing unfinished basements in a whole new way – as a blank canvas – ready and waiting for your clever creativity to convert the space into whatever you need in a home, and maybe even more than you ever thought possible! And if you are home hunting but have been holding out for that perfect basement – don’t! Now you know you can create your perfect basement! Check out our available homes as we have many with unfinished basements – ready for you to make your own!
Check out these other helpful articles and resources for more unfinished basement ideas.
Please note, these are ideas and suggestions for how to use and convert the space in an unfinished basement. Miller Family Homes holds no responsibility or liability for accidents, problems, or issues that may occur from these suggestions. We do not promote or recommend that any dangerous, harmful, or unlawful activities be performed in unfinished basements or in an attempt to finish or lightly finish a basement. Basic safety guidelines and building practices should always be adhered to. Speak with a licensed contractor to ensure safe building practices are followed and the correct and necessary permits are filed. Choosing to follow recommendations or suggestions stated in this article is done so at the reader’s discretion and personal liability.
2023 Marks 30 Years in Business for Miller Family Homes!
And what a journey it has been! Full of highs and lows, it hasn’t always been an easy path, but we are extremely proud of where we are today!
Started in 1993 by Clint Miller and his wife Brigitte, their passion for people and knowledge of new home construction fueled the Miller Family Homes of today. (Read more about the beginning of Miller Family Homes in “Our Story” here.) Through the years, the company has grown and expanded and is now comprised of a team of ten and several different companies including Miller Family Properties which owns and operates two different townhome communities, and Miller Family Development which develops the land we build our communities on.
Today, Clint is the President and fearless leader of Miller Family Homes. He also draws up architectural plans and acquires land to build future communities. Brigitte’s legacy lives on through their sons, Derek and Kevin. Derek currently works for Georgia Pacific as an Industrial Estimator while Kevin lives in Minnesota and is the top New Home Specialist for Creative Homes. Both Derek and Kevin plan on returning to the family business in the coming years full of the knowledge and experience they’ve gained during their time with these other companies.
Chief Operating Officer, Mike runs the day-to-day operations here at Miller Family Homes while Controller, Dinah overseas offices, accounts, and financials for all the Miller Family Companies. Project Manager Eric oversees the development, construction, and building of all Miller Family Homes and communities. Interior Designer and Draftswoman Courtney creatively and skillfully plans and picks designs for all our new homes, models, and sales centers. New Home Specialists Scott Darrenkamp and Jenny Castro are who you’ll meet in our communities and both are eager to help you buy or build your brand-new home. Savannah, our Online Sales Consultant, Closing Coordinator, and Digital Marketing Specialist will be glad to answer any questions you may have via a phone call, text, email, or the chat button on our website. After you sign a purchase agreement, you’ll meet Scott Sampson, our Customer Care Specialist who will walk you through your Home Presentation leading up to closing and take care of you through your warranty checkups. At closing on your new home, you’ll meet Savannah in person and receive a little gift and intro to the Miller Family Homes family. Behind the scenes, Marketing Director Astyn designs and manages the website, graphic designs, and marketing efforts for the Miller Family Companies.
This amazing team collaborates, learns and grows together to create everything that you see from Miller Family Homes. As a company, we are so very appreciative and thankful for the team that we have today, along with past team members who helped Miller Family Homes to get to where it is today. Without the whole team, past and present, none of this would have been possible.
Some of our recent accomplishments include:
Donating The House That She Built books and companion The House That She Built Activity Books to L’ Ouverture Career Explorations & Technology Magnet.
Participating in the Great Cycle Challenge for 3 years running led by Dinah and raising over $5,000 in that time for Children’s cancer research.
Adopting or rather we were the ones being adopted by Sassy, our Office Cat who continually keeps the team on-task, loves to be the center of attention and may require the occasional snuggling or kitty treat.
