It’s National Historic Preservation Month!

Let’s Celebrate! It’s National Historic Preservation Month! National Historic Preservation Month recognizes the importance of preserving historic places, resources and their significance to local communities. High-five to those who celebrate the places that are meaningful to them and to their communities. Historic preservation improves our quality of life and contributes to our understanding of each other and the diverse heritage of our state. Inspire each other to promote and protect Florida’s historical places. Let’s support the local historic places that are meaningful to you and show some love to our local communities!

Kerns Family Construction has a big place in our hearts for historical preservation. Even though we renovate and restore all types of buildings and homes, we love preserving local historical places. A few of our local homes that we have restored in Pasco County, Florida, include the charming Captain Jefferies Carriage House, located in downtown Zephyrhills, Florida, and two delightful bungalows in Zephyrhills. It brings us much joy to preserve the historic importance of the places we call home. Will you please join us?

What is a Keeping Room? The Perfect Extra Space You Need in Your Home

Exciting News!

Wanna learn about what a keeping room is? Check out Redfins blog where Kerns Family Construction contributed and was mentioned in the dialogue!

https://www.redfin.com/blog/what-is-a-keeping-room/

“By adding a couple of small comfy chairs or placing a small bench with cushions in the space, you can create a small keeping room where your family or friends can put their feet up and enjoy time keeping the kitchen cook company. If you have a blank wall, add a fireplace mantle and decorative candles to give the nook an extra cozy feel.” – Kerns Family Construction

We Don't Just Build Custom Homes We Also Build Custom Projects!

We’re known as a company for our custom homes, renovations & remodel projects. Did you also know we create custom reptile sanctuaries?! Yep, you heard that right. Reptile Sanctuaries.

Our very own team member Billy Dowling built this custom reptile habitat from the ground up. Billy used his creativity & knowledge in construction to create this absolutely stunning home for Saphira, a monitor lizard. Beautiful rocks, plants & a running waterfall make this habitat truly unique!

Reducing Stress When Working With Your Home Builder

Building your new home should be a genuine and fun experience, not full of stress. Here are a few tips when it comes to working with your home builder.

  • Trust in your Home Builder- This sets your tone for the entire project. We can’t stress this enough, research who you choose to build your home. Verify credentials, look at previous work, view reviews!

  • Understand Bad Weather Happens- Bad weather might delay progress on your home. Also, just because you don’t see any workers at the job site does not mean your home is behind schedule. Any good home builder will always communicate issues or delays that may arise.

  • Make Your Selections Before You Build- To ensure your project runs smoothly, try picking out your finishes, materials, textures, etc. before hand. This helps keep the project on budget, time & as stress free as possible.

  • Communicate Regularly With Your Home Builder- With any relationship, effective communication with your home builder is the key to success on the build of your home. Also, do not hesitate to ask questions or raise concerns to your home builder during the process. We are here to listen and help!

  • Visit The Job Site- This is going to be your home, so you have every right to visit and see from time to time! You can get your answers through a walk through instead of adding up questions elsewhere which adds stress to you.

This is supposed to be a exciting and wonderful time in your life! Enjoy this time & be active throughout it all!

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This is Kerns Family Construction!

There are so many construction companies out there. There are also several family owned and operated construction companies out there. How do you know what company to choose when it comes to your needs? What makes our company stand out from the rest? Could it be that we are a husband and wife duo family owned company? Could it be that we are a package deal which means you get not only a knowledgeable general contractor, but a real estate broker who is there by your side through the entire process? How about realistic expectations and an eye for detail focused on what YOU are looking for? Tony and Linda are more than a professional business team, they are honest and down to earth individuals who take the time to get to know you as people, and also get an understanding of exactly what you are looking for, and to include you very step of the way.

Kerns Family Construction's Trade In Program

Would you love to upgrade into a new or newly renovated home, but feel that you can't get out of your existing home? Would you like to take advantage of historically low interest rates, but feel stuck in your old home? You are not alone; we are here to help.

With Kerns Family Trade In Program** you can trade in your Old House for a brand new or newly renovated home by Kerns Family Construction.

Here are our Trade In Program options:

1. Trade In (Equity required) – Kerns Family representatives will simply buy your home at a mutually agreed upon discounted price and you purchase a new or newly renovated home by Kerns Family Construction.

