dream big with epic homes

words by TOM SEIFERT photography by SCOTT EISENBEISZ, NOCTEM PHOTOGRAPHY

Connecting the dream home you’ve always imagined to an empty lot or to confusing lines and numbers on paper can be a difficult task — difficult to the point of anxiety, stress and even fear to many who are face-to-face with this challenge.

Cue Epic Homes: Parker Pladson, Taylor Belk and Tom Seifert. They enjoy sharing the other side of the story. Staring down the nearly impossible task of turning your ideas into reality brings excitement to their faces. And their clients often find the process to be enjoyable and fun. Yes, building a new home can be fun!

This dream living room features a custom metal insert for easy firewood stacking. When turned off, the TV displays an image of the homeowner's choosing turning it instantly into a piece of art.

homeowners: MIKE & ALIVIA WAMBOLDT architect: JAN MEVOLD, MEVOLD STUDIOS designer: JEAN HOLWAGNER, J MARIE DESIGN, INC.

When asked at which stage of the process their clients have the biggest smile, the team at Epic Homes doesn’t have to think about their answer. “Move-in day is always special,” responds Parker Pladson. “It is often the first time our clients get to make the house their home. Their memories will start at that moment, and are shared with family members, pets, friends and everyone that will step foot in their home.”

However, getting to move-in day doesn’t happen overnight, so let’s start at the beginning. “Seeing our clients’ dreams with them is one of the first and most important parts of what we do,” says Tom Seifert. “While it may sound silly to see another’s dream, it is crucial for us to fully understand the big picture. Most clients we meet with have an idea of what they want their finished home to feel like. They can see their family on Christmas morning, birthday parties, movie nights or get-togethers, and there is an emotional connection to how that space looks and feels.”

For Mike and Alivia Wamboldt, the owners of this featured home, it was no different. “As we began our journey to build our home, we had an overall vision of Scandinavian design and functionality,” explain the Wamboldts. “Epic Homes took note of every detail, asked purposeful questions, and put the right team together to turn our vision into reality. In the end, they captured every detail and delivered a project that exceeded our dream. Our home is truly a reflection of us.”

A lot of builders would be scared by some of the pictures on places like Pinterest or Houzz, but Epic Homes wants as many as you can send them. “It helps us capture the look, style and feel that our clients are thinking of,” adds Taylor Belk. “Not everyone can explain in words what they are imagining about their home. From interior features to the overall exterior look, we share idea books and pictures with our clients throughout the entire process, as it helps our team capture their vision.”

Asking for unique ideas and offering custom builds, Epic Homes doesn’t force their clients to work within any boundaries. Pladson elaborates, “We don’t build the same home twice. Our process isn’t, ‘Pick from one of these floor plans, choose one of these countertops, and what color carpet do you want?’ Every detail from beginning to end is a conversation, and the details come together to create the look and feel our clients were dreaming of.”

Since every project is unique, Epic Homes utilizes a team of professional architects and interior designers to offer every client a home that is one-ofa-kind from the largest to the smallest of details. This team is a major reason the process is less stressful when working with Epic Homes.

Rather than telling clients to go pick things out and send them into an overwhelming world of possibilities, Epic Homes takes a different approach. Clients are told where to show up, based on their availability, and are guided through the process alongside a professional interior designer. “We don’t want our clients to be overwhelmed by the endless number of options for every detail of the home, so they often walk into a small idea board that is close to where their dream started,” adds Pladson. This not only reduces stress from being overwhelmed, but guides clients to selections that will bring their vision to reality.

Mike and Alivia Wamboldt add, “J Marie Designs took the time upfront to truly understand our ideas, our lifestyle and our interests. She was able to present creative design ideas to us that were spot-on the first time, making our selections easy, fun and, at times, stretched our thinking. She supported every decision throughout the process. She tapped into resources that reflected our vision of Scandinavian design and brought every detail, interior and exterior, to life. Her excitement, patience and fortitude was reflected in every collaborative opportunity. We trusted the journey because of her, and it was evident that she cared as much as we did about building our home. Simply put, we couldn’t have accomplished this dream without her.”

Another major stressor when building a new home is not knowing what it will actually cost until it is too late. “We have heard horror stories of others getting to the end of a project and being told with no prior warning that they owe astronomical amounts of money,” Seifert comments. “That is not a conversation that anyone wants to have, so we avoid it through transparency and technology.”

Through a robust bidding process, Epic Homes sets allowances based on quotes detailing what clients have said they want, rather than artificially making the price of the home look low or setting the same allowances for every home. “By spending more time up front on all of the details, our pricing is more accurate and leads to happier clients,” Belk adds.

In addition to having allowances set at accurate numbers, clients are able to see up-to-date pricing for each allowance item prior to making a final selection. Pladson explains, “Once they pick out the countertops they want, we upload a new quote, and they can compare it to their allowance prior to making the final selection. If it is more or less than their allowance, they will be aware of that prior to making the final selection.”

As the project progresses, all pricing can be tracked through a robust software program that is customized for Epic Homes and their clients. This software allows clients to see information at any time and from any device. “Sometimes it is easier for clients to discuss things in private and on their own time,” Seifert adds. “We don’t have to be in the same room awkwardly waiting for a split-second decision. They can think about things, look at the big picture, and make a decision without being rushed or feeling pressured.”

The entire process comes together to provide a building experience with less stress, more fun, and the results are breathtaking, as you can see from Mike and Alivia Wambolt’s home.

Epic Homes would like to publicly thank Mike and Alivia Wamboldt for allowing their home to be featured, for being fantastic clients, and now friends. Thank you!

FOR MORE INFORMATION on Epic Homes, visit epichomesnd.com.