Creating and curating an impressive list of resources and content for both prospective buyers and current homeowners available completely for free and backed by a team of knowledgeable and skilled professionals. (Check out the Homebuyer’s Guide here.) (Explore the Homeowner Resources here.) (View our Customer Center here to discover all our resources.)
We are so very thankful to all our partners; Realtors, lenders, title companies, subcontractors, and vendors – without your continued support we would none of our accomplishments would have been possible! We are truly thankful for each and every one of you and look forward to your continued partnership in the years to come!
Finally, we want to thank you, our customers, past, present, and future! If you’ve bought or built with us, we hope that you are enjoying your Miller Family Home and making memories to last a lifetime in your new home. If you haven’t yet bought or built with us, we hope that you will consider doing so. Our goal – our mission, is to build better homes and better communities. We want you to love every step of your pathway to homeownership and beyond. If you haven’t yet, take a moment to discover The Miller Familly Homes Difference and learn more about how we’re different. And if you’re looking to buy or build, don’t miss our great savings opportunities that we’ve got running this month! You can view current savings opportunities here.
Miller Family Homes has exciting things planned for 2023, our 30th year, and beyond!
Our snazzy, new Welcome Center and Model will be opening in Clear Creek in April and ready for the Parade of Homes!
Arvada, our new community near 119th and 37th in Maize, is having the land developed now! We’ll be releasing the community map and floor plans for this community very soon along with accepting homesite reservations!
There will be another exciting new community that we’ll be releasing details about very soon!
We’ll be partnering with Girl Scouts of America to host events tied to The House That She Built to continue that initiative and educational opportunities for Wichita’s youth.
For Realtors, we’re planning some great collaborative events for Realtors throughout the year, including a boosted Coop Commission for every sale after the second. (Realtors, learn more here!)
And this is just a small, sneak peek of what we’ve got planned for this year alone! Subscribe to our newsletters and emails to stay informed about everything Miller Family Homes and be the first to know when we release new information, communities, floor plans and more!(Subscribe here!)
We are thrilled for 2023, our 30th anniversary year, and so very thankful to our team, past and present, our partners, lenders, realtors, subcontractors, vendors and tradespeople, and especially to all of our customers and prospective customers throughout the last 30 years! We hope you’ll join us on this journey for this year and beyond, and find your home sweet home with Miller Family Homes!
You might have noticed the new buttons we’ve added to our website that say “Tour on Your Own Now or Later”. This handy new feature we’re offering allows you to tour homes on your own, or “self-guided”. When you click one of these buttons or scan the QR code in our communities, you’ll be directed to the NterNow platform that allows you to either schedule a tour or tour a home now, if you are physically at the home, ready to explore it.
What is NterNow? NterNow is an easy-to-use platform that works with a variety of companies to allow interested individuals to tour homes on their own, without a real estate agent or salesperson present. You can access this software through the QR codes on the front door of the home, a web browser via the buttons on our website, or through their app, available in the App Store and Google Play. Don’t like apps or technology? No problem, you can always call NterNow at (844) 531.1283 or our Online Sales Consultant at (316) 250.6227 to learn more.
HOW IT WORKS
If You Are Physically In One of Our Communities with the Self-Tour Signs:
Scan the QR code to access the app or call the phone number on the orange sign.
If you’re using the app, you’ll have to create an account and scan your driver’s license to verify your identity, but only for the first visit.
If you call the phone number on the sign, you’ll have to verify your identity by answering a few questions.
Either way, please be reassured that your information is safe and never sold to another party.
The app will geolocate your proximity to the home and after agreeing to the terms and conditions, you’ll receive a 9-digit access code to the home that you’ll enter into the keypad on the door.
If you’ve called in, they will tell you the 9-digit code to enter into the door.
After entering the code, you’ll hear the door unlock, you can now open the door and enter the home.
Upon entering the home you’ll want to close the door to enjoy a private tour of the home.
You’ll notice handy marketing materials on the counter from Miller Family Homes about the home and any savings opportunities we may be running – please feel free to take one or some of these with you!