2. Listing Program – Linda Starr Kerns & Associates agents agree to list your home at a reduced commission in order to purchase a brand new or newly renovated home by Kerns Family Construction.

We understand real estate and how to market and sell homes. Put our team to work for you. Contact us today to learn more about our Trade-In Program and see if you qualify!

*Must have equity in home
*Not all buyers will qualify

Donuts on 11th

Donuts on 11th was more than just an open house we hosted, its purpose was to shine the spotlight on a 1928 historical home that was given a second chance. Not only by us here at Kerns, but by the wonderful owners who saw it’s potential and chose to purchase it.

Our team spent so much time with this home that we all grew an attachment to it and its beauty. Breathing new life into a piece of history is something truly indescribable. We wanted everyone else to see what some TLC does to these historic homes and just how important it is to preserve them, so we had an open house to honor it.

We supported our local business here in Zephyrhills Florida by purchasing donuts from the local donut shop, and giving them away to those who came to see the ‘Bird House.’ We spent time with our community, it’s leaders and we were able to tell the story of this beautiful home and why we love what we do.

It’s important that we preserve these older historical homes and support our community year round! That is part of the reason why we held this event, so that others can witness the importance as well.

#thisplacematters

Fun Facts About Linda and Tony Kerns- President/Vice President of Kerns Family Construction

My name is Savannah Farley & I took the time to sit down with Linda & Tony Kerns to gather some fun information about who they are and why they do what they do!

  1. When and where did you and Tony meet and get married?

     Tony and I met in July 1998 and married in December at the Tides Beach Club.  He worked for the building contractor and I worked for the real estate developer.  We got married at the Chapel by the Sea and had our wedding reception where we met, The Tides Beach Club.

  2. When did you start all of this (Construction)? Why Historical?

Tony and I have been in the real estate business most of our lives.  Historical renovations are a labor of love.  The way you breathe new life into something old is indescribable!

3. You’re a family business, can you elaborate on that a little?

My family is the core of who I am.  My parents have been our biggest cheerleaders in all that we have done in our life and this venture was no different.  We do everything together and this business keeps my folks young and involved!  Knowing we can make a difference in a community is our driving force.

4. Why did you choose Zephyrhills?  

We fell in love with the charming feel of the community  and we wanted to be a part of making it relevant again.  We were focused on buying and renovating as a family when the City recommended we come into the City and meet the CRA Director.  As we renovate, we don’t cut corners, we do what is necessary, irrespective of what it may do to the bottom line.  The City took note.  We don’t put lipstick on a pig, and we have been working within the City ever since.

5. Favorite part of the job as a whole?

Seeing the contagiousness of renovations with the surrounding neighbors!

6. Do you have any pets?

We currently have 6 Golden Retrievers! Their names are Whiskey, Pride, Hope, Mac, Darla, and Chase.  When our daughter Hailey was 5 we were chosen to re home Lexie, a Golden Retriever.  She was attached to our daughter at the hip, we haven’t ever seen anything like it before, the connection was amazing.  We knew she wouldn’t be with us forever, so our friend, Sue, a veterinarian, suggested we breed Lexie with her Mom’s Golden named Jasper.  He had the exact personality that Lexie had and so she had an unexpected litter of 12….we lost one shortly after birth but the remaining 11 lived with us until they were about 6 months old.  All were re homed with the exception of these 6.

7. Any Hobbies?

We love our home, land and our animals.  Wish we had more time to enjoy our horses!

May is Historic Preservation Month!

May is National Historic Preservation Month!

  • #ThisPlaceMatters means what?

    • #ThisPlaceMatters is a special hashtag placed on Historical homes and sites to help spread the word and promote the preservation and revitalization of them. Once these homes and places are destroyed, we cannot get them back. That’s why it is so important to save these places!

      • By using this hashtag and sharing it across your social media platforms, you are helping save these places & helping others notice them!

  • Why save historical places when you can just build new construction in place of them?

    • The stories of these places are the stories of all of us! Our history, our families heritage, challenges, and victories are told through these homes, sites, and towns. Being able to use as much of the original structure as we can while adding new components, makes for a beautiful remodeled historical building with still so many stories to tell!

  • What is the history behind Zephyrhills FL?

