October is a month of celebration. We begin to settle into the Autumn weather as the air gets crisp and cool, pick out our Halloween outfits, visit orchards, sip on cider, and carve pumpkins. Here at Shurm Homes, we have an extra special tradition that we participate in during the month of October with all of the other builders in Richmond—The Parade of Homes! This year marked the 70th Anniversary of the Parade of Homes; an event where the builders of Richmond enter a model to be judged and scored, followed by a month of Open Houses for all models entered during the weekends in October. These Open Houses allow everyone in the area to have a chance to be a part of the event. Shurm Homes entered a model of our York II floorplan, in the highly sought-after 55+ community of Rock Creek Villas in the Quinton area of New Kent. Rock Creek Villas features one of the most maintenance-free HOAs in the Richmond area. With inclusions such as trash removal, street maintenance, exterior maintenance, and repairs (siding, windows AND ROOF,) landscaping and more, it is hard to get more maintenance-free than Rock Creek Villas! Our York II model included the BEST KITCHEN award in our price point. This 2-bed 2-bath floorplan is the perfect size for a right sized home, also including a large 2-car garage. It boasted a long and wide entryway leading to a very open-concept living space, which earned a “Best Feature” blue ribbon. Those who visited during our weekend open houses were most impressed by the door that connected the laundry room to the closet in the primary bedroom! This option makes putting away clothes a breeze! We had a blast with everyone that came out to see us during the Parade of Homes this year, and we hope that you are putting it on your calendar for next October, because we are already looking forward to our next entry!

This weekend our Director of Sales and Marketing, Jennifer Jinnette, set out to explore some of the best activities for the active family in and around two of our communities. First up was Pocahontas State Park, which is located less than 10 miles from Pennwood Estates, now selling its final phase. It was a beautiful day for kayaking, so my family and I loaded up our kayaks and drove out to this 12.68 square mile State Park. We happened to go on free parking day, but parking normally is around $7. While there are a multitude of activities to enjoy in Pocahontas State Park, on this day we focused solely on kayaking. You can bring your own kayaks or rent them there, as well as paddle boats. The sky was blue and the air was fresh and clean. We saw wildlife such as cranes, egrets, and fish jumping out of the water, plus a multitude of various size turtles sunning themselves on this gorgeous day. There’s plenty to do at Pocahontas State Park for the avid fisher, biker, hiker, runner, and so much more. While closed for the season, the pool looked like a lot of fun featuring large slides. The restroom facilities were clean and the park was well marked. We will definitely be back to explore this park more! On Sunday, we spent the afternoon enjoying one of Brickshires' many amenities, golf! Plenty of people, from right here in our community or from Richmond and Williamsburg and beyond come to Providence Forge to play a round on our award winning Curtis Strange designed course. One of the great things about living in Brickshire is ALL of the amenities right at your doorstep, including golf for those who want to play! On this particular day we only played 9 holes, but you can play 9, 18, 27 or 36! You will find residents forming their own tournaments and comradery forged by neighbors who become friends. When you're done playing golf, come to the clubhouse for a nice dinner, enjoy live music on the lawn Friday nights, or just a quiet night at home on one of our peaceful homesites. For more information on these communities, or any of our Richmond area developments, visit our website - www.shurmhomes.com.

FALL is upon us, and Chesterfield is buzzing with activities in and around the area that you and your family can participate in this Autumn to celebrate! Shurm Homes has found some of the most fun things that you can do in this fall after nestling into your new home in the highly-sought-after community of Pennwood Estates! 1.) Visit the Berry Farm! Take a trip down Hull Street Road and visit the Chesterfield Berry Farm for a fun-filled day with the whole family! With an 8 acre “dino maze,” funzone, barrel train ride, wagon train ride, fun hat mazes, fun hay slides, pig races, animal corral, paintball target shoot, & corn cannons, there is so much to do! After you have experienced everything the CBF has to offer, take a hayride to pick out your favorite pumpkins and gourds! With many different admission packages and tickets available, there really is something for everyone! Check out their website to stay up-to-date on all of their events and learn how to get tickets! 2.) Take An Apple-Picking Trip In The Mountains! Pack up the car and head to Charlottesville for a day full of apple-picking and apple donuts, because Cater Mountain is THE PLACE TO BE in the fall! There is so much to do for the whole family, with food, ciders and beers, apple cider slushies, gorgeous mountain views, space for kids to run, and of course, miles and miles of apple orchards where you can pick many different types of apples! Visit their website to get more information about getting tickets— and don’t forget to clear up your camera space before you go for all of the fantastic photos you are going to take while you make memories with your family! 3.)Catch an Old Halloween Movie at the Byrd Theatre! In 1928, the Byrd Theatre opened its doors for the first time as a film-only venue in what is now known as Carytown in Richmond Virginia. It was viewed as an architectural masterpiece at the time, and still looks stunning today. Well into the 21st century the Byrd Theatre continues to be a Richmond staple. In October, the Byrd has a line-up of Halloween Movies on schedule. Since the Byrd is a one-screen movie venue with a small lobby, please bring a jacket. It is customary to wait outside for the movie time since there is not enough room in the lobby to house everyone waiting for entry. You can find movie times and ticket information on their website! For those who like the scarier side of the fall, the Byrd Theatre is known as one of the most haunted places in the city! 4.) Go To An Adults-Only Halloween Party! Many bars and restaurants have Halloween events, however if you are looking for a fun Adults-Only Costume party with live music and prizes, Uptown Alley’s “Boos and Brews” event is the place to be in Chesterfield. This is a 21+ party that will include indoor and outdoor bars, 2 live bands, and a Halloween costume contest with a $1,000 prize. This year, the event will take place Saturday, October 30th at 7pm! You can find more information about the event and how to get tickets on the event’s facebook page! 5.)Attend the Scott’s Addition Pumpkin Festival! Scott’s Addition is a popular place to head to on the weekend with its many breweries, cideries, and fun bars/restaurants for the entire family. On Saturday, October 16th the Scott’s Addition Pumpkin Festival will take place on Arthur Ashe Boulevard. This free-admission event includes live music, fall treats and food for sale, as well as beer from local breweries! There are even costume contests for kids, adults AND four-legged friends! Head over to the facebook page for the event for more information 6.) Head to the Botanical Gardens for the Harvest Fest! On Saturday, October 23rd from 9am- 9 pm and Sunday, October 24th from 9am-5pm, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens will be hosting their Harvest Fest. This 2-day event will have live music, adult beverages, food, and family-friendly activities. Whether you are watching the pumpkin-carving demonstration, building a Fairy House with fall materials, or even listening to “scary” stories, you are guaranteed to have a great time! Check out the event’s Facebook page for all the details! 7.) Experience the Richmond Folk Festival The Richmond Folk Festival is one of Richmond’s most popular events of the year! From October 8th-10th you can experience a wonderful celebration of music and culture with a whole line-up of performing artists! Bring a blanket, or even some chairs, and enjoy a showcase of talent and community. There is no cost of admission, but make sure that you bring some cash for beverages and YUMMY food! You can find information about the history of the festival, as well as the musical line-up on their website. There is nothing quite like the feeling of fall in the air, and we really hope that you now have some more events to add to your calendar! There is so much to do in the fall, but no matter what you plan on taking part in, please remember to be safe and have fun!