If at any point while you’re touring you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us at (316) 250.6227.
When you’re done touring, please be sure to relock any doors (other than the front door) that you may have unlocked while touring.
When you leave, the front door just needs to be closed to resecure the home.
Feel free to tour any other homes you see with the orange, “Tour This Home Now” sign.
If You Are On The Website & Want to Schedule a Self-Guided Tour:
Simply click the “Tour On Your Own Now or Later” button.
Follow the on-screen prompts and create an account, again, so that you only have to verify your identity once.
Choose the home you want to tour and select your date and time.
When you’re ready to tour the home, the app will give you the access code to enter into the keypad on the front door.
After entering the code, you’ll hear the door unlock, you can now open the door and enter the home.
Upon entering the home you’ll want to close the door to enjoy a private tour of the home.
You’ll notice handy marketing materials on the counter from Miller Family Homes about the home and any savings opportunities we may be running – please feel free to take one or some of these with you!
If at any point while you’re touring you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us at (316) 250.6227.
When you’re done touring, please be sure to relock any doors (other than the front door) that you may have unlocked while touring.
When you leave, the front door just needs to be closed to resecure the home.
Feel free to tour any other homes you see with the orange, “Tour This Home Now” sign.
What if you want to talk with a New Home Specialist during the Tour? That’s great, we love to show off our homes! Simply schedule an appointment with one of our New Home Specialists and they will be present to give you a tour of the home and answer any questions you may have. You can schedule a tour by either calling(316) 250.6227 or clicking here to book a tour.
Currently, we’re only offering Self-Guided Tours in two communities, Southern Ridge and Village Estates. Soon, you should be able to self-tour some of the homes in Clear Creek as well. And even though you may not be able to self-tour in Clear Creek, you can now stop by 7 days a week in Clear Creek as we’ve extended the Welcome Center’s hours! Our new Open Hours in Clear Creek are: Mondays & Tuesdays from 11am to 5pm, Wednesdays from 1pm to 5pm, Thursdays through Saturdays from 11am to 5pm and Sundays from 1pm to 5pm or by appointment for nearly anytime outside of these hours.
We hope you love this great feature as much as we do and that you’ll take advantage of it and explore some of our homes on your own schedule! Self-Guided Tours are available 7 days a week from 7am to 9pm, allowing you to tour the home before or after work, at a time that works best for you.
Let’s start with the HVAC system. From the duct work to the components installed, each part plays an important role in keeping the homes we build at the perfect temperature all year round.
And if the home itself isn’t enough to cool you off, maybe a dip in the community pool will! Two of our communities have pools in the amenity package. Go for a swim, relax, have some fun and socialize with your neighbors! Interested? Click to learn more about the Clear Creek and Southern Ridge communities, both of which have community pools!
Remembering watchful eyes, maybe it was how mom always knew what was going on in the backyard…even if you were being as quiet as a ladybug, making mud pies in every tiniest bit of dirt you found, or climbing the neighbor’s giant maple tree. She knew what was going on every time and would call to you from her outpost – the window above the kitchen sink – to “get down from there before you break your neck!”
PERSONAL PUTTING GREEN
SPACE FOR GUESTS
COMBINATION SPACE
Not up for DIY? We hope you’ll give it a try! Surprisingly, after you do some light finishing you may find it easier than you thought to lightly finish out the basement completely, or even just a few spaces in the basement. If you’re not up for DIY or you know that you want a finished basement in any capacity, you’ll need to consider hiring a contractor and make sure you’ve done ample planning to ensure that the way you want to finish the basement will not only work for the needs of your family but will add value when it comes time to resell your home. If you want a full-on finished basement or even just part of a space in the basement that requires electrical, plumbing, permanent flooring, or drywall, we highly recommend hiring a professional contractor to perform the basement finish for you.
Started in 1993 by Clint Miller and his wife Brigitte, their passion for people and knowledge of new home construction fueled the Miller Family Homes of today. 