    • The town that came to be known as Zephyrhills was first settled in 1882 with a thriving lumber and turpentine industry. It was originally called Abbott and later Abbot Station when the Seaboard Coastline Railroad established its depot there.

    • In 1910 the town's name was formally changed to Zephyrhills when Howard Jeffries,a retired Union Army captain, established a retirement community for other veterans called the Zephyrhills Colony Company.

    • In 1961, Don Robinson took advantage of the areas’ good tasting water and established the Zephyrhills Water Corporation. The company started bottling spring water and shipping it all over the state. The town soon became well-known as the “City of Pure Water.”

  • Think about it…

    • All of these homes have so many stories to tell within their walls! Your mind starts to wonder on “What is the story behind this house?” “Who lived here?” and that is the beauty behind these homes and structures. It makes you want to live there, learn more, be able to say to others that your house has been around for years upon years!

  • So, share #ThisPlaceMatters on your social media, to your friends, your co-workers, your family! By doing so, you are helping these historic places remain intact and helping breath new life into them! It only takes a couple seconds, but means the world to those like us who want to save these beautiful places!

Historical Home Renovation

11th Street “Bird House”

11th Street is a historical home we decided to take on as a restorative project. We choose to renovate old homes because they deserve it! Breathing life back into a small town (Zephyrhills, FL) is our focus and goal. We love it here and love what we do, and with this home it’s no different. #thisplacematters

  • Why call it Bird House?

    • When we took on this historical home there were several bird houses on the property, a woodpecker living in the Oak tree, and even ducks living in the fireplace! The customer who bought this property named it Bird House before even knowing about any of that which makes this project that much more special.

  • Did you completely gut the entire house or were you able to save some of the original home?

    • We were able to save some of the original siding on the home because it is still in good shape! As well as a bird house that sits in the front yard that was originally there.

  • Why do you do what you do with historical homes or older homes?

    • Along with the City of Zephyrhills, it’s the mission to revitalize neighborhoods and preserve historical properties. Being able to take something worn and turn it around into something fresh, renewed & beautiful is what we live for.

  • Is it still in progress of being completed?

    • We’ve just completed the renovation on this beautiful 1928 home and it is absolutely stunning! With an awesome team, hard work, and Tony & Linda’s eye for detail, this home is everything we imagined and hoped it to be!

  • What is the hashtag #ThisPlaceMatters mean on your social media posts about this home?

    • It's a way to raise awareness started by the National Trust for Historical Preservation on the need to preserve and revitalize historical cities and sites, like Zephyrhills, FL. We here at Kerns Family Construction strive to preserve and breathe life back into the historical city of Zephyrhills, FL with every historical home/site we do! Because, once these historical homes/places are removed, we can’t get them back and #thisplacematters!

TRUE Cost Per Square Feet When Building Your Home

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive with building homes is: “What is the cost per square foot?”

‘True cost per square foot’ cannot be properly calculated until your builder has identified absolutely every cost associated with your build, including plans, building materials, labor, bids from subcontractors, lot prep, interior finishes, etc.

Calculating Cost Per Square Foot

It’s very difficult and confusing to cover EVERY single way builders figure out cost per square foot.
We take Total Cost of The Home/ LIVABLE Square Feet of The Home to calculate square foot price.

  • Keep in mind: Livable square feet does NOT include porches, garages, driveways, attics, etc.

Why Cost Per Square Feet Can Be Misleading

Clarity is CRUCIAL when deciphering cost per square feet.

  • For Example: We can build a 2,000 sq foot home with a 100 sq foot porch and a standard garage. OR, we can build a 2,000 sq foot home with a 800 sq foot porch and a three car garage. Even though they both are 2,000 sq feet homes, the second home will be more expensive on a square foot basis.

We Understand

We understand why its tempting as home buyers to ask that question, because budget and cost is important. But relying on “cost per square foot” is an unreliable measure.

In the home building industry, there is no official standard for what constitutes a ‘square foot’.

You do need to clarify how your home builder calculates the cost per square foot. Once you have that, you’ll still want to have a detailed conversation about the build cost.

Every home builder is different, but we here at Kerns Family Construction always sit down with our customers and detail the costs associated with their project or build, and are there for you every step of the way.

Communication before, during, and after the process is key!