When you're looking for the perfect community to call home, what are the main things you're looking for? Lot size? Amenities? Curb appeal? For me, when I was moving to Virginia from North Carolina in 2016, I was looking for the perfect community for my only child to grow up in. Amenities, space to play, new friends, beautiful homes, all while trying to get the best bang for my buck. I found all of that and more in Brickshire. Nestled along I-64 in between Richmond and Williamsburg in New Kent County, Brickshire features gorgeously constructed homes on over 1200 acres of rolling hills and woods. When shopping for a new home 5 years ago, I visited communities from Richmond to Williamsburg. None gave me the sense of home like Brickshire did. From driving past the entrance sign perfectly landscaped all year long, passing by the amenities including swimming pool, tennis courts, fitness center and jogging trails, and seeing beautiful homes of various architecture and design, I knew from the moment that I first visited Brickshire that I wanted to call it home. We enjoyed a fun last few weeks of summer when we moved here, and while I was happy with our choice, our first Halloween really solidified that this was the perfect place for us. The kids aren't the only ones who get into the Halloween fun! From "You've Been Booed" secret front porch drops leading up to the day, to adult only parties at the owners clubhouse, Brickshire residents love to celebrate! But we don't stop at Halloween! Christmas light competitions, Hanukkah parties, New Years Eve celebrations, socially distanced COVID Easter Parades, the list goes on and on! Santa even makes a special stop at the clubhouse on a firetruck to greet all of the neighborhood kids (and some of the big kids too). Don't forget about physical fitness! One of the best things about living in Brickshire is how active you can be! From a 24 hour fitness center, to miles of walking trails, Brickshire is the perfect place to walk, jog, bike, blade, play basketball, soccer, kickball, tennis, pickleball, golf... really the list goes on and on. We even have an annual 5K that benefits New Kent County Schools! Not only has living in Brickshire been amazing, but choosing a location that is in between two wonderful cities has opened up opportunities for work, play, and recreation! You're only 30 minutes from downtown Richmond and Williamsburg! Explore the sites of the Historic Triangle; visit Jamestown, Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens or Water Country USA to your east. Or, go west and enjoy the magnificent food, drinks, and outdoor activities that surround the James River in downtown Richmond. Want to stay closer to home? New Kent County is home to 4 wineries, a brewery, golf courses galore (including our very own Brickshire Golf Course), Colonial Downs/Rosies, and plenty of restaurants! We are so excited to be able to bring our collection of gorgeous homes and 20+ years of experience to Brickshire. With several homes about to close and more under construction, our homes in Brickshire are quickly becoming a favorite. We have 7 homesites currently available to choose your floorplan and build on. Click here to view our floorplans and learn more about Shurm Homes in Brickshire! Need something quicker? Our Potomac and Cordova will be ready late 2021! Ready to learn more? Contact us at sales@shurmhomes.com or call us at 804-552-3858.

It's one of our favorite times of the year, the MAME awards from the Home Building Association of Richmond! While things looked a little different this year due to the current social distancing restrictions, we were able to have a small "Speakeasy Themed" gathering in our office to celebrate the Sales & Marketing achievements of 2020, and look forward at the rest of 2021 and beyond! Congratulations to all of the nights winners, including our very own team in Dispatch Station who were awarded a team sales award for 2020! We look forward to what we hope will be an in-person event next year, and thank all of those who have built with us for trusting us to build your home for you! There have certainly been many challenges over the past year, but we continue to work diligently to handcraft the best homes for